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Longest WWE Championship reigns in history

By Scott Rogust

Apr 11, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Roman Reigns (black pants) and Daniel Bryan (green trunks) and Edge (white pants) during their Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Roman Reigns (black pants) and Daniel Bryan (green trunks) and Edge (white pants) during their Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Universal Champion Roman Reigns has held the title since August 2020 entering WrestleMania Sunday. Here are the longest WWE Championship reigns in history.

WrestleMania 38 has finally arrived, where there will be 14 matches scheduled for the two-night event. But the main event of Night 2 on Sunday, Apr. 3, is what is being dubbed “the Biggest WrestleMania Match of All-Time,” as Universal Champion Roman Reigns takes on WWE Champion Brock Lesnar in a Winner Take All Championship Unification match.

Reigns will have held the Universal title for 582 days entering AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for his match against Lesnar. For those wondering who holds the longest WWE Championship reigns of all-time, we have you covered.

Longest WWE Championship reigns in history

Here is the of the five longest WWE title reigns in history:

  • Bruno Sammartino: 2,803 days (May 17, 1963-Jan. 18, 1971)
  • Bob Backlund: 2,135 days (Feb. 2, 1978-Dec. 26, 1983)
  • Hulk Hogan: 1,474 days (Jan. 23, 1984-Feb. 5, 1988)
  • Bruno Sammartino: 1,237 days (Dec. 10, 1973-Apr. 30, 1977)
  • Pedro Morales: 1,027 days (Feb. 8, 1971-Dec. 1, 1973)

The longest WWE championship reign belongs to Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino, who held the the title from May 17, 1963 until Jan. 18, 1971 for a grand total of 2,803 days. Sammartino actually makes the list twice, as he had the fourth-longest title reign as well!

Ironically, the top five wrestlers on the list are the only single reigns to last over 1,000 days.

Roman Reigns Universal Championship reign

The Universal Championship is recognized as one of the WWE’s major world championships. Given that, Reigns has one of the lengthiest reigns in the company’s history.

Reigns gained the Universal Championship at Payback on Aug. 30, 2020 when he defeated “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match. He has not lost the belt ever since.

The opponents that Reigns has defended against included Strowman, Lesnar, Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan, Edge, Cesaro, Rey Mysterio, John Cena, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn and Goldberg.

WrestleMania 38 will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 2 and Sunday, Apr. 3.

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