WWE Clarifies Confusion Over World Heavyweight Title Lineage
Seemingly bringing an end to any confusion or speculation about what the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship is and where it comes from, WWE confirmed on their official website that Seth Rollins is the first and only holder of that particular title. Rumors about the championship being part of the lineage of the old World Heavyweight Championship appear to be inaccurate and the company is seemingly treating this like a brand-new belt that no one has ever held before.WWE writes on the page associated with a description of the new title that was recently awarded to Seth Rollins at Night of Champions: "The new World Heavyweight Championship was announced by Triple H heading into the 2023 WWE Draft. A tournament was held to crown the new champion culminating with Seth" Freakin" Rollins defeating AJ Styles at WWE Night of Champions 2023." They add, "The title was designed with unique features that include Three Lions to symbolize the McMahon Family crest, a Crown to pay homage to Bruno Sammartino, an Eagle as a callback to the original Winged Eagle design of the WWE Championship, diamonds, filagree, and rope trim." At no point, however, does the company list former holders of the title.
And, if you look more closely at the dates that the belt has now been held, under the "Championship Holders Over Time" category, WWE lists the longest reign as one day, with the shortest reign also being one day. The only holder of the title is Rollins as the backstory of the championship is non-existent prior to Triple H unveiling the title a few weeks ago on Raw.
Related: 10 Things WWE Should Do Following Night Of Champions 2023
This Is A New Title With A New Lineage
For any fans and insiders wondering if the old World Title holders would be recognized as part of the history of this title, the answer is no. WWE is treating Rollins' new championship as something that didn't exist prior to now and he's the first and only person to have held the title. The legacy of the championship began on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
