The American professional wrestling promotion WWE has maintained several secondary championships since Capitol Wrestling Corporation seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance in 1963 to become the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which was later subjected to various name changes, including World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)—in April 2011, the company ceased using its full name and has since just been referred to as WWE. The company's first men's secondary championship was the NWA United States Television Championship, which was established in 1957 as a version of the NWA World Television Championship, while the first women's secondary title, the NXT Women's North American Championship, was established in April 2024, followed by the unveiling of the WWE Women’s United States Championship and WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship in November 2024. Whenever the WWE brand extension has been implemented (2002–2011; 2016–present), separate secondary championships have been created or allocated for each brand.
As of 2024, the men's secondary championships include the WWE Intercontinental Championship and the WWE United States Championship for the men's division; and the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship and WWE Women’s United States Championship for the women's division; on the main roster brands, Raw and SmackDown, respectively, and the NXT North American Championship for WWE's developmental brand, NXT's men's division; and the NXT Women's North American Championship for the women's division.
Overview of titles
Male
Female
Male's Developmental
Female's Developmental
Summary of championships
Male
NWA United States Television Championship (1957–1962)
The NWA United States Television Championship was a singles title used in the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the precursor to today's WWE. The title served as CWC's secondary singles championship, opposed to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship of the National Wrestling Alliance, which was considered the CWC's premier title. The first champion was Johnny Valentine, who may have won the title during a tournament in 1957, or by defeating Verne Gagne in 1958. Valentine was also the final champion as the title was retired on July 25, 1962, during his fifth reign.
WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship (1960–1976)
The WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship was a singles title used sporadically in the World Wide Wrestling Federation between 1960 and 1976. During the variable periods in which it was used, the title served as the promotion's secondary singles championship to the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. This title has no connection to the current WWE United States Championship, the lineage of which dates back to the NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Championship originally created in 1975 in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. The inaugural champion was Buddy Rogers and the final champion was Bobo Brazil.
WWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1979-1981)
The WWF North American Heavyweight Championship was a relatively short-lived title in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) from 1979 until 1981. It was established as the WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship on February 13, 1979, before the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was renamed to WWF the following month. The title replaced the WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship as the promotion's secondary championship. The inaugural champion was Ted DiBiase and the final champion was Seiji Sakaguchi.
WWE Intercontinental Championship (1979–2002, 2003–present)
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a secondary championship established by WWE and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand. The championship was established as the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship by the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) on September 1, 1979, as a result of the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship being unified with an apocryphal South American Heavyweight Championship, with Pat Patterson as the inaugural champion.
In 2002, after the first brand split had begun and the WWF was renamed WWE, the title was renamed to the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and Raw general manager Eric Bischoff began unifying his brand's singles championships. On September 30, 2002, Bischoff scheduled a match to unify the Intercontinental Championship with the recently created Raw-exclusive World Heavyweight Championship. The unification match took place at No Mercy the following month and saw then-World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeat then-Intercontinental Champion Kane, making him the Raw brand's sole male singles champion. Over Bischoff's objections, Raw co-general manager Stone Cold Steve Austin reactivated the Intercontinental Championship on the May 5, 2003 episode of Raw and declared any former champion on the Raw roster eligible to enter a battle royal at Judgment Day for the title. Christian won the battle royal to win the championship and restore a secondary singles title for Raw wrestlers to compete for. The first brand extension ended on August 29, 2011, allowing the Intercontinental Championship, as well as all other titles, to be defended on both Raw and SmackDown.
In July 2016, WWE reintroduced the brand split. During the 2016 draft, then-Intercontinental Champion The Miz was drafted to SmackDown, thus making the title exclusive to SmackDown. During the following year's Superstar Shake-up, Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose was moved to the Raw brand, making the title exclusive to Raw. Two years later during the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up, Intercontinental Champion Finn Bálor moved to SmackDown, making the title exclusive back to SmackDown. Four years later during the 2023 draft, Intercontinental Champion Gunther moved to Raw, making the title exclusive back to Raw.
WWE United States Championship (1975-2001, 2003–present)
The WWE United States Championship is currently the secondary championship of the SmackDown brand. The championship was established on January 1, 1975, as the version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship that was defended in Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) and later assumed by JCP successor World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which eventually seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Harley Race was the inaugural champion. After WCW was purchased by the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 2001, the then-WCW United States Championship was defended in the WWF until it was unified with the Intercontinental Championship at that year's Survivor Series.
In July 2003, a year after the first brand extension went into effect in what is now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the title was reactivated as the WWE United States Championship by then-SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon. It was commissioned to be a secondary championship for the SmackDown brand, making the championship the only one from WCW to be reactivated as a WWE title (although the WCW Cruiserweight Championship had also become a WWE title, it was not deactivated and reactivated; it replaced the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship during the Invasion storyline). Eddie Guerrero became the first champion after its reactivation by winning a tournament at that year's Vengeance, defeating Chris Benoit in the final match. This was done shortly after the Intercontinental Championship was recommissioned by the Raw brand, making the title its equal counterpart. The first brand extension ended on August 29, 2011, allowing the United States Championship, as well as all other titles, to be defended on both Raw and SmackDown.
In July 2016, WWE reintroduced the brand extension; during the 2016 WWE draft, United States Champion Rusev was drafted to the Raw brand, thus making the title exclusive to Raw. On April 11, 2017, United States Champion Kevin Owens, along with the title, moved to SmackDown as a result of that year's Superstar Shake-up. Owens was already scheduled to defend the title against Chris Jericho at the Raw-exclusive pay-per-view Payback on April 30. Then-SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan declared that regardless of who won at Payback, the United States Championship would remain on SmackDown; Jericho defeated Owens for the title at Payback and he transferred to SmackDown. During the 2018 Superstar Shake-up, the title briefly returned to Raw when champion Jinder Mahal was drafted to the brand. However, it was immediately returned to SmackDown after Jeff Hardy defeated Mahal for the title and was drafted to SmackDown the next night. The championship definitively returned to Raw in 2019 when champion Samoa Joe was drafted to the brand during that year's Superstar Shake-up. Four years later during the 2023 draft, United States Champion Austin Theory moved to SmackDown, making the title exclusive to SmackDown again.
NXT North American Championship (2018–present)
The NXT North American Championship is the secondary championship established for WWE's developmental brand, NXT. The title was established in April 2018 and the inaugural champion was Adam Cole. In September 2019, the title became one of WWE's three main secondary titles when NXT became WWE's third major brand, however, it reverted to a developmental brand in September 2021. In January 2022, the NXT Cruiserweight Championship was unified into the North American Championship. At the special New Year's Evil episode of NXT on January 4, 2022, reigning North American Champion Carmelo Hayes defeated Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong. The Cruiserweight Championship was retired with Hayes going forward as North American Champion. Whenever the title is held by a main roster wrestler, it occasionally gets defended on main roster shows, such as when SmackDown wrestler Solo Sikoa defended it on SmackDown in September 2022. Raw wrestler "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio has also defended it on Raw during his first reign in 2023.
NXT UK Heritage Cup (2020–2023)
The NXT UK Heritage Cup was the secondary championship established for WWE's developmental brand, NXT UK in September 2020, and the inaugural champion was A-Kid. The title is defended just like any other championship but has a special stipulation in which all matches are contested under British Rounds Rules. However, after the closing of the brand in late 2022, instead of being unified or retired like the other NXT UK-branded championships, it transferred to the NXT brand in April 2023, and was then simply renamed to the NXT Heritage Cup, removing association with the retired NXT UK brand. The championship was then recognized as NXT's specialty championship, no longer being recognized as secondary.
Female
NXT Women's North American Championship (2024–present)
At NXT Stand & Deliver on April 6, 2024, the WrestleMania week event for WWE's developmental brand NXT, the NXT Women's North American Championship was announced by the brand's General Manager Ava. This title will be the equivalent to the men's NXT North American Championship, marking the first-ever secondary women's championship in WWE. At Week 2 of Spring Breakin', Ava announced that the inaugural champion will be crowned at Battleground in a six-woman ladder match. The inaugural champion was Kelani Jordan.
WWE Women's United States Championship (2024–present)
The WWE Women's United States Championship is a secondary women's championship established for the SmackDown brand. The title was introduced on November 8, 2024 by SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis.
On December 14, 2024, Saturday Night's Main Event where Chelsea Green was crowned the inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion when she defeated Michin in the WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament finals.
WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship (2024-present)
The WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship is a secondary women's Championship established for the Raw brand. The title was introduced on November 25, 2024 by Raw general manager Adam Pearce.
On the January 13, 2025 episode of Raw Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai to become the inaugural WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion in the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament finals.
Champions
Current champions
The following list shows the wrestlers that are currently holding all active secondary championships in WWE.
Retired championships
The following list shows retired secondary championships and the final title holders before the belts were deactivated or abandoned by WWE.
Inaugural championship holders
The following list shows the inaugural holders for each secondary championship created and/or promoted by WWE.
Superlative reigns
- ( ) - indicates the reign is ongoing.
Ten longest
The following list shows the ten longest secondary championship reigns in WWE history.
Longest per championship
The following list shows the longest reigning champion for each secondary championship created and/or promoted by WWE.
Most per championship
The following list shows the wrestlers with the most reigns for each secondary championship created and/or promoted by WWE.
Most total reigns
The following list shows the wrestlers who have the most secondary championship reigns in total, combining all titles they have held as recognized by WWE. This list also shows the titles that they won to achieve this record (minimum five secondary championship reigns).
See also
- World championships in WWE
- Women's championships in WWE
- Tag team championships in WWE
Notes
References
