Categories
Rating The Champ

WWE World Titles – 2007

Welcome to my blog. This is the start of a new series, where I’ll be looking back at the history of WWE World Titles (not counting ECW) and ranking all the World Title reigns since the “Modern Era”. The “Modern Era” goes all the way back to the birth of Hulkamania in 1984, and that’s where we’ll end. Today we look back at the year 2007, and we’ll continue to go back from here.

In front of my star ratings for the matches, you’ll either see “HR”, “R” or “RTA”. “HR” means the match is highly recommended ; “R” means the match is recommended ; “RTA” means recommendation to avoid. In case nothing appears, the match is watchable but nothing spectacular.

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

John Cena (September 17, 2006 – October 2, 2007)

  • Televised matches: 68
  • Record: 50-14 (4 draws)

My match ratings:

  • John Cena def. Edge(c) in a TLC Match – Unforgiven 2006 (****1/2) *HR*
  • King Booker(c) def. John Cena and Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship – Cyber Sunday 2006 (***)
  • John Cena & Batista def. King Booker & Finlay – Armageddon 2006 (**3/4)
  • John Cena(c) def. Umaga – New Year’s Revolution 2007 (***)
  • John Cena(c) def. Umaga in a Last Man Standing Match – Royal Rumble 2007 (****) *HR*
  • John Cena & Shawn Michaels def. Batista & The Undertaker – No Way Out 2007 (***1/2) *R*
  • John Cena(c) def. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 23 (****1/4) *HR*
  • Shawn Michaels def. John Cena – RAW April 23 2007 (****1/2) *HR*
  • John Cena(c) def. Shawn Michaels, Edge and Randy Orton – Backlash 2007 (****1/4) *HR*
  • John Cena(c) def. The Great Khali – Judgment Day 2007 (*1/2) *RTA*
  • John Cena(c) def. The Great Khali in a Falls Count Anywhere Match – One Night Stand 2007 (***)
  • John Cena(c) def. Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, King Booker and Mick Foley – Vengeance: Night of Champions 2007 (***1/2)
  • John Cena(c) def. Bobby Lashley – The Great American Bash 2007 (****) *HR*
  • John Cena(c) def. Randy Orton – SummerSlam 2007 (****1/4) *HR*
  • Randy Orton def. John Cena(c) by DQ – Unforgiven 2007 (*) *RTA*

Out of John Cena’s sixteen World Title reigns, this is probably the best one. His reign started in that fantastic TLC Match against Edge at Unforgiven, where Cena beat ‘The Rated-R Superstar’ to end their feud and win the gold. Unfortunately, Cena wouldn’t defend the belt on PPV in 2006, instead feuding with… god help us… Kevin Federline. However, once the new year arrived, Cena was incredible no matter who he was in there with. Umaga, Shawn Michaels, Edge, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton – Cena had fantastic matches for the WWE Championship with all of them in 2007. He even managed to have a watchable match with The Great Khali! Cena can’t wrestle? This reign proved otherwise.

Rating: 9/10

Randy Orton (October 7, 2007)

  • Televised matches: 1
  • Record: 0-1

My match ratings:

  • Triple H def. Randy Orton(c) – No Mercy 2007 (**1/2)

Randy Orton was scheduled to challenge John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match at this PPV. However, Cena got injured the prior week, and Orton was literally given the belt here. He then lost it to Triple H in the night’s opener. And that was Randy Orton’s first reign with the WWE Championship.

Rating: -/10

Triple H (October 7, 2007)

  • Televised matches: 3
  • Record: 2-1

My match ratings:

  • Triple H def. Randy Orton(c) – No Mercy 2007 (**1/2)
  • Triple H(c) def. Umaga – No Mercy 2007 (**)
  • Randy Orton def. Triple H in a Last Man Standing Match – No Mercy 2007 (****1/4) *HR*

Much like Randy Orton, Triple H won and lost the WWE Championship at No Mercy 2007. After winning the title from Orton and retaining in the midcard in a scheduled bout against Umaga, Triple H lost the belt in the main-event back to ‘The Legend Killer’ after a violent Last Man Standing encounter.

Rating: -/10

Randy Orton (October 7, 2007 – April 27, 2008)

  • Televised matches: 30
  • Record: 10-18 (2 draws)

My match ratings:

  • Randy Orton def. Triple H in a Last Man Standing Match – No Mercy 2007 (****1/4) *HR*
  • Shawn Michaels def. Randy Orton(c) by DQ – Cyber Sunday 2007 (***)
  • Randy Orton(c) def. Shawn Michaels – Survivor Series 2007 (****1/2) *HR*
  • Chris Jericho def. Randy Orton(c) by DQ – Armageddon 2007 (***1/4)
  • Randy Orton(c) def. Jeff Hardy – Royal Rumble 2008 (***1/4)
  • John Cena def. Randy Orton(c) by DQ – No Way Out 2008 (**)
  • Randy Orton(c) def. Triple H and John Cena – WrestleMania XXIV (***1/4)
  • Triple H def. Randy Orton(c), John Cena and JBL in an Elimination Match – Backlash 2008 (***)

Much like Cena’s long reign, this was also one of Randy Orton’s best reigns – probably the best apart from his work with Christian in 2011. However, the reign was far from being perfect. After spending the majority of 2007 writing legendary wrestlers off TV such as Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, Dusty Rhodes and others, all of a sudden Orton was a chickensh*t champion who needed to get himself DQ’d. Why? Plus, that win/loss record doesn’t help. The reign (“age of Orton”) was really good, but imagine if he had continued to win convincigly and even retired Ric Flair at WrestleMania. What if!

Rating: 7/10

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Batista (November 26, 2006 – April 1, 2007)

  • Televised matches: 14
  • Record: 12-2

My match ratings:

  • Batista def. King Booker(c) – Survivor Series 2006 (**)
  • John Cena & Batista def. King Booker & Finlay – Armageddon 2006 (**3/4)
  • Batista(c) def. Mr. Kennedy – Royal Rumble 2007 (**3/4)
  • John Cena & Shawn Michaels def. Batista & The Undertaker – No Way Out 2007 (***1/2) *R*
  • The Undertaker def. Batista(c) – WrestleMania 23 (****1/4) *HR*

Say what you want about Dave Batista, but he always looked like a World Champion. He always moved like a World Champion. And, most importantly, he was always booked like a World Champion. The first few months of this reign weren’t anything more than just mediocre, but once Undertaker won the Royal Rumble and their feud started… it was everything but mediocre! Their segments on TV were exciting, and their WrestleMania match exceeded everyone’s expectations. Their feud would continue, but WrestleMania marked the end of ‘The Animal’s second reign as WWE World Champion.

Rating: 7/10

The Undertaker (April 1, 2007 – May 11, 2007)

  • Televised matches: 7
  • Record: 4-1 (2 draws)

My match ratings:

  • The Undertaker def. Batista(c) – WrestleMania 23 (****1/4) *HR*
  • The Undertaker(c) draw. Batista in a Last Man Standing Match – Backlash 2007 (****) *HR*
  • The Undertaker(c) draw. Batista in a Steel Cage Match – SmackDown May 11 2007 (***1/2) *R*
  • Edge def. The Undertaker(c) in a MITB cash-in – SmackDown May 11 2007 (N/R)

After Undertaker won the World Heavyweight Championship for the first time at WrestleMania 23, his reign only lasted a little over a month. However, that means nothing. All of ‘Taker’s title matches were spectacular (particularly the work with Batista), before dropping the belt to Edge and starting to plant the seeds for the following year’s WrestleMania. This was a short but fantastic title reign.

Rating: 7/10

Edge (May 11, 2007 – July 20, 2007)

  • Televised matches: 11
  • Record: 6-5

My match ratings:

  • Edge def. The Undertaker(c) in a MITB cash-in – SmackDown May 11 2007 (N/R)
  • Edge(c) def. Batista – Judgment Day 2007 (**1/2)
  • Edge(c) def. Batista in a Steel Cage Match – One Night Stand 2007 (**1/4)
  • Edge def. Chris Benoit – SmackDown June 8 2007 (****) *HR*
  • Edge(c) def. Batista in a Last Chance Match – Vengeance: Night of Champions 2007 (***)

When Edge moved from RAW to SmackDown and won the World Title, Undertaker went on hiatus due to injury and Edge feuded with Batista. Their matches were nothing special, but Edge managed to get fantastic babyface reactions for Batista, who’d recently played heel-in-peril in his feud with Undertaker. With that said, he did a good job as the heel as far as I’m concerned.

Rating: 5/10

The Great Khali (July 20, 2007 – September 16, 2007)

  • Televsied matches: 10
  • Record: 5-5

My match ratings:

  • The Great Khali wins Battle Royal – SmackDown July 20 2007 (N/R)
  • The Great Khali(c) def. Batista and Kane – The Great American Bash 2007 (1/2*) *RTA*
  • Batista def. The Great Khali(c) by DQ – SummerSlam 2007 (DUD) *RTA*
  • Batista def. The Great Khali(c) and Rey Mysterio – Unforgiven 2007 (**)

I’m going to make this short and very brief. Everything has been said about The Great Khali’s title reign – he couldn’t cut a promo and his matches were horrible. So was this reign.

Rating: 1/10

Batista (September 16, 2007 – December 16, 2007)

  • Televised matches: 15
  • Record: 12-1 (2 draws)

My match ratings:

  • Batista def. The Great Khali(c) and Rey Mysterio – Unforgiven 2007 (**)
  • Batista(c) def. The Great Khali in a Punjabi Prison Match – No Mercy 2007 (**3/4)
  • Batista(c) def. The Undertaker – Cyber Sunday 2007 (***3/4) *R*
  • Batista(c) def. The Undertaker in a HIAC Match – Survivor Series 2007 (****1/4) *HR*
  • Edge def. Batista(c) and The Undertaker – Armageddon 2007 (***)

Batista finally won back the World Championship from The Great Khali at Unforgiven 2007. Muchlike John Cena earlier in the year, Batista was able to have a decent match with Khali at No Mercy, before restarting his feud with The Undertaker immediately afterwards. Batista picked up a clean win over ‘The Deadman’ at Cyber Sunday to tie the score (‘Taker had won at WrestleMania) before surviving a great Hell in a Cell bout thanks to Edge. He’d drop the gold to Edge at the next PPV, who went on to feud with Undertaker heading into WrestleMania XXIV. Another solid reign for ‘The Animal’.

Rating: 6/10

ALL-TIME CHAMPIONS RANKING

  1. John Cena (WWE Championship, 17/09/2006 – 02/10/2007) 9
  2. CM Punk (WWE Championship, 20/11/2011 – 27/01/2013) 9
  3. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship, 13/11/2018 – 07/04/2019) 9
  4. AJ Styles (WWE Championship, 11/09/2016 – 29/01/2017) 9
  5. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship, 16/12/2007 – 30/03/2008) 8
  6. Randy Orton (World Heavyweight Championship, 06/05/2011 – 17/07/2011) 8
  7. Batista (WWE Championship, 21/02/2010 – 28/03/2010) 8
  8. Brock Lesnar (WWE Championship, 17/08/2014 – 29/03/2015) 7
  9. Batista (World Heavyweight Championship, 26/11/2006 – 01/04/2007) 7
  10. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 07/10/2007 – 27/04/2008) 7
  11. John Cena (WWE Championship, 07/04/2013 – 18/08/2013) 7
  12. Chris Jericho (World Heavyweight Championship, 07/09/2008 – 26/10/2008) 7
  13. The Undertaker (World Heavyweight Championship, 01/04/2007 – 11/05/2007) 7
  14. AJ Styles (WWE Championship, 07/11/2017 – 13/11/2018) 7
  15. CM Punk (World Heavyweight Championship, 07/06/2009 – 26/07/2009) 6
  16. Batista (World Heavyweight Championship, 16/09/2007 – 16/12/2007) 6
  17. John Cena (WWE Championship, 28/03/2010 – 20/06/2010) 6
  18. John Cena (WWE Championship, 01/05/2011 – 17/07/2011) 6
  19. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 18/08/2013 – 15/09/2013) 6
  20. Kevin Owens (WWE Universal Championship, 29/08/2016- 05/03/2017) 6
  21. Chris Jericho (World Heavyweight Championship, 21/02/2010 – 02/04/2010) 6
  22. Alberto Del Rio (World Heavyweight Championship, 16/06/2013 – 27/10/2013) 6
  23. Seth Rollins (WWE Championship, 29/03/2015 – 04/11/2015) 6
  24. Roman Reigns (WWE Championship, 03/04/2016 – 19/06/2016) 6
  25. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship, 26/04/2009 – 07/06/2009) 5
  26. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship, 19/12/2010 – 18/02/2011) 5
  27. Jeff Hardy (World Heavyweight Championship, 26/0/2009 – 23/08/2009) 5
  28. The Rock (WWE Championship, 27/01/2013 – 07/04/2013) 5
  29. CM Punk (WWE Championship, 17/07/2011 – 14/08/2011) 5
  30. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship, 18/02/2011 – 15/04/2011) 5
  31. Brock Lesnar (Universal Championship, 02/11/2018 – 07/04/2019) 5
  32. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 27/10/2013 – 06/04/2014) 5
  33. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship, 06/04/2014 – 09/06/2014) 5
  34. Christian (World Heavyweight Championship, 17/07/2011 – 14/08/2011) 5
  35. Randy Orton (World Heavyweight Championship, 14/08/2011 – 18/09/2011) 5
  36. CM Punk (World Heavyweight Championship, 23/08/2009 – 04/10/2009) 5
  37. The Undertaker (World Heavyweight Championship, 04/10/2009 – 21/02/2010) 5
  38. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship, 11/05/2007 – 20/07/2007) 5
  39. Seth Rollins (Universal Championship, 11/08/2019 – 31/10/2019) 5
  40. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 15/06/2009 – 13/09/2009) 5
  41. Triple H (WWE Championship, 27/04/2008 – 23/11/2008) 5
  42. John Cena (WWE Championship, 29/01/2017 – 12/02/2017) 5
  43. Sheamus (World Heavyweight Championship, 01/04/2012 – 28/10/2012) 4
  44. Mark Henry (World Heavyweight Championship, 18/09/2011 – 18/12/2011) 4
  45. John Cena (WWE Championship, 29/06/2014 – 17/08/2014) 4
  46. Dean Ambrose (WWE Championship, 19/06/2016 – 11/09/2016) 4
  47. Alberto Del Rio (WWE Championship, 02/10/2011 – 20/11/2011) 4
  48. Kofi Kingston (WWE Championship, 07/04/2019 – 04/10/2019) 4
  49. Alberto Del Rio (World Heavyweight Championship, 11/01/2013 – 08/04/2013) 4
  50. Seth Rollins (Universal Championship, 07/04/2019 – 14/07/2019) 4
  51. John Cena (World Heavyweight Championship, 05/04/2009 – 26/04/2009) 3
  52. Jeff Hardy (WWE Championship, 14/12/2008 – 25/01/2009) 3
  53. John Cena (WWE Championship, 25/10/2009 – 13/12/2009) 3
  54. Brock Lesnar (Universal Championship, 14/07/2019 – 11/08/2019) 3
  55. Brock Lesnar (Universal Championship, 02/04/2017 – 19/08/2018) 3
  56. Triple H (WWE Championship, 24/01/2016 – 03/04/2016) 3
  57. Christian (World Heavyweight Championship, 01/05/2011 – 06/05/2011) 3
  58. Alberto Del Rio (WWE Championship, 14/08/2011 – 18/09/2011) 3
  59. Kane (World Heavyweight Championship, 18/07/2010 – 19/12/2010) 3
  60. Chris Jericho (World Heavyweight Championship, 03/11/2008 – 23/11/2008) 3
  61. Rey Mysterio (World Heavyweight Championship, 20/06/2010 – 18/07/2010) 3
  62. John Cena (World Heavyweight Championship, 27/10/2013 – 15/12/2013) 3
  63. Triple H (WWE Championship, 15/02/2009 – 26/04/2009) 3
  64. Big Show (World Heavyweight Championship, 28/10/2012 – 11/01/2013) 3
  65. Edge (WWE Championship, 25/01/2009 – 15/02/2009) 3
  66. John Cena (WWE Championship, 25/07/2011 – 14/08/2011) 3
  67. John Cena (World Heavyweight Championship, 23/11/2008 – 15/02/2009) 3
  68. The Miz (WWE Championship, 22/11/2010 – 01/05/2011) 3
  69. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship, 19/08/2018 – 22/10/2018) 3
  70. Jinder Mahal (WWE Championship, 21/05/2017 – 07/11/2017) 3
  71. Bray Wyatt (WWE Championship, 12/02/2017 – 02/04/2017) 3
  72. Edge (WWE Championship, 23/11/2008 – 14/12/2008) 2
  73. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship, 15/02/2009 – 05/04/2009) 2
  74. John Cena (WWE Championship, 18/09/2011 – 02/10/2011) 2
  75. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship, 01/06/2008 – 30/06/2008) 2
  76. John Cena (WWE Championship, 13/09/2009 – 04/10/2009) 2
  77. Roman Reigns (WWE Championship, 14/12/2015 – 24/01/2016) 2
  78. Goldberg (Universal Championship, 05/03/2017 – 02/04/2017) 2
  79. The Undertaker (World Heavyweight Championship, 30/03/2008 – 02/05/2008) 2
  80. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 04/10/2009 – 25/10/2009) 2
  81. Dolph Ziggler (World Heavyweight Championship, 08/04/2013 – 16/06/2013) 2
  82. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 26/04/2009 – 07/06/2009) 2
  83. Daniel Bryan (World Heavyweight Championship, 18/12/2011 – 01/04/2012) 2
  84. CM Punk (World Heavyweight Championship, 30/06/2008 – 07/09/2008) 2
  85. Sheamus (WWE Championship, 22/11/2015 – 14/12/2015) 2
  86. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 19/09/2010 – 22/11/2010) 2
  87. Sheamus (WWE Championship, 20/06/2010 – 19/09/2010) 2
  88. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 02/04/2017 – 21/05/2017) 1
  89. Batista (World Heavyweight Championship, 26/10/2008 – 03/11/2008) 1
  90. Sheamus (WWE Championship, 13/12/2009 – 21/02/2010) 1
  91. Jack Swagger (World Heavyweight Championship, 02/04/2010 – 20/06/2010) 1
  92. The Great Khali (World Heavyweight Championship, 20/07/2007 – 16/09/2007) 1
  93. Jeff Hardy (World Heavyweight Championship, 07/06/2009) –
  94. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship, 18/08/2013) –
  95. Seth Rollins (WWE Championship, 19/06/2016) –
  96. John Cena (WWE Championship, 21/02/2010) –
  97. Rey Mysterio (WWE Championship, 25/07/2011) –
  98. Roman Reigns (WWE Championship, 22/11/2015) –
  99. Randy Orton (World Heavyweight Championship, 15/12/2013) –
  100. Finn Bálor (WWE Universal Championship, 21/08/2016 – 22/08/2016) –
  101. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship, 15/09/2013 – 16/09/2013) –
  102. Triple H (WWE Championship, 07/10/2007) –
  103. Dolph Ziggler (World Heavyweight Championship, 18/02/2011) –
  104. Big Show (World Heavyweight Championship, 18/12/2011) –
  105. Batista (WWE Championship, 07/06/2009 – 09/06/2009) –
  106. Randy Orton (WWE Championship, 07/10/2007) –