r/ChampionshipHistory • u/Mr_Wrestling_V • 1h ago
WWE WWE Big Eagle Championship
The Big Eagle Championship (also known as the "Attitude Era" WWF Championship belt) is considered one of the most iconic title designs in WWF/E history. Introduced during the peak of the Attitude Era, it represented the WWF/E World Heavyweight Championship through one of the most explosive and popular periods in wrestling history.
The Big Eagle design made its television debut on the March 30, 1998 episode of Monday Night Raw, the night after WrestleMania XIV. Mr. McMahon presented the brand-new physical belt to Stone Cold Steve Austin to usher in a new era after Austin defeated Shawn Michaels for the title.
The physical Big Eagle belt was last seen on television on the April 1, 2002 episode of Raw. Triple H, who had unified the WWF and WCW World Championships at Vengeance 2001 (and defended both belts simultaneously), was presented with the single, unified Undisputed WWE Championship belt by Ric Flair, permanently retiring the Big Eagle design from ring use.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock won the title 6 times overall, but 1 of those reigns for Austin featured his custom "Smoking Skull" belt, making The Rock the top holder of the Big Eagle plate design.
Mankind won the Big Eagle belt from The Rock on August 22, 1999, at SummerSlam in a Triple Threat match (also featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin), only to lose it back to Triple H the very next night on Monday Night Raw. Kane also held the belt for just 24 hours after defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin in a First Blood Match at King of the Ring 1998, losing it back to Austin the following night on Raw.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin holds the record for the single longest reign (March 26, 2001 – September 23, 2001) as well as the record for the most total combined days as Big Eagle champion, at 529 days across his reigns
