Every WWE Championship Title Change on SmackDown, Ranked

Kofi Kingston defeated Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 to become the first African-born WWE Champion in history. Kingston rode a wave of momentum in his maiden WWE Championship reign. However, on the 20th Anniversary of SmackDown, Kingston defended the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar. For sure, the Beast Incarnate was Kingston’s toughest challenger to date.

On SmackDown’s Fox premiere episode, Lesnar had his game face on. As soon as the bell rang, trouble came Kingston’s way as Lesnar nailed Kingston with an F-5. The Beast Incarnate captured his fifth WWE Championship reign in just seven seconds. Fans were in shock, and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry was at ringside. He was in disbelief at what he was witnessing unfold right before him.

5. Mr. McMahon Defeats Triple H – SmackDown (9/16/99)

Mr. McMahon challenged his future son-in-law, Triple H, for the WWE Championship in September 1999. Undoubtedly, the Game was the overwhelming favorite to prevail. The Game battered McMahon to a bloody pulp. However, McMahon’s son Shane oversaw proceedings as the special guest referee.

Triple H was in cruise control, thinking he’d have a stroll through the park. However, Triple H’s overconfidence proved to be his downfall. With outside interference from his rival, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, McMahon did the unthinkable and dethroned Triple H for the WWE Championship. The victory was historic as McMahon became the oldest WWE Champion in history at 54. This was also the first time that the WWE Championship changed hands on SmackDown.

4. AJ Styles Defeats Jinder Mahal – SmackDown (11/7/17)

Jinder Mahal shocked the world when he defeated Randy Orton for the WWE Championship at Backlash 2017. However, fans grew sick and tired of the Modern-Day Maharaja’s WWE Championship reign. Moreover, they were never in favor of it in the first place. Nevertheless, Mahal defended the WWE Championship against AJ Styles across the pond in Manchester, England, on November 7, 2017.

The Phenomenal One began 2017 as the WWE Champion, and he was looking to end the year with the title in his grasp once more. Most of Mahal’s WWE Championship title defences were unwatchable. However, it was fitting that he saved the best for last in his title match with Styles.

The crowd in Manchester was heavily behind the Phenomenal One, wanting him to win the WWE Championship. Styles finished off Mahal with the Phenomenal Forearm to become a two-time WWE Champion. With the win, the WWE Championship changed hands in England for the first time.

3. Daniel Bryan Defeats AJ Styles – SmackDown (11/13/18)

For the second consecutive year, the WWE Champion AJ Styles and the Universal Champion Brock Lesnar looked a lock to clash in a rematch at Survivor Series in 2018. However, on the go-home edition of SmackDown before Survivor Series 2018, Styles put his WWE Championship on the line against three-time champion Daniel Bryan. Fans were in store for a treat with Styles and Bryan hitting a home run in a high-level WWE Championship match.

When the referee wasn’t looking, Bryan nailed Styles with a low blow. Bryan followed it up with a Running Knee to become a four-time WWE Champion. Bryan’s WWE Championship win was unpredictable, bringing the curtain down on Styles’ 371-day WWE Championship reign. However, Bryan cemented his heel turn after the match by attacking Styles.

2. Drew McIntyre Rhodes Defeats Cody Rhodes – SmackDown (1/9/26)

There was a lot of pressure for Drew McIntyre to finally get over a mini obstacle and end his drought in world title matches. The Scottish Psychopath challenged Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in a Three Stages of Hell match. This was the first time that a Three Stages of Hell match occurred on SmackDown. Nevertheless, the former WWE Tag Team Champions had a brilliant match with neither man willing to back down.

McIntyre got off to a dream start by winning the first fall, knowing that he just needed one more to win the WWE Championship again. However, the American Nightmare wasn’t going to relinquish his title with ease. He battled back and won the second fall. The third and final fall was a steel cage match. The former United States Champion, Jacob Fatu, returned, but the distraction proved to be a decisive factor.

McIntyre found a way to escape through the cage door, clinching his fourth WWE World Championship. Furthermore, the Scottish Psychopath made history as he became the first wrestler to win the WWE Championship on SmackDown, Raw, and at WrestleMania.

1. Brock Lesnar Defeats Kurt Angle – SmackDown (9/18/03)

The rivalry between Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle over the WWE Championship was unquestionably WWE’s best feud in 2003. Lesnar beat Angle for the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 19.

However, Angle retaliated by regaining the title in a triple threat match at Vengeance 2003. Furthermore, Angle retained the title against Lesnar at SummerSlam 2003. Nevertheless, the score was settled in a 60-minute Iron Man match on SmackDown’s September 18, 2003, taping.

Lesnar and Angle put on a clinic in arguably the best match in their series of matches. Angle’s WWE Championship reign was in jeopardy as Lesnar took a commanding 5-2 lead. With a nervy last five minutes to go, Angle cut the deficit to 5-4 with Lesnar submitting to the Angle Lock.

Furthermore, both men were weary, and in the last 15 seconds, the Olympic Gold Medalist applied pressure on Lesnar with the Angle Lock, but Lesnar held on at 5-4 and clinched his third WWE Championship.