Listing of professional wrestling secondary championships
This article covers all secondary championships contested in WWE throughout its history, not those acquired by the company and never contested under its banner, although WWE may recognize some titles from outside the company for championship records.
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.[4] Over Bischoff's objections, Raw co-general managerStone 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 (2001, 2003–present)
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 ManagerStephanie 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,[5] thus making the title exclusive to Raw.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9] The championship definitively returned to Raw in 2019 when champion Samoa Joe was drafted to the brand during that year's Superstar Shake-up.[10] Four years later during the 2023 draft, United States Champion Austin Theory moved to SmackDown, making the title exclusive to SmackDown again.
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.[11][12][13][14] In September 2019, the title became one of WWE's three main secondary titles when NXT became WWE's third major brand,[15][16] however, it reverted to a developmental brand in September 2021.[17] 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.[18][19][20][21] 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.[22]Raw wrestler "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio has also defended it on Raw during his first reign in 2023.[23][24][25]
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)
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 in November 2024.
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship (2025-present)
It is uncertain who Valentine defeated to become the inaugural champion. Sources suggested that Valentine won the title during a tournament in 1957, or by defeating Verne Gagne in 1958 in Chicago, IL.
Defeated Johnny Weaver in a tournament final to become the inaugural NWA United States Heavyweight Champion for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Booker T was the reigning champion when the title was acquired by the WWF.
Defeated Trent Seven 2–1 in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion. WWE officially recognizes that A-Kid won the title on November 26, 2020, when the match aired on tape delay. The title was recognized as a secondary championship at this time.
During his first five reigns, the title was known as the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. During his sixth reign, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. His fifth reign as United States Champion is not typically recognized by WWE, but a WWE.com article recognized him as a 6-time champion.[29]
During the first month of this reign, the title was known as the WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship.
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).
During his first three reigns as Intercontinental Champion, the title was known as the WWF Intercontinental Championship. During his first two reigns as United States Champion, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
During his six reigns as Intercontinental Champion, the title was known as the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. During his three reigns as United States Champion, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
During his two reigns as Intercontinental Champion, the title was known as the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. During his four reigns as United States Champion, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
During his six reigns as United States Champion, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. His fifth reign as United States Champion is not typically recognized by WWE, but a WWE.com article recognized him as a 6-time champion.[29]
During his first four reigns as Intercontinental Champion, the title was known as the WWF Intercontinental Championship. During his reign as United States Champion, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
During his three reigns as Intercontinental Champion, the title was known as the WWF Intercontinental Championship. During his two reigns as United States Champion, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
During his first four reigns as United States Champion, the title was known as the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. During his fourth reign, the title was renamed to WCW United States Heavyweight Championship; during his fifth reign, the title was known under this name.
During his reign as Intercontinental Champion, the title was known as the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. During his first three as United States Champion, the title was known as the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. During his fourth reign as United States Champion, the title was known as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
^The NXT UK Heritage Cup was established in 2020 and is still active today as the NXT Heritage Cup; however, it was only regarded as a secondary championship during its time on the NXT UK brand, from 2020 to 2023.
^The length of Valentine's 5th title reign is too uncertain to calculate.