All of WWE Championship History: Rewritten

And maybe you can give an explanation for title vacancies.

WWE Title
Dec 7 1991- After interference from both Ric Flair (whom Hogan was feuding with at the time) and Randy Savage (whom Undertaker beat for the title), Jack Tunney held the title up as Vacant, with the winner of the Royal Rumble to receive the title.

Feb 13 1997- Shawn Michaels Lost His Smile. Vader, whom Michaels was supposed to defend the title against, is added to the Final Four match involving Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Ahmed Johnson and Faarooq. Instead of receiving a title shot the next night on Raw (with the winner going on to face Undertaker at Mania 13), the winner of the Final Five match would be declared the new champion.

December 8 1997- Michaels was ordered by Commissioner Slaughter to defend his title a second time at IYH: D-Generation X, which turned out to be against Owen Hart, who defeats HBK. Mr. McMahon rules the next night that Slaughter overstepped his authority, firing him and then vacating the title (he doesn't give it back to Michaels, due to his continued "complaining"), putting it up in a first ever Triple Threat Casket match at the Royal Rumble.

October 18, 1998- The Undertaker & Kane were billed as "Co-Champions" following their victory over Austin with a double pin. A Buried Alive match was set to crown a new champion...but Austin interfered and caused both men to be buried in the grave. McMahon then held the title up for the Deadly Game tournament at Survivor Series.

June 13, 2006- After winning the WWE Title, in a mirror of when Shane Douglas threw down the WWE title, Rob Van Dam throws down the championship belt and declares the new ECW title to be the "real world championship" in wrestling. This ECW title would have its lineage from 2006-2010, before eventually being merged into the new NXT championship.

October 2, 2007- John Cena vacates the title due to injury. Triple H wins a match against Randy Orton to win the vacant title.

June 8, 2009- Batista vacates the title due to injury. The Big Show wins a Fatal Fourway match a week later to win the vacant title.

June 1, 2014- Daniel Bryan is forced to vacate both the World Heavyweight and WWE Championships. The WWE title is won by John Cena at Money in the Bank, while the World Heavyweight Title would be reactivated by Seth Rollins at Night of Champions.

Nov 9 2015- Seth Rollins vacates due to injury. Brock Lesnar wins a tournament to crown a new champion.

WCW/World Heavyweight Title

Apr 19, 1995- Vader is stripped of the title by Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel after continued assaults on wrestlers. Ric Flair wins a tournament to crown a new champion.

October 30, 1995- Following the controversy at Halloween Havoc between The Giant and Hulk Hogan, the title is vacated, with Ric Flair winning the World War 3 Battle Royal to win the vacant title.

April 5, 1999- Goldberg is forced to vacate the title due to "injury" (in reality this was to remove the title from him while keeping his winning streak in tact, while simultaneously allowing him to promote the film Universal Soldier: The Return). DDP Wins a Fatal Fourway at Spring Stampede for the vacant title.

Oct 25 1999- The title is vacated by "The Powers That Be" following the controversial finish to the Hogan/Goldberg match at Halloween Havoc. Bret Hart would defeat Goldberg at Mayhem for the vacant belt, handing him his first pinfall loss in WCW (albeit in controversial fashion as well)

January 16, 2000- Bret Hart vacates the title due to career ending injuries. Kevin Nash Names Himself as new champion, and then wins a six pack challenge to officially become the new champion.

March 27, 2000- With a "wrestler's union" forming in WCW, World Champion Sting (as well as his opponent for the night, Ric Flair) agree to join this work stoppage, forcing booker Kevin Sullivan to resign. WCW is relaunched with Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff both in charge two weeks later. DDP wins a tournament culminating at Spring Stampede for the vacant title.

March 26, 2001- The WCW title is vacated after Vince McMahon buys WCW, with Sting as its last official champion. The title is rechristened in September by Triple H at the behest of Eric Bischoff, who gives him the title as a reward for turning on the WWF during the Invasion.

March 17, 2002- The Title is retired a second time after WCW loses the Wrestlemania Battle with the WWF, forcing its closure. However, the title would be brought back as the main title for the Raw brand of WWE by Eric Bischoff, which Triple H won in a match against Ric Flair at Backlash.

Nov 13, 2005- Title is vacated due to tragic death of Eddie Guerrero. Chris Benoit wins a Fatal Fourway at Survivor Series for the vacant title.

April 4, 2008- Vickie Guerrero strips The Undertaker of the World Title for using the Hell's Gate finisher, which she had banned earlier in the night, in a rematch against Edge. Edge wins a return match at Backlash for the Vacant Title.

May 23, 2008- After Edge seemingly banishes The Undertaker from WWE after losing a match via intentional countout, Mr. McMahon reverses the decision and strips Edge of the title, putting the belt on the line in an Extreme Rules match at One Night Stand. However, CM Punk would win the title after cashing in Money in the Bank, turning the match into a Triple Threat.

Jul 25, 2011- After controversy in the Christian/Randy Orton match at Money in the Bank, plus with the WWE Championship incognito due to the departing CM Punk, the World Heavyweight Title is vacated and a 32 man tournament established to crown a new champion. John Cena defeats Christian in the tournament final at Summerslam.

June 1, 2014- Daniel Bryan vacates both the World Heavyweight and WWE Championship due to injury. While John Cena wins the WWE title at Money in the Bank, Seth Rollins reactivates the World Heavyweight Title (both titles had been defended simultaneously since a "unification match" between Randy Orton and Batista in December, but both retroactively maintained their own lineage) upon "earning" a forefit victory over Roman Reigns at Night of Champions.

Aug 22, 2016- Finn Balor vacates the title due to injury. Kevin Owens wins a Fatal Fourway the following week for the vacant title.

October 22, 2018- Roman Reigns vacates the title due to his leukiemia diagnosis. Seth Rollins wins a match for the vacant title that same night.

US Title Ahoy!




Vacancies
October 4, 1975- Johnny Valentine forced to vacate due to injuries suffered in plane crash. Paul Jones wins title in tournament.
August 19, 1979- Ric Flair forced to vacate title, due to also being tag team champion at the time. Jimmy Snuka wins title in tournament.
September 8, 1981- Wahoo McDaniel forced to vacate title due to injury. Sgt Slaughter wins battle royal for vacant title.
September 14, 1984- Ole Anderson forced to vacate title due to controversial finish in a title match. Manny Fernandez wins tournament for vacant title.
January 13, 1993- Rick Rude forced to vacate title due to injury. Davey Boy Smith wins battle royal for the vacant title.
May 29, 1993- Rick Rude stripped of title due to controversial finish in title match. Davey Boy Smith regains title in a rematch.
October 16, 1993- Big Van Vader forefits title upon winning WCW World Title. Dustin Rhodes wins match for vacant title.
February 24, 1997- The Giant stripped of the title upon winning the tag team titles. Randy Savage wins a tournament for the vacant title.
December 27, 1998- Goldberg forefits the title upon winning WCW World Title. Bret Hart wins tournament for the vacant title.
December 2, 1999- Shane Douglas stripped of the title, after Dean Malenko's surrender of the belt to him is overturned. Chris Benoit wins match for the vacant title.
January 16, 2000- Chris Benoit forefits the title upon leaving the company. Jeff Jarrett wins match for vacant title.
March 27, 2000- All titles vacated due to the WCW Labor Agreement.  Scott Steiner wins tournament for the vacant title.
July 10, 2000- Goldberg stripped of title due to attack on Vince Russo. Kanyon wins battle royal for vacant title.
March 26, 2001- All titles vacated/deactivated due to WCW closure. Mike Awesome wins a tournament for the reactivated title.
February 3, 2005- JBL willingly vacates title in order to gain chance at a Wrestlemania title shot. Booker T wins tournament for vacant title.
August 5, 2005- Chris Benoit stripped of title due to controversial finish in title match. Booker T wins a Best of Seven series for the vacant title.
June 29, 2014- Bray Wyatt stripped of title by Corporate Kane as precondition for entering Money in the Bank ladder match. Rusev wins tournament for the vacant title.
February 21, 2021- Keith Lee forced to vacate title due to COVID-19 diagnosis. Riddle wins triple threat match for vacant title.