Buddy Rogers was recognized as the first WWF World Heavyweight Champion when the title was created in 1963.
The championship was introduced after the World Wide Wrestling Federation separated from the National Wrestling Alliance. Rogers was presented as the inaugural champion, having won a tournament in Rio de Janeiro according to the promotion’s historical account.
Rogers held the title for a short period because a heart attack affected his ability to wrestle. Bruno Sammartino defeated him in Madison Square Garden on May 17, 1963, beginning one of the longest championship reigns in major wrestling history.
The title later became known through several names, including the WWF Championship and WWE Championship. It is distinct from the World Heavyweight Championship introduced in WWE in 2002 and from the modern World Heavyweight Championship established in 2023.