4 times the WWE Championship changed hands on SmackDown
We've seen WWE and World Championship changes on RAW many times, but the blue brand, despite being 19 years running, has hardly seen any World title changes. It's a shame because some of the greatest World Champions have made their names on SmackDown Live.
The Phenomenal AJ Styles is one such name. Hardly 7 months into his WWE run, he was a first-round draft pick for SmackDown Live (Being the second overall pick) and won the WWE Championship 2 months afterwards.
It was over a year later, however, that he would embark on a historic title run, defeating Jinder Mahal in a magical night at Manchester to become a 2-time WWE Champion. As the brand's top face, he defended the title night in and night out and joined an elite club of legends who have held the WWE Championship for over a year.
His reign came to an end on SmackDown Live at 371 days but it's certainly one that'll never be forgotten. Let's look at the rare times where the WWE Championship has changed hands on the blue brand.
#4 Vince McMahon - SmackDown September 1999
Vince McMahon made his triumphant WWE return in the fall of 1999. While he was the notorious top heel of the industry, it took people by surprise when he returned as a babyface. In a storyline only crazy enough for the Attitude Era, he found himself involved with WWF Champion Triple H and even faced him for the WWE title in a September 14th episode of SmackDown!
Shane McMahon was the special guest referee and as you can imagine, the match had shenanigans after shenanigans. At the end, Vince McMahon pinned Triple H to win the WWF Championship.
He would, however, relinquish the championship just six days later on RAW.