World Heavyweight Championship History. 2002-Present. The following is how the champions won the title. Triple H: Awarded Title by Eric Bischoff on September 2, 2002 Shawn Michaels: November 17, 2002 Defeated Triple h, Kane, Rob van Dam, Booker T and Chris Jericho the first Elimination Chamber Match. Triple H: December 15, 2002 Defeated Shawn Michaels in A Three Stages Of Hell Match. First Stage: Street Fight, Second: Steel Cage, Third Stage: Ladder Match. Goldberg: September 21, 2003 Defeated Triple H at Unforgiven. Triple H: December 14, 2003 Defeated Goldberg and Kane in a Triple threat match at Armageddon. Chris Benoit: March 14, 2004 Defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XX (20). Randy Orton: August 15, 2004 Defeated Chris Benoit at Summerslam 2004. Triple H: September 12, 2004 Defeated Randy Orton at Unforgiven. Vacated: December 6, 2004 Vacated when a Triple Threat match between Triple H, Chris Benoit, and Edge the week prior ended in a double victory as Edge...