View source for Million Dollar Championship

{{short description|Championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
| image            = Million Dollar Title 06152021cg 004 Crop (1)--ec0511481c4c937f38ab3c9f0e3e4e3e.png
| championshipname = Million Dollar Championship
| caption          = The Million Dollar Championship belt
| promotion        = [[WWE]]
|brand             = [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]] (2010)<br>[[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]] (2021)
| created          = February 15, 1989
| retired          = August 23, 2021
| mostreigns       = [[Ted DiBiase]] (2)
| firstchamp       = [[Ted DiBiase]]
| finalchamp       = [[Cameron Grimes]]
| shortestreign    = [[Cameron Grimes]]<br>(1 day){{efn|WWE recognizes 2 days due to [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]].}}
| longestreign     = [[Ted DiBiase]]<br>(922 days)
| oldest           = [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]]<br>({{age in years and days|1951|04|07|1991|08|26}})
| youngest         = [[Ted DiBiase Jr.]]<br>(27 years, 147 days)
| heaviest         = [[Ted DiBiase]]<br>({{convert|260|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
| lightest         = [[Ted DiBiase Jr.]]<br>({{convert|214|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
}}
The '''Million Dollar Championship''' was a [[professional wrestling championship]] in the American promotion [[WWE]]. The title was originally introduced in 1989 by [[Ted DiBiase|"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase]], who was unable to win or purchase the [[WWF Championship]] (now WWE Championship). In storyline, the title was an [[Professional wrestling championship#Unsanctioned championships|unsanctioned championship]] that DiBiase rarely defended. After DiBiase and [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]] won the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] in 1992, the Million Dollar Championship was abandoned.

The title has since been revived on three occasions. The first was in 1996 for DiBiase's protégé, [[Stone Cold Steve Austin|The Ringmaster]], who shortly after became Stone Cold Steve Austin, but the title was abandoned after DiBiase left the promotion a few months later. In 2010, the title was revived for DiBiase's son, [[Ted DiBiase Jr.]], but was again abandoned later that same year when DiBiase Jr. returned the title to his father. The third revival came in 2021 for the [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]] [[WWE brand extension|brand division]] for a storyline between DiBiase, [[Cameron Grimes]], and [[LA Knight]]. During this time, the title was officially recognized by WWE; however, it was deactivated in August of that year when Grimes, who won the title, gave it back to DiBiase.

== History ==
===Introduction===
[[File:Million $ Champion.png|175px|thumb|right|The first champion, "The Million Dollar Man" [[Ted DiBiase]]. According to the storyline, he created the title when he was unable to win the WWF Championship]]
The title was created during the storyline where [[Ted DiBiase]], known as "The Million Dollar Man", was unable to win the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] (now WWE Championship), having lost the final match of the WWF Championship tournament at [[WrestleMania IV]] to [[Randy Savage]].<ref name="Ted">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/ted-dibiase.html|access-date=April 28, 2012|title=Ted DiBiase|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> During the Summer of 1988, DiBiase teamed with [[André the Giant]], in a team known as "[[The Mega Bucks]]", while chasing the WWF Championship.<ref name="Megabucks">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/greatestmoments |access-date=2008-03-01 |title=SummerSlam Greatest Moments |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221200155/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/greatestmoments |archive-date=2008-02-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Still unable to win the title, DiBiase decided that if he could not win or buy the WWF Championship, he would purchase his own belt.<ref name="Andre">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454122 |access-date=2008-03-01 |title=Andre the Giant's first WWE Championship reign |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050624001310/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454122 |archive-date=2005-06-24 }}</ref> In 1989, DiBiase unveiled a new championship belt, which he called the Million Dollar Championship. This championship was not officially sanctioned by the [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), and DiBiase would rarely put his "championship" on the line in matches.<ref name="Ted"/>

In early 1990, [[Jake Roberts]] stole the belt during his feud with DiBiase.<ref>{{Citation|title=Jake Roberts steals the Million Dollar Title (01-20-1990)| date=January 20, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjGhm2jiDdA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/KjGhm2jiDdA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-07-31}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This also led to a [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] turn for the [[Ray Traylor|Big Boss Man]], who resented his manager [[Slick (wrestling)|Slick]] selling his services to DiBiase in order to retrieve the belt from Roberts. After attacking Roberts and stealing the bag containing the belt and Roberts' pet [[Burmese Python|python]] named Damien, DiBiase, the Boss Man, and Slick headed for "[[Bruce Prichard#The Brother Love Show (1988–1991)|The Brother Love Show]]" where DiBiase bragged about buying the Boss Man's services. The Boss Man then told both Slick and DiBiase that he could not be bought and immediately returned the bag to Roberts, who had been left handcuffed to the ring ropes. The Boss Man then released Roberts, walked back to the Brother Love set, pushed Slick, and again told an irate DiBiase that he could not be bought before walking off to the cheers of the crowd, cementing his face turn.<ref>{{Citation|title=WWF History – Big Boss Man (from heel to face) YouTube video|date=March 17, 2008|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsK_EJuE_a4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wsK_EJuE_a4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=October 16, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> DiBiase had his bodyguard [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]] get the belt back from Roberts at [[WrestleMania VI]] after Roberts was counted out during their match at the [[SkyDome]].<ref name=PWH>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#VI|title=WrestleMania VI|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=October 23, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329040834/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#VI |archive-date=March 29, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1991, DiBiase's bodyguard Virgil rebelled, turned face, and challenged DiBiase at [[SummerSlam (1991)|SummerSlam]] for the Million Dollar Championship. Virgil won the match,<ref name="SummerSlam91">{{cite web |title=Full Event Results: SummerSlam 1991 |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/1991/results |website=[[WWE]] |access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref> however, DiBiase regained the championship with the help of [[Smash (wrestler)|Repo Man]] at ''[[Survivor Series Showdown]]''.<ref name="SSShowdown"/> When DiBiase and [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]] won the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] on February 7, 1992, DiBiase abandoned the Million Dollar Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132113111 |access-date=2008-03-01 |title=Money Inc.'s first World Tag Team Championship reign |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129091653/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132113111 |archive-date=2005-11-29 }}</ref>

===Revivals===
[[File:Dibiase Millon Dollar champ.jpg|thumb|upright|right|alt=A dark-haired man wearing blue wrestling tights, black knee-high wrestling boots and black knee-pads stands on the white ropes of a wrestling ring. He is wearing around his waist a gold-plated professional wrestling championship belt shaped with three dollar signs on the front.|[[Ted DiBiase Jr.]] was awarded the Million Dollar Championship by his father [[Ted DiBiase]] in 2010]]
Ted DiBiase would later go on to award the championship to his newest protégé, [[Stone Cold Steve Austin|The Ringmaster]], on his arrival in the WWF in January 1996 ([[Broadcast delay|pre-taped]] in December 1995).<ref name="Ted"/> The Ringmaster would shortly after become known as Stone Cold Steve Austin. After DiBiase left WWF (with the storyline reason of Austin lost a match against [[Savio Vega]] on May 28, 1996), the title was again abandoned.<ref name="Ted"/><ref name="Steve">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/stonecold/bio/ |access-date=2008-03-01 |title=Stone Cold's WWE Profile |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224102832/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/stonecold/bio/ |archive-date=2008-02-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In May 2002, the WWF was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE, which became an [[orphaned initialism]] in 2011).<ref name="GetFOut">{{cite web| title=World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Drops The "F" To Emphasize the "E" for Entertainment| publisher=WWE| url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_05_06.jsp| access-date=August 28, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119180317/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_05_06.jsp| archive-date=January 19, 2009| df=mdy-all}}</ref> After several years, the Million Dollar Championship reappeared on WWE television in 2009 when DiBiase, the [[List of WWE Raw guest hosts|guest host]] of the night, appeared on the July 6 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'', carrying the belt as he fulfilled his guest host duties. Nearly a year later, when DiBiase was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] on March 27, 2010, he had the Million Dollar Championship belt with him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=46273&p=3|title=FULL REPORT FROM THE 2010 WWE HALL OF FAME CEREMONY INCLUDING WHAT YOU WON'T SEE ON USA NETWORK - PWInsider.com|work=www.pwinsider.com|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> Then, on the April 5 episode of ''Raw'', after DiBiase's son [[Ted DiBiase Jr.]] disbanded his tag team, [[Legacy (professional wrestling)|Legacy]], DiBiase Jr. came out holding the Million Dollar Championship, claiming his father had given it to him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/04/05/13477066.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714110312/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/04/05/13477066.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 14, 2012|title=Raw: Cena's not on the A-List |last=Plummer|first=Dale|date=April 5, 2010|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|access-date=April 15, 2010}}</ref> WWE's official website confirmed the reactivation of the unsanctioned championship under DiBiase Jr.'s profile. On the October 4 episode, [[Dustin Rhodes|Goldust]] attacked DiBiase Jr. and gained possession of the belt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_44266.shtml|title=Keller's WWE Raw report 10/4: John Cena joins The Nexus, wrestles as Nexus, reads statement regarding joining Nexus|date=2010-10-04|last=Keller|first=Wade|access-date=2010-11-16|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the November 8 episode, [[Aksana (wrestler)|Aksana]] stole the Million Dollar Championship belt from him.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/11/08/16041271.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716023926/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/11/08/16041271.html| url-status=usurped| archive-date=July 16, 2012|title=RAW: Barrett, Nexus celebrate early in the U.K|last=Plummer|first=Dale|date=2010-11-08|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|access-date=2010-11-16}}</ref> Goldust stole the belt back the following week and returned it to "The Million Dollar Man", who then offered to return it to his son, who rejected the offer, thus the Million Dollar Championship was again deactivated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/18350/|title=WWE Old School Raw Report|date=November 16, 2010|last=Martin|first=Todd|access-date=November 16, 2010|work=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>

After more than a decade of being off television, the title was brought back in 2021 for WWE's [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]]. On the February 10, 2021 episode of ''[[WWE NXT|NXT]]'', [[Cameron Grimes]] made his return from injury and claimed to have become a [[GameStop]] investor during his time away (in reference to the [[GameStop short squeeze|GameStop stock rise]]), thus making him the "richest man in NXT". Grimes then began a feud with DiBiase after encountering him in a jewelry store over their watches.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cook|first=Ryan|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/results/wwe-nxt-results-live-coverage-21021-last-stop-takeover-vengeance-day|title=WWE NXT Results for 2/10/21 The Last Stop Before Takeover: Vengeance Day|date=February 10, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021|website=Fightful}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Cook|first=Ryan|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/cameron-grimes-invested-gamestop-and-now-you-can-kiss-his-grits|title=Cameron Grimes Invested In GameStop And Now You Can Kiss His Grits|date=February 10, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021|website=Fightful}}</ref> Over the next few weeks, "The Million Dollar Man" would continue to one-up Grimes, outbidding him in various purchases. The two then had a "Million Dollar Face-Off" on the May 25 episode where [[LA Knight]] defended and allied with DiBiase.<ref name="NXT05252021">{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/05/25/5-25-nxt-tv-results-moores-review-of-karrion-kross-vs-finn-balor-for-the-nxt-championship-franky-monets-in-ring-debut-raquel-gonzalez-and-dakota-kai-vs-shotzi-blackheart-and-ember-m/|title=5/25 NXT TV Results: Moore's review of Karrion Kross vs. Finn Balor for the NXT Championship, Franky Monet's in-ring debut, Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai vs. Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon for a shot at the NXT Women's Tag Titles, Ted DiBiase and Cameron Grimes face-off segment|last=Moore|first=John|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=May 25, 2021|access-date=June 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526051958/https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/05/25/5-25-nxt-tv-results-moores-review-of-karrion-kross-vs-finn-balor-for-the-nxt-championship-franky-monets-in-ring-debut-raquel-gonzalez-and-dakota-kai-vs-shotzi-blackheart-and-ember-m/|archive-date=May 26, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> At [[NXT TakeOver: In Your House (2021)|TakeOver: In Your House]] Knight  defeated Grimes in a Ladder Match for the title.<ref name="NXTInYourHouse2021">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=NXT Takeover In Your House results – Powell's live review of Karrion Kross vs. Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly vs. Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT Title, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Ember Moon for the NXT Women's Title, Bronson Reed and MSK vs. Legado Del Fantasma for the NXT North American and NXT Tag Titles|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/06/13/nxt-takeover-in-your-house-results-powells-live-review-of-karrion-kross-vs-adam-cole-vs-kyle-oreilly-vs-pete-dunne-vs-johnny-gargano-for-the-nxt-title-raquel-gonzalez-vs-ember-moon/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=June 13, 2021|access-date=June 13, 2021}}</ref> After this, WWE added an official title history for the Million Dollar Championship to their website, thus recognizing the title as an official championship in the promotion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/million-dollar-championship|title=Million Dollar Championship|work=[[WWE]]}}</ref>

During the following episode of ''NXT'', Knight turned on and attacked DiBiase, who was saved by Grimes.<ref name="NXT06152021">{{cite web|last=Moore|first=John|title=6/15 NXT TV results: Moore's review of William Regal addresses his future, Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans in a tornado tag match, Kushida defends the NXT Cruiserweight Championship in an open challenge|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/06/15/6-15-nxt-tv-results-moores-review-of-william-regal-addresses-his-future-tommaso-ciampa-and-timothy-thatcher-vs-the-grizzled-young-veterans-in-a-tornado-tag-match-kushida-defends-the-nxt-cru/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=June 15, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2021}}</ref> Grimes then defeated Knight to win the title at [[NXT TakeOver 36|TakeOver 36]] on August 22.<ref name="NXT36"/> On the following episode of ''NXT'', Grimes gave the title back to DiBiase, who said that Grimes should keep it, but DiBiase actually kept the title and instead gave Grimes a replica.<ref name="NXT08242021"/> In September 2021, the championship was quietly removed from WWE.com with Grimes being referred to as a former champion, thus deactivating the title with Grimes recognized as the final champion.<ref name="NXT09212021">{{Cite web|title=WWE NXT 2.0 results, Sept. 21, 2021: Ciampa & Breakker crush Dunne & Holland in chaotic fashion|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/09-21-2021|access-date=2021-09-26|website=WWE|language=en}}</ref>

==Belt design==
The Million Dollar Championship belt was designed by Terry Betteridge of Betteridge Jewelers in [[Greenwich, Connecticut]].{{sfn|DiBiase|Caiazzo|2008|p=167}} The center plate features three large [[dollar sign]]s that are entirely filled with [[cubic zirconia]], and there are three small diamonds on the back. The strap itself is made up of multiple metal dollar signs that go around the entire circumference of the strap; there are small hinges between each dollar sign so that the strap can go around the title holder's waist. All of the metal on the belt is gold [[plated]]. Although the belt was billed as being worth [[US$]]1,000,000, DiBiase claimed the cost was around $40,000,{{sfn|DiBiase|Caiazzo|2008|p=168}} while [[Bruce Prichard]] claimed the cost was close to $50,000 during an episode of his podcast, ''[[Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Varbie |first1=Aaron |title=10 Things We Learned From Bruce Prichard's Million Dollar Man Podcast |url=http://stillrealtous.com/10-things-we-learned-from-bruce-prichards-million-dollar-man-podcast/ |website=Featured |publisher=Still Real To Us |access-date=11 July 2019 |date=12 January 2017}}</ref>

== Reigns ==
Over the championship's 32-year history, there were seven reigns between six champions as well as three vacancies. Ted DiBiase was the inaugural champion and had the most reigns at two. His first reign was also the longest reign at 922 days and he had the longest combined reign at 1,010 days. Cameron Grimes had the shortest reign at 1 day (2 days as recognized by WWE due to [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]]) and was the final champion. Virgil was the oldest champion, winning the title at 40 years old, while Ted DiBiase Jr. was the youngest at 27 years, 147 days old.

{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes|days=yes|days2=yes|dayless=yes|unrecognized=yes}}
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF)
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 1
|champion = {{sortname|Ted|DiBiase}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1989|02|15}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=02|day1=15|year1=1989|month2=08|day2=26|year2=1991}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=04|year1=1989|month2=08|day2=26|year2=1991}}
|location = [[Binghamton, New York|Binghamton, NY]]
|event    = ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling|Superstars of Wrestling]]''
|notes    = DiBiase unveiled the title belt during a segment of ''[[Bruce Prichard#The Brother Love Show (1988–1991)|The Brother Love Show]]''. This episode aired on [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]] on March 4, 1989.
|ref      = <ref name="Ted"/>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 2
|champion = {{sortname||Virgil|dab=wrestler}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1991|08|26}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=26|year1=1991|month2=11|day2=11|year2=1991}}
|days2     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=13|year1=1991|month2=11|day2=11|year2=1991}}
|location = [[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|NY]]
|event    = [[SummerSlam (1991)|SummerSlam]]
|notes    =
|ref      = <ref name="SummerSlam91"/>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 3
|champion = {{sortname|Ted|DiBiase}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1991|11|11}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=11|day1=11|year1=1991|month2=02|day2=07|year2=1992}}
|days2     = {{age in days nts|month1=11|day1=25|year1=1991|month2=02|day2=07|year2=1992}}
|location = [[Utica, New York|Utica, NY]]
|event    = ''[[Survivor Series Showdown]]''
|notes    = This program aired on [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]] on November 24, 1991.
|ref      = <ref name="SSShowdown">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/dibiase.html|title=Ted DiBiase's Wrestling Biography|access-date=2008-03-01|publisher=Wrestlin Rollercoaster}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 3.5
|type     = deactivated
|date     = {{dts|1992|02|07}}
|location = [[Denver]], [[Colorado|CO]]
|event    = [[House show]]
|days2    = yes
|notes    = [[Ted DiBiase]] abandoned the title upon winning the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] with [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]] during this house show.
|ref      = <ref name="Ted"/>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 4
|champion = {{sort|Ringmaster Stone Cold Steve Austin|[[Stone Cold Steve Austin|The Ringmaster/Stone Cold Steve Austin]]}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1995|12|18}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=12|day1=18|year1=1995|month2=05|day2=28|year2=1996}}
|days2     = {{age in days nts|month1=01|day1=09|year1=1996|month2=05|day2=28|year2=1996}}
|location = [[Newark, Delaware|Newark, DE]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''
|notes    = Awarded the championship by [[Ted DiBiase]] during a segment of "[[Bruce Prichard#The Brother Love Show (1988–1991)|The Brother Love Show]]". This episode aired on [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]] on January 8, 1996. Shortly after, The Ringmaster became known as Stone Cold Steve Austin.
|ref      = <ref name="Ted"/><ref name="Steve"/>{{sfn|DiBiase|Caiazzo|2008|p=193}}
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 4.5
|type     = deactivated
|date     = {{dts|1996|05|28}}
|days2    = yes
|notes    = [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] abandoned the title following [[Ted DiBiase]]'s departure from the WWF on May 28, 1996.<br>In May 2002, the WWF was renamed to [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE).
|ref      = <ref name="Steve"/><ref name="BewareDog">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse8b.html|title=WWE In Your House: Beware of Dog Results: Part 2|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=2010-11-13}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE): [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]]
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 5
|champion = {{sortname|Ted|DiBiase Jr.}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2010|04|05}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=05|year1=2010|month2=11|day2=15|year2=2010}}
|days2    = yes
|location = [[Moline, Illinois|Moline, IL]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''
|notes    = Awarded the championship by his father, [[Ted DiBiase]]. WWE billed him just as Ted DiBiase.
|ref      = <ref name="tedbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/teddibiase/bio/|title=WWE Superstars: Ted DiBiase|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=2010-04-14}}</ref><ref name="tedjr">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/04/05/13477066.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714110312/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/04/05/13477066.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 14, 2012|title=Raw: Cena's not on the A-List |last=Plummer|first=Dale|date=2010-04-05|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|access-date=2010-04-14}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 5.5
|type     = deactivated
|date     = {{dts|2010|11|15}}
|location = [[Hershey, Pennsylvania|Hershey, PA]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''
|days2    = yes
|notes    = After the championship had been stolen from [[Ted DiBiase Jr.]], [[Goldust]] returned the title to [[Ted DiBiase]], who attempted to give it back to his son, but DiBiase Jr. rejected it, thus abandoning the title.
|ref      = <ref name=Raw111510>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_45319.shtml|title=Keller's WWE Raw report 11/15: Special three-hour old school Raw with great angle at end, Jim Ross returns, Piper steps up, more|date=2010-11-15|last=Keller|first=Wade|access-date=2010-11-16|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[WWE]]: [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]]
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 6
|champion = {{sortname|LA|Knight}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2021|06|13}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=13|year1=2021|month2=08|day2=22|year2=2021}}
|days2     = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=13|year1=2021|month2=08|day2=21|year2=2021}}
|location = [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando, FL]]
|event    = [[NXT TakeOver: In Your House (2021)|TakeOver: In Your House]]
|notes    = [[Ted DiBiase]] reintroduced the championship on the June 8, 2021, episode of ''[[WWE NXT|NXT]]''. Knight defeated [[Cameron Grimes]] in a [[ladder match]] to win the revived title, which became recognized as an official championship in WWE.
|ref      = <ref name="NXTInYourHouse2021"/>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 7
|champion = {{sortname|Cameron|Grimes}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2021|08|22}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=22|year1=2021|month2=08|day2=23|year2=2021}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=22|year1=2021|month2=08|day2=24|year2=2021}}
|location = [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando, FL]]
|event    = [[NXT TakeOver 36|TakeOver 36]]
|notes    = If Grimes had lost, [[Ted DiBiase]] would have become [[LA Knight]]'s butler. 
|ref      = <ref name="NXT36">{{cite web|last=Moore|first=John|title=NXT Takeover 36 results: Moore's live review of Karrion Kross vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai for the NXT Women's Title, Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly in a best of three falls match, Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov for the NXT UK Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/08/22/nxt-takeover-36-results-moores-live-review-of-karrion-kross-vs-samoa-joe-for-the-nxt-championship-raquel-gonzalez-vs-dakota-kai-for-the-nxt-womens-title-adam-cole-vs-kyle-oreilly-in-a-best/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=August 22, 2021|access-date=August 22, 2021}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 7.5
|type     = deactivated
|date     = {{dts|2021|08|23}}
|days2    = yes
|location = [[Orlando, Florida]]
|event    = ''[[WWE NXT|NXT]]''
|notes    = [[Cameron Grimes]] relinquished the title to [[Ted DiBiase]], which aired on [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]] on August 24, 2021, the date WWE recognizes.<ref name="NXT08242021">{{Cite web|title=SPOILERS: 8/24 WWE NXT AND THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OF 205 LIVE {{!}} PWInsider.com|url=https://pwinsider.com/article/150086/spoilers-824-wwe-nxt-and-the-next-two-weeks-of-205-live.html?p=1|access-date=2021-09-26|website=pwinsider.com}}</ref>
|ref      = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Superstars|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars|access-date=2021-09-26|website=WWE|language=en}}</ref>
}}
{{BundleEnd}}

== Combined reigns ==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Rank
!Wrestler
!data-sort-type="number"|No. of<br>reigns
! data-sort-type="number" |Combined<br>days
!data-sort-type="number"|Combined days<br>rec. by WWE
|-
!1
|{{sortname|Ted|DiBiase}} || 2 || 1,010 || 979
|-
!2
|{{sortname|Ted|DiBiase Jr.}} || 1 || colspan=2|224
|-
!3
|{{sort|Ringmaster|[[Stone Cold Steve Austin|The Ringmaster/Stone Cold Steve Austin]]}} || 1 || 162 || 140
|-
!4
|[[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]] || 1 || 77 || 90
|-
!5
|[[LA Knight]] || 1 || 70 || 69
|-
!6
||[[Cameron Grimes]] || 1 || 1 || 2
|}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book|last1=DiBiase|first1=Ted|last2=Caiazzo|first2=Tom|title=Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man|publisher=Pocket Books|location=New York, NY|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4165-5890-3}}

==External links==
* [https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=4994  Million Dollar Championship] at Cagematch.net
* [https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/million-dollar-championship Million Dollar Championship Title History] at WWE.com
{{Million Dollar Championship}}
{{WWE Championships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Million Dollar Championship}}
[[Category:1989 in professional wrestling]]
[[Category:Unsanctioned championships]]
[[Category:WWE championships]]
[[Category:WWE NXT championships]]