Who was the first ever WWE champion?

Buddy Rogers - Rogers, the original "Nature Boy" that much of the Ric Flair perosna was based on, was the top star in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in the late 50's and early 60's. When Vince McMahon Sr started his wrestling company World Wide Wrestling Federation (today known as WWE) in the early 1960's he named Rogers as his first champion.

Technically Rogers did not beat anyone to win the title - The man who defeated him, Bruno Sammartino, would be the first wrestler "TO WIN" the WWE Title.