Image: WWE

For the first time in his career, Bobby Lashley is WWE Champion.

Lashley defeated The Miz in the main event of tonight’s Raw to win the WWE Championship. The main event was made a lumberjack match following a show-long storyline where Miz tried to get out of facing Lashley.

Lashley dominated Miz in the match and then submitted him with The Hurt Lock. After the match, Lashley celebrated with the WWE Championship belt and put Miz in The Hurt Lock again.

Lashley also pointed to the WrestleMania sign during his celebration.

It was originally advertised that Miz vs. Lashley would begin at 9 p.m. Eastern time on tonight’s show, but the match was delayed due to Miz claiming to have stomach cramps. The match then took place at 10 p.m. Eastern. Miz immediately ran out of the match, losing by countout but keeping the WWE Championship. Shane McMahon then told Miz that he would have to legitimately defend the WWE Championship against Lashley or Miz would be stripped of the title and it would be given to Lashley.

Prior to losing the title tonight, Miz had become WWE Champion by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre at last month’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. McIntyre retained the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match at the PPV but was then attacked by Lashley. On Raw last week, it was revealed that Lashley made a deal with Miz where he would get the first shot at Miz’s title if he helped him defeat McIntyre.

Lashley was previously a four-time World Heavyweight Champion in TNA/Impact Wrestling. During his WWE career, he previously held the United States Championship, Intercontinental Championship, and ECW World Heavyweight Championship two times each. Lashley first debuted for WWE in 2005 and — after departing the company in 2008 — made his return in 2018.

Lashley is the third Black wrestler to hold the WWE Championship, joining The Rock and Kofi Kingston.

Lashley tweeted after his WWE Championship win tonight: “THE ALMIGHTY ERA IS HERE!!! #ANDNEW @WWE #WWERaw”