12 Most Shocking WWE Title Changes
Following Jinder's unlikely rise, we take a look at the most surprising WWE title changes ever.
Well then. The dust has settled and Jinder Mahal is WWE Champion, an event that didn't just seem unlikely a few months ago. Until very recently the idea of Mahal - the man who got pancaked by Rob Gronkowski in the Memorial Battle Royal - becoming top dog seemed nothing more than an imaginative internet joke.
Whether you agree with Jinder's sudden elevation or not, it's blown the playing field wide open. If such a perennial lowercarder can become WWE Champion, who can't?
With that said, his victory isn't the only shocking title change in WWE history. Although considered by many to be the most prestigious championship in wrestling history, the belt has been subjected to more than a few startling switches. From well-executed risks to utter disasters, unlikely results have captured the attention of the wrestling world throughout the WWE Championship's storied lineage.
It's time to look at the 12 most shocking title changes in the history of the coveted belt, some which have since passed into wrestling folklore, others which may have been largely swept away by the passing of time.
12. Vince McMahon Defeats Triple H
Where better to start than with arguably the most baffling WWE Champion in title history - Vince McMahon himself.
The most powerful man in wrestling has thankfully only won his company's biggest championship once, defeating Triple H on a 1999 edition of SmackDown. The circumstances surrounding this title change make it not only one of the most shocking in WWE history, but also one of the most bizarre.
First and foremost, Vince was the babyface. A bullying Triple H forced him into a title match with Shane as special guest referee, bloodying and beating down the owner en route to what seemed like a squash victory.
Instead, in typically anarchic Attitude Era fashion, Stone Cold interfered to a thunderous ovation. After delivering the Stunner, Austin dragged his former nemesis on top of The Game and watched as Shane counted the pinfall, sending the live audience delirious.
The excitement of the moment was probably a celebration of the title change's shock value, rather than a reaction taking into account the long term consequences. Yes, Vince vacated the title shortly afterwards, but his name was permanently etched onto the legacy of the most prestigious title in wrestling.