8 Times Wrestlers Who Wanted To Quit Were Given Championships

6. Ricky Steamboat (WWF Intercontinental Title)

Trish Stratus Unforgiven 2006
WWE

The spectacular Intercontinental Title tussle between Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage at WrestleMania III has become a piece of wrestling folklore, the legacy of whose apocryphally elevated artistry rightly endures any attempts at objective revision.

Just as well known as Steamboat's uplifting moment of triumph under the bright lights of the Silverdome is his dismally iniquitous fall from grace. Mere weeks after raising the belt - both literally and figuratively - it was callously shorn from 'The Dragon's waist by WWE management, after he asked for time off to be by his wife's side during the birth of the couple's first child.

WWE's decision has latterly been contextualised as punishment, but presumably Bonnie Blood's pregnancy wasn't immaculate; Steamboat, anticipating his holiday request, simply kept mum until after his big WrestleMania moment. He dropped the bombshell shortly afterwards, leaving his employers with no real choice but to protect a belt they'd so recently and so magically lifted.

Passing the gold to Honky Tonk Man may have seemed a reprimand if ever there was one, but the plan had originally been for Butch Reed to take the title. His failure to show up - and Jake Roberts' subsequent substance problems nixing Honky's transitional role - inadvertently rendered Ricky a schmuck.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.