10 Awesome Wrestling Title Reigns That Went Long
Playing the Long Game.
In a pre-determined industry, an extended run with a championship is one of the genuine markers of real validation.
Few performers get such an honour and such trust bestowed upon them, especially in the post-Monday Night Wars era where title changes make for instant ballyhoo.
In the modern era, belts switch owners so often in WWE that we're not even allowed to call them 'belts', just to avoid any further devaluation.
So it's a credit to both the talent of The New Day and the patience of company decision-makers that Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods stand on the precipice of history this week.
Should they get by challenges from their lacklustre Raw opposition on Monday Night, The New Day should break a near-30 year record, and in doing so, etch themselves in WWE folklore for generations to come.
But which other famous names have achieved similar marathon reigns over the year? Stretching from 1984 to present day, here are 10 others acts who have had sensational stints on their CV.
10. Gregory Helms - WWE Cruiserweight Title (385 Days)
Touted as "SmackDown's Best Kept Secret" and announced in his ring introduction as the Longest Reigning Champion in WWE, Gregory Helms shed his well-loved Hurricane gimmick with this impressive Cruiserweight Title run.
Transferring to the blue brand shortly after binning the cape and green hair on Raw, Helms got himself and the belt over by sheer force of will and prolific consistency in-ring.
Putting his mammoth run together quietly at first, he took advantage of a depleted division to be the only credible titleholder amongst SmackDown's damaged goods.
Sensing his stock rising in mid-2006, the former Hurricane became a pay-per-view mainstay on the SmackDown-only shows, and a choice feud with Matt Hardy allowed him a spot on the Survivor Series co-main event, working as one of the clowns Team DX got to knock about for 20 minutes.
His dominance would finally come to an end at No Way Out 2007, when Chavo Guerrero would win the title in a patronising Cruiserweight Open featuring the whole division.
Helms would be shelved with an injury lasting as long as the reign shortly after dropping the gold, so would sadly never return to such lofty levels.