10 Best World Champions Of The WWE Ruthless Aggression Era
Animals, Beasts, Kings, and the other greatest Ruthless Aggression World Champions of the era.
While it may not be quite as celebrated or fondly remembered as the Attitude or New Generation eras by some, for others the Ruthless Aggression period in WWE history contained many of the gripping moments and compelling characters that made them fall in love with the crazy world of wrestling in the first place.
And when looking back on that often chaotic post-Attitude time in the WWE landscape, there's also an argument to be made that this specific period in the sports entertainment sphere contained perhaps the most stacked collection of World Champions ever to grace the company.
Now sure, the era of Attitude contained a Rattlesnake, a Great One, an Olympic Hero, and Mrs Foley's Baby Boy. The New Generation came equipped with Hitmen, Heartbreak Kids, and Big Daddy Cools. But all things Ruthless Aggression more than held their own with ground-breaking figures, many a King, and various other main event animals when it came to lifting the big one.
Before revealing precisely which Ruthless World Champs made the Top 10 cut, though, a few honourable mentions go out to The Master of the 619, a loudmouth Texan, and a Deadman.
And with that out of the way, let's get this in no way controversial list underway!
10. Trish Stratus
The Canadian future Hall of Famer may have initially found herself at the centre of some routinely uncomfortable scenarios during her first few years as part of the WWE machine, but by the time the Ruthless Aggression era was up and running, Trish Stratus had established herself as the top lady in the company by some stretch.
Whether she was taking it to long-time rival Lita in an historic main event of Raw or at Unforgiven 2006, battling with Mickie James at WrestleMania 22 at the end of her 448-day reign with the title, or clashing with Victoria at the 2002 Survivor Series, Stratus could typically always be counted on to deliver the goods whenever she was in the Women's title picture.
Had it not been for those high-profile moments of unquestionable Stratusfaction, then there's a solid chance many of the freakishly gifted women occupying the wrestling landscape today may not have been inspired to lace up a pair of boots in the first place.
And who knows, maybe the legend could add yet another strap to her collection in the not too distant future... after she's done dealing with The Man, of course.