10 Times WWE Totally BOTCHED A New Title

9. WWE Hardcore Championship

Everyone remembers the WWE Hardcore Championship fondly for its crazy 24/7 defense rule that saw the title change hands numerous times in random places, with attacks mid-match, backstage, and even in an airport.

But fans might not realize that the 24/7 rule didn’t take effect until February 2000, a full 14 months after the Hardcore Championship debuted. Up until that point, it was treated like a regular title defended in plunder matches.

The Hardcore title being awarded to Mankind in November 1998 was a cute little tribute, but it would become a hot potato passed around lower-card wrestlers after a strange stint with each of the New Age Outlaws holding the championship.

Even the 24/7 gimmick would run its course after a while, as the title would change hands literally hundreds of times, mainly at house shows, traded back and forth between wrestlers.

As a title, this probably could have been a Mick Foley tribute title for him to defend and then quietly retire it. The championship never had any prestige, and a lot of the weapons shots in those matches make you cringe today. But WWE and the superstars never took it too seriously, hence the very low ranking here.