10 Worst Endings To Awesome Wrestling Title Reigns
The Asuka situation sucks, but it's just the tip of the iceberg.
Holding a championship is supposed to be the zenith of a wrestler's career. Their coronation should position them among the best in the business, and a strong, consistent run on top should not only define their career, but secure their place in history.
WWE don't go a great job of making their titles feel prestigious these days, but regardless, the way a reign ends is just as important as how it begins, and anything that happens in between.
Get it right, and every benefit that the outgoing champion reaped from holding the belt will be passed to the next guy, who should then use this as a springboard to push the division even further forward. Get it wrong, however, and the results can be a disaster not only for those involved, but also the belt itself.
Wrestlers spend their entire careers working towards championship glory, and to see their reigns end on a bum note is always disappointing. Sometimes it's unavoidable, and injury strikes, while other examples are a product of bad booking. Either way, none of these champions' reigns got the ending they deserved, and their runs will forever be tainted.
10. Sheamus Squashes Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan was 105 days into a run as a snivelling heel World Heavyweight Champion by the time WrestleMania XXVIII came around. He spent most of his reign fending off challenges from Big Show, whom he beat for the belt in the first place, often retaining via disqualification or no contest.
Though not an epic title reign by any stretch of the imagination, it was perfect for Bryan's character at the time. He eventually became the most universally beloved babyface in the company, but he was an excellent heel too, and profiting through sheer luck played to his personality.
He faced Sheamus, the 2012 Royal Rumble winner, at 'Mania, and the match was over in 18 seconds. One Brogue Kick was all it took to bring Bryan's reign to an end, and the negativity was instantaneous. Hardcore fans were incensed that their favourite wrestler had been treated in such a way, and rightly so: it was an embarrassment.
That being said, the squash wound up benefiting Bryan in the long run. The outrage served as a perfect catalyst for The "Yes!" Movement, and Daniel's eventual WrestleMania XXX triumph, and while Bryan would've probably eventually reached that level regardless, it all started with Sheamus' boot hitting his face.