10 Worst WWE Championship Reigns Of The 2000s

8. John Cena/Randy Orton (Late 2009)

When Randy Orton won his fourth WWE Championship in June 2009, it kickstarted a storyline that WWE hoped would become legendary. Between June and November, Orton faced John Cena in five different title matches. The belt changed hands at Breaking Point, Hell in a Cell, and Bragging Rights, with no reign lasting more than 90 days. 

The idea was undoubtedly to present these two as equals; generational rivals who knew each other inside out. Instead, it was unbelievably tedious. The constant swapping devalued the title and didn't make either man look particularly strong. All it did was drag this boring rivalry out even longer.

Some of the matches were pretty decent - their Iron Man and Last Man Standing bouts in particular - but this entire period was emblematic of WWE's stagnant booking practices.

Orton and Cena were the company's favourites. The fans just had to sit there and accept them, which made late 2009 a very trying time.