10 Wrestlers Who Became WWE Champion The Quickest

10. Alberto Del Rio (359 Days)

Alberto Del Rio left WWE on good terms last month, but his second spell with the company was a rank disappointment. His Zeb Colter affiliation made no sense from day one, the League of Nations was a disaster, and by the time he departed, Del Rio was barely recognisable compared to the fiery, passionate performer of old.

It’s too easy to forget just how good ADR was at the height of his powers. He was pushed almost immediately after debuting in SmackDown in 2010, and his Mexican aristocrat character drew huge crowd heat. Defeating Rey Mysterio in his first match, Del Rio caught the eye with his flashy cars, personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez, and slick, technical style.

In January 2011, Del Rio won the Royal Rumble just months after entering WWE. It looked as though he was being set up to defeat Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXVII, but plans were changed when WWE learned Edge would have to retire. The company altered the result to have Edge go over, and retire on top.

The belt came to Del Rio in the end, though. He won Money in the Bank, then cashed-in on CM Punk at SummerSlam. 359 days after debuting, Alberto was one of the biggest stars in the business, even if he’d drop the strap to John Cena just three weeks later.