10 WWE Champions Who Deserved Longer Runs

10. Christian

Christian’s initial title run was a bit of a proxy win. In the wake of Edge’s shock retirement and relinquishing of the belt, it was decided that his best pal and former tag partner was the next best thing, and Captain Charisma won the vacant strap at 2011’s Extreme Rules.

Not the way he’d like to have won it, perhaps, but no one could say he didn’t deserve it. One of the more undersung talents of his generation, Christian had absolutely everything going for him. He had proved himself as a main eventer in TNA - surely the stage was set for a similar run in WWE.

Well, sort of. He went on to perform in some of the best matches of his career against Randy Orton, with whom he had exceptional chemistry, but the Viper was clearly WWE’s guy for the future. Christian held the belt twice, for a combined run of about a month. He was also booked as a consistently cowardly, whining heel - it was a role he played well, but not necessarily the best use of his skills.

Now retired, Christian has a superb career to look back on, but this aspect could have been far better.