10 WWE Champions Who Forfeited Their Title Due To Injury

10. Triple H

If this injury had happened to anyone else, you may have feared the worst.

After all, 'The Game' was just beginning to find his niche as a singles star, having emerged from Shawn Michaels' shadow following his retirement in early 1998.

His Intercontinental Championship feud with The Rock did wonders for both men's careers but, after winning the belt in a pulsating ladder match at SummerSlam, Trips found himself on the sideline with an ill-timed knee injury.

Ken Shamrock stepped into his shoes in the meantime, but it didn't harm HHH's career one bit. In fact, if anything it probably hastened his step up to the world title scene, where he began a career-defining feud with Mick Foley early the following year. Some guys have all the luck.