10 WWE Champions Who Hated Their World Title Reigns

10. Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens made major waves in the pro wrestling world when he turned babyface and channeled his inner Stone Cold Steve Austin. Attacking Shane McMahon and cutting a CM Punk-style "pipebomb" promo, Owens reframed his gimmick as an everyman instead of somebody out entirely for his own gains.

However, during a recent discussion on Lilian Garcia's Chasing Glory podcast, Kevin Owens admitted to having numerous issues during his run as WWE Universal Champion following Finn Balor vacating the title.

“My wife will tell me all the time, ‘you were the Universal Champion and I had never seen you more stressed,’ admitted Owens. "And now I look back and I think, ‘Oh yeah, you know, I probably would have done things differently when I was Universal Champion if it had been up to me.’ Some storylines might have been different, or I would have done different things, or I would have loved to have this match and stuff like that. But ultimately I was still the Universal Champion. And I don’t remember, I honestly don’t remember enjoying it. Which sucks.”

Should Kevin Owens' time as a face culminate in a WWE Title win, perhaps his next run at the top will fare better than his first.