10 WWE Champions Who Wouldn't Make It In Today's Developmental System

10. Stan Stasiak

Stan Stasiak is undoubtedly the least notable WWE champion of them all. The man known as "The Man" held the WWE championship for all of 9 days way back in 1973, defeating Pedro Morales before being toppled by Bruno Sammartino. He's barely remembered today, and there's little to his legacy beyond mutton chops and a WCW midcarder.

Stasiak seems to have arrived in WWE for the first time shortly before his defeat of Morales, a 36 year old 20 veteran who had spent most of his career wrestling in the Pacific Northwest territories. Realistically, he was one of dozens of heel challengers shipped in to battle WWE's babyface champs, but he just happened to be in the right place at the right time to be a transitional champion.

WWE recently brought Samoa Joe into developmental, who is of similar age and experience to Stasiak, but Joe has a decade of main event experience in another national promotion under his belt, as well as a truly unique physical charisma. Stasiak had a heart punch and Honky Tonk Man facial hair.