12 Biggest WWE Championship Change Squashes

By Scott Carlson /

2. Ultimate Warrior vs. Honky Tonk Man - WWF Intercontinental Title (SummerSlam 1988)

When people talk about a title changes via squash, this is probably the match that springs to mind. Honky Tonk Man had been Intercontinental Champion for nearly 15 months, holding onto the belt by any means necessary, which usually meant getting himself disqualified. He had become one of the most hated (in a good way) wrestlers in WWE. At the inaugural SummerSlam in 1988, Honky€™s scheduled opponent Brutus €˜The Barber€™ Beefcake was on the shelf, prompting Honky to grab the microphone and yell, €œGet me somebody out here to wrestle, I don€™t care who it is!€ Enter the Ultimate Warrior. Thirty-one seconds later, Warrior had toppled the Honky Tonk Man, ending his historic €“ yet fan-frustrating €“ title reign, and kicking Warrior€™s career into high gear, launching him into the stratosphere. Nineteen months later, Ultimate Warrior would cap his ascension by defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania VI.