10 Absolute Worst Wrestlers To Win WWE Titles

9. Vladimir Kozlov

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WWE.com

Vince McMahon absolutely adored Vladimir Kozlov, and it was the weirdest f*cking thing.

He was a Vince McMahon, Sr. Guy, if anything, but he booked foreign menaces with average physiques who possessed personality. Kozlov had none of it, he wasn't shredded, he couldn't talk, he wasn't over, and he was chronically average between the ropes. His work was severely antiquated and didn't look remotely painful or legitimate. And the gurning, good God, the gurning: with bulging eyes and down-turned mouth, Kozlov patrolled the ring as if he was coming up on molly, which perhaps explains why he would tenderly embrace his opponents on the mat, instead of feigning to inflict pain upon their person.

He also tenderly embraced them via a bear hug, which he accentuated with his customary growls in an attempt to convey intensity. This didn't work because Kozlov was a total plodder bereft of energy.

There was a completely inescapable irony to his act in that he was promoted as a multi-discipline fighter, a general of all rings, and yet he chose entirely the wrong discipline in which to make money.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!