10 Awesome Wrestling Title Reigns That Went Long
6. Honky Tonk Man - WWE Intercontinental Title (454 Days)
Still a longevity record nearly thirty years later, Honky Tonk Man was at first a titleholder by good fortune, but would initiate a money-spinning trope WWE would endlessly revisit over the years.
Scoring a shocking upset over Ricky Steamboat in mid-1987, Honky was the beneficiary of a political spat between Steamboat and Vince McMahon over pre-agreed paternity leave.
Steamboat picked family first, and Honky would snare a title he'd then proudly weasel out of losing for a year and a half.
Fans would throw money at Honky Tonk Man main events, hoping to be the ones to see this useless Elvis impersonator finally get his comeuppance and lose the belt he never deserved, but the time would never come.
Brutus Beefcake, Bruno Sammartino, and ex-champ Randy Savage all tried and failed to claw back the gold, as Honky would wilfully take the disqualification or count-out loss like the brilliant coward he was.
Still a WWE Network must-see if you haven't already, the roar from Madison Square Garden when Ultimate Warrior pulverises him and liberates the title at Summerslam '88 is vindication for the magnificent success of the unlikely reign.