10 Best WWE Hardcore Champions

Mankind was the very first Hardcore Champion, which means that he was probably the best too - and, if not the outright best, then at least among the top three or four. See also: George Washington, Sean Connery, Neil Armstrong.

He is also the pivotal figure in the division's formation. Without Mrs Foley's Baby Boy - the man who brought hardcore wrestling, practically single-handedly, to the WWF in the late 1990s - it's impossible to imagine it becoming a thing at all.

Despite this, Mankind actually only held the belt once, which is frankly pathetic considering that there were nearly 250 reigns in total. He didn't even beat anyone either, instead getting it awarded to him by Vince McMahon, who wanted to recruit him for his own evil ends.

But, in a sense, this was the perfect way for the Hardcore Title to begin. The fact that it was used as a gift for the chairman of the board's Machiavellian plans gave it a dark and sinister edge, something that is missing from, say, 205 Live's Cruiserweight Championship.