10 Epic WWE Championship Reigns That Aren't As Long As You Think
8. Shawn Michaels – European Championship. Days: 82. Recognised by WWE: 92.
Don’t talk to fans in the United Kingdom about this one. With the British Bulldog winning a tournament in Berlin (which actually happened, by the way) to become the first ever European Champion, fans in his home nation were ecstatic to see Davey Boy Smith main event One Night Only on September 20, 1997 at the NEC Arena in Birmingham.
His opponent that night was a Shawn Michaels at the peak of his Kliq powers. Assisted by D-Generation X colleagues Triple H and Chyna, the Heartbreak Kid made the hometown hero pass out in the figure-four leg lock. As trash rained down on the ring, Michaels taunted the British crowd to end the show.
What was even more insulting to the British audience was how Michaels lost the belt. Following the Montreal Screwjob the previous month, HBK proudly held two belts, until he was ordered by Commission Slaughter to defend the European Championship again Triple H. Instead of contesting a competitive match with his Kliq buddy, he lay down and let Helmsley pin him, giving up the gold in a show of disrespect only rivalled by Shane McMahon deactivating the belt while champion years later.
All of this took place when episodes of Raw were only live every other week, so Michaels lost the belt on December 11, 1997 but the episode didn’t air until December 22, extending the reign by 10 days.