10 Incredible Wrestling Title Wins That Led To AWFUL Title Reigns
What the hell were WWE and AEW thinking with these championship disasters?!
Please note: "Incredible" does not always mean good.
Every wrestling fan out there can point to title wins they thought were crummy, but the biz is an experience-driven medium that's supposed to take fans on a journey. That's true whether people ended a pay-per-view thinking, 'Why the f*ck did they put the belt on them?!' or not.
Booking a satisfying follow-up chapter to any title win has always been one of the biggest challenges facing creative teams in WWE, AEW and even WCW (maybe especially WCW) over the years. First impressions are important, but so is character development that sits in total harmony with a belt's own importance - promotions often seem to forget that, or just give up on new champs too quickly.
This list houses a few cherished legends who furnished fans with some of the most memorable matches and moments ever. However, the specific title reigns explored can be pointed to as examples of what can go badly wrong if the booking doesn't back up the wrestler.
These men and women were either let down by the writers or just didn't deliver as champs. On with the pain!
10. Rey Mysterio (WWE World Heavyweight Title)
Cue a legion of angry fans in Mysterio masks.
Rey's twin Royal Rumble 2006 and WrestleMania 22 successes were arguably the least-expected Vince McMahon decisions that year, but they came amidst the depressing backdrop of Eddie Guerrero's death in late-2005. Then, after Mysterio's heart string-tugging contingency plan kicked in, WWE proceeded to do nothing with the beloved masked man as champ.
Examine the evidence: Mysterio's two successful pay-per-view World Heavyweight Title reigns in '06 came against JBL (Judgment Day) and Sabu (One Night Stand). Beyond that, he retained on TV against Mark Henry, Randy Orton and Kurt Angle before King Booker beat him at Great American Bash in July.
Arguably the most unlikely WWE World Title run ever started with a bang at 'Mania 22, but it was pathetically handled overall. In retrospect, Vinnie Mac immediately regretted putting a Heavyweight belt on somebody he couldn't even call one on telly.
Rey's reign was 112 days of poor underdog babyface fare.