10 Incredible Wrestling Title Wins That Led To AWFUL Title Reigns

8. Ron Simmons (WCW World Title)

Braun Strowman Kayla Braxton
WWE.com

History-maker Ron Simmons became the first black World Champion WCW bosses had ever promoted when he shockingly won out over Big Van Vader in August 1992. Simmons had been a last-minute replacement for Sting, but ended the night being paraded around on everyone's shoulders.

150 days later, he dropped the title back to Vader on a 30 December house show.

Yeah, that says it all. WCW thought they'd cracked it and created a brand new mega-star when they put the strap on Ron, but their follow up was rotten; pay-per-view defences against The Barbarian and Steve Williams failed to satisfy, and neither headlined the supershows they were on (Halloween Havoc and Starrcade '92).

Returning to Vader as champion was an admission from creative that they didn't have a clue how to book Simmons in the hot seat. Further, once the initial shock value wore off, it became obvious that fans didn't view Ron as a true main event star.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.