10 Least Effective WWE World Champions Ever

7. Chris Jericho

Defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock in the same night to become the first Undisputed World Champion in WWE history really should have been the crowning glory of the new United States Champion's career. It was an incredible honour for Chris Jericho, and one that truly shocked the world way back in 2001. WWE had been somewhat unsure about Jericho up until that point, but it seemed as though they were finally going to get behind the Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla'.

That's how it looks on paper, but the reality is somewhat different. Jericho was only able to win those two matches thanks to all sorts of interference and shenanigans, and once the titles were around his waist Jericho could be forgiven for being disappointed at the lack of change. Y2J was presented as maybe the fourth or fifth most important person on the show, the third most important individual in a feud between himself and Triple H.

It almost seemed as though Jericho was retaining his title in spite of himself, and in truth the reality is he probably only did so because The Rock and Austin were tied up for 'Mania, and Triple H needed someone to beat on his triumphant return to action. Jericho was constantly made to look out of his league at the top of the card, shunted into comedy segments when he really should have been booked as world class athlete.

Jericho would go on to have one of the all-time great pro wrestling careers, but his WWE Undisputed Championship reign isn't really one of the high points. What a strange turn of events.