10 Least Effective WWE World Champions Ever

3. Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio's World Heavyweight Championship reign in 2006 divides opinion to this very day. On one side it was most definitely deserved, as Mysterio was one of the most talented and popular performers on the entire roster. His matches were frequently the best on WWE TV, and a Royal Rumble win followed by a WrestleMania victory represented a great story to tell. On the other hand, the whole thing reeked of exploitation, a title run given to a performer in the wake of another's death.

This indecision could clearly be seen in Rey's reign as champion, and as soon as the title was on the luchador the presentation of Rey seemingly regressed. In the build up to the Rumble and 'Mania Rey was clearly a top level superstar, picking up wins over bigger men like there was nothing to it. Once he became champion, Rey's size became an obsessive issue for WWE, with anyone and everyone throwing him around like a child.

This reached something of a nadir when The Great Khali squashed the champion in a non-title match, pinning Rey with a boot on the chest. Rey was a worthy champion booked as someone who had no business being in such a position, as ineffective a champion as one can remember.

Rey eventually lost the world title to Booker T, but the damage had long been done.