10 Most Shocking First-Time WWE Champions
4. Diesel
For the majority of 1995, Big Daddy Cool Diesel was known as the Leader Of The New Generation. WWE had embarked upon the post-Hulkamania era and, after a year or two with Bret Hart leading the way, turned to the 7 foot Kevin Nash to carry the company as WWE Champion.
Diesel's title victory came completely out of left field, however.
In an obvious attempt to redo the launching of Hulkamania, Diesel defeated Mr. Bob Backlund in the same building where Hogan won his first title (Madison Square Garden) in a match that lasted 8 seconds. This came merely days after Backlund himself wrestled away the WWE Title from Bret "Hitman" Hart at the 1994 Survivor Series.
Prior to his big MSG win, Diesel had been tagging with Shawn Michaels as WWE Tag Team Champions and was a former Intercontinental Champion.
Also at the 1994 Survivor Series, the Diesel/Shawn break-up finally occurred and, although it was clear that Big Daddy Cool was to be the babyface coming out of this program, few expected him to take the company's crown jewel just days later.
Diesel's rocket to the top of WWE was rushed and it came off as forced. This is likely, at least in part, responsible for his lacklustre run with the WWE Championship that followed, his one and only reign with the big belt.