10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About The Hardcore Title

9. It Acted As Punishment For The Big Show

Make no mistake about it, The Big Show wasn't in the Hardcore division for much of 2001 because the WWF wanted him to be. No, Show was put in the low-level title hunt due to his failure to shift weight and acclimatise to the psychology-heavy WWE style. Don't forget: this was a mere two years into the giant's bumper contract with the company, so why would they want him killing time in Hardcore matches?

After returning at the Royal Rumble in January, Show was quickly moved out of a feud with The Rock and placed in bouts opposite Raven, Steve Blackman, and others. This can't have been an easy decision for those calling the shots, though, because Show was being paid an awful lot of money to clown around hitting others with trash cans and chairs.

Big Show's run as a Hardcore performer was enjoyable, there's no doubting that, but it came across as more of a punishment than anything else. WWE won't talk about that should they ever discuss Show's stint in the division, despite it being glaring at the time.