10 Times World Champions Invaded WWE

With so many championships in modern day WWE, it’s hard to imagine the need for any more, let alone demand for such additions. With three women’s top belts, three men’s top belts, three pairs of tag straps, a US Title, an IC Title, a UK Title and a Cruiserweight Championship, the WWE currently has 13 championships up for grabs. Enough gold to fill Fort Knox.

The sheer volume of titles on TV has diminished the importance of the championships themselves and the effect of labelling someone a “champion” has sadly lost a great deal of its significance. However, it hasn’t always been this way and, when belts were scarce, the value of gold was high.

Less is often more in the wrestling business and the rare appearance of a new championship or champion on WWE TV was once a huge appeal to wrestling fans. If that title was already pre-established outside of WWE, then the historical magnitude went up tenfold and instantly made that moment monumental.

However, WWE has long been shy about presenting anyone other than their own titleholders as recognised champions of the industry. All of which makes these ten entries all the more remarkable.

Despite never holding any WWE gold, Dan Severn was a bona fide World Champion when he entered WWE. However, the title that lay draped over his shoulder was the gold of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

While the WWE Championship we see today does have roots in the NWA, by the time Severn appeared on Monday Night Raw in 1998, the NWA Title had become somewhat of a forgotten belt in the industry. Aside from brief flirtations with ECW, the NWA gold had generally been relegated to the indie scene since being dropped by WCW in ‘93.

Nevertheless, the NWA Title returned to global TV during the NWA invasion of WWE in 1998 amid Jim Cornette’s crusade to bring tradition back to the World Wrestling Federation. Aside from the re-emergence of an ageing Rock ‘N’ Roll Express, the cast of superstars leading this invasion was largely unimpressive. That was until 'The Beast' appeared.

Making his WWF debut on the always awesome Raw after WrestleMania in 1998, Severn accompanied the Louisville loudmouth during the NWA Tag Team title match between The Headbangers and the New Midnight Express, making his in-ring debut against Flash Funk the following week.

To make the whole situation even more unique, the other championship wrapped around his waist as he walked the aisle was none other than the UFC Superfight Championship, making 'The Beast' a dual World Champ of two different organisations during his WWF tenure.