10 Times Wrestlers Became WWE Champions Without Winning A Match
2. Randy Orton - WWE Championship
No Mercy 2007 started out with the Chairman of the Board and the Raw General Manager in the ring, as Vince McMahon and William Regal came out to clear up the situation regarding the vacant WWE Championship. John Cena had been forced to give up the title following an injury, something that brought cheers from the crowd when mentioned.
So how would a new champion be crowned? A tournament? A multi-man match? Drawing lots? Well, it may as well have been the latter, as Vince announced Randy Orton as the new champion.
That was it, nothing more to it. Vince guaranteed a champion and a championship match, and as such awarded the belt to Orton. He also accepted a challenge from Triple H straight away, and Hunter picked up the win and the championship in the opening match of the night.
Normality (?) would be restored in the main event however, as Orton defeated Triple H to win back the belt. Even so, the night began with the Apex Predator being awarded the title in the middle of the ring.