10 Times Wrestling Championships Were Vacated For Bizarre Reasons

Everybody and everything had a price, or that's what The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase believed throughout his iconic WWE career. He was one of the best technical wrestlers and most hated villains, and the millionaire persona helped him generate legitimate heat from the crowd. However, the only thing he couldn't get a hold of was the WWE Championship, and since he couldn't get the title off Hulk Hogan the right way, he tried to test his theory and decided to let his money get the title for him instead.

He sought or most likely bought the help of Andre the Giant, who succeeded in taking the title off Hogan at The Main Event special in February 1988. The referee counted the pinfall despite Hogan raising his shoulders, and it was revealed that the referee was not Dave Hebner, the original official assigned to the match, but was his evil twin Earl, who DiBiase bought out to cheat Hogan off the title.

After the win, Andre the Giant held up his side of the bargain and surrendered the title to The Million Dollar Man, who proclaimed himself the new champion. Despite billing him as the champion at three subsequent house shows and having him defend the title against Bam Bam Bigelow, then WWE president Jack Tunney declared DiBiase was not the champion. He claimed the title could only change hands through pinfall or submission, and announced the title was vacant since Andre the Giant had surrendered it.