10 Times WWE Threw Their Champion Under The Bus

4. Christian (vs. Randy Orton) - SmackDown 2011

At Extreme Rules 2011, we witnessed one the great feelgood moments in WWE. Following the retirement of his best buddy Edge, Christian went up against Alberto Del Rio in a Ladder Match with The Mexican Aristocrat's World Heavyweight Championship at stake. Just as Del Rio looked set to grab the title hanging above the ring, out rolled Edge in an expensive looking 4x4, honking the horn and causing enough of a distraction for Christian to knock Del Rio flying and make his own way up the ladder to claim his very first world title in WWE. The longtime friends celebrated together in the middle of the ring in what was truly a special moment. The joy was short-lived. On the very next Smackdown, Christian defended the title against Randy Orton in what was, really, a very good match. After succumbing to an RKO from the Viper, however, Christian lost the match and the World Heavyweight title. It was as if Extreme Rules hadn't happened. As if WWE were saying, 'You've had your moment, now we're putting the belt on our guy'. Fans crapped all over it. You could feel the rage. The Internet had become self-aware, and it was angry. Credit must go to Christian, however, who made the most of the situation by turning heel and providing plenty of entertainment with his constant whining about having to defend the title so soon after winning it. After failing to regain the championship at Over The Limit and Capitol Punishment, Christian eventually defeated Orton at Money In The Bank to become a two-time World Heavyweight Champion. No one cared that Christian was supposed to be the heel. The Chicago crowd, and the furious denizens of the internet, rejoiced that the man who should not have lost the title in the first place had managed to get one over on WWE and their handpicked guy.