10 Title Wins That WWE Refuses To Recognise

2. Antonio Inoki (WWF World Heavyweight Title)

Chyna Intercontinental Title
WWE.com

Not many wrestlers would turn down the WWE Title.

Antonio Inoki is unique then, because he refused to proclaim himself WWF Heavyweight Champ after beating Bob Backlund on 30 November 1979; following interference from Tiger Jeet Singh during a rematch on 6 December that same year, Antonio told then-WWF president Hisashi Shinma he couldn't accept the belt.

The title was vacated, then Backlund regained it by beating Bobby Duncum on 17 December in Madison Square Garden. Inoki's Tokushima triumph and defence in Tokyo would later be wiped from WWE's history books for good. They don't list Antonio as a former World Champion, at least not a WWE one.

The legend's WWE Hall Of Fame 2010 induction did ring off multiple World Title wins in NJPW, the NWA and elsewhere, but he's not formally regarded as an ex-WWF Champion. His six-day long reign is another long-buried achievement.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.