10 Worst First Days For WWE Champions

8. Dolph Ziggler

Batista Injury
WWE.com

It's one thing to have your first Championship reign instantly terminated by something like a Money In The Bank cash-in (and more on that elsewhere in this list) or chalked off entirely due to some other brand of pro wrestling bullsh*t, but Dolph Ziggler's first win exists in a strange hinterland between two.

Recycling an old and slightly laboured idea, Vickie Guerrero awarded him Edge's World Heavyweight Championship after 'The Rated-R Superstar' used his Spear in direct opposition of a blanket ban. He was stripped and fired, with Ziggler benefitting on both counts.

As a stand-in authority figure for Teddy Long, it looked like the plan had worked too. All until the man himself returned from a secret attack by Ziggler and re-assumed control of the blue brand. Long booked an immediate rematch with Edge, and 'The Show Off' was without the title just 10 minutes after strapping it around his waist.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett