10 Wrestlers Who REFUSED To Win

3. Tommy Dreamer Refused To Lose To Raven (ECW)

Tommy Dreamer and Raven’s legendary feud in Extreme Championship Wrestling had an absorbing backstory of them being childhood friends who drifted apart and went their separate ways, with Beulah McGillicutty being introduced as the heartbroken girl out for vengeance. But it largely centred on Tommy never being able to get a victory over Raven. Tommy on so many occasions was the loveable loser and Raven was the villainous victor.

In a two-year long feud Raven beat Tommy at Holiday Hell ’95, December to Dismember ’95, Three Way Dance and all the house shows. But this was all intentional and set-up by Tommy genuinely not wanting to beat Raven. Any suggestion from Owner Paul Heyman that he win one Tommy shot down. He wanted to go his entire career coming so close to but without ever beating Raven. That and not winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, feeling it would only hurt his hardcore underdog character.

Unfortunately for Tommy events out of his control led to Heyman pleading with him to drop his beliefs and not only win the ECW World title (after ECW lost active wrestlers to WWF/WCW and injuries) but finally pin Raven at Wrestlepalooza ’97 in a Loser Leaves Town match after Raven signed with WCW. Dreamer hit Raven with his DDT to finally have his arm raised that night, much to Dreamer’s real-life annoyance.