10 WWE Champions Who Forfeited Their Title Due To Injury

Batista's 2005 began with injury - to Vince McMahon, who tore both his quads running into the ring furious with the botched ending to the Royal Rumble - and so did his 2006.

This time, though, it was his. 'The Animal', having been traded to SmackDown in the meantime, suffered a triceps injury around the new year, leaving WWE's WrestleMania 22 plans in tatters.

In times of crisis, you can do a lot worse than turn to Kurt Angle, who duly won the vacant strap in a battle royal, and went on to lose it on the 'Grandest Stage of Them All' to a resurgent Rey Mysterio.

A deserved moment, but it would have been nice to see Big Dave complete a full year as world champion after such a huge win at the previous year's event.