10 WWE Champions You Never Thought You'd See

3. Chris Jericho

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WWE

Chris Jericho was a surprising candidate to win the WWE Championship not only because of who he was, but who he was up against. No one ever expected the Cruiserweight specialist who WCW refused to push to ever make it to WWE. Even when he finally did, there were doubts he would ever win their top prize.

Critics especially had their doubts going into Vengeance 2001. Going into the show, both the WWE Title and the WCW World Heavyweight Title were set to be unified as the Undisputed Championship. The four men making a grab for the titles were Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho. From that list of names, Y2J reads as the obvious odd man out.

Yet when the big night came, Jericho won it all. The Fozzy singer would pin both The Rock and Stone Cold in the same night to become WWE's first Undisputed Champion. Even more surprising, he held the belt until WrestleMania X8, where he wrestled in the main event against Triple H. Talk about exceeding expectations.

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Joe Anthony Myrick is a photographer, journalist, and a music video director. Above everything, first and foremost, he is a creator with an enthusiasm and drive to innovate the world around him via his most beloved passions. Whether it be through the numerous article publications he has contributed to, or be it through a lens from behind a camera, Joe Anthony Myrick is a skilled, willing, and capable professional in whatever field he enters.