12 Exact Moments WWE Titles Became Worthless

WWE championships are supposed to signify excellence. They're rewards for a wrestler's hard work. No, not everyone can be World Champion, but they can be Intercontinental or United States titleholders without cracking the glass ceiling and reaching that elusive next level. There's no disgrace in that, but there sure is disgrace in trashing any title with unwanted champs or booking so vile one would think it's 2000-era WCW and Vince Russo is on a one man mission to create the worst product ever...again.

Of the 12 straps examined here, no less than 4 are still in circulation across Raw and SmackDown (well, technically 5 straps considering some tag belts are in there too!). One of them has regained some form after a frankly useless period of ill-advised nonsense, but the jury's still out on the others. Triple H has a job on his hands if he wants to make them credible again - if they were ever credible in the first place.

Some top stars are at least partly responsible for wrecking a title's value or momentum. Glittering names as lofty as Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and Triple H are involved. The latter duo worked a scenario so counterproductive it reeked almost as bad as the nWo's 'Finger Poke Of Doom' over on the other channel.

Exact moments are pinpointed for each championship too. Get ready to deep dive on title wins from specific episodes of WWF/WWE television, and prepare to recoil in horror when you see some of the creative lurking during beloved eras fondly remembered for being full of 'Attitude'.

Here's how to destroy a belt's purpose in literally seconds.

Looking back, the Million Dollar Title was a mere prop created to make Ted DiBiase's cash obsessed character look like an even bigger tyrant. It was established in 1989 during some entertaining and memorable vignettes, then DiBiase waved the thing in everyone's faces during feuds opposite then-former bodyguard Virgil and whispering promo artiste Jake Roberts. Later, Ted stopped talking about his custom made belt after winning the tag straps with IRS, and that was that.

Until 1996 rolled around, at least.

On the 8 January '96 Raw, DiBiase reactivated the title and handed it to his new charge The Ringmaster. Steve Austin wasn’t quite one of the biggest stars in the industry (like these untouchable WWE peers) at that point, but that’s not why this bombed. Unlike when Teddy was warring with Virgil or Roberts, The Ringmaster had nothing going on creatively or really any character-based ties to such a token prize. In short, fans didn't care about him carrying around DiBiase's old luggage.

As if realising this, the WWF ditched any Million Dollar chat shortly after Ted stopped being Austin's manager in May. It was a distant memory by the time Steve won King Of The Ring the next month and cut an iconic speech coining his new "Austin 3:16" catchphrase. That made more money than some dollar sign prop ever could.

Being honest, the Million Dollar Title's worth died as soon as DiBiase willingly handed it off like a Christmas present. The WWF shouldn't have let that happen. Belts, even ones like this, should be won during matches rather than gifted during promos.