20 Wrestlers You Totally Forgot Held WWE Championships

10. Jerry Lynn (Light Heavyweight Champion)

Essa Rios Lita
WWE.com

Jerry Lynn is one of the most important wrestlers in ECW history, though his WWE run is often forgotten. He was hugely responsible for popularising the American light heavyweight wrestling style in the 1990s, and is fondly remembered as a near flawless wrestler who could have a great match with anybody, regardless of style.

Though lacking in microphone skills, Lynn could do almost everything else, whether it be brawling, high flying, or technical mat wrestling. He wasn't pushed as a huge part of the Invasion angle, but Lynn arrived in WWE in April 2001 following ECW's bankruptcy, and won championship gold on his very first match.

Lynn made short work of Crash Holly to become Light Heavyweight Champion on an episode of Sunday Night Heat, but his ECW stardom didn't translate well in WWE. Lynn was rarely featured on Raw or SmackDown, and spent much of his short run with the company on Heat and Jakked, where he'd defend the gold against the likes of Dean Malenko and Essa Rios.

Lynn lost his belt to Jeff Hardy on a June episode of SmackDown, and was removed from WWE television all-together by August. Released in February 2002, Lynn progressed to play a pivotal role as a veteran presence in TNA's X Division, and retired in 2013.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.