26 Times Wrestling Titles Have Been Disrespected

22. Chyna Becomes Intercontinental Champion

WWF Title broken
WWE.com

Certainly a controversial entry to this list, but Joanie "Chyna" Laurer becoming the then-WWF Intercontinental Champion was something that irked many involved in the wrestling industry.

Rightly or wrongly, the fact that a female performer held the IC Title is something that many felt made a mockery of the championship; the very same belt that had often been seen as the most prestigious title in the company and the gold that was usually given to the most elite performer in the WWF.

Storyline-wise, Chris Jericho would cut promos to say how Chyna as the Intercontinental Champion made him sick, but in truth this was the very real feelings of many wrestling fans and even plenty of superstars.

Technically, Chyna would go on to become a two-time Intercontinental Champion, and she was certainly a truly ground-breaking female talent. Still, the fact that she had IC gold around her waist is something that doesn't sit well with many even to this day.

For those who see Chyna's time with the Intercontinental Championship as a smear on the belt's legacy, just think what would've happened if that rumoured run with the WWF Championship actually came to be!

 
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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.