5. Rob Van Dam
Mr. Monday Night, Rob Van Dam has always been unique. His kicks are different. His frog splash looks like it hurts him as much as his opponent. Throughout the tail end of ECW, Van Dam brought his sizzle to the television and tag titles in a way which said "Future Main Eventer" And then ECW closed, Van Dam joined WWE and proceeded to get stuck. In 2002, WWE teased Van Dam as a main eventer by having him defeat Undisputed WWE Champion, The Undertaker for the title. The crowd erupted. This man was completely over. (The belt was returned to the Undertaker due to his foot being on the rope, hell of a Dusty Finish) This should have led to Rob Van Dam fighting the underdog fight to become the next WWE Champion. Instead it lead to...teaming with Kane...and the IC title...again and again and again. Van Dam, while entertaining, wasn't trusted by the WWE (not one of their boys) and therefore languished in the mid card. Then in January 2005, he got injured. On January 27, Van Dam underwent reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus (fancy words for knee stuff), a potentially career ending knee injury. While he was gone, his only appearance was to get drafted in the 2005 draft lottery. His career was at a standstill. In 2006, Van Dam returned to much fanfare at the Royal Rumble. The rested and revitalized RVD shot off like a star. By WrestleMania, he became the 2nd man to hold the Money in the Bank briefcase, guaranteeing a championship match. At ECW One Night Stand, RVD defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship, (in what was a career highlight for RVD) and was crowned the first New ECW Champion. RVD went from sitting at home to top of the wrestling food chain in less than 6 months. Now we all know this story doesn't have a happy ending. RVD proved to be incapable as the face of a company by getting pulled over for drugs within weeks. That squashed his push and eventually led to his demise with the organization. Yet there is still no denying that RVD can call himself a former WWE champion.