7 WCW Champions Who Never Became WWE Champions (And Why)

6. Jeff Jarrett

WCW Champion: Four times (2000)

Signed: 1992-1996, 1997-1999

Reason: Such was the chaotic landscape of the company at the time that Jeff Jarrett's first three WCW World Title reigns lasted a combined 17 days. His fourth, starting on the 29 May 2000 episode of Nitro, would last 41 days, which was a comparatively lengthy reign when creative seemed so keen on playing hot potato.

Jarrett must have been pleased to get the chance to be World Champ, because he was nowhere near that level in the WWF. Throughout his runs between 1992-1996 and 1997-1999 (following another brief spell in Atlanta), Jeff was used as a mid card cartoon character ideal for the Intercontinental Title picture but never the main event scene; he was pretty much a modern update of The Honky Tonk Man.

Maybe McMahon didn't trust Jarrett after he'd left his company on bad terms, amidst a contract dispute, in early-1996. It didn't seem to matter even when Jeff chipped away the hokey country singer gimmick to become a more realistic character in '99. Again, the WWF just didn't see him in that light.

It's no coincidence that one of his biggest supporters and closest friends, Vince Russo, was also on the WCW creative team when Jarrett received his big World Title break.