Every 1-Time WWE Champion Ranked From Worst To Best

11. Rob Van Dam

Eddie Guerrero
WWE.com

In one of the most memorable nights in relatively recent wrestling history, RVD headlined ECW One Night Stand against WWE Champion John Cena, who was deep in enemy territory. The champ was roundly booed all night with every single person in the Hammerstein Ballroom desperate for Van Dam to win and it must have been Hardcore Christmas because all those boys and girls got exactly what they wanted.

After a great match (and some help from Edge and Paul Heyman), RVD pinned Cena to a rapturous reception. The highly talented, but underappreciated Van Dam finally got his dues and the fact that it came against company man Cena made the moment all the sweeter for the counterculture icon.

Sadly, this was as good as it got for RVD and his fans, as the champion was busted for pot mere weeks into his reign. As punishment, Van Dam lost the WWE title to Edge after just 22 days.

Despite the limp ending, RVD winning the championship from Cena is a moment that will live in wrestling legend forever and that on its own is enough to carry him this far up the list.

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.