Ranking EVERY WWE Champion From Worst To Best
52. Stan Stasiak
To understand Stan Stasiak being WWE Champion is to understand the simplicity of how business was conducted during a very different era for the promotion of professional wrestling.
Holding the belt for just nine days, he was the fortuitously chosen heel selected to transition the belt between babyface heroes Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino, because the good guys simply did not beat nor challenge one another for their titles. Interestingly, though the booking had dictated that it was Bruno's time once again, they were mindful enough to protect Morales as his three year reign came to an end. The pair fell backwards in a full nelson and Stasiak just happened to roll his shoulder at two.
Fans in the building were left either confused or to assume that Pedro had retained, ostensibly to stop a riot breaking out as result of the finish. Stan 'The Man' later went on to describe the time with the title as the "happiest nine days of his life", which at very least validates the power of the prize and position even though he never got near the gold again.