Ranking EVERY WWE Champion From Worst To Best
18. Ultimate Warrior
A generational WWE Superstar up to and including the moment he won the WWE Championship, The Ultimate Warrior became the prototype for the company breaking down the character fans had forced to the top in an effort to directly replace Hulk Hogan.
To say that was the only reason Warrior's run underperformed would be generous, but the changes made to his persona were immediate and undeniable. For better and much worse, he couldn't work or act on top quite like 'The Hulkster'. A break from the cheesiness of Hulkamania was seemingly what audiences had asked for during the rise of the Warrior as Intercontinental Champion, but edges were smoothed out far too aggressively when the maniacal star won the strap.
A lack of chaotic energy undermined Jim Hellwig's performances as the man behind the paint grew increasingly frustrated and difficult to work with. Colleagues that already had less patience for him as opposed to Hogan had sagging figures and lower payouts to further stir the pot, and just eight months after Warrior's inevitable crowning at WrestleMania VI, he was losing the belt to Sgt Slaughter rather than making it to the next 'Show Of Shows'. He was even more of a pain to those above and below him during 1992 and 1996 returns, resulting in him never getting another run with the gold despite being the last of his era still awkwardly kicking around in the New Generation.