Ranking EVERY WWE Champion From Worst To Best
6. Pedro Morales
Chosen as the Vince McMahon Sr's next great babyface hope following Bruno Sammartino's shocking loss less than one month earlier, Puerto Rican hero Pedro Morales built on his increasing popularity with a stunning victory over despised Russian heel Ivan Koloff. Pedro's relative youth for the time and an extremely relatable demeanour amongst an ageing population of well-tenured but grizzled veterans made him a comfortable fit in the role, even if he's not quite as celebrated as some of his contemporaries in the present day.
Totalling 1027 days with the title, only Sammartino, John Cena, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan and Roman Reigns can lay claim to holding the gold for more cumulative days.
And only being able to draw justified such a run back then. Context is everything - Morales had been a revelation for the group dating back to his 1970 debut several months before winning the belt. He snared the United States Championship in short order, and was required to vacate it upon winning the top title shortly afterwards.