Ranking EVERY WWE Champion From Worst To Best
49. André The Giant
André The Giant might have only held the beloved winged eagle title for a matter of moments, but more eyes saw him hand the 'Winged Eagle' over to Ted Dibiase than any WWE match before or since.
33 million viewers (for a rating of an impossible-looking 15.2) tuned in to the special February 5th 1988 edition of The Main Event to see the WrestleMania III rematch end in creatively controversial fashion as Hulk Hogan's four-year WWE Championship reign screeched to a halt. Unlike in the opening moments of their iconic "first" bout, there was no doubt over the validity of a three-count - Hogan easily got his shoulder up. Yet, the referee continued to count and Ted Dibiase's evil plan paid for itself. The Giant slung the belt over his shoulder for the beauty shot before passing it on to The Million Dollar Man as planned.
Fans at least knew that the fix was in before the broadcast concluded - Hogan took his anger out on twin referees Earl and Dave Hebner, and days later Jack Tunney ruled that Dibiase was not Champion after all. But neither was 'The Hulkster'. WrestleMania IV was to host a one-night tournament for all the marbles, ensuring that André's enormous draw of a cup of coffee deservingly entered the record books.