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Over the years, some championship matches on WWE or WCW programming have stunned the fans. Last week's episode of WWE SmackDown seemingly added another unexpected title match to this list. WWE official Adam Pearce, who hasn’t wrestled in over six years, earned a title match against WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
This decision confused many fans. The blue brand is filled with incredible Superstars who could have benefited from a pay-per-view match with Reigns. But this somewhat odd match is just the latest in a long line of bizarre title bouts.
Over the years, wrestling has regularly presented fans with weird combinations of wrestlers competing for top titles. Sometimes, the wrestlers in these title matches have displayed great chemistry together, so they pleasantly surprised the audience. But more often than not, these ideas fell flat on their backs. They often got ridiculed for years to come.
These list features title bouts that left the fans in utter confusion and disbelief. It's also important to dive into the booking decisions that led to these matches. With that being said, here's a look at some of the most unlikely championship matches fans have seen throughout WWE (and WCW) history.
#5 - James Ellsworth vs. AJ Styles - WWE Championship
James Ellsworth had a memorable WWE career because his 2016 run on WWE SmackDown was quite entertaining. Ellsworth had become popular in the wrestling industry, so he was slowly introduced in the feud between Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles. He first appeared as Styles' tag team partner in a match against Ambrose and John Cena. Unfortunately, The Miz took him out before the match started.
Here, Ellsworth surprisingly became a main event player on WWE programming. Styles picked Ellsworth as his opponent in a non-title match, and the underdog picked up the win with a little help from "The Lunatic Fringe." With this victory, Ellsworth earned a WWE Championship Match against Styles.
On paper, it seemed like Styles would squash his opponent. But the match was more competitive than many people expected it to be.
Ellsworth even hit Styles with the No Chin Music during the bout. Ultimately, many fans were stunned when Ellsworth won the match via disqualification. Thankfully, the WWE Universe didn't see Ellsworth win the WWE Championship. But another surprising contender managed to win the title just a few months later.
#4 - Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton - WWE Championship
A few years ago, a WWE Championship run for Jinder Mahal was unimaginable. For most of his WWE career, Mahal had been a borderline jobber. He had been relegated to the lower-mid card, and Mahal was also regularly used as comic relief. Mahal seemed like he was destined for a career full of mediocrity.
But his luck dramatically changed in 2017 when he was announced as a competitor in a Six-Pack Challenge Match. The winner of this bout would earn a shot at the WWE Champion, Randy Orton. Mahal's victory absolutely stunned the WWE Universe. The win clinched Mahal's spot in a title match at WWE Backlash.
Every fan in the building expected Orton to win the bout. But when the Singh Brothers interfered, the unthinkable happened. While Orton dealt with the duo, Mahal crept up behind him and connected with the Khallas. He then pinned "The Viper" to win the match and the title. This result stunned everyone in the arena.
Mahal even held the gold for a few months, but his title run is often criticized. Still, no one can ever take this unforgettable victory away from him.
#3 - Jerry Lawler vs. The Miz - WWE Championship
In 2010, Jerry Lawler was a few decades past his prime. "The King" was a broadcaster, and he hadn't been featured as a legitimate wrestler on WWE programming in a long time. He occasionally competed in short matches, but he was not a contender for a world title.
But this perception changed in 2010 when Lawler faced The Miz in a WWE Championship Match on WWE RAW. In this unexpected TLC Match, The Miz emerged victorious, but he had a little help from Alex Riley.
It's even more surprising that Lawler received another shot at the title. He later won a seven-man Rumble Match that featured stars like Sheamus, CM Punk, R-Truth, John Morrison, Randy Orton and John Cena. With the victory, Lawler earned another match against The Miz at WWE Elimination Chamber.
The Miz was the perfect cocky heel, and he played to Lawler’s weaknesses. The champion earned a lot of heat because he was beating up an old man who had recently lost his mother. The Miz wound up winning the match, but Lawler's run as a title contender remains memorable because nobody saw it coming.
#2 - Vince Russo vs. Booker T - WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Former WWE head writer Vince Russo is famous for his weird booking, and he has become a controversial figure in pro wrestling. He was one of the main players for WWE during the Attitude Era, but he wasn't as successful in WCW.
When it came to championship matches, Russo made quite a few weird decisions during his time as the head booker of WCW. One of his odd booking choices certainly deserves a spot on this list. Russo has competed in a few main events, but his match against Booker T takes the cake.
Russo used his power as the writer to book himself in a steel cage match against the WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Booker T. This bout was a mess, as many people interfered. This chaos was even crazier than many of Russo's wild booking decisions during his WWE career.
After the dust settled, Russo was speared out of the cage by Goldberg. As a result, Russo escaped the cage, so he won the match and the title. This bizarre result just a step in the build toward Russo's realization that he wasn't a wrestler. As a result, he vacated the championship.
One might think that this bout was the weirdest championship match of all time. But one contest managed to surpass it.
#1 - David Arquette and DDP vs. Eric Bischoff and Jeff Jarrett - WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Just a few years before WWE bought WCW, the company's last few years produced some of the most infamous booking decisions in wrestling history. For example, the company brought in David Arquette to pop the ratings. WCW was desperate to compete with WWE, so the company put the movie star into a rivalry with Eric Bischoff and the New Blood.
WCW upped the ante when it had Arquette compete as a wrestler. In just his second match, he had a chance to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Arquette joined forces with the champion, Diamond Dallas Page, and they faced the team of Bischoff and Jeff Jarrett. In the end, Arquette pinned Bischoff to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
This shocking win remains one of the most unforgettable title changes in the history of professional wrestling. Fans heavily criticized both WCW and Arquette for ruining the prestige of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. WWE restored the title's glory, but this match still left a stain on the legendary championship.
Arquette went on to have a fascinating career in wrestling, and he's featured in the documentary, You Cannot Kill David Arquette.
