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While we crib incessantly that certain WWE Superstars, not of our liking, are strapped with a rocket to their backs and sent sailing to the moon, many others are left grasping on to whichever rung they can on the food chain.
After all, not every Superstar can be the top babyface.
But that doesn’t mean that the WWE completely buries other ‘deserving’ performers, contrary to popular opinion. There are quite a few WWE Superstars that have been eternally mired in the shuffle of the mid card and yet, possess quite a distinguished trophy cabinet.
But that’s not all. Some Superstars who’ve been a successful fixture in and around the main event spots for years – who we naturally associate with many Title belts – haven’t won quite as much as we would have thought.
It’s also a timely reminder to all of us that regardless of how much we think we know about the ins and outs of the WWE, we can still be surprised.
Read on.
P.S: The term ‘major Title’ refers to any belt/award that is tangible, real and awarded directly as a result of a Superstar winning a match to claim it. So while all the different types of Championships and even the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy make the cut, Slammy Awards and Royal Rumble victories have been left out.
Overachiever #1: The Miz
The Miz has been electric this past year or so, what with his gratingly realistic promos and quite an accumulation of half-decent matches. Little wonder then that he’s earned the adulation of the fanbase, who’ve almost been awakened to his potential out of the blue.
But ever since his Tough Enough days, it’s quite clear that the WWE has seen something in him all along.
It’s been only 11 years that the Miz has been in the company, but he’s already had gold strapped around his waist a whopping 16 times. That averages about 1.36 Titles in a year...and let me tell you friends, that’s definitely on the higher side.
Underachiever #1: Triple H
Years in the WWE: 24No.of major Titles: 22Average: 0.91 Titles/year
There has always been the “he buries people to put himself over” rhetoric appended to Triple H’s rise to the cusp of WWE proprietorship. And perhaps that’s true. But all backstage shenanigans aside, his Title numbers don’t quite convey the same story.
Triple H has been one of the top heels in the WWE since forever, main eventing numerous pay-per-views along with the likes of Stone Cold and The Rock (whom he’s also accused of attempting to ‘bury’, by the way). But unlike them, his success rate with Title belts don’t make for good reading at all.
Stone Cold, in his 8 years of service, accumulated 13 Title belts and averages 1.625 Titles/year. The Rock one-bettered him and managed 17 belts in 10 years, giving him a ratio of 1.7 Titles/year.
And how much does the notorious, conniving, scheming Triple H average? A measly 1.09 Titles/year.
Numbers don’t lie folks.
Also read: 5 WWE Superstars Triple H buried
Overachiever #2: Goldust
Years in the WWE: 13yNo. of major Titles: 15Average: 1.15 Titles/year
Goldust’s awkward – bordering on sexually deviant – gimmick was a fixture throughout the Attitude Era, which was practically the breeding ground for anything controversial as long as it would rope in ratings.
But to think that the WWE viewed him just as a fringe attraction doesn’t paint the full picture at all.
In between his numerous short-burst spells in the WWE and all the bizarre antics, Goldust managed to capture Championship gold 15 times in just 13 years. That amounts to around 1.15 Titles per year...which is only truly put into perspective when you read the next entry on this list.
Underachiever #2: Kane
Years in the WWE: 22yNo. of major Titles: 18Average: 0.81 Titles/year
One of the most dependable workers in the WWE and a bonafide future Hall of Famer, it is quite intriguing to note that Kane’s record with Championship gold has been markedly less than stellar.
The Big Red Machine has laid waste to generation after generation of Superstars in the WWE...but the 18 Titles that he has gathered over an aeon of servitude to the company hardly seems to be just recompense for his troubles.
He clocks out at a shade over 0.80 Titles/year which – while quite unflattering by itself – borders on criminal when you couple it with the fact that he’s maintained one of the most recognisable and marquee gimmicks in the company over the years.
Overachiever #3: Jeff Hardy
Years in the WWE: 9No. of major Titles: 22Average: 2.22
Jeff Hardy amassed such a vocal and loyal fan following with his throw-caution-to-the-wind style of wrestling that the WWE had no choice but to thrust him into the main-event sphere.
Even so, the numbers that the younger Hardy brother has accumulated over his punctuated WWE career are quite breathtaking.
Although cut short repeatedly by drug-related misdemeanours, the 9 years that Jeff has spent in the WWE have all been extremely fruitful, yielding a mind-boggling 22 Titles. That equates to 2.22 Titles/year on average – higher than Stone Cold (1.625 Titles/year), greater than the Rock (1.7 Titles/year)...and even greater than John Cena (1.67 Titles/year), believe it or not.
Enigma, indeed.
Underachiever #3: Undertaker
Years in the WWE: 27No. of major Titles: 15Average: 0.55 Titles/year
The Phenom is – without doubt – one of the greatest Superstars in the history of the WWE and a standing example of how a performer should maintain the integrity of his gimmick through the passage of time.
His contributions in cementing WrestleMania as a global phenomenon are invaluable, and his steady hand has helped maintain the locker room in shipshape condition countless times over the years.
And yet – numbers wise – he boasts one of the worst Titles to years returns of all the main event players still active in the WWE today.
Of course, I’d be the first to hold up my hand and admit that in this case, numbers pale in comparison to the impact that he’s had on the industry of pro-wrestling. However, they still do make for interesting reading.
0.55 Titles/year is an average that is bettered by the likes of Big Show (1.18 Titles/year), Kane (0.81 Titles/year) and even the perennial underachiever Dolph Ziggler (0.9 Titles/year).
Ouch.
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