'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We’ve often heard about Superstars sacrificing everything for decades, to get a chance to win the world championship in a major promotion. It is often said that you need to pay your dues, and shed your blood, sweat and tears to truly deserve a run as the world champion.
Over the past couple of decades, there have been multiple performers who, in spite of not setting the stage on fire with their performances, had the opportunity to win a world title in a major wrestling promotion.
You have to find yourself at the right place, and at the right time to get such an opportunity, and while it is truly an honor and a privilege to join the list of legends who became world champions, not all of them deserved the honor.
#5 The Great Khali
Someone from the creative team - or Vince McMahon himself - looked at the wealth of talent in the locker room, pointed at the tall, tree - trunk of a man standing awkwardly, and decided that he would be the next World Heavyweight Champion!
The Great Khali’s debut was unlike anything the fans had ever seen before. On his first night on SmackDown, Khali decimated the legendary Undertaker, before winning his first PPV match against the Deadman.
Khali’s first few months on the main roster saw him beating his opponents with ease, and in 2007, the mastodon won the World Heavyweight title, kick-starting what has since been claimed to be one of the most boring, and objectively bad title reigns in recent memory.
Khali dropped the title to Batista after holding the championship for two months. Within that period, the WWE fans were treated to horribly bad matches, unintelligible promos and watching Khali troddle around with no real conviction.
#4 Jack Swagger
Swagger was a decent talent. While he did not set the stage on fire with his charisma, he was a solid worker, and could put on decent matches with almost anyone. Jack came into his own whilst being a part of ‘The Real Americans’ with Zeb Colter, and the duo gelled well, pushing the narrative of rampant illegal immigration in the United States, and thereby drawing good heat.
By that point, one could feel that the damage had already been done to Swagger’s career. Pushing someone too early could adversely affect their wrestling career, and that was what happened with Swagger.
Swagger won the ECW Championship before the brand was wiped out of existence, and won the World Heavyweight Championship in 2010, less than a year after he was drafted to the main roster.
His title run was flat, as the audience did not care enough about Jack Swagger to be invested in his run. Swagger eventually dropped the title to Mysterio, but by that point, he had lost a ton of momentum, and never really recovered from his uneventful championship reign.
#3 Vince McMahon
The self - made billionaire took over the reins from his ailing father, and revolutionized the wrestling industry. Vince never shied away from a challenge, and put himself in the firing line on many occasions, taking dangerous bumps for a senior citizen. His abrasive, boisterous behavior defined his on - screen persona — a megalomaniac who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted.
In 1999, Vince McMahon won the WWE Championship, but decided to vacate the title. McMahon was WWE’s biggest heel in the late 90’s, but the chairman winning the WWE Championship did not serve any purpose. McMahon won the title from Triple H, and when he vacated the title, Triple H won the championship back, rendering the title change pointless.
Vince McMahon later won the ECW Championship, making him a two time world champion. In contrast, Superstars such as Owen Hart, Mr. Perfect and Roddy Piper never won a world championship in WWE.
#2 Vince Russo
Moving on from one Vince to another, Vince Russo is considered by many to be the anti - Christ of professional wrestling - a sentiment Russo has embraced. Wrestling fans who had to sit through the dark days of WCW would vouch for Russo’s incompetence, but Russo himself would rank him amongst the brightest individuals the wrestling business has ever had the pleasure of knowing.
It’s safe to say that Russo isn’t a likable character. During his time with TNA, the fans often chanted for Russo to get booted from the promotion. Russo was also known to heavily favour his friends, and during his time with WCW, he decided to take things one step further, and put the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on himself!
Russo’s WCW run is often seen as a mistake, and many credit Russo’s shambolic booking, and his interest in emphasizing car - crash TV as one of the major reasons why WCW went out of business in 2001. Russo then found employment in TNA, quite the accomplishment for a man that has often voiced his distaste for wrestling!
#1 David Arquette
David Arquette is a movie star, and is also known as ‘that guy who married Courtney Cox’. David has been a professional wrestling fan from a young age, and when he decided to shoot Ready To Rumble, WCW wasted little time in bringing him on - board, and capitalize on the interest his movie generated.
Vince Russo then reportedly made the decision to put the title on David Arquette, making it the single worst decision ever taken by a head booker in a wrestling promotion. To his credit, Arquette was reportedly against the idea, but had to go along with it. David won the title from Diamond Dallas Page, and dropped the championship to Jarrett two weeks later.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
