'%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)
Since the inception of the professional wrestling business, the world championship belt has been the symbol of excellence. The carrier of the championship was recognized as the best that the territory/promotion/company had to offer. Every other wrestler associated with that company strove to win the gold. Top WWE names like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Steve Austin, and Triple H have become synonymous with wrestling's top prize.
Over the years, the meaning of a world championship has become muddled alongside its significance. It can be a recognition for the best in-ring performer, the wrestler with the best promo skills, the best ticket seller or a reward for career longevity. The list of justifications can be just as long as the list of objections fans will ultimately have with every champion.
Typically, a world championship is a conduit for solidifying a wrestler's place at the top of the company and elevating them in the eyes of the fans. It can be the final piece of the puzzle, the coming out party, that last bit of "oomph" to push that chosen character over the top.
But there have been many times in wrestling history that the last "push" over the top never came. Plenty of accomplished and talented superstars, for various reasons, never got a world championship run. Sometimes, performers get in their own way. Or the company never quite pulled the trigger on certain performers being "the man." Still, that doesn't mean that the opportunity wasn't there for a potential championship reign to be had.
Here are five WWE wrestlers who never held the world championship, and when they could or should have.
Owen Hart- WWE Survivor Series 1994
The year 1994 kicked the “New Generation” of WWE into high gear. For most of the year, Bret Hart was the company's top star. He headlined the summer stretch in a feud with his brother, Owen Hart. Owen, to his own credit, actually defeated Bret in a singles match at WrestleMania and he won the 1994 WWE King of the Ring. He was thriving in his first major role as a top heel and foil to "The Hitman."
Owen was unsuccessful in an attempt to capture the WWF Championship from Bret in a cage match at that year’s SummerSlam, but the feud remained hot. But the brothers would not headline a WWF pay-per-view event against each other the rest of the year. Bret moved onto a feud with Bob Backlund, and Owen was still involved in the storyline.
Owen was in Backlund’s corner and deceived his mother into throwing in the towel on Bret’s behalf. Owen cost Bret the title, But, many fans were perplexed about why, in the era of the “New Generation,” the company would put the championship on a veteran like Backlund rather than a current star.
This transition period would have been the most opportune time for Owen to get a short run with the championship. Instead of dropping the title to Backlund, Bret could have easily dropped the title to Owen. The younger Hart could have then dropped the title to Diesel at the 1995 WWE Royal Rumble, if not sooner.
Vince had obviously made the decision to go with Diesel as “the next big thing” in WWE. Needing to bridge the gap between Bret and Diesel, he chose Backlund as a transitional champion. In the midst of this era, Owen could have been a perfect fit for that role, even as a transitional WWE Champion.
Ted DiBiase- WWE in February/March 1989
WWE WrestleMania IV remains memorable for many reasons. It stands the test of time because it's the show where “Macho Man" Randy Savage won the WWF Championship in a one-night tournament. This victory was arguably the crowning achievement in Savage’s WWE career.
This night also proved to be the beginning of what would become the “Mega Powers Explode” storyline, perhaps the greatest storyline in WWE history. But rumor has it that Savage may or may not have been the initial choice to leave the show with the championship.
On the heel side of the roster in late 1988 and 1989, there was perhaps no one who garnered more hatred from the crowd then "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. He may not have needed the title, but if there was a time that DiBiase could have carried it, this was the time frame.
Even DiBiase himself has said in various shoot interviews that he thought he would be winning the tournament at WrestleMania IV. His actions in the infamous Hulk Hogan/Andre the Giant Saturday Night’s Main Event title match were the reason for the title to be vacated and the tournament to be held in the first place. But then he was supposed to go on to win it, too. Now that’s a true heel.
Apparently plans changed, but no one could have argued if this had been the creative direction the WWF went with. Had DiBiase walked out of WrestleMania IV as the champion, it would have added even more heat to his presentation and cemented him as the top bad guy in WWE.
He could have then easily slid into championship feuds with Savage and eventually Hogan. If ever there was a character tailor made to be champion, it was "The Million Dollar Man."
Roddy Piper- WWE The War to Settle the Score, February 1985
Rowdy" Roddy Piper is yet another WWE name that appears in the category of “Superstars who didn’t need the title.” But just because someone didn’t need it doesn’t mean they weren’t deserving.
The inaugural WrestleMania, Vince’s McMahon’s brainchild, changed the pro wrestling landscape forever. The event was headlined by the WWE’s new golden goose, Hulk Hogan teaming up with celebrity Mr. T to face the team of Paul Orndorff and perhaps the most hated man in wrestling at the time, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
As popular as Hogan was, there is little debate that the heat that Piper was able to generate for himself made Hogan that much more beloved as the conquering hero.
In the lead-up to 'Mania, Hogan and Piper would face each other at The War to Settle the Score. The match ended in a disqualification and ultimately led to the tag team main event for WrestleMania. Some fans wonder what would it have been like to see Piper take the title from Hogan at this event and set up an epic rematch between the two for the championship at WrestleMania.
There, Hogan could have regained the title in glorious fashion in front of a nationwide audience. The celebrity element could still have been easily included, but this approach could have put the focus on Hogan as the face of wrestling.
WWE could have easily capitalized on the heat-seeking nature of Piper. He deserved to be rewarded for his role in making his feud with Hogan worthy of necessitating a stage like WrestleMania. This was the time to do so.
Vader- WWE in summer/fall 1996
Before he came to WWE, Vader had run roughshod over WCW in the early nineties. He was the epitome of the “monster heel," and he had multiple reigns as a world champion. He personified the “Mastodon” moniker, and that was the star WWE thought they were going to get when they signed him in late 1995. Vader debuted in the WWE at the 1996 Royal Rumble and appeared destined for big things as a top heel for the company.
According to multiple accounts in shoot interviews and podcasts by the likes of Bruce Pritchard, Jim Ross, and even Vader himself, the plan was to have an ongoing storyline and series of matches between himself and then-WWE Champion, Shawn Michaels. The idea was to have a trilogy of matches where the stars would trade the title back and forth.
But things didn’t go according to “the plan” for various reasons. Michaels reportedly hated working with Vader, and their match at SummerSlam was not received well. Vader was working with a bum shoulder at the time that was limiting his work rate.
As a result, his conditioning to suffered, and he gained some weight. So he wasn't nearly the athlete he once was. Plus, Sycho Sid, a new (and old) face that was quickly becoming one of the most “over” talents on the roster.
The rest, as they say, is history. Vader’s push and subsequent feud with Michaels was squashed. Sid replaced Vader in the planned trilogy. In fact, Sid beat Vader in a Number One Contender’s Match at In Your House: Buried Alive to both literally and figuratively signify that the former was taking the mantle.
Vader would go on to have, at best, a lackluster run in the WWE until he was released in 1998. He never came close to the main event scene again. Had things fallen into place for Vader in the summer of 1996, his tenure could have been remembered quite differently.
William Regal- WWE in summer 2008
By 2008, William Regal already had nearly 25 years of in-ring experience under his belt. Finally, in the spring, it appeared that Regal may ascend to the highest heights of his career in WWE. He played a role in many high-profile storylines, both in and out of the ring on WWE RAW. Things looked like they were really about to take off when Regal won the 2008 King of the Ring in April.
The moniker of "King" fit Regal perfectly, as he ruled over WWE RAW with an iron fist. Rumors swirled that Regal was likely to be given a championship reign that summer. At the time, it was believed that he could have won the title at that year’s SummerSlam.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Regal’s personal demons seemed to have gotten the best of him. In May of 2008, it was announced he had been suspended for sixty days for violating the company's Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy.
Regal’s push was derailed and, though he returned to the company in July, he never quite gained the momentum and place on the card that he seemed destined for prior to his suspension. To be fair, he has found success as the general manager of WWE NXT.
What other legendary WWE stars could or should have held a World Championship? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
