Becoming a champion in the WWE is a big deal. Becoming a WWE Champion or a World Heavyweight Champion or Universal Champion in the WWE is a very big deal. And then there’s becoming a WWE Grand Slam Champion.
One of the ultimate achievements in the world of pro wrestling, the term Grand Slam Champion was coined by Shawn Michaels when he captured the European Championship after he had held the WWE Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the Tag Team Championships (with Diesel) earlier in his career.
So, the gist of the matter is, you need to have held four titles in the company. In today’s day and age, becoming a Grand Slam Champion means you need to have held a World Title (WWE Title or Universal Title or World Heavyweight Title), two out of the US Title, the Intercontinental Title, the Hardcore Title and the European Title as well a Tag Title (Smackdown Live Tag Titles or RAW Tag Titles or WWE Tag Team Titles or World Tag Team Titles).
Wow, that’s a lot of championships, isn’t it? Well, yes. That’s why there have been only 12 Grand Slam Champions in the history of the WWE. There are some truly surprising and legendary names who are yet to achieve the feat.
So, without further ado, here are 5 WWE Superstars who are one title away from becoming a WWE Grand Slam Champion:
#5 Dean Ambrose
We start off with someone who enjoyed a highly successful run in 2016, Dean Ambrose. Considered by many as the least pushed member of The Shield, everything changed for Ambrose in 2016 as he picked up his maiden WWE Championship to ascend as the top babyface in the company.
Before his momentous victory, Ambrose made a name for himself as the longest reigning US Champion of all-time during his time with The Shield. He then racked up his third out of the required four championships when he defeated The Miz for the Intercontinental title.
Also read: 5 top WWE superstars that have never won the Intercontinental Championship
He is the current IC Champion and his reign began shortly after he lost his WWE Title to AJ Styles, which prompted his demotion to the upper mid card. The only thing missing for The Lunatic Fringe? A tag title run.
This might be a little surprising considering that he was part of a faction but we must remember that The Shield never invoked The Freebirds Rule and hence only Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns were the Tag Team Champions.
Ambrose should soon become a Grand Slam Champion, though, as it is only a matter of time before he is given a shot at tag team glory.
#4 Roman Reigns
We move on now to Dean Ambrose’s brother from his Shield days, Roman Reigns. The WWE Universe’s dislike for The Big Dog has been well documented by this point, but it is clear that they are not gonna stop pushing the Big Samoan into the stratosphere.
Reigns was a tag title holder during his time with The Shield with Seth Rollins so that’s checked off the Grand Slam Champion requirement list. He is, of course, a multi-time WWE Champion, much to the chagrin of pro wrestling fans everywhere.
And finally, we come to the latest addition to his title, the US Title which he won after defeating Rusev. Reigns would go on to lose the title to Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens in a handicap match. The only title missing from his collection? The Intercontinental Championship
Now that he’s embroiled in a feud with Braun Strowman, don’t expect to see Reigns become a Grand Slam Champion anytime soon as the IC Title is over on Smackdown Live. Rumours of a new WWE Draft in June 2016, though, make this a long-term possibility.
#3 Randy Orton
Wow, Randy Orton isn’t a Grand Slam Champion? Quite surprising that one of the most successful Superstars of his generation hasn’t achieved the feat yet. But, dig a little deeper and you can see why.
Orton was given a monstrous push from early on in his career as he won the Intercontinental Title as the World Heavyweight Title during his time with Evolution itself. Now firmly a main-eventer, he would pick up multiple Tag Team Titles with other huge names such as Edge, John Cena, and Bray Wyatt.
With the only title missing from his collection being the US Championship, now it clears up why Orton isn’t a Grand Slam Champion yet. It just doesn’t make sense to relegate him to the mid card.
We can easily see Orton picking up the US Championship in the years to come, though, as the man is just 36-years-old. Only a matter of time for The Viper.
#2 Seth Rollins
The final member of The Shield to complete the trifecta on this list. It’s no surprise to see all three members of the faction on this list considering the success that they have enjoyed, and it’s no different for Seth Rollins.
Boasting pretty much the same accolades as Roman Reigns. Rollins also needs an IC title to cement his legacy as a Grand Slam Champion. The Architect holds a small edge over Reigns as he has held both the US Title and the WWE Title simultaneously.
As with Reigns, with the IC Title over on Smackdown Live, it will take until at least the next WWE Draft to move forward with any plans to make Rollins a Grand Slam Champion, especially considering the fact that his feud with Triple H is yet to be resolved.
#1 John Cena
Whaaaaat? John Cena isn’t a Grand Slam Champion? No, he isn’t. Big Match John. The man who equalled Ric Flair’s record of 16-World Titles is, in fact, not a Grand Slam Champion.
While he has enjoyed those multiple World Championships and successful runs as a Tag Team Champion and a particularly memorable run as the US Champion, Cena has never won the Intercontinental Title in his career.
It seems only a matter of time, though, as Cena and the IC Title are both on Smackdown Live and having recently dropped the WWE Title to Bray Wyatt, Cena’s waist needs some gold.
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