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Back in the late 90s, WWE and WCW were engaged in perhaps the most exciting battle in the storied history of professional wrestling. Both promotions did everything in their power to topple the other in weekly ratings.
Eventually, WWE came out on top and bought WCW. Several WCW Superstars joined WWE, and went on to win World titles. There were many though, who didn't win a single World title in WWE despite being deemed worthy enough of becoming WCW Champions once.
In the following list, we will take a look at all 6 WCW World Champions who never won the top prize while in WWE. This also includes the Superstars who were in WWE before jumping ship to WCW in the 90s.
#6 Sting
After WCW folded, Sting was one of the big names who didn't sign with WWE. It all changed in 2014, when he debuted at Survivor Series and put Triple H down. A 6-time WCW World Champion, Sting wrestled a handful of matches in WWE, with the last one being for the WWE World title against Seth Rollins.
Sting lost the match, and hasn't stepped foot inside the squared circle ever since. One wonders if Sting would have been a multiple-time WWE Champion if he had made his way to the company soon after WCW's downfall.
#5 Jeff Jarrett
Jarrett was a major star in WCW during its dying days. WCW, in its attempt to finally push some wrestlers, elevated Jarrett to no end. He won the title on 4 occasions.
Things weren't as easy for him in WWE. He remained in the mid-card for the entirety of his WWE run in the late 90s and won the Intercontinental title 6 times. After WCW folded, Jarrett became a big name in Impact Wrestling, a promotion that he established with his father. He was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.
#4 Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner was another star WCW crowned as World Champion during the final years of the company. At WCW Mayhem 2000, Steiner took on Booker T for the WCW World Heavyweight title. He eventually defeated Booker to win the title and became a Triple Crown Champion while doing so. The rivalry continued for months and culminated on the final episode of Nitro, where Booker T defeated Steiner to win the belt back.
Prior to his WCW run, hs had a brief stint in WWE and became a two-time Tag Team Champion alongside his brother, Rick Steiner. The duo traded title wins with Money Inc. in 1993, and were quite popular among the WWE Universe at the time.
Steiner came back to WWE in late 2002, more than a year after WCW folded. He got into a feud with Triple H, with both competing for Triple H's World title on two consecutive PPVs. Steiner failed to win the belt though. He later formed a team with Test, but never tasted Championship gold.
#3 Big Van Vader
Vader was one of the most dominant stars in WCW during the early 90s. His feud with Sting for the WCW World title is regarded as one of the greatest rivalries of all time. The David vs Goliath theme of the feud was incredibly well received by fans at the time. He won the WCW World Heavyweight title on three different occasions.
In 1996, Vader made his way to WWE in the Royal Rumble match. He eliminated a bunch of big names including Jake Roberts, but was eventually thrown out by Shawn Michaels. Vader later feuded with Michaels for a while, before setting his sights on The Undertaker. He competed for the Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 13, alongside Mankind.
The duo failed to win the titles at the event, losing to Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. In his final televised WWE match, Vader lost to future World Champion Edge on Sunday Night Heat on October 11, 1998. Vader didn't win a single title belt during his WWE stint, let alone the World title.
#2 Diamond Dallas Page
Quite famous in the wrestling business now for improving lives with his DDP Yoga, Diamond Dallas Page was once a big name in WCW. A decorated star at the time, DDP won the WCW World title three times during his stint in the company. Page also feuded with the notorious faction nWo on many occasions.
After WCW folded, Page made his way to WWE and debuted on the June 18, 2001 episode of Monday Night RAW. He was revealed as the stalker of Sara, The Undertaker's wife. At King of the Ring 2001, The Undertaker took on DDP in an unsanctioned match. Page didn't do much during his brief stint in WWE, and announced his retirement in June 2002.
Page was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017. During his WWE run, Page managed to win the European title once, and the Tag Team titles on one occasion with Chris Canyon. DDP went on to become a successful motivational speaker, and instructor, launching his popular rehab program DDP Yoga in the process.
#1 Lex Luger
Back in 1993, Yokozuna was running rampant on the WWE's main roster. No one was able to put him down, but a freshly turned babyface Lex Luger, did the unthinkable and bodyslammed Yokozuna. He went on to face the behemoth at SummerSlam 1993, and won the match via countout. According to reports, Vince McMahon didn't feel that Luger was drawing audience, hence the push didn't move forward.
Luger returned to WCW in 1995, in one of the most famous moments in wrestling history. The US Heavyweight title match between Ric Flair and Sting on the premiere of Nitro saw Luger making an appearance, to the shock of the fans.
He was a major name in the promotion during the Monday Night Wars, and remained in WCW until the company was bought off by WWE in March 2001. Luger wrestled his last WCW match at the final WCW PPV named Greed, where he teamed up with Marcus Bagwell. The duo failed to defeat Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire for the WCW Tag Team titles.
