The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 6

Sycho Sid (February 17, 1997 - March 23, 1997)

Sycho Sid bested Bret Hart on Raw to become champion for a second time

The WWE Championship changed hands more times than a game of pass the parcel in early 1997, and Sid's coronation as champion for the second time lasted just five weeks.

The original booking plan called for Sid to defeat Michaels on February 13, setting up a Sid/Undertaker title match at WrestleMania, which did happen.

However, Michaels was supposed to wrestle Hart in a non-title affair, in a rematch of their WrestleMania XII encounter, and Steve Austin was tentatively booked to compete with The British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith.

Michaels' vacating of the WWE Championship torpedoed those plans. Hart would go on to face Austin instead and Smith would remain in his tag team with Owen Hart.

For Sid, however, little changed, except he had a few days shaved off of his reign and he beat Hart instead. That came on Raw which is best remembered for it's ending. Austin interfered, walloping Hart with a steel chair, leaving him easy prey for Sid's match winning powerbomb. Hart was livid.

The "Hitman" was heading for a heel turn, Austin was heading for the top, and WWE would never be the same again.

Sid's role in the dawning of Attitude was minimal and his final WWE title reign was an afterthought, surrounded by entertaining chaos.