10 Shortest Lived Championship Belts In WWE History

From the WWE European Championship to the WWF Hardcore Title, these are the 10 Shortest Lived Championship Belts In WWE History
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown,, and NXT), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@BBall0027]

Fun fact: The 24/7 Championship was retired in the same building as the limo explosion from 2007. I wonder how close that garbage can was to where Paul London smiled at Vince.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Shortest waiting time

[@joeywrestling9536]

Not gonna lie. For those of us that are history buffs as well as wrestling fans (quite obviously), this was an absolutely incredible video! Thank you very much to whomever had the idea as well as to EVERYONE at Cultaholic! You lads and lasses seriously make my day!

[@angelus4282]

I know this list was only about former WWE titles but, when the subject of brief wrestling championships comes up, my mind always goes back to the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team titles. Lasted just eight days due to the sale/closure of the company!

[@Zombiekilleryamato]

WCW woman’s title

[@TimTE01]

Sad one, yeah. There’s also the WCW Cruiserweight Women’s Championship. Seen in one Tournament Match on Nitro and then only in Japan for a year.

[@lewisgreen5081]

Could a video on the titles that were made by and/or defended n WCW. There was about 15 I think.

[@supersaiyan1606]

I think u can go to the TBS headquarters and get a tour and apparently in one of their lobbies they have one of the cruiser weight tag belts on display and I think one other old NWA belt as well but idk which one

[@polarbear138]

@@lewisgreen5081 wasn’t there a WCW six man championship?

[@calebsmith8468]

Adam has perfected his list voice. So easy to watch

[@jakel7213]

I've fallen asleep to the 5 hour WrestleMania match list several times.

[@jimbo_1312]

​​@@jakel7213 I'm guilty of putting the 24hrs of lists video multiple times on to help me doze off.

[@mattalan6618]

@@jimbo_1312 im guilty of having sex with kids

[@arielargueta1734]

Al Snow having the European championship was nice because he would represent a European country based on the close, theme music, and the way head looked like.

[@Rando1975]

I loved that when Al held the title!

[@ThursdayNext67]

I'd give an honorable mention to the WWF World Martial Arts Championship. It was in existence for 10yrs 18days and was only on the line in five matches, all involving Antonio Inoki.

[@PaulWinstanleyPhysio]

I thought this would appear but then looked into it and found out the afformentioned 10+ year life span!

[@bigjoeofthe707]

I like how despite the relationship between WWE and New Japan ended in 1985 the martial arts title stayed alive with Inoki with 2 title changes happening in 1989

[@TimTE01]

It was defended on the big MTV Show…kind of. They ran a match at the Arena, but not on MTV.

[@Kapper2310]

absolutely wild to think that the Hardcore title didn't even exist for four years - it's certainly one of the aspects of the Attitude Era that still holds up (IMO)

[@letsplayxboxsports]

Yah I would have never guessed it was that short lived. Guess it makes sense when you think about it but it really seemed to be around longer than that.

[@mattalan6618]

@@letsplayxboxsports yeah i always thought the belt lasted like 6 years

[@elc1960]

Cultaholic, I believe you missed one oldie: The USA/American Championship. It was created so that Pedro Morales would have a belt to defend upon his return to the WWWF in 1970, as they had in mind him becoming the next babyface champ after Bruno lost. Pedro supposedly won it in one of those "fictional" tournaments somewhere by defeating Freddie Blassie in the tourney's final match. He brought it into WWWF with him and it had a red, white and blue center piece with a map of the USA on it, and it said "WWWF United States of America Championship." He held it for only a few months until the night he won the WWWF World Title off Ivan Koloff at MSG in February 1971. He even wore the belt into the ring with him that night. Immediately after that I believe the title was vacated and never mentioned again.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

The WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship was first formed in 1960 and lasted until 1971

[@elc1960]

@@EssexAggiegrad2011 This one was a completely different title. It was sometimes referred to as the "USA-American Heavyweight Championship." There are a number of photos of Morales wearing this belt. In the "official" WWE Record Book they don't even mention this title or the one you mentioned, so it's hard to find records of either of them. The only one they mentioned from that era was the old US Tag Title, which was abandoned for the International Tag Title, and eventually that was also abandoned for the WWWF World Tag Title. That's what makes those titles hard to keep track of, that they themselves don't even acknowledge events from their own past, plus the fact that there are so few of us around from that time that are on KZbin and still watching wrestling.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

@@elc1960 It's the same belt

[@DJDoubleCee]

I think Crash Holly was the best Hardcore champion. Especially when he announced that he was gonna defend it 24/7 😆

[@thereturnofharlem9030]

Triple H, bring back either the 24/7 belt or the original Hardcore title under 24/7 rules. Preferably the Hardcore 24/7 belt that Crash Holly made famous and relevant. R.I.P Crash Holly. Forever missed 🙏

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Rest In Peace Crash Holly

[@conradojavier7547]

​@@thereturnofharlem9030 HHH should bring back the Hardcore to bring the Bad Taste of it's Bootleg Brother The 24/7 of the Mouth.

[@thegameking3931]

@@thereturnofharlem9030 24x7 is trash but hardcore is better only if it only consisted in 24x7 rules

[@wanderlustwarrior]

What about the Greatest Royal Rumble Championship? They gave Braun a belt for a one night event!

[@arashitendou5941]

Maybe it could if the Saudi special matches actually ever meant a damn thing I mean it sure as heck says a LOT that the only one that had ANY follow up after those poor excuse for house shows was the so called “Best In the World” tournament and its winner Shane McMahon …I’m glad they’ve stopped doing those pointless matches

[@aaronhurst4379]

Happy to have been acknowledged in this video as one of the five who used to watch NXT UK weekly! 👋 I mean, I bought into the prestige of the UK title when Walter (as Gunther was known then) held it, with him only showing up to promote or wrestle a title match and having bangers every time. Who can forget those match-of-the-year candidates with Ilja Dragunov?

[@danielpomerance6910]

Same, I actually went to a taping back in October 2019 it was so fun

[@aaronhurst4379]

@@danielpomerance6910 It always looked it!

[@ajtaylor8750]

I really want to see the return of the Winged Eagle belt if Cody wins at Mania 39. That's one of the best belt designs that deserves a comeback. A Winged Eagle belt with the American Nightmare logo? 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@jrk22233]

Cody new gimmick becoming the guy who debuts belts because I think that would be either his third or forth debuting a belt

[@H8rProof]

@@jrk22233 far more than that if you include indie promotions

[@thevoicelesswriter]

If he does, the belt needs to be bigger. It looked weird to see guys like Stone Cold carry around a small championship belt.

[@craiggerhardstein7305]

@@thevoicelesswriter The belts back in the 80's in WWF were even smaller i think it was to make their big guys look even bigger than they were.

[@MrXanderthegreat1]

Uhh no

[@AMFOS22]

Greatest Royal Rumble Championship: 1 Day

[@MrBeardsley]

I knew the NXT UK women’s title only had four different champions, but somehow I never noticed only one of them was actually from the UK. Though I guess Rhea and Toni are at least from Commonwealth countries/former British colonies, so that’s close enough in WWE’s eyes.

[@johnlindsay4310]

I've actually been going back and watching NXT UK. It's a shame that it didn't get more promotion, it's almost as good as NXT Black and Gold or peak AEW. Definitely watch Tyler Bate vs Trent Seven from the September 1, 2022 finale. Probably one of WWE's best hidden gems.

[@jayduffy5532]

The WWE Canadian title sounds like something lance storm would dream up during his days as leader of team Canada in wcw

[@TimTE01]

He had the WCW Canadian Heavyweight Title.

[@a.grimes4202]

In its first outing in WWE, the WWE Mixed Tag Team Championship originally only existed for 4 years, 11 months and 10 days, from August 23, 2015-August 3, 2020, before being revived in 2022.

[@Kriseiri]

the UK belts were so pretty. I miss them :(

[@marybonner7432]

Right, they were gorgeous and they got rid of them, a true shame.

[@arashitendou5941]

My pessimistic mind would believe a big part of that is likely both BECAUSE they are better looking they their corporate logo mix and match world titles And because they aren’t carrying a big enough brand logo to fit Vince’s obnoxiously giant ego

[@GabbyPlaysGames02]

The shot at DiBiase was uncalled for 😂 funnily enough, his net worth has actually gone up since the whole debacle

[@treqrs]

Definitely one of my favourite lists you guys have made

[@moaziz23]

the European Championship was pretty cool…like a TV title

[@IAmQuinton]

NGL these UK NXT belts looks more prestigious than current WWE belts

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

WWE needs to bring back European title for NXT Europe

[@dylanthebiguy]

Fuck yeah :D

[@conradojavier7547]

NTX Europe Title.

[@-th1rty3-]

Al Snow as European champion was underrated, like Al Snow. Lance Storm kinda/sort of brought back the Canadian championship in another company.

[@brodielee4217]

If you're counting all title reigns, I believe Zach Ryder has a couple words for you.

[@rmoore2nd619]

12:19 this is a wild way to introduce someone 😂 I wasn’t expecting that

[@SithMaster26]

I used to love the Hardcore & European Championships. Thanks for the video.

[@CharlesHitmanStone]

Those NXT UK Tag Titles we’re absolutely gorgeous

[@mindofjosh279]

another stellar top ten video from cultaholic 🙏🏻

[@dsd310580]

There were also a WWWF International Heavyweight Championship, WWWF International Tag-Team Championship, WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship, and a WWF Irish Heavyweight Championship.

[@inakigiron]

What about the NXT UK Heritage Cup? It was technically defended as a championship

[@immersion726]

still exists now as the "NXT Heritage Cup Championship"

[@inakigiron]

True, I had genuinely forgotten about it hahahaha...@@immersion726

[@evanquiring8410]

I love how this video ends with "And let us never speak of it agan." LMAO

[@BReynoldsLilPiff]

Saying the cruiserweight title just existed in NXT before being unified is straight disrespectful to the work that Escobar, Kushida, & Strong did with that title.

[@neiljennings6620]

Every single one of those nxt UK titles looked excellent

[@jasonjimerson7046]

Fun fact... that wasn't the only North American championship that Ted DiBiase had in his career. He possessed Mid-South's North American championship years before he became the Million Dollar Man in the Fed.

[@Justin_North]

This gave me an idea for a list. 10 wrestling championships with the fewest champions. Of course, you could do the one with the most, but I think we all know that the WWE Tag Team title wins that.

[@MrMet777]

The Greatest Royal Rumble Championship would like a word

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Braun Strowman last eliminated Big Cass to win it

[@dyingbreath7]

I honestly was shocked that the WWF Women's Tag Team titles were not on this list, but the just missed the list.

[@ollum8612]

You forgot that green Greatest Royal Rumble championship belt with the palms on it that was given to Braun Strowman in Saudi Arabia - only to be never seen again after that one night. Might not have been an official championship but deserves an honorable mention. ;)

[@TheCheat420]

I didn't even know the NXT Cruiserweight Championship was retired. I always liked that belt, the replica is gorgeous.

[@MWH12085]

The 24/7 championship being an off-brand Hardcore championship. Yes! Thank you!

[@Nbflowers1989]

Another great one!

[@zanethind]

Crazy to think 5 years is a short time for a title being alive

[@TimTE01]

If you count rebrandings, WCW has this beat. On Nitro, PCO was given the WCW Hardcore Title and it was renamed the Saskatchewan Hardcore International Title. He lost it to Norman Smiley that night. RIP SHiT Title.

[@bamweasel]

Its too bad WCW didn't count. The WCW Cruiserweight Tag Titles have to be the shortest lived titles in history. They lasted a total of 8 days.

[@kmajorleague]

You should do a What Happened To That Wrestler on every British Wrestler from that iconic UK Tournament Stage shot with Triple H and Regal when they announced NXT UK

[@C_SAVAGE]

"it's a title, a belt holds up your pants".

[@TheForeverRanger]

2 Aussies, a Scot, and a Joshi walk into a bar.

[@Andigames235]

Surprised the light heavyweight title didn't make the list.

[@officegossip]

Coulda swore the hardcore championship lasted longer than that given the hilarious storylines behind it.

[@theupliftchannel]

Wasn’t there a King of the Ring belt at some point that was held by Mabel?

[@ronaldisrow8055]

I think it’s only me but without looking it up I thought the European champion was around longer but still one of the best looking belts

[@Jhylla81]

WWE should have reinstated the European title instead of creating the UK championship. They could have kept the same design more or less, but the even limited prestige would have been more than creating a new title. Curious to see if WWE does this for NXT Europe or creates a new title. Odds are the later.

[@conradojavier7547]

It's better to Revive Dead Belts, & rebrand them as NXT Champions.

[@MrMaddCv5]

Covid was the main reason NXT UK ain’t my personal opinion! I BLOODY loved NXT UK as it gave me and many others the opportunity to enjoy the WWE product live in person

[@nicolasstarheart2903]

Are we not counting the NXT UK Heritage Cup?

[@ShockerTopper]

That’s crazy I didn’t realize that the hardcore title was only around 3 years and change…it was retired after I stopped watching too. I watched from 94-2001 and it seemed like the hardcore title was around for a long time but I guess not.

[@BLAZINGikari]

... the WWF Martial arts title is saying hi lol

[@jakel7213]

Seeing that CWC logo hits different after you learn about Chris Chan lol.

[@JerziTBoss]

Nikky Cross missing the bin was kinda poetic simply because the 24/7 Championship was also a big miss. So Nikky missing the bin was intentional change my mind.

[@ihatefosters]

I enjoyed that United Kingdom title considerably. Gave some of the best matches during it's lifespan.

[@tafua_a]

The 24/7 Championship: the proof that nostalgia is a poison, since let's face it, the Hardcore title had the exact same problems as the 24/7 title, only the writing team was actually good back then.

[@tongracey1320]

The only good thing about the 24/7 title was r truth je was on top of his game with backstage segments etc

[@gingeftw6556]

As a kid I always wanted to be hardcore champion and European champion, was gutted when I got older and realised they weren’t taken as seriously as I thought 🤣🤣

[@GoRicky15]

I'm assuming you are counting the WWE Womens tag belts as a continuing limeage from the origianls, which existed less than 5 years between 1983 and 88. The series of matches between the Jumping Bomb Angels and Glamour Girls eserves it's own video, TBH.

[@bigjoeofthe707]

I don’t get how Bron Breakker, Mandy Rose and Pretty Deadly don’t count as last holders of the NXT UK title, NXT UK women’s title, & NXT UK tag team titles when they unified them with the prime NXT titles when RVD is the last European & Hardcore champion when he unified those title with the Intercontinental title

[@TimTE01]

None should count. They absorbed the Belts (metaphorically).

[@bigjoeofthe707]

@@TimTE01 but that’s how unifications usually work. You win another title and unify it with the one you have you count as the last champ (unless it’s boxing where the titles aren’t actually unified but just held together and still separate titles). The 3 NXT UK titles (except the Heritage Cup) are the only ones to my knowledge to have this happen where the wrestler(s) who won them aren’t seen as the final champions.

[@truthteller7283]

It should. Even if it is to unify it and the belt would be deactivated the moment after it’s won….. even if it’s for a brief moment you still technically won that championship. If that doesn’t count, by that logic then this whole time all 3 of those NXT and NXT UK championship matches were really just for the NXT championships only but since it wasn’t, it counts

[@bigjoeofthe707]

@@truthteller7283 yep. Look at all the other unifications. It lists the one unifying the title into another as the last champion. Triple H originally was the last intercontinental champion when he unified it with he world title before the title was revived. RVD is the last European and hardcore champion. LayCool are the last to hold the original women’s title (that issue gives me a headache on why they both are somewhat recognized as co-champs but list only one person as the champ and the divas title should’ve been retired). Carmelo Hayes is the last cruiserweight champ after he unified it with the North American title. But yet the 3 NXT UK titles aren’t given the same energy. Instead treated like when Charlotte was the last divas champ and first holder of the new women’s title (now Raw women’s title)

[@KegOfMeat]

There was also a Martial Arts Championship created just for Antonio Inoki.

[@lilpoetat]

Thanks 🙏

[@robertclark2253]

WWWF International Tag Team titles June 1st 1969 to July 2nd 1972 . First holders Mitsu Arikawa and Professor Tanaka last holers Geeto Mongol and Johnny DeFazio .

[@dannylopez5976]

4:40 hey hey don't you forget about the great Enzo.

[@travisgreen1729]

you forgot one the greatest rumble championship only one day before it was forgotten.

[@alexandergeorgiev74]

Rvd the title killer

[@roderickscott929]

💡 what about the 1. WCW cruiserweight tag team belts 2. WCW women's world championship 3. WWF : light heavyweight champion 4. ECW / WWE championship belt 5. WCW 6 man tag team belts 6. WWF 6 man tag team belts 7. Battle dome championship belt 8. WWF Smoking skull 💀 belt 9. Attitude era I.C. championship 10. WWF Attitude era belt - big blue ( just to name a few. Then again 🤔 ROH , TNA , XPW , wrestling society X , lucha underground , NJPW , AWA all have or had different belt designs )

[@rickyrosay33977]

The fate of the nxt uk world championship always makes me sad that title was beautiful

[@alcheman12]

Only 2 holders of the European title from Europe? You guys forgot all about D'Lo

[@ferox965]

The NXT UK belt was the best looking belt in the entire company

[@callmeking1318]

R Truth had more title reigns in WWE history Accept for Jerry the king Lawler who has an Unprecedented 149 different title reigns making him the winner of more championships then any other man in wrestling ever

[@guillermosierracuellar9812]

Also the Nxt heritage cup

[@KaleemMyster]

You guys should do your own rating system. I'm sure it'll be better than Meltzers

[@dj12699]

IMO The European title was a really good looking belt.

[@elijahloveell8809]

I agree. That title was beautiful

[@jaybee5315]

To be fair to Rhea Ripley and Toni Storm, New Zealand and Australia's flag has the Union Jack

[@patrickj994]

The Greatest Royal Rumble Championship I believe lasted a day, maybe a week?

[@multiyapples]

I like some of these championships.

[@loganflowers4115]

Some of those should come back. I think

[@bad-people6510]

Sad part is the UK belts look so much better than the other modern WWE titles.

[@zanethind]

I miss the Light Heavyweight Championship, the European Championship, Hardcore Championship, Cruiserweight Championship, and the Canadian Championship

[@tatianawhittaker]

In my opinion the UK titles were the best looking ones.

[@MRraywilliamjonhson1]

Is the 24/7 title still going

[@zacharymicah]

What about the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship?

[@chaosbringer82]

Funny story about that one. It actually started life in 1991 as part of a working relationship between WWF and a Mexican promotion called UWA. It seems the WWF forgot about it so when UWA went under in 1995 the title bounced around in Japan for a while before becoming part of the J-Crown, 8 Junior Heavyweight belts that were defended together and even showed up in WCW for a while. Then in 1997 when WWF decided to try and compete with WCW's Cruiserweight division they demanded then-champion Shinjiro Otani return the belt, they then put it on Taka Michinoku and never officially recognised the title's history before him.

[@AgentNolies]

To be fair nxt UK had viewers when nxt was online only as a semi 2nd hour of nxt.

[@jaritime1406]

WWF Women's Tag titles lasted about 2 years.... Jumping Bomb ANGELS LEFT AND BELTS Went with them

[@originalchristianvogt]

What about the Wwe Smackdown Championship, won By JBL and istantly pulled from him. So his rein was about 1 Minute long. Yeah, i know it was an storyline Tool.

[@anjhontongo6945]

Not on the list: *WWF Light Heavyweight Championship - 5 years before it evolved into WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Famous for Gillberg's longest title reign *King of the Ring belt - 1 year. Won by Mabel *Greatest Royal Rumble Championship - 1 night. Won by Braun Strowman

[@TimTE01]

Mabel’s Belt was not officially created.

[@TheNightmareMan]

How about the original WWF Women's Tag Team Championships

[@christianmunoz2644]

What about the heritage cup?

[@Zombiekilleryamato]

What killed the European championship the WCW deal as WWE went with the US title

[@elijahshelton5157]

You forgot the greatest Royal rumble championship belt which Braun strownman won and was never seen again making its reign 1 day

[@SuperNinjaMarth]

What about the Light Heavyweight title?

[@matthewhindi6368]

The Greatest Royal Rumble Championship was only ever on one show, surely that counts??

[@wcoleman99]

so what am i missing when it comse to Neville, Enzo is understandable

[@geeshep4836]

What About The WCW Women's Championship That was Short lived too.

[@TimTE01]

Not WWE.

[@ThrashAD720]

You guys used the wrong UWF logo that UWF logo is for the shoot style promotion not the Lucha Libre promotion.

[@conradojavier7547]

You mean the Herb Version?

[@ThrashAD720]

@@conradojavier7547 UWF in Japan.