10 WWE Champions Who Won The Title BEFORE They Were Ready

[@cicadrazadelija]

Eddie won title right on time it wasn't his fault that all other SD stars left or got injured and business went down. JBL also won right on time given the circumstances, Eddie felt burnt out, there weren't many stars on SD roster, it was necessary for them to build new top babyface and best way to do that is to have him overthrow despicable heel champion. JBL played role of uber heel almost perfectly, probably better than anybody on SD roster at that time could do.

[@bunyan4.20]

Yeah but Eddie chose to lose the belt also because it was too much for him at the time amd the plans were for him to win it back down the line but before he could he had passed away

[@bunyan4.20]

@@cassie20058 either way being WWE Champion took its toll on him and that's why he dropped the belt to JBL and then he never got a chance to win the World title off of Bautista because of his untimely death

[@roostermcscratch9060]

Preach it. JBL is God.

[@bunyan4.20]

@@roostermcscratch9060 JBL sucked

[@roostermcscratch9060]

@@bunyan4.20 the only thing he sucked was the elixir of badassery.

[@JungleBunkRootsMusic2022]

I'd argue eddie Guerrero was ready to win the gold. The only problem was that SD's roster was absolutely gutted in 04' so his title reign suffered as a result. It was less eddie, and more everything else happening at the time. I'd replace him with Roman, who won the belt at a time where he wasn't fully over with the fans yet.

[@calennon3]

Eddie was certainly over enough to deserve the title but it took a huge toll on Eddie. He was ready from a wrestling standpoint but not personally

[@Dim4323]

Brock lesner: EDDIE GUERERRO STOLE MY TITLE, GIVE ME BROCK LESNER VS GOLDBERG

[@daleharris3809]

Jericho was absolutely ready to win the title when he did, it's not his fault he was rendered as a 3rd wheel in his own feuds

[@philliphamilton4360]

Totally agree

[@munstrumridcully]

Agreed!

[@stevenbooker7201]

Factual

[@rloco80]

Man you beat me to it, I was going to say the same thing. I definitely agree that Jericho was ready when he won his first World Title. In fact it was long overdue.

[@daleharris3809]

@@rloco80 Remember the pop he got when he beat Triple H for the title on Raw back in 2000? I know it ended up not counting but you can't listen to that reaction and not think that people would buy Jericho as the man. The feud with Triple H was written horribly. Instead of focusing on a pretty simple but effective story- Hunter's road back to the top after a career threatening injury- somehow it ended up being about custody of a damn dog.

[@F1rsttimer]

The Miz should have won the title in 2016 - his best run ever.

[@James-vy5jg]

100%

[@superrobz]

The fact that they took it off Kevin Owens to put it on Goldberg still irritates me even watching it back

[@619316reymysterio]

I agree. I get it it was supposed to hype up the whole goldberg brock Lesnar rematch. But tbh I didnt like either and not only that k.o. was robbed of his push just like so many of the other hard working wrestlers.

[@poeticjustice7049]

Sorry but Y2J and Eddie earned that shit … real fans loved to see them win the belt

[@apollocreed1703]

Taker winning it was fine, Hogan should have just buggered off and let someone else have a go for a bit

[@jordanmccallum8132]

JBL was almost 40. and The Heel he was at that time made total sense. He was ready.

[@ccsdawg3927]

No he wasn’t

[@mringram]

Hindsight 🤦🏿

[@absoul112]

I think the real problem with Randy (aside from backstage issues) was that they tried to turn him face. They should've kept him heel and as a member of Evolution. A good chunk of this list raises the question, were they not ready or just poorly managed as champion?

[@Thor-Orion]

Definitely the case with Eddie, Diesel and Jericho.

[@Ayekay403]

In my opinion. I think Eddie got the title at the right time. He deserved it.

[@vincenzopinto702]

Yea and then he didn’t want it anymore because it was too stressful for him. That means he wasn’t ready

[@Ayekay403]

@@vincenzopinto702 Yeah that was his decision. But it's just my opinion.

[@TheLegendaryFolklore]

He felt his demons coming back. Vince didn't even want to take the title off of him at first because he was such a huge draw but ultimately had to, thus creating JBL. Just when Eddie was ready to reclaim being the face of the company again, he passed away. RIP Eddie.

[@Thecallmemisterajp]

A lot of people online were pissed that he didn't get the belt in July 03, when he was red hot and arguably more popular. He had personal issues while on top, but he was far and away the most viable option on Smackdown.

[@MKomortasS]

Definitely earned it

[@ВикторГайдаржи-ъ2б]

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I think CM Punk should`ve been here, nothing against Punk personally, but his 1 World Title reign in 2008 was like some midcarder holding the title, he lacked the "IT-factor" while RAW had HBK, Jericho, Cena and Batista, who all just outshined him. Like 2008 CM Punk as World champ was mediocre at best, especially comparing to 2009 CM Punk or 2011-2013 CM Punk

[@vincenzopinto702]

I agree. His first reign sucked. He definitely wasn’t ready. The feud with Jeff Hardy is when he really started coming into his own

[@Zigzagalltheway]

@@vincenzopinto702 agreed.2008 was one year removed from his ecw run which is too early

[@SonBlackHeart22]

Should of been mentioned in the video as an honorable mention.

[@ВикторГайдаржи-ъ2б]

@@Zigzagalltheway well, if you really think about it was not his, nor WWE`s fault. Jeff Hardy was supossed to win a briefcase that year, hence it should have been Hardy to cash it in on Edge. People definetly wanted Hardy as champion, and he was definetly over organically, to the point that his merchsales was second just behind Cena even without the title, by Autumn 2008 he even outselled Cena in merchsales. But hey, Jeff got suspended and in some way CM Punk paid a price for it - not just by being not really ready for the role, but by being Hardy`s subtitution also

[@SteakSauceOTG]

Even Kane and JBL outshined Punk during his first reign.

[@SonBlackHeart22]

Kevin did not care to be champion it was all about the money during that time and as for Randy he was still too young and was a pain backstage when it came to his behaviour honestly.

[@khesipresents1885]

Yeah they talked about that in ruthless aggression wwe documentaries he was still not ready he was still immature and didnt carry himself like a top guy

[@drecancerslayerjohnson4489]

It was Jbl time if there ever was one,he did good with his opportunity

[@larrysmithjr7492]

I’d argue JBL was ready. He was a veteran already and he stepped up when he was given the strap

[@frontier51]

I remember some of these runs positively (The Undertaker's first run, JBL's, The Miz's, Sheamus') and some VERY positively (Eddie's only world title run.) It's good to put the title on people before they become stale and all their heat fades, and most of these wrestlers rose to the occasion. (21 year old Orton really wasn't ready, and Jinder never will be.)

[@frontier51]

@@wanderlustwarrior That's fair. You're right. I really can't know for sure what someone will be capable of in the future. I wish him all the luck in the world.

[@robjackson4050]

apparently jinder drew better than some other champions though

[@johnjandoh6732]

@@frontier51 Orton was 24 not 21. But yeah. Still wasn't ready. They wanted him to break brocks record and be able to brag about it as a heel in the future.

[@Wurzelknecht]

I disagree with Jericho. What did his wrestling style have to do with anything? The only thing that ruined his reign as undisputed champ was the booking. Especially putting him with Stephanie. Same goes for Big Show, who in WCW was presented as a monster and it made sense for him to be Champion. But in WWF he was pinned in like a week and was never portrayed as a serious challenge to the top guys, which is baffling considering how Vince usually books his big monster heels. It's like if Hogan had pinned André in a random TV match instead of having a huge build-up for Wrestlemania III.

[@The810kid]

Jericho was so over as a baby face in 01 and was consistently clashing with main eventers.

[@SharkVshore]

I agree with you, and you're not the only one saying that, if they hadn't involved Stephanie things could have been a lot better

[@nu-metalfan2654]

Jericho, Eddie Guerrero and JBL won the title at the right time imo. You could have more of a debate with Orton, Big Show, and Sheamus but their first world titles in WWE were fine imo.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

I was shocked that Sheamus went over Cena

[@owenleblanc6495]

I give props to Jindar, he tried as hard as he could. All in all he did well for a guy who was thrust from jobber to "the guy."

[@khesipresents1885]

It was always going to end badly for mahal ..you cant just go from jobber to world champion in a month..... Even Indians saw right through this and didn't care.... And right now hes stuck in midcard doing nothing of note and still not believable.......i like his theme song though lol

[@johnjandoh6732]

@@khesipresents1885 I haven't even paid attention to what he's doing. I don't get recommended any vids from wwe about his matches.

[@khesipresents1885]

@@johnjandoh6732 wwe rushed a jobber to the main event, jibber got exposed... Feel bad for mahal......his push failed, indians didnt care..... Now hes tgeown to the side..... Wwe thought indians would care just because mahal us a brown boy

[@miadavis]

JBL you’re only champ cause HHH didn’t wanta work Tuesday’s!! 😂

[@Howyanow]

As Paul heyman said jbl was only champion for a year is because triple h didn’t wanna work Tuesdays

[@swavyypressure9417]

Lol

[@johnjandoh6732]

@@swavyypressure9417 Actually he was champion because Eddie wanted him to win it and Vince trusted him.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Randy Orton was even the victim of Triple H's Reign of Terror days as his first World title reign was botched

[@yousafihsan167]

No he wasn't . They made him champion so brock lesner who left wwe earlier this year couldnt be youngest world champion in wwe

[@noobsaibot8844]

Edge's first WWE title reign should have lasted longer, but he fell to John Cena, the guy who rises above hate and never gives up..

[@nu-metalfan2654]

Undertaker 1991 Diesel 1994 CM Punk 2008 (2009 was the right time) Miz 2010 (should’ve never of held it) Swagger 2010 (should’ve never of held it) Del Rio 2011 (not the WWE title, and 2012/13 with the WHC was the right time) Ziggler 2011(2013 was the right time) Daniel Bryan 2011 (2014 was the right time) Jinder Mahal 2017 (should’ve never of held it)

[@johnjandoh6732]

Ziggler never held the title in 2011. That's why his win in 2013 was such a big deal.

[@nu-metalfan2654]

@@johnjandoh6732 Ziggler did held the title in 2011 but for one day, WWE’s record books count it as a reign.

[@johnjandoh6732]

@@nu-metalfan2654 Really? Who did he beat? Was it Orton or Christian?

[@nu-metalfan2654]

@@johnjandoh6732 He didn’t beat anymone, Vickie Guerrero striped Edge of the title and gave it to Ziggler, but then Edge beat Ziggler in the same night in the main event to recapture the title. But for some reason WWE still counts this as a world title reign for Ziggler.

[@johnjandoh6732]

@@nu-metalfan2654 Oh yeah that thing. I never considered that as a reign at all tbh even as a 10 year old at the time.

[@1survivor566]

Man, what is this trash list? Eddie Guerrero was ready. Chris Jericho was ready. Undertaker was ready. Both Big Show and Randy Orton were ready but needed proper booking. Big Show was booked poorly overall. Orton needed his first title run booked as a heel.

[@titanhades4331]

What trash person are you? Even without the booking, anyone with a brain could tell they were not ready. Eddie Guerrero and Undertaker are even on record saying they were not ready. Obviously they know better then some idiot fan about when they themselves are ready. Seriously, how disrespectful can you be toward legends like that.

[@JungleBunkRootsMusic2022]

Nah, randy definitely wasn't ready. He was an immature brat backstage, he didn't carry himself like a champion and he wasn't fully over with the fans yet. Sure, his booking was crap too but even randy himself will admit that it was too early for him to win the gold.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Big Show should've had proper lengthly World title reign atleast

[@mynameisKOEN]

Maybe it could be interesting to talk about the story behind the wrestlers who won the title the youngest or the fastest after debuting! Anyway, great vid as always!

[@agentorange1156]

JBL's reign was agonizing. That's what he was though, so he did his job. He was ready and grew into it imo. Diesel should have never been champion. Bret should have been champion from WM10 to WM12

[@grapefruitsimmons]

JBL and Shamus were 2 of the main reasons i stopped watching wwe. Theyre just shit but get pushed to the moon for no reason

[@agentorange1156]

@@grapefruitsimmons in JBL's case, Eddie saw potential in him and Vince trusted him.

[@undertakernumberone1]

Diesel should've been a HEEL champion, not a 2 dimensional babyface.

[@undertakernumberone1]

@@grapefruitsimmons "Sheamus is just shit". No. Certainly not. I just have to refer to the Bar for this. And their good reception wasnt just because of Cesaro.

[@SharkVshore]

@@grapefruitsimmons Eddie wanted to lose the title to JBL because he saw potential in JBL's Gimmick, it was all Eddie's idea

[@VickStarkiller]

Let's be for real, if Triple H wasn't hurt in 2001, he would've most likely gotten the rub of beating Austin and Rock in one night to win the Undisputed Championship.

[@koxame]

Triple was even the guy in the poster of that PPV 😂

[@VickStarkiller]

@@koxame his push upon returning is the proof too.

[@ScarletDuke]

And starting off the list, it's John O'clock everyone! Get in here!

[@markbarrow2082]

Bruce Prichard said that Kevin should of won the WWE during his feud with Undertaker. He believes Nash would of been better as a heel WWE champion in 1996

[@jordanmccallum8132]

Eddie may have not been ready for himself to be on all the time. but he was 36. If he hadnt of passed not like he would have been any more ready 3-4 years later. Him as Champ was perfect timing.

[@Saiyan_Legacy15]

For Randy Orton, they made him win the title because they needed someone else to become the youngest world champion

[@max__p1765]

Undertaker won the first belt, because Hogan didn´t want to drop the belt to Flair. So the "shenanigans" started with the title win, when Ric Flair introduced the chair into the match.

[@charlesberg1234]

It was not only the right time for eddie. It was the right time for JBL Nobody has been a more effective heel since JBL fight me.

[@johnjandoh6732]

You have a point there.

[@martyscurllisinnocent4324]

Alternative title: WWE trying to tell the fans "See we're making new stars, please don't leave our Terrible product"

[@ghostfvce2151]

JBL is one of the greatest heel champions of all time.

[@ThatGuyDami]

Totally agree edge is the greatest tho in my opinion or one of the greatest based on facts

[@RolfWrenWalsh]

Big Show was more than ready to win the WWE belt in 1999. His 1996 run as WCW champ, and his 1997 run as babyface in WCW was proof of that.

[@prrocker9637]

Eddie is a weird one it was the right time for him to become champ that said he himself wasn't ready for thr stress that comes with being champion tbh he would've Def been a multi time world champ by now if it weren't for his death the man could and would carry the brand but never got a second chance

[@swavyypressure9417]

I agree. Eddie was going down hill as much as he was getting better. The toll it took on his body is sad. It was at the right time, but with a piss poor smackdown roster, and personal issues, Eddie was doomed to fail. Still love the work with Angle tho

[@MattDeMille]

I am SHOCKED that Warrior wasn't on this list. Now, he's my favorite, and I thought he held the belt fine. It's just, the trump-level hate people carry for this guy, taking every opportunity to say "he wasn't worthy of this or that" . . . Thank You, Whatculture, for NOT including him.

[@alexknight81]

?

[@WanderingMindSR]

Eddie was one humble guy and for him to recognize the pressure he was cracking under says a lot to his personal character.

[@terrencebell9609]

I always was a Miz fan and knew he would be a multi World Champion. Also his first ruin was AWESOME until Wrestlemania John Cena f' d that match all up.

[@patcab96ch3]

Eddie vs Brock should have happened in Wrestlemania 20

[@drecancerslayerjohnson4489]

At the time of Denise's reign i was excited I was young so I didn't know any better, as I'm grown now I see he was definitely green and wasn't the most over at the time.They should of went with Hall back then

[@johnjandoh6732]

Eddie supported giving JBL the belt when he did. I mean honestly the fact that JBL didn't win the belt after the blood bath from Eddie at Judgement day, but a month later instead, indicates that JBL was ready. I mean he was a perfect heel champion.

[@jordanmccallum8132]

Not saying Jinder would ever be ready, but how was it too soon? lol No one would ever think of him as a champ.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

They didn't even build him up before giving him the title. It was switch brands and boom his the champ

[@jjwilliams1098]

Jericho was ready, but I think no one cared about him at that time because there was so many great talent on the roster at that time...

[@jesseandrews2303]

True list. 1. Ultimate Warrior 2. Diesel 3. Big Show 4. Kurt Angle 5. Brock Lesnar 6. Alberto Del Rio 7. Jinder Mahal 8. Roman Reigns 9. Dean Ambrose 10. Daniel Bryan

[@knickydymondz33]

As a lifelong wrestling fan (probably 95% WWF/WWE), I was at MSG when Diesel beat Bob Backlund. It will probably always be one of the matches I will forever "Hang My Hat On" as a wrestling fan, ask me about the others LOL.

[@Jimbo_Ka-Blamo]

I’d argue that Jericho was made world champion a year too late… He should’ve been made champion at the height of his popularity as a massively over baby face in 2000 not as dull heel in 2001…

[@fattiger6957]

It didn't help that it felt like Jericho was only given the Undisputed Title because HHH was out for injury. They certainly treated Jericho like he was just keeping the belt warm until Vince's son-in-law was ready to take it.

[@koxame]

To make your point more valid, the vengeance ppv poster is non other than HHH 😂

[@Naruto0s44]

Ok easy, hbk(yes hbk clearly wasnt moving the needle in 96), hhh, shemus, y2j, goldberg

[@petarpetrov3683]

I absolutley don't agree with Diesel, Eddie and especially Jericho. There is a difference between being not ready and bad cirsumstances. I got the idea of the the title of the list isn't focusel solely in the former but the title needs to be changed because it is little baffling.

[@kmversion1]

*Jinder has entered the chat*

[@mortyjr8433]

Poor old Jinder, that suggests he would on day be ready

[@khesipresents1885]

Jinder is like an intern that got promoted to be on the board room... Who would disagree to be on the shot end of that honor though lol

[@antoniogreen8601]

I agree with this list for the most part (not sure about Eddie Guerrero as I think that his run was timely). The one entry on this list I absolutely believe did not deserve his run was Jinder Mahal. Like…why?

[@omarvazquez3355]

No mention of Kane wining the belt at king of the ring 1998? He was only Kane for about 9 months then he lost the belt the next day.

[@fattiger6957]

Those 1 day reigns really did nothing for anyone. It didn't make anyone look strong and just devalued the belt.

[@sonicboomers122]

Roman deserves to be here

[@fattiger6957]

You could make an hour long video about the accolades and accomplishments WWE undeservingly heaped upon that guy.

[@khesipresents1885]

It was just decided that roman will main event every wrestlemania whether he deserves it or not.... Good luck to other guys catching that brass ring

[@bigpasty1582]

Undertaker could've remained champ and done well. Cant help but think Hulk Hogan played a part in him having a short reign. Plus Flair was there etc.. but taker was a believable champ imo

[@mrdethbuzzard4885]

Hogan claimed for a long time that Taker didn't protect him with the tombstone on the chair. I bet that's what did Taker in as WWF champ.

[@fattiger6957]

@@mrdethbuzzard4885 Which is complete BS. If you watch that match, Hogan's head came nowhere close to the chair. It's just Hogan being his usual pathological lying self.

[@bigpasty1582]

@@mrdethbuzzard4885 agreed. And the claim was total crap. Taker was maybe a bit to safe during that tombstone

[@mrdethbuzzard4885]

@@bigpasty1582 I agree. Hogan's head was 8 inches away from the chair

[@nicoledickson6099]

Diesel was a amazing champion, but at the wrong time. He should've got it in the 1996 when he was a bit more experienced.

[@griffmendez]

Diesel's reign was stunted by bad booking, despite what Bruce Pritchard would like you to believe. He got injured against Sid, and then again against Mable, which completely derailed the reign during that summer. Reign began and ended strong.

[@LibertyJefferson]

Had to pause on JBL. Sure, his heel turn came from left field, but he played his role very well as a heel.

[@prj7894]

Undertaker was more than ready to win world title from his debut itself ..

[@corvoolafo5417]

Hbk. Recordholder in dropping every belt

[@MatthewStewart93]

Shawn Michaels should be on this list, he admits it himself.

[@SheriffOutlaw]

I have to agree with Adam on The Undertaker being ready as WWE Champion. I mean the guy just started the character and him beating Hogan in the way he did, really didn't help his case either..... but at least his World Heavyweight Championships Defenses pushed him to step up even at 40. And I just turned 30 myself so....... yeah difficult, not impossible. 😉

[@TheThird1977]

I wouldn't say "just started the character" when he had been featured AND undefeated (officially) for a full calendar year by this point.

[@SheriffOutlaw]

@@TheThird1977 I was meaning that by the view of being a relatively new character in the context of "Let's Hurry and get the belt on our New guy" type of deal. If booked slightly differently then my mind would change on how he was booked to win WWE Championships.

[@17Master]

I think the bigger problem with The Miz's title run was the feud against Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole being such an obnoxious Miz fanboy that even people that legitimately liked Mike at the time (such as myself) were turned off. I think Randy Orton was out with an injury at the time so that feud had to wait, but seriously, Jerry freaking Lawler? No one would look good or ready to be a champion with that type of booking. Then being made into the afterthought at Wrestlemania, WHILE BEING THE DAMN CHAMPION, all so they could push Rock v Cena for a whole year. They legitimately did not give Miz a fair chance.

[@rockydarknight2980]

I think sheamus 2009, jack swagger in 2010, 2011 the miz, jinder in 2017, randy in 2004, are really bad timing.

[@A..D..D]

Diesel was ready. The Character was on fire and people loved the Big bad ass. Having himi turn into a white meat baby face was wrong. The bad booking of putting him with slobs like King Kong Bundy and Mabel was a mistake. He was doing great as a Heel or as an in betweener.

[@jaimewasserman2422]

i hear once the shemus win over cena was not the original finish, sheamus was going to crash into a table outside, the same moment that cena did it inside the ring, but the table outside did not broke, so the refere give the title to sheames

[@michaelcookston7795]

JBL did a great job as a heal and was a great bad guy.

[@alarydavidnin]

Bruh Guerrero went to all divisions and won each championship before winning the main, how wouldn't he be ready, even his tittle win is one of the most remembered.

[@DrakeJ74]

Jinder, Eddie, JBL and Y2J were all ready

[@oneorganization501now2]

Great video

[@rabidsalvation9021]

The Undertaker first title win was planned as a transition to get Flair the title. That should have been mentioned.

[@discoder]

Jericho was definitely ready, if not overdue. He was just badly booked.

[@nooneinparticular5273]

Nah, Eddie was ready, he was just humble and had self doubts. As far as the talent, seniority, experience and popularity necessary to be a champion, that was absolutely the right time.

[@titanhades4331]

Nope. Guerrero himself admitted he wasn't ready. You are just being disrespectful to him now to not respecting his thoughts. He knew better then some idiot fan about when he was ready.

[@undertakernumberone1]

Iirc Taker mainly lost the title because Hogan was whining backstage. Imho due to the reign being basically non existant, i dont really think it fits on the list, simply because we just dont know if it'd been remembered as good or bad, had it gone longer.

[@andrewthompson3291]

The Really sad thing is about Randy Orton Becoming The Youngest World Heavyweight Champion in History is Because of Chris Benoit Double Murder Suicide it has been taken from the record books of WWE but any Fan would Understand while I'm on the Rant I'm on REST IN PEACE Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit

[@rogermitchemjr6722]

How dare y'all put Eddie Guerrero on this list? This is something the fans absolutely loved even to this day in my opinion Eddie Guerrero is one of the most popular and beloved WWE champions of all time.

[@TheLonelySoulja]

I disagree.. JBL’s time as WWE champion was God level

[@stevenpagnani7005]

The reason why Eddie won. They were working on brock and goldberg at wrestlemania. JBL won because Eddie didn't want it anymore

[@aran8143]

I think Jericho was a victim of circumstance. Other people were just more over and better booked at the time, but he was still an ABSURD mic man and Talk is Jericho was must see. He was too big for midcard titles but not given that sustained main event push… but I don’t know that readiness was the reason

[@grandmastermario3695]

Jbl and JINGER WERE NEVER READY

[@oscardaslouch]

Seriously expected the Fiend to top this list. Oh well… 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@khesipresents1885]

Lol fiend was super fast tracked lol

[@cartyrdeyager3283]

Did Eddie fight Brock for the Winged Eagle belt?

[@peggytheveteran4968]

No, the Undisputed belt

[@grandmastermario3695]

The miz Dolph ZEIGLER WERE ALSO PROBABLY NEVER READY EITHER

[@samvuwiz]

Actually I was rigth about the miz I youst to get punked for liking the miz but dam it to me he was always awesome

[@matthewhart898]

Always like your stuff Pacitti, but I find myself a little thrown by the Matt Berry-esque low and slow intonations you were ending most of your paragraphs with. I prefer you sounding your more natural self - just my take.

[@Thecallmemisterajp]

I disagree with most of these. Why even include Taker, a 6-day reign that the fans actually popped for, and which may have contributed to a career altering face turn? Jericho's Undisputed reign was a politics riddled mess, and Miz's only crime as World Champ was that he wasn't The Rock come Wrestlemania season. Eddie's title win was arguably overdue. WWF completely changed Nash's character from what got him over in 94, which was probably the main issue with his title reign. Sheamus is probably the best choice on your list, and even that's not fair because WWE barely featured him and never followed up on the title win. Show had similar issues and was the first guy to really be given the belt, but be pushed to the midcard while HHH and Vince dominated the shows. Some others that could've been included...Jack Swagger...good worker, but never had the chops for that top spot, and hasn't really sniffed the main event since losing it. Although I liked the reign, you could probably make a better case for Bret's 92 reign than Diesel or Taker as he got thrust into the main event suddenly, with no significant character change, was actually featured as the top guy, but was I believe the lowest drawing Champ at the time, and he really didn't hit his stride as a main eventer until the feuds with Lawler and Owen after he lost the belt. Despite the politics of his first run, I can see a case for CM Punk's first title run in 2008 as well.

[@alexknight81]

They didnt include swagger and punk in the list since it was about wwe champions specifically, but yeah agreed.

[@Thecallmemisterajp]

@@alexknight81 I was thinking the same, but they had Orton's WHC reign in there.

[@alexknight81]

@@Thecallmemisterajp that is true and I find it pretty odd that they that, like why just that singular choice?

[@Thecallmemisterajp]

@@alexknight81 Yeah, and given the state of Smackdown over the years, I can think of way more WHC cases than for WWE Title cases. Good for the discussion I guess, but yeah weird list.

[@jordanmccallum8132]

Jericho was ready in 97.

[@mrleo6004]

Chris Jericho is Greatest of all time

[@thegeekwithin91]

Jinder's was all in all a PR move so had WWE decided not to pursue India as a viable market I don't think he would have ever been champion whether he was ready or not.

[@DaLibraTay]

I loved Bradshaw I hated JBL for years didn’t even know it was the same person

[@CHilla415]

Disagree with Eddie, and also Y2J. It wasn't that Jericho wasn't ready it was that the booking was terrible.

[@danieldrayet2364]

Undertaker did win it at the right time, byt it was still the hogan era so you knew it wouldnt last long. Jericho waa also ready but look at how they booked him between royal rumble and mania. For eddie and jbl it was ust bad timing being the top guys were injured, they only had booker t and undertaker, john cena and rvd were still midcard Diesel it wasjust the time period and his opponents were trash(your not gonna have 5 star classics with sid or vicera) Randy was just because McMahon wanted to spite brock lesnar for leaving

[@plssushi]

The Miz should've beat AJ Styles for the WWE Championship in 2018.

[@manl15_89]

idk eddie n jbl won it at the right time, jbl said it himself his feud w eddie made the character

[@dizzygunner]

there's a few of these that are less the person not being ready, but the booking being shit, or other outside things fucking them over.

[@williamsmith666]

Jinder wasn't seen as a midcarder; everyone still saw him as the 3MB jobber.

[@jipsumies3435]

They were all ready

[@SharkVshore]

Jack Swagger should also be on the list, he didn't even deserve the world title

[@Thor-Orion]

The real reason why Diesel flopped as a champion is because they changed everything about his character that got him over as an antihero, they turned him white meat in a time when the crowds were sick of white meat baby faces that weren't named Bret Hart. Speaking of Bret Hart, watch Bret's matches with Diesel and tell me Big Daddy Cool wasn't ready.

[@KalmoK]

It's not like Orton wasn't ready, it's just that they fucked up the storyline.. turning him face when he is better as a heel and they could've done that storyline way way better

[@acceptable1609]

Also having him lose the belt for Triple H a month later was another issue.