Since Buddy Rogers was first declared the inaugural WWWF Champion way back on April 11, 1963, the WWE title has been the premier championship of the wrestling industry. From the early years of Buddy and Bruno, to wrestling's peak popularity with Hogan, Hart, Michaels, Austin and The Rock, to today's McIntyre and Lashley, it’s the ultimate goal to reach in the sport.
Over the near-sixty year history of the title, several gimmick matches have taken place to decide who would become the standard bearer for the richest prize in the industry. Tables, ladders, chairs, twisted steel, and lumberjacks have all been a part of deciding who would be the man.
10 Bobby Lashley Vs. The Miz (Lumberjack Match)
One of the most recent title changes in WWE history was also one of the most long overdue. Bobby Lashley soundly thrashed The Miz to claim the gold. The Almighty CEO of The Hurt Business had to jump through several hoops to even get The Miz in the ring to defend the title.
This is why Adam Pierce and Shane McMahon made the match a Lumberjack Match. It was the first time ever the WWE title had changed under the stipulation.
9 The Rock Vs. Mankind (I Quit Match)
Mankind shocked the world and put butts in seats when he finally defeated the Rock to become the WWE champion on January 4, 1999. The two traded the title back and forth on the road to WrestleMania XV.
But what could only be described as Mick Foley’s most gruesome hour also resulted in him losing the title back to The Rock in an I Quit Match as part of the 1999 Royal Rumble. The Corporation had recorded Foley’s promo earlier in the evening where he emphatically told the world no one would ever get him to say “I Quit,” only for it to be played over the loud speaker to rob him of the title after The Great One knocked him out with chair shots.
8 Randy Orton Vs. Drew McIntyre (Hell In A Cell)
Drew McIntyre has not just been the standard bearer during The Thunderdome Era, but it’s a spot he’s very proud to have - leading the WWE during these wild and uncertain times. But his first reign was in jeopardy, defending the title against an equally white-hot Randy Orton.
The two collided at Hell In A Cell 2020 inside of the ominous structure. The Viper refused to be denied on this night and used every underhanded trick in the book to become a 14-time world champion.
7 Roman Reigns Vs. All (Royal Rumble 2016)
The journey to make Roman Reigns a super-mega-over babyface involved throwing just about everything and anything in his way to try and garner sympathy from the fans. While none of it worked, one of those obstacles involved The Big Dog defend the WWE title as the number one entrant of the 2016 Royal Rumble.
The match was ultimately won by Triple H. But instead of it being to the dismay of fans, they erupted when The Game dumped Roman out on his way to winning the title.
6 John Cena Vs. Edge (TLC)
The feud between Edge and John Cena quickly turned into a personal one over the WWE title. The Rated-R Superstar accosted John Cena’s dad and tossed his old spinner belt into the Long Island Sound. Cena retaliated by heaving Edge into the sludgy Long Island water.
In an effort to rid Raw of Cena forever, Edge defended the WWE title in a TLC match against Cena at Unforgiven 2006. Despite having a Toronto home field advantage and being undefeated in TLC matches, Cena was able to overcome and claim the WWE title.
5 Kane Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (First Blood)
While the entire wrestling universe remembers Mick Foley getting destroyed inside Hell In A Cell, there was actually one more match that followed at the 1998 King Of The Ring. Kane challenged Stone Cold for the WWE title in a First Blood match and vowed to set himself ablaze if he lost the match.
Yes, the idea that a masked man whose entire body was covered could bleed before Stone Cold and his big bald head was a little silly, but that was also part of the fun to watch how WWE would book the match. Shockingly, both Mankind and The Undertaker would interject themselves into this match as well, and an errant steel chair shot would cause Austin to bleed. Kane would become the new WWE Champion.
4 Bob Backlund Vs. Bret Hart (Throw In The Towel Submission Match)
For over a decade, Bob Backlund had to live with the fact that it was his cornerman Arnold Skaaland throwing in the towel and not himself tapping out that would end his five year title reign. Upon returning to the WWE, he snapped and became a maniacal villain who was hellbent on reclaiming the title that he never lost.
He challenged Bret Hart to a Submission Match at the 1994 Survivor Series. Each man would have a cornerman (Davey Boy for Bret, Owen for Mr. Backlund), and only they could throw in the towel to end the match. With The Bulldog knocked out, Bret was locked in the Chicken Wing for what seemed like an eternity while Owen gave the performance of a lifetime, feigning concern for Bret and convincing his mother to heave in the towel.
3 JBL Vs. Eddie Guerrero (Texas Bullrope Match)
In the spring of 2004, John Bradshaw Layfield drastically changed his character - going from fun loving barroom brawler to JR Ewing type of wealthy Texan. He set his sights on the WWE title and challenged Eddie Guerrero for the WWE title at the first ever WWE Great American Bash.
They wrestled in a nasty Texas Bullrope Match which JBL won, firmly establishing him as WWE Champion and the top heel on SmackDown.
2 Bray Wyatt Vs. AJ Styles Vs. Baron Corbin Vs. Dean Ambrose Vs. The Miz Vs. John Cena (Elimination Chamber)
John Cena had defeated AJ Styles to become the WWE champion at The Royal Rumble and was looking ahead to WrestleMania, but first he had to survive The Elimination Chamber and the challenge of The Miz, Baron Corbin, Dean Ambrose, AJ Styles, and Bray Wyatt.
The match came down to three men - Wyatt, AJ, and defending John Cena. To many fans, that meant it was all academic and Cena was retaining, until it wasn’t academic anymore. Wyatt eliminated Cena with Sister Abigail and it wasn’t before long that Wyatt was able to put down AJ as well, capturing the WWE title in the process.
1 Sheamus Vs. John Cena (Tables Match)
The rocket was firmly attached to the back of Sheamus in 2009. The Celtic Warrior destroyed all of the competition when debuted on the main roster in 2009. By the end of the year, he was the number one contender for John Cena’s WWE title.
In a Tables match, all Sheamus had to do was drop Cena through a table... which is exactly what he did, becoming the first ever Irish WWE Champion in the process.
A Lumberjack Match & 9 Other Gimmick Matches The WWE Title Changed Hands In - TheSportster
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