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There is a special note value in aWWESuperstar becoming the World Champion . Even in a scripted setting , becoming a wiz is a reflection of hard work . It shows how the Superstar has connected enough with audiences as a character to earn enough popularity to rationalise being awarded professional grapple ’s top prize , along with redact on enough logical performances for the top brass to desire them in the office .
And yet , sometimes , tough work and eubstance still is n’t enough for a WWE Superstar to earn their stripes at the top of the run . Sometimes , the wiz who seemed prime for a World Title run were conjure against by bad timing , unsound luck , or a mistake that was bedamn enough to lose the reliance that backstage top governance had in them to begin with . In some case , it just was n’t think to be . Most lector are conversant withthe most underrated WWE Champions , but what about the most underrated WWE mavin to never put large gold around their shank ?
10William Regal
One Mistake Cost Him Everything
A ship’s company piece in every good sense of the Word of God , the versatility of William Regal has discover him satiate any role that WWE needed for him over two tenner . He ’s been an Intercontinental and Tag Team champion , a challenger , a serious competition , a joke of a drollery enactment , a muck up authorisation figure , and a respected General Manager - and he ’s stand out at every opportunity . In 2008,there were plans to reward his allegiance to the company with a WWE Championship reignafter acquire the King of the Ring tournament .
We ’re officially on the Road to ' Mania 2025 , and it ’s time to begin thinking about possible WrestleMania 41 matches regarding the midcard titles .
regrettably , just as WWE was pushing for his title run , he failed the WWE ’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policyfor the 2nd time in his career , get him suspended for 60 day . He ’d never experience such a major push or opportunity again in his life history .
9"Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
A Change of Plans Cost DiBiase a Shot at Glory
Technically speak , " The Million Dollar Man " Ted Dibiase is a former WWE Champion , or at least should be . In the most controversial instant ofAndre the Giant ’s iconic in - ring career , two minutes after defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship at The Main Event , he sell the rubric to DiBiase . Everyone has got a toll for the Million Dollar Man , but onscreen WWE President Jack Tunney could not be bought as easily . Not only did he uncase DiBiase ’s reign from the record book , the title was vacated .
Originally , there were plans in spot for DiBiase to formally get ahead the form of address at WrestleMania IV , but as Ted Dibiase Sr . explained toSportskeeda , agentPat Patterson had an alternative ideaand pitch for the Million Dollar Man ’s plan to backfire at Mania , urge him to create his own Million Dollar Championship . This was the route that WWE went with , as Randy " Macho Man " Savage overcome DiBiase in Mania ’s tournament finals .
8Jerry “The King” Lawler
Arrived Too Late in WWE to Become World Champion
Before coming to WWE , Jerry " The King " Lawler dominated the Memphis dominion scene , win legion World Championships in the area . As a outcome , he was already in thelatter stages of his wrestling careerby the time he debut for WWE . Because he was on the old side , already about 43 years sure-enough , he joined WWE not as a wrestler , but as a commentator . He ’d make sporadic appearances in the ring over the years , but he was primarily a commentator .
He never had a genuine fortune or opportunity to win the big one because Lawler was never truly a member of the intragroup wrestling roll , just the foretell team . In fact , he would never get a title shot for the WWE Championship until feuding with then - champion The Miz in 2011 , gainsay him on his 61st birthday in an underrated , butforgotten match from the PG Era .
7Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Too Beloved to Wrestle Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship
Some will argue that Jake " The Snake " Roberts was the greatest matman to never win the World Championship . His persona was magnetic enough that he did n’t necessarily need a title to maintain his popularity , but the closest he came was when he started a feud with Hulk Hogan for his WWE Championship .
They shot a TV angle together where Roberts drop Hogan with the DDT , but the angle was only shown in two markets : Rhode Island and Montreal , to promote the two headlining theatre shows in those areas . Both show were sold out andcrowds were favor the heel Roberts . WWE Chairman Vince McMahon wanted fans to unquestionably always be in Hogan ’s favor , soVince killed the feudbefore it could embark on .
6Dusty and Dustin Rhodes
It Took Cody to Break the Rhodes Curse
When Cody Rhodes first kicked offhis journey to wind up the story , he detailed that it all get down when his father challenge " Superstar " Billy Graham for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship ( the herald of the WWE Championship ) on September 26 , 1977 , in Madison Square Garden . Dusty come through the match and was given the belt , but due to a triviality , he did not make headway the title . The belt was contribute right back to Graham , setting Cody on his mission almost 50 years later . Although Dusty would become a prolific NWA World Champion , not winning the WWE Championship is considered by some a blemish on his bequest .
5Razor Ramon
Addiction Cost Him a Shot in WCW, While He Might’ve Won in WWE if He Never Left
While there are many wrestlers who failed to get ahead the big one on WWE stain , a lot of those same wrestlers became World Champions elsewhere , either in another caller after or before or on the territory scene before add up to WWE . In the case of Scott Hall , henever deliver the goods a World Champion anywhere . While some look that he might have win such amber as Razor Ramon had he stay with WWE instead of skip over to WCWas part of the nWo , it ’s a headscratcher for many to think that he never became a WCW World Champion either .
alas , Hall was a known addict and his dependency were at their bad during his time in WCW , clear WCW ’s top governing body loath to put the World Title on him . Still , though , that should n’t take away from his legacy as one of themost important wrestler ever .
4Shelton Benjamin
Says He Was Too Nice to Be a WWE Champion
There was a fourth dimension when Shelton Benjamin was unanimously consider the most skilled Superstar on the WWE roll . Much like his Minnesota Wrecking Crew teammate , Brock Lesnar , Benjamin was a rude athlete , but unlikethe 10 - time World Champion , Benjamin ’s career never raise past the midcard level . Some suppose he was arrest back because he contend with promos and charisma , but the same could be enounce for Lesnar early in his vocation . Brock had Paul Heyman as a manager when his promo ability was still miss .
WWE made a immense fault splitting up the Hurt Business . Their current run in AEW prove that .
In an audience with Chris Van Vliet , Benjamin details that he thinkshe was just too nice , and not big enough - physically - compare to his contemporaries he shared the pack with , like Brock Lesnar . In the former case , it come out he ’s referring to being too uncoerced to " do the caper " ( as they say in the industry ) and not displaying a hungriness to strive for more in a backstage background .
3Owen Hart
He Never Won the WWE Chairman Over as a Main Eventer
Similar to Ted DiBiase before him , Owen Hart had his chance to win the WWE Championship , and on one occasion technically did . His 1994 feud with his brother Bret culminated ina classic SummerSlam Steel Cage match , and in the build to it , the two wriggle house show events . At one bouncy event in Portland , Maine , on August 17 , the two wrestled in a Lumberjack Match for the deed of conveyance . With an assist from Jim " The Anvil " Neidhart , Owen was capable to roll the Hitman up for a three - countthat shocked the crowd in attendance and even the cameraman present .
After a minute of celebrating , the babyface Lumberjacks convinced the referee of Owen ’s wrongdoing , chair to the conclusion beingreversed and plunder from the record books . The ref also resume the match , allowing Bret to hold . Reportedly , Vince McMahon was never sold on Owen as a chief eventer , and so , Owen correct down the card following his feud with Bret , never receiving such a push again .
2R-Truth
Is Truth Too Good of a Comedian to Be Taken Seriously as a Potential WWE Champion?
In theory , with R - Truth still being a member of the WWE roster today , he could shock everyone by becoming a WWE Champion . Some will say the window is still receptive , but it ’s hard to say ifthe comedy preclude him from being taken seriously . His WWE career has see him mostly serve up as a comedy act , even when he was a Tag Team Champion or a United States Champion . Even his 2011 heel turn against John Cena going into Capitol Punishment painted him in an accidentally humorous light , thanks to the Lil Jimmy run muzzle .
R - Truth has found unbelievable success due to his natural body fluid and comedy endowment , havingsome of WWE ’s funniest present moment . Unfortunately , being funny does n’t always yield backing results . In TNA , he became the first black NWA World Championwhen he could still be taken seriously . His antics in WWE have kind of prevented people from find out him beyond his clowning act in a means that would for good cement him in master issue competition .
1"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Piper Was in the Right Place at the Wrong Time During Hogan’s Reign
It ’s difficult to nail exactly why " Rowdy " Roddy Piper never held the WWE Championship . The best reply may be just bad timing , as when Piper was at his most hated and - at the same time - his most pop , he was feuding with Hulk Hogan , who was enjoying a 1,474 - day title sovereignty . There was never a correct prison term for the title to switch hands when the friend was the dealership participant during the company ’s hottest time , its Rock ' n ' Wrestling epoch .
On the opposite end , Piper never involve a statute title . Not many who never succeed the World Title can say the same , but there ’s a reason why Piper only ever hold the Intercontinental Championship . Even then , it was abbreviated so he could put over his cousin , Bret Hart . Piper was aWrestleManiaheadliner who gained soda culture renown through a years - long feud with Mr. T and a respectable movie calling , and is considered grapple ’s greatest dog . He attain all that without aWWEChampionship rivulet .
