Guys Who Should've Had Another Reign with A Particular Belt.

[sungod2020]

So we all have talked about those who deserved a reign with a specific championship that they never won, but what about those who previously had a run with said belt, and should've had another title reign for whatever reason. Here's my list.....

Ahmed Johnson as IC champ in 1997 - I remember someone here said his (what became) never-ending feud with Faarooq and The Nation should've ended at Wrestlemania XIII with that six man Chicago street fight(also involving LOD, Crush, and Savio Vega). After that, the logical step forward would be to gun for the Intercontinental Championship that he never lost to rebuild his momentum. 

Have The Pearl River Powerhouse win a #1 contenders match on RAW, and challenge Rocky Maivia for the strap at In Your House:Revenge of The Taker. Given the future People's Champ wasn't exactly setting the World on fire (at the time) and he lost the belt a week later in our timeline anyway(to Owen Hart), it only makes sense to have him become a two-time IC champ and see hopefully get a proper reign this time.

He can then lose it to Owen Hart at IYH:Canadian Stampede(which would make sense since it would be taking place in the younger Hart's hometown), before losing it to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at Summerslam(hopefully no botched piledriver this time), who would then forfeit it to a now re-heated Rock the night after IYH:D-generation X, thus resuming the timeline as normal.

The Big Johnson can keep challenging The Rock throughout 1998 for the belt, but coming always coming up short. Maybe he can win it again sometime in 1999. This is all provided he gets his attitude and habit for injuring people(and himself) in check. But given what we knew at the time, a second IC title run after he came back from injury would at least be a start and see where it goes.

Owen Hart as IC Champion in 1999 - In this universe, that stupid-ass stunt that cost him his life would never happen, or if it did, they would keep the safety latches on that harness. In fact, I remember somebody suggesting that as he was comically struggling to unhook it once he's three feet above the ring, The Godfather would finally make his entrance and attack him as he's still on harness to keep up with the buffoonery of the Blue Blazer character, forcibly separating it in the process as the match began. After some shenanigans occur, The Blazer finally beats WWF's resident pimp and wins the IC title. He then unmasks himself and that's the end of The Blue Blazer character.

The King of Hearts then can have the reign his running buddy Jeff Jarrett had before losing it to Edge the night before Fully Loaded, only to win it back at the PPV. Can lose it to D'lo Brown the next night on RAW, before winning it back at Summerslam(I'm copying and pasting I know, this would also make him a five time IC champ), before losing it to Chyna at No Mercy or even Survivor Series. Given his contract was suppose to run out in December, might as well make the best use of it before quietly exiting the company and onto the post-wrestling life he wanted(which would've been either a teacher or a firefighter).

Any you can think of?

 

[Deleted]

I wouldn't have minded another IC title run for Piper.

[sungod2020]

Aug 8, 2022 19:59:09 GMT -5 @wvguitar said:

I wouldn't have minded another IC title run for Piper.

Roddy Piper should've gotten one sometime in the 80s. He could've had the reign Greg "The Hammer" Valentine had. He could've had the same "thank you" title run in 1992. After that though? He wasn't making regular appearances then, and by that time, he seemed pretty ancient. Just see his feud/match with Jerry "The King" Lawler in 1994. And this was suppose to be in the New Generation? Just goes to show how stubborn the company was for still clinging onto it's past.

[ChitownKnight]

Eddie with another world title reign. If he had lived he might of got it

[Instant Classic]

Jericho with a 10th reign with the classic IC title was always a wrestling dream of mine.

[chazraps]

Goldberg never holding the WCW World Title for a second reign is just absolutely baffling to me.

[sungod2020]

Given he was a big signing at the time, it was pretty much a waste that in his entire two and a half year run, Marc Mero only had a one month reign as IC champion. Yes, I get that his wife Sable eclipsed him in popularity, and also had injuries that sidelined him for periods of time, but I don't think it would've hurt to have him win the IC belt again, especially with his revamped "Marvelous" character. He had a certain sleaze to him that would make him an effective heel IC champion.

Problem with that though is when he returned, there wasn't really a good opening for him. He was out of action for much of 1997, and when he did return, the upper midcard/IC title scene was crowded("Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Ken Shamrock, etc etc). Nation Rock was doing awesome as IC champion, which his reign took up the majority of 1998(until Summerslam), so there wasn't an opening there. If Triple H still gave up the IC title due to injury, you could have him win the IC title tournament that Ken Shamrock won, though I feel since he was building momentum(especially after the King of The Ring win) that was the right call. Plus, he kept coming up short of winning it earlier in the year against his feud with Rock, so I feel that was the right call for Kenny Boy to finally get a turn.

Maybe if Mero didn't have nagging injuries and worked the remainder of his contract(he had three years left, so until 2002), there could've been a spot for him in 1999 or 2000. I can see him in the mix with Jericho, Benoit, and Angle.

Bonus, if he renewed his contract in 2002, with the benefit of the Brand Split, maybe he could've had a reign as World or WWE champion so the company can finally get their money's worth, but that's probably stretching it.

As far as a different championship goes, Men on A Mission could've had a serious reign as tag team champions. Their two day reign was an accident due to Mabel falling on one of The Quebecers and couldn't physically kick out. If you wanted to build up Mabel as a serious threat for a singles push, not only should he have gotten better training to work safer, but have Men on a Mission update their wardrobe to be taken seriously as angry thugs. They could win the tag team title tournament at the Royal Rumble 1995 against the Smoking Gunns(instead of Bob Holly and The 1-2-3 Kid over Tatanka and Bam Bam), and proceed with the same heel turn they did shortly afterwards and see where it goes from there. It wouldn't be a full singles push for Mabel, but in the process they could put more emphasis on him in the tag team as a big monster threat with Mo in a semi-managerial role.

[Aceorton]

Davey Boy getting the IC belt back in '94 or early '95 would have made sense, but it was pretty much the Razor Ramon/Kliq show at that point. For it to work, they probably would have had to turn him heel sooner and have him go after Razor, which probably would have slowed/changed Jeff Jarrett's trajectory quite a bit.

Side note: Seems kind of weird that there wasn't more Jarrett-Davey Boy interaction in that year and a half they were both in the company. They feel like a good fit on paper. Looks like they only had the Survivor Series match on opposing teams, a singles match on Raw, an untelevised ladder match at a TV taping and an Allied Powers-Jarrett/Roadie match on Raw.

[Celexa Bliss 54]

Aug 9, 2022 10:45:25 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

Davey Boy getting the IC belt back in '94 or early '95 would have made sense, but it was pretty much the Razor Ramon/Kliq show at that point. For it to work, they probably would have had to turn him heel sooner and have him go after Razor, which probably would have slowed/changed Jeff Jarrett's trajectory quite a bit.

Side note: Seems kind of weird that there wasn't more Jarrett-Davey Boy interaction in that year and a half they were both in the company. They feel like a good fit on paper. Looks like they only had the Survivor Series match on opposing teams, a singles match on Raw, an untelevised ladder match at a TV taping and an Allied Powers-Jarrett/Roadie match on Raw.

Are you sure this wasn't on one of the weekend shows? Because I haven't seen the match pop up on any of the Raws I've been watching from that time period. Plus, with Roadie's in-ring debut not being until the first In Your House PPV, there was only a short two month window where that match could've happened.

[Aceorton]

Aug 9, 2022 10:55:58 GMT -5 Celexa Bliss 54 said:

Aug 9, 2022 10:45:25 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

Davey Boy getting the IC belt back in '94 or early '95 would have made sense, but it was pretty much the Razor Ramon/Kliq show at that point. For it to work, they probably would have had to turn him heel sooner and have him go after Razor, which probably would have slowed/changed Jeff Jarrett's trajectory quite a bit.

Side note: Seems kind of weird that there wasn't more Jarrett-Davey Boy interaction in that year and a half they were both in the company. They feel like a good fit on paper. Looks like they only had the Survivor Series match on opposing teams, a singles match on Raw, an untelevised ladder match at a TV taping and an Allied Powers-Jarrett/Roadie match on Raw.

Are you sure this wasn't on one of the weekend shows? Because I haven't seen the match pop up on any of the Raws I've been watching from that time period. Plus, with Roadie's in-ring debut not being until the first In Your House PPV, there was only a short two month window where that match could've happened.

You're right - it was at a Raw taping but not televised. It did show up on one of those non-PPV compilation tapes:

WWF @ Binghamton, NY - Broome County Arena - May 15, 1995
Monday Night Raw taping:
Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith defeated WWF IC Champion Jeff Jarrett & the Roadie when Smith pinned the Roadie with the running powerslam (WrestleFest 95)

[Celexa Bliss 54]

Aug 9, 2022 15:16:55 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

Aug 9, 2022 10:55:58 GMT -5 Celexa Bliss 54 said:

Are you sure this wasn't on one of the weekend shows? Because I haven't seen the match pop up on any of the Raws I've been watching from that time period. Plus, with Roadie's in-ring debut not being until the first In Your House PPV, there was only a short two month window where that match could've happened.

You're right - it was at a Raw taping but not televised. It did show up on one of those non-PPV compilation tapes:

WWF @ Binghamton, NY - Broome County Arena - May 15, 1995
Monday Night Raw taping:
Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith defeated WWF IC Champion Jeff Jarrett & the Roadie when Smith pinned the Roadie with the running powerslam (WrestleFest 95)

Thought so lol 1995 WWF is kind of my wheelhouse and I knew I'd never seen that match on any episodes of Raw

[tirtefaa]

I can't really think of any that would be beneficial, other than to the wrestler themselves.

Andre the Giant - WWF champion; Obviously this is to give him a legitimate reign as champion, the difficult challenge is to find a place to actually put this, especially since nothing fit for him after vacating the title, so I'd probably have to give him a title win over Superstar Billy Graham back in 1978, only to lose it back to him at some point before Graham lost it to Backlund.

Sycho Sid - WWF champion; I hate that both his title reigns are connected to other problems that the WWF faced in their main event at a time when he was mostly treated as the 5th most important guy. Again, I'd provide an opportunity for Sid to win the title back in 1995 at KOTR, possibly dropping it back to Diesel or someone else at SummerSlam or Survivor Series.

Big Show - WWE champion; for a guy who spent nearly 20 years in the company, usually being credited for being a top guy, he was never treated as much as far as title wins went, especially lengthy ones. I would gladly swap him in for Triple H during H's midlife crisis 2008 lengthy reign.

Rey Mysterio - WWE champion; much like Andre, he unfairly never got a proper reign. It's not too late to give him a 2 to 3 month run, but I doubt it'll happen.

Eddie Guerrero - WWE champion; Obviously, this may have happened had he not tragically died so early. That said, in an alternate timeline, I'd possibly have him as a foil for Cena in 2006, taking the title away from him briefly.

Shawn Michaels - World Heavyweight champion; It's rough living in a world where Jack Swagger is credited with a lengthier run with the belt than Mr. WrestleMania himself. This is the easiest swap ever; Shawn wins the title at WrestleMania 20 and loses it to Orton at SummerSlam.

Christian - World Heavyweight champion; At a time when he was putting on absolute classics, the Instant Classic would beat Del Rio at SummerSlam 2013.

Kurt Angle - United States champion; Pretty obvious given his gimmick, but he could have done more for the title than wasting it on a useless Orlando Jordan. Another easy historical swap with him beating Cena and then losing in 25 seconds to Beno...uh Booker T.

Marc Mero - Intercontinental champion; Would be interesting to see with his gimmick change in 1998.

Goldust - Intercontinental champion; 2003 Goldust was awesome and I would've loved to see a combo of him as IC champion and Booker T as World champion.

Booker T - Intercontinental champion; I know it's an obvious choice to give him another World title reign, but I'd also give him a proper IC reign since his first one ended with an injury. Could've easily been a better champ than about anyone between 2004 and 2006.

Ryback - Intercontinental champion; Controversial choice, but he was a credible option as the "Feed Me More" guy to go on a tear with a lengthy run with the title ala Ultimate Warrior style, where he destroys his opposition.

John Cena - Tag Team champion; the Achilles heel of Cena's distinguishing accomplishments is his absolute lackluster credibility as a tag team champion. Every time he won the tag titles, it ended with him and his partner at odds, with his partner turning on him and then losing the titles shortly thereafter. This happened with Shawn Michaels, Batista, Miz and David Otunga. Most of these reigns were less than a week. I'd have him win the tag titles as a face team with Zack Ryder and hold them for several months, with no partner turn in place.

Sheamus - King of the Ring winner; this is more of a do-over as the first one was so terrible. He could easily have been crowned again any time between 2011 and 2015, this time as a face and without the stupid king gimmick.

[Deleted]

Eddie was the first one I thought of.

Sadistic heel Eddie feuding with Michaels and a red hot Cena would've been amazing.

His feud with Batista was really entertaining before he died.

[sungod2020]

Would it have been a step down for Randy "Macho Man" Savage to get another crack at the IC title in 93/94? I mean, I know he felt wasted on the commentary booth since he still had some juice left in the tank(as his WCW run pre-1999 showed), so why not give The Madness a brief IC title reign to keep him busy/happy?

The problem with that is, I can't think of a good opening. Maybe have him win the IC belt from HBK the same night Marty Jannetty did, have him lose it back to Michaels at Summerslam and then history proceeds as normal. I'm sure the matches between Savage and Michaels would be good? Didn't they have some the year prior?

[fortknox]

Aug 8, 2022 23:37:26 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Goldberg never holding the WCW World Title for a second reign is just absolutely baffling to me.

I feel the same way about Lex Luger not having a 3rd reign with the belt. He loses the belt 5 days later and never get another shot at it and didn't seem to bother by it either.

[robferatu]

I would have loved to have seen William Regal hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (the Big Gold version) at some point, or even the WWECW World Heavyweight Championship.

The former would have looked incredible around his waste, and I’m kind of surprised what with Matt Hardy, Mark Henry, and Kane holding the WWECW World Heavyweight Championship that Regal didn’t sneak in there and get a three-to-four month run on the third brand.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Aug 27, 2022 0:29:04 GMT -5 robferatu said:

I would have loved to have seen William Regal hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (the Big Gold version) at some point, or even the WWECW World Heavyweight Championship.

The former would have looked incredible around his waste, and I’m kind of surprised what with Matt Hardy, Mark Henry, and Kane holding the WWECW World Heavyweight Championship that Regal didn’t sneak in there and get a three-to-four month run on the third brand.

Regal looked like he was going to get a run with the WH title before he got suspended 

They didn't make him part of the ECW circle until the end and Christian was still going strong as champ. I get why they didn't put the title on Regal just because they wanted to give someone young the rub of beating Christian

That was Ezekiel Jackson and I still don't know why they didn't keep him and Regal together but either way his momentum died down once he got injured right after the draft

[sungod2020]

If Shamrock stayed into 2000, I could've seen him in that Angle/Jericho/Benoit IC title mix.

[sungod2020]

Given how watered down the tag team division was at the time, I'm surprised The Headbangers didn't get another reign with the belts. They were kinda over for a low card act, so why not give them another reign sometime in 98? Just have them defeat The New Age Outlaws at Breakdown and then lose it back to them at Survivor Series? It even aligns with the timeline as well since they did have a mini feud with them going on.

[IgnahtaSempria]

Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose were both Raw Tag Team Champions at different times with Seth Rollins, but never with each other. They should have had at least one reign with each other, just because then each pairing of The Shield would have held the tag team titles together.