The last good babyface world champion in WWE?

[The Rick Jericho]

Seeing how we are close, to potentially having Cody be a babyface world champion.

Let's go back in a time a bit. Since we have been absolutely slammed by Roman's almost 4 year heel run on top as world champion.

Go back in time a bit before him, who would you say was the last good babyface world champion?

Kofi Kingston 2019?
AJ Styles 2018?
Dean Ambrose 2016?
Daniel Bryan 2014?
CM Punk 2012?

[Jindrak Mark]

Drew in 2020. Sucks that there were no fans though.

It's weird just how rare it is in the entire history of wrestling for a babyface to win the world title and for the actual reign to have more momentum than the chase/win. Even with the face champions I really like it's super rare that the excitement of the reign tops the anticipation of the win.

Hogan's 1st reign definitely counts. Austin's in 98 maybe. Good build up with the Tyson/Vince/DX stuff but then ratings kept getting even higher after he won and they ended WCW's 2 year reign on top.

I like Cody and am looking forward to see him win but it wouldn't shock me at all if he gets the big win then now that fans have got what they want they move on to the next thing and it's a Seth Rollins/Adam Page type thing were he's unanimously cheered for 2 years and people begging for him to win the title then once it actually happens suddenly he's getting split crowd reactions in half of his title defences and a lot of fans are already ready to move on.

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

for me its kofi

[ChitownKnight]

Apr 4, 2024 19:50:42 GMT -5 Jindrak Mark said:

Drew in 2020. Sucks that there were no fans though.

It's weird just how rare it is in the entire history of wrestling for a babyface to win the world title and for the actual reign to have more momentum than the chase/win. Even with the face champions I really like it's super rare that the excitement of the reign tops the anticipation of the win.

Hogan's 1st reign definitely counts. Austin's in 98 maybe. Good build up with the Tyson/Vince/DX stuff but then ratings kept getting even higher after he won and they ended WCW's 2 year reign on top.

I like Cody and am looking forward to see him win but it wouldn't shock me at all if he gets the big win then now that fans have got what they want they move on to the next thing and it's a Seth Rollins/Adam Page type thing were he's unanimously cheered for 2 years and people begging for him to win the title then once it actually happens suddenly he's getting split crowd reactions in half of his title defences and a lot of fans are already ready to move on.

Have Gunther squash him at Bash at Berlin, and then another chase to Mania 41?

[A Platypus Rave]

Drew was a fantastic face, that absolutely seemed like he was almost punished for being the guy carrying the company during the Pandemic.

[Bang Bang Bart]

Can’t really say Bryan in 2014 since the injury didn’t really let him have anything past a forgettable Kane title defense.

[Tenshigure]

Apr 4, 2024 20:59:27 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Drew was a fantastic face, that absolutely seemed like he was almost punished for being the guy carrying the company during the Pandemic.

Just couldn’t seem to get the crowd behind him.

/s

[TOK Hehe'd Around & Found Out]

It should have been Drew, but COVID f***ed it all up. Kofi had a great run exorcising the demons of his past (it's just a shame that he left the belt in catering in LA and Brock picked it up), but the last time that I really felt that a babyface champion was THE guy on a show was Ambrose in 2016.

[ChitownKnight]

-I didn’t really watch during Drew or Braun’s reigns
- I think Kofi’s was pretty good besides the ending
-I don’t mind Seth’s current one, although there should of atleast been some sort of break in there (like Damien Cashing and Seth winning it back)
-AJ’s was ok
-I liked Punk’s year + long reign, but I feel like he got more focus during the heel part of it
-Cena’s 05-07 run was legendary even though it got a lot of hate online. I was a teen at the time and 05-07 he was still kind of edgy and I was a fan.
It was a damn shame he never lost the title to Orton at that Last Man Standing match (although it kind of adds to his legacy that he held the title for a year+ and never lost it, and then won the Rumble)
-Eddie’s 04 reign was also legendary imo. He was a fighting champ and he beat Brock and Angle in big time matchups

[The Kevstaaa]

Probably Punk in 2012. The feuds with Ziggler and Jericho were solid while the stuff with Bryan/Kane/AJ was some of my favorite stuff in recent memory.

Dean was a good choice even with the dull Ziggler program in the middle.

Kofi had some lackluster feuds and AJ in 2018 was an absolute snoozefest.

[KingPooper]

I think I’m the only one that liked Braun’s face run a few years back.

[mizno1fan]

I can't be the only person in the world who thinks Kofi was a historically bad WWE Champion?

Kofimania, the build and the match were incredible don't get me wrong, but everything after that was so forgettable and dull. It just felt like a midcard title.

[thechase]

Apr 5, 2024 1:42:51 GMT -5 mizno1fan said:

I can't be the only person in the world who thinks Kofi was a historically bad WWE Champion?

Kofimania, the build and the match were incredible don't get me wrong, but everything after that was so forgettable and dull. It just felt like a midcard title.

I liked the Ziggler and Orton feuds, but I admit I did laugh when Brock smashed him into oblivacree.

[David-Arquette was in WCW 2000]

Apr 4, 2024 19:50:42 GMT -5 Jindrak Mark said:

Drew in 2020. Sucks that there were no fans though.

It's weird just how rare it is in the entire history of wrestling for a babyface to win the world title and for the actual reign to have more momentum than the chase/win. Even with the face champions I really like it's super rare that the excitement of the reign tops the anticipation of the win.

Hogan's 1st reign definitely counts. Austin's in 98 maybe. Good build up with the Tyson/Vince/DX stuff but then ratings kept getting even higher after he won and they ended WCW's 2 year reign on top.

I like Cody and am looking forward to see him win but it wouldn't shock me at all if he gets the big win then now that fans have got what they want they move on to the next thing and it's a Seth Rollins/Adam Page type thing were he's unanimously cheered for 2 years and people begging for him to win the title then once it actually happens suddenly he's getting split crowd reactions in half of his title defences and a lot of fans are already ready to move on.

I'm totally expecting this for Cody. Not wishing it on him, but definitely expecting it. Fans can be fickle and jump on the bandwagon, and Cody's journey and chase of the title is perfect fodder for that kind of fan.

However, if WWE can make the reign interesting, and keep Cody fresh, then maybe he could have a decent run with the belt. This is WWE though.. I expect Roman to then chase Cody and get the belt back by Summerslam at the latest lol

[4real]

Drew in 2020. Really hit his stride as a babyface and it was great to see a British WWE Champion.

Still can’t believe he hasn’t been Champion for 3 years now. And I don’t think he did anything particularly wrong in his two reigns.

[Mid-Carder]

Eddie in 2004. Bryan would be it but everything after Mania 30 was shite. I enjoyed Punk but he was much better as a heel.

[Lupin the Third]

Eddie Guerrero 2004.

[bob]

Drew carrying the company in the pandemic era

[ruthlessko04]

Drew McIntyre back in 2020. He had amazing battles with the likes of Orton, Rollins, Styles, Lashley and Ziggler while being the most popular babyface in the company at the time. The sad thing about his WWE title run was there was no fans to witness it. McIntyre's great rivalry with Orton also made his WWE title reign fun because those two had amazing chemistry in the ring and on the mic as McIntyre was WWE's top babyface while Orton was WWE's top heel.

[SkullTrauma]

bret hart