People who you like better as chaser/challenger than champ?

[Jindrak Mark]

And vice versa?

I love Bayley but tonight reminded me I'm not really a big fan of her as champion. I hated that long heel reign in 2019-20. Hopefully this one as a face will be better.

John Cena was a rare babyface who I liked better as champion that challenger. The reactions he got meant he could fight any random person and the title match would always feel like a big deal due to how loud the crowd would be for and against him. v Miz at Wrestlemania 27 is one of the rare examples I can think of a Cena title match with little crowd heat.

Goldberg is another one who I liked better as champion even though he barely actually held the world title ever. Just a few months in 1998 then a month in 2017. No wrestler has ever looked as right with a title belt as Goldberg did with the big gold one. In an ideal world with him not getting injured and WCW not dying he's rebuilt as a fighting champion and face of the company in 2000-01. Maybe Steiner eventually gets it off him and they build to a big Starrcade main event with Goldberg looking to get it back.

[Sephiroth]

Daniel Bryan worked best as an underdog chasing the belt.

[thecrusherwi]

Ric Flair’s whole gimmick basically depended on him being the champion. It was downright awkward when he wasn’t.

I think Stone Cold Steve Austin was always a bit more fun as the ornery pissed off Rattlesnake trying to get revenge for getting screwed out of the title or navigating McMahon’s goofy evil plans on his way to the title. I think they realized this, which is why Austin would drop the title for short periods of time to freshen up.

[THE FVNKER]

Apr 13, 2024 7:08:38 GMT -5 thecrusherwi said:

Ric Flair’s whole gimmick basically depended on him being the champion. It was downright awkward when he wasn’t.

I think Stone Cold Steve Austin was always a bit more fun as the ornery pissed off Rattlesnake trying to get revenge for getting screwed out of the title or navigating McMahon’s goofy evil plans on his way to the title. I think they realized this, which is why Austin would drop the title for short periods of time to freshen up.

I could be mistaken but I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Bruce Prichard echo the same sentiment. Austin was way better in the chase.

[Magnus the Magnificent]

Sting was a better chaser.
Always felt his reigns were somewhat lackluster, regardless of company.

[4real]

Apr 13, 2024 7:08:38 GMT -5 thecrusherwi said:

Ric Flair’s whole gimmick basically depended on him being the champion. It was downright awkward when he wasn’t.

I think Stone Cold Steve Austin was always a bit more fun as the ornery pissed off Rattlesnake trying to get revenge for getting screwed out of the title or navigating McMahon’s goofy evil plans on his way to the title. I think they realized this, which is why Austin would drop the title for short periods of time to freshen up.

Absolutely. That stretch from when he lost the title in September 98 to Survivor Series Deadly Game might be WWE’s hottest stretch of TV’s shows mainly due to Austin chasing after Vince for revenge.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Hangman Page was a great sympathetic babyface while chasing Omega. After he won the title his matches were still really good, but he got boring and flat. I remember him on commentary not really having much to say.

[thegame415]

Honestly, I generally prefer heels as champs and faces as challengers. There's more interest in the chase.

With that said, I like my face champion to either be evenly matched or at a disadvantage. For example, face Roman vs, I don't know, heel Miz doesn't have the same appeal to me because Roman should be able to destroy Miz.

[chronocross]

The Rock, I always liked him as a challenger to either Triple-H or Austin.

[salz4life]

i'm wonder if in 4-6 months, people are going to think Cody was better chasing the title as opposed to being champion. I know this is semi-OT, but still...

[tafkaga]

Hulk Hogan was better as champion than challenger.

Any time you have a person on your roster who is clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, they should have the World title.

[Hypnosis]

Apr 18, 2024 10:35:22 GMT -5 salz4life said:

i'm wonder if in 4-6 months, people are going to think Cody was better chasing the title as opposed to being champion. I know this is semi-OT, but still...

I know this goes against the thread strongly, but It all depends on the follow-up to his title win, which I could also say about anyone's reign.

The quality of challengers, frequency of title defenses, and booking can make a difference.