Who COULD Have Been the Best Transitional WWF/WWE Champ?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

I’m specifically talking about wrestlers who NEVER held the main WWF/WWE title, but should’ve. To make it more interesting the topic is limited only to people you think should’ve been transitional champs. NOT longterm champs.

To make things more interesting please include what storyline would’ve worked for the transitional reign.

Some that come to mind…

Jeff Jarrett in 1998/1999: Jarrett always struck me as a perfect guy to be IC champ that was occasionally slotted into the main event. It’s even a joke on his podcast that him being IC champ so much was like him being promoted to assistant manager a million times, never becoming manager. Him being a hired gun for Vince and feuding with Austin based on their real life history seems like a no brainer. Although their real life history is also why it never happened.

The Godfather in 1998/1999: Another guy who could’ve had a short program with Austin. He was white hot in 1998, but after so much of the same schtick became stale. Him beating Austin and turning heel seems like it would’ve breathed some fresh life into the character. He couldn’t really wrestle a main event match, but the Attitude is hardly best remembered for the workrate.

Goldust in 1996 or 2013: Him feuding with Shawn Michaels with all the gay panic mind games the early character was known for seems like a natural fit. In fact they even feuded extensively on the house show circuit. Alternatively in 2013 Goldust was having some of the best matches of his career and was very over. When I went to Survivor Series (2013) little kids were even dressing up like him. A surprise win and short program with someone like Orton could’ve been fun.

There’s a bunch more I can think of, but figured I should open it up to discussion now

[john84]

I think Perfect could've been a great transitional Champion. Maybe Owen if he didn't die could've eventually been one too.

[Aceorton]

Flair winning the '92 Rumble is one of those moments I'm hesitant to mess with, but it would have been incredible if Piper had ended up with both belts that night, only for Flair to beat him for the world title a month or so later. Piper also could have taken the Savage spot of beating Flair at WM8 and then losing it back to him that summer. Either way, Piper is my answer.

[The Thread Barbi]

Well that dodgy yellow mask went well with the title if WHO was a transitional champion.

[chazraps]

In the 80s - Tito Santana. Credible, believable, already had the pedigree of being an amazing IC champion, and made Iron Sheik look incredible in Sheik's only world title defense.

If there was ever a need for a transitional champion, Tito would have been perfect for all the reasons above AND because losing the belt after a short run wouldn't have hurt his standing at all in the eyes of the fans with his connection.

EDIT: And for the storyline, maybe he beats DiBiase for the belt after DiBiase buys it off Andre but the title is still set to be vacated at Wrestlemania IV so Tito is the transitional champion defending it at house shows and events up until then so that Savage still gets his crowning moment beating Dibiase.

[Mayonnaise]

'98: Shawn is injured at the Rumble and Owen wins it on Raw to lose to Austin at WM. Tyson still gets involved as Vince hates both and needs someone to protect the best interest of WWE.

[chazraps]

Jun 27, 2022 13:20:03 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

'98: Shawn is injured at the Rumble and Owen wins it on Raw to lose to Austin at WM. Tyson still gets involved as Vince hates both and needs someone to protect the best interest of WWE.

This is such a great call. Plus, you get a payoff for both the Summerslam 97 near-tragedy AND the Montreal screwjob.

My only change would be I'd have Owen win it at In Your House No Way Out that February in a match with Triple H or something so that there's a PPV draw there and we could sidestep the Savio Vega let down.

A 1998 Owen Wrestlemania main event vs Steve Austin sounds so much better than the Austin-Michaels match we got, and I say this as someone who loves the Austin-Michaels match and considers it underrated all things considered.

[celtics543]

Jun 27, 2022 8:52:23 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

I’m specifically talking about wrestlers who NEVER held the main WWF/WWE title, but should’ve. To make it more interesting the topic is limited only to people you think should’ve been transitional champs. NOT longterm champs.

To make things more interesting please include what storyline would’ve worked for the transitional reign.

Some that come to mind…

Jeff Jarrett in 1998/1999: Jarrett always struck me as a perfect guy to be IC champ that was occasionally slotted into the main event. It’s even a joke on his podcast that him being IC champ so much was like him being promoted to assistant manager a million times, never becoming manager. Him being a hired gun for Vince and feuding with Austin based on their real life history seems like a no brainer. Although their real life history is also why it never happened.

The Godfather in 1998/1999: Another guy who could’ve had a short program with Austin. He was white hot in 1998, but after so much of the same schtick became stale. Him beating Austin and turning heel seems like it would’ve breathed some fresh life into the character. He couldn’t really wrestle a main event match, but the Attitude is hardly best remembered for the workrate.

Goldust in 1996 or 2013: Him feuding with Shawn Michaels with all the gay panic mind games the early character was known for seems like a natural fit. In fact they even feuded extensively on the house show circuit. Alternatively in 2013 Goldust was having some of the best matches of his career and was very over. When I went to Survivor Series (2013) little kids were even dressing up like him. A surprise win and short program with someone like Orton could’ve been fun.

There’s a bunch more I can think of, but figured I should open it up to discussion now

As much as I liked those guys I can't picture any of them with the World Title. In a WWF with Austin, Kane, Foley, Undertaker, Rock, Shamrock, etc. there's no way that Jeff Jarrett was getting a run, even transitionally.

Godfather couldn't work a main event level program. He had no real character beyond the Ho Train and his actual heel run was awful.

Goldust in 1996 maybe but by 2013 he was done as a credible main event guy.


I think of all the times where a transitional champion makes sense, Dibiase could have taken it from Hogan and dropped it to Warrior at Wrestlemania 6. Face vs Face obviously worked out fine but it was new at the time and I'm sure someone in the office suggested having a heel drop it to Warrior.

I think Owen could have won it from Bret as part of their storyline back in 1994. He could've either lost it back to Bret or transitioned it to Diesel.

There are other different points where Piper or Jake Roberts could have won the title and been a transitional champion but I can't pinpoint a spot where it would have worked better than what they did.

[Mozenrath]

It'd have really fit Owen to match Bret's accomplishment, only for it to be fleeting and give him cause for frustration. Had they gone the televised route, you could even do that with Diesel having annihilated him in the way he did Backlund, just since that'd have been too good for a house show, Owen's machinations blowing up in his face.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the Mr. Backlund run, but Owen winning the belt from Bret and then immediately losing it would also have been such an Owen move.

[CMWaters]

Sting in 2015 over Seth Rollins.

Yes, there's the hindsight of Sting's injury and then later Rollins' injury stripping him of the title.

But have Sting win there quickly (after all, Rollins just lost to Cena before having to face Sting), give Sting the accolade of being a WWE Champion, have him have a defense at the Madison Square Garden show just to have that bit of history happen, then either Raw or the next PPV have him get screwed out of the title somehow.

It avenges Sting's loss at WrestleMania in a way, builds up Rollins' paranoia and anger, gives a historical moment with Sting wrestling at MSG, and with a quick loss prevents Sting from having to take the ending he did for a while with the buckle bomb.

...OK, maybe it's just cause I wanted to be able to say Sting was a former WWE Champion.

[nakedmideon]

British bulldog some point during Diesels 95 run.Diesels run was far too long,Bulldog could have been a good transitional champ till Bret ir Shawn carried it.although i'd like to have seen Davey have a run with it

[Wardlow on Wardlow 54]

Damien Sandow AND Cody Rhodes (2013):

Never give the World Heavyweight Championship to Cena. In fact, Cena's gone from SummerSlam until TLC. Sandow cashes in his Money in the Bank at Battleground after Del Rio defeats RVD in a Hardcore Match. At the same show, Cody and Goldust defeated The Shield to be reinstated as active competitors. At Hell in a Cell, Cody challenges and defeats Sandow in a Cell match to officially blow off their feud and win the title. At Survivor Series, Cody wins a triple threat over Del Rio and Sandow, while Orton beats Big Show, then at TLC, Orton unifies the two World Titles in a TLC Match, leading to a short feud with Cena before Mania 30.

EDIT: Alternatively, if you want to get really wacky, you can avoid all that "held in abeyance" malarkey with the WWE Title by having Rhodes win that, then have either Rhodes or Sandow unify the titles at TLC lol

[Triangle Lancer]

Vader wins the belt at the February 1997 IYH: Final Four and Undertaker beats him at WM13 to get the win back after losing to the man at Royal Rumble.
You can still do all the crazy angles in between but Vader takes Sid's place. (Sid doesn't reappear after WM13 until June 2nd anyway, so it’s not like you'd be missing much; Bret doesn’t get his 4th reign until 'the SummerSlam'.)

[thegatewaydrug]

Forget the Sheik, Don Muraco shoulda been the heel to beat Backlund (via towel toss) in Dec 1983 and lose to that actor from Rocky III.

[karl100589]

Chyna at Summerslam 99. Even if it’s for a week at most.

Trips gets pissed at Chyna for taking what he believes is his title shot, leaving many to wonder who Trips is gonna favour in the title match. The ally who “betrayed” him or his long time rival. Mid match Trips interferes with sledgie intending to attack Chyna, but cracks Austin instead, allowing Chyna to get the win.

The next night Chyna cuts a promo praising her landmark moment, but Trips interferes saying she only won with his help. A title match is booked that night. Trips wins but is needlessly brutal in doing so. Sledgie shots etc.

It serves a few key purposes. It cements Trips as the number one heel by beating downs popular female face. It cements Chyna’s separation from Trips which she’d the carry into her program with Jarrett. WWE get seen as progressive putting the belt on a woman (not to mention good PR for Ventura as he was the Summerslam ref) and it’s a shock result which boosts the buyrate.

[XIII]

One of those SID reigns that I remember almost nothing about probably could have gone to Razor Ramon. Given Hall’s issues a short reign would probably be the way to go anyways.

[buckethead]

Jun 27, 2022 12:58:57 GMT -5 chazraps said:

In the 80s - Tito Santana. Credible, believable, already had the pedigree of being an amazing IC champion, and made Iron Sheik look incredible in Sheik's only world title defense.

If there was ever a need for a transitional champion, Tito would have been perfect for all the reasons above AND because losing the belt after a short run wouldn't have hurt his standing at all in the eyes of the fans with his connection.

EDIT: And for the storyline, maybe he beats DiBiase for the belt after DiBiase buys it off Andre but the title is still set to be vacated at Wrestlemania IV so Tito is the transitional champion defending it at house shows and events up until then so that Savage still gets his crowning moment beating Dibiase.

Yeah...this could've been a great alternate timeline. Hell..you could still have Hulkamania run wild but at a later date.

The only problem here is...who takes it from Tito? Looking at 84-85...Studd or Bundy? Or maybe even...



I always thought Orndorff deserved a short run with it in 86. Always been flabbergasted over how he gets no title run whatsoever in mid-late 80s WWF. He deserved it. It's one of the reasons Honkys lengthy IC title reign was so frustrating.

[J. Hova]

Well in my fantasy booking mind, I'd have had Cesaro been a long term champion at some point when he was the best in ring worker in the whole damn company, but I digress.

I'd have definitely had Owen get it at some point during his run, if not with Bret in the summer, then years later as the last remaining Hart. I like the idea of him taking it off HBK and dropping to Austin or assuming he doesn't die, he could have had a run at some point in 99-00.

I'll throw Shamrock in there as well. I don't know when you could slot him in, maybe Rock to Austin or Rock to HHH.

[buckethead]

Jun 27, 2022 15:03:08 GMT -5 nakedmideon said:

British bulldog some point during Diesels 95 run.Diesels run was far too long,Bulldog could have been a good transitional champ till Bret ir Shawn carried it.although i'd like to have seen Davey have a run with it

IMO the title reign he should've had was in 93 during his feud with Vader.

[The Rick Jericho]

Jun 27, 2022 8:52:23 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

I’m specifically talking about wrestlers who NEVER held the main WWF/WWE title, but should’ve. To make it more interesting the topic is limited only to people you think should’ve been transitional champs. NOT longterm champs.

To make things more interesting please include what storyline would’ve worked for the transitional reign.

Some that come to mind…

Jeff Jarrett in 1998/1999: Jarrett always struck me as a perfect guy to be IC champ that was occasionally slotted into the main event. It’s even a joke on his podcast that him being IC champ so much was like him being promoted to assistant manager a million times, never becoming manager. Him being a hired gun for Vince and feuding with Austin based on their real life history seems like a no brainer. Although their real life history is also why it never happened.

The Godfather in 1998/1999: Another guy who could’ve had a short program with Austin. He was white hot in 1998, but after so much of the same schtick became stale. Him beating Austin and turning heel seems like it would’ve breathed some fresh life into the character. He couldn’t really wrestle a main event match, but the Attitude is hardly best remembered for the workrate.

Goldust in 1996 or 2013: Him feuding with Shawn Michaels with all the gay panic mind games the early character was known for seems like a natural fit. In fact they even feuded extensively on the house show circuit. Alternatively in 2013 Goldust was having some of the best matches of his career and was very over. When I went to Survivor Series (2013) little kids were even dressing up like him. A surprise win and short program with someone like Orton could’ve been fun.

There’s a bunch more I can think of, but figured I should open it up to discussion now

Agreed on Jarrett. Unless HHH was threatened that Jarrett would get that main event heel run first. Jarrett vs. Austin and Jarrett vs. Rock would've drawn some money. People forget Jarrett was pretty red hot as a heel leading into the Chyna match. IF they truly believed in Jarrett and they wanted Chyna to get the IC title. Have Jarrett win a title vs. title match. He forfeits the title and Chyna wins the tournament for the IC title.

Problems solved. Jarrett vs. Jericho. Jarrett vs. Tazz. Jarrett vs. Undertaker when he returns in 2000. Jarrett vs. Rikishi. He had options in WWF 2000 if he stayed.