10 Legendary pro wrestlers who were never WWE World champion

#8 Greg The Hammer Valentine

Greg The Hammer Valentine

Real Name: Jonathon Wisnisky

Debut: 1970

Career Accolades: IWA World champion, NWA World Tag Team champion with Ric Flair, NWA World television champion, Mid South North American champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE World Tag team champion. In addition, he won over fifty titles in different regional promotions during his long career.

Greg Valentine was a second generation worker, following in the footsteps of his father Johnny Valentine. While his father tried to discourage him from pursuing a career in wrestling, he nonetheless arranged for Stu Hart to train the junior Valentine in the infamous Hart family dungeon.

Greg Valentine engaged in one of the bloodiest feuds in history when he had a series of dog collar matches against Roddy Piper, and was a fixture during the Rock N Wrestling era.

Why he never wore the WWE's big belt: Despite his obvious qualifications, Valentine was a heel wrestler during a period when babyfaces reigned as world champion, most especially Hulk Hogan. He was also in the waning years of his career by the time he made it to the WWE, and was a bit slower than he had been in his prime.