4 Current WWE Superstars Who Surprisingly Received A One-on-One World Title Match

To become a world champion in WWE is the pinnacle for most performers. Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock; the list of men who have held world titles doesn’t just include famous wrestlers; it features pop culture icons.

Only a select few receive a shot at a world championship, but there have been a couple of surprising names who have gotten a chance at the top prize in WWE. James Ellsworth and his series against WWE Champion AJ Styles being a notable example.

Earlier, we looked at four current performers who’ve never received a one-on-one world title shot in WWE. Now let’s examine four stars on the roster who have gotten world title shots that you may not know about.

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#4: Zack Ryder

Ryder's had a career of ups and downs

Tag Team, United States, Intercontinental; Zack Ryder is only missing a WWE/Universal Championship from being the most unlikely Grand Slam Champion in WWE history.

‘Long Island Iced Z’ received a shot at that elusive title back in 2010 when he challenged Sheamus for the WWE Title on the August 23rd edition of Raw

The dastardly Sheamus chose to defend his belt against Ryder to avoid defending his title against tougher challengers. ’The Celtic Warrior’ squashed Ryder in 11 seconds.

This ‘match’ and his lowly status in the company instigated Ryder to create his hit internet series, Z True Long Island Story. ‘The Ryder Revolution’ got so hot that the fans even chanted “We Want Ryder” to The Rock!

Ryder’s hard work paid off when he captured the United States Championship in Dec 2011. However, Ryder lost the championship a few weeks later and fell down the pecking order soon after.

When an injury left an opening in the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania 32, Ryder capitalised to shockingly capture the title.…only to lose it the next day.

Ryder has said that his goal when making his YouTube series was not to get fired, seven years later and Ryder is still working for WWE.

As long as he’s still there, Ryder could surprise us one more time.

#3: R-Truth

R-Truth first debuted in 2000

Truth’s first WWE title shot took place on the main event of a PPV. However, it occurred in the vicinity of a pipe bomb.

R-Truth turned heel for the first time in his WWE career in April 2011; he was tired of entertaining “all the Little Jimmy’s” as he called them. The long-term mid carder was suddenly bolted to the main event mix and received a shot against WWE Champion John Cena at the Capital Punishment PPV. Truth lost after interference from a ‘Little Jimmy.’

The next day, CM Punk was announced as Cena’s next challenger. A week later, Punk sat cross-legged on the stage and delivered one of the most famous promos of all time. R-Truth was old news.

R-Truth then formed a tag team with another forgotten main eventer, The Miz. As The Awesome Truth, the two feuded with Triple H, Punk, Cena and even The Rock. The duo’s time together ended prematurely due to Truth’s wellness policy violation.

Truth did challenge for the WWE Championship once again, but it was in an Elimination Chamber match in 2012, where he was eliminated first.

Ever since then, Truth has been stuck at the low end of the card, not even getting a whiff of that main event pie. Recently, Truth has seen a resurgence in his career on the back of his entertaining backstage segments with Carmella. ‘The Fabulous Truth’ has often been the highlight of Smackdown.

It’s highly unlikely that R-Truth will ever reach main event status again, but he’s still got a valuable role to play.

#2: Rhyno

Rhyno has held world titles in ECW and TNA

Newer fans might not believe it, but Heath Slater’s cracker-eating partner was once one of wrestling’s hottest stars.

2001 was ‘The Man Beast’s’ career zenith. When the year began, he was working for a barely-functioning ECW where he won the ECW World Championship on the promotion’s last PPV.

Rhyno marched into the WWF as real-life friends Edge and Christian’s heavy. He later branched off and won the Hardcore Championship. His match against Raven at Backlash was one of the best bouts in the title’s history.

After WCW and ECW linked up to form The Alliance, Rhyno was one of the key members of the faction. He featured in the main event of the Invasion PPV alongside his Alliance teammates as they battled Team WWF.

It was during his time in the Alliance that Rhyno got a shot at a world title – but not the WWF title. He challenged for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Which was held by The Rock. On an episode of WWF Raw is War. 2001 was a strange time.

The Rock picked up the win after dodging Rhyno’s Gore and hitting the Rock Bottom. Shortly after, Rhyno would get neck surgery that put him out for over a year. His main event run was over.

17 years later, Rhyno is now in his second run with the company. He was bought in to fill up the Smackdown roster after the draft in 2016. His unlikely pairing with Heath Slater caught on, and the two became the first ever SmackDown Tag Team Championships. The duo was moved to Raw this year but have done nothing of note since.

The only main event Rhyno is associated with these days is the WWE Network programme.

#1: Goldust

Dustin Runnels has been with the WWE on and off for 28 years

‘The Bizarre One’ was often nominated, but he could never get his Oscar.

Goldust lifted the Intercontinental Title and numerous Tag Team championships in his many runs with the company but never a World Championship.

During his 1995-96 peak, Goldust was one of WWF’s biggest stars. He frequently challenged Shawn Michaels for the WWF Title on house show loops, but ‘The Bizarre One’ was never considered for a run with the promotion’s top prize.

Goldust as WWF World Champion during the New Generation era would’ve been too controversial. His androgynous character garnered many complaints from people inside the business and out.

Ironically, when the Attitude Era rolled around in late 1997-98, the original Goldust character looked tame in comparison. In this period, Goldust went through many changes, none of which connected.

An out-of-shape Goldust did challenge Steve Austin for the WWF Championship on an episode of Raw in April 1998, but Goldust just served as a pawn in the McMahon/Austin rivalry. The match ended in a no contest.

In his most recent run, ‘Goldie’ showed a renewed vigour, his matches alongside his brother Cody Rhodes against The Shield in 2013 were some of the best of his career.

Goldust is currently out of action following double knee surgery. Following this recent setback and coupled with the fact he will turn 50 next year, it’s a certainty that Goldust will never be awarded that main prize.