5 times WWE Superstars stole Championship belts

At AEW All Out, Chris Jericho defeated Hangman Page in the main event of the night to become the first-ever AEW World Heavyweight Champion. Unfortunately, Jericho didn't get to spend much time with the title belt.

Reports came in mere hours ago, stating that the AEW World title was stolen while Jericho was eating inside the Longhorn Steakhouse. Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter sent out a tweet, confirming that the belt was actually stolen and that it wasn't a part of an ongoing storyline. Jericho commented on the same, and it's being reported that Jericho will soon get a replacement.

In light of this unfortunate controversy, let's dive down the annals of Professional Wrestling history and take a look at five times a Superstar stole a title belt.

Note: All instances mentioned here (barring one) are in kayfabe, and were a part of storylines.

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#5 CM Punk steals The Rock's WWE title belt

Punk kicked off his legendary 434-day WWE title reign as a babyface, but was a hated heel by the time it came to an end. Punk was defeated by The Rock at Royal Rumble 2013, resulting in The People's Champion winning the big one for the first time in more than a decade.

During a segment on the road to Elimination Chamber, Punk surprised The Rock with a GTS and left with the WWE title, saying: "Every time you want to 'bring it', because it belongs to me, I'm just gonna take it."

Punk actually came out at Elimination Chamber carrying the WWE title, but didn't manage to legally win it, with The Rock coming out on top again and going to WrestleMania 29 as WWE Champion. Punk, on the other hand, went on to feud with The Undertaker, ultimately losing to The Deadman at The Grandest Stage Of Them All.

#4 Madusa dumps the WWE Women's title in a trash can

This one's the only instance in this list that wasn't a part of a storyline. Alundra Blayze, the then-WWE Women's Champion, jumped ship to WCW and took the coveted title along with her to the promotion, despite being stripped off the belt.

An episode of Monday Nitro in December 1995 saw Blayze, now calling herself Madusa, dropping the title belt in a trash can, in one of the most iconic stills in Pro Wrestling history. Blayze kept the title for around two decades, before revealing it again during her Hall of Fame induction in 2015.

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#3 Khali takes possession of John Cena's WWE title

Back during his early years in WWE, The Great Khali was an actual legit main event heel. He took out several main event Superstars in his quest to target John Cena, then-WWE Champion, and finally attacked him on an episode of Raw.

Two weeks before his WWE title match against Cena at Judgment Day 2007. Khali took the WWE title in his possession while Cena was in the ring. When Cena tried to stop him from fleeing with the belt, Khali turned and decked him with the title.

Cena tried to get back his title the next week, but ended up being destroyed by Khali in a backstage area. Somehow, Cena managed to retain the title against the intimidating monster at the PPV.

#2 CM Punk flees Chicago with the WWE title

The legendary Money In The Bank 2011 PPV ended with CM Punk foiling Vince McMahon's devious scheme and fleeing the building with the WWE title. After beating John Cena for the WWE title, Punk didn't get to celebrate for long, as Vince called in Alberto Del Rio. He couldn't cash in his MITB contract though, as Punk immediately put him down with a kick.

Although Punk had won the title fair and square, he wasn't allowed to take the belt with him and do as he pleased with it, in kayfabe. Punk's contract was up in kayfabe and he was no longer a WWE superstar, so him leaving with the WWE Title and threatening to defend it elsewhere amounted to stealing. Punk left the building with the title, as a stupefied Vince watched helplessly.

The storyline was rushed and Punk came back with the belt 8 days later. Nevertheless, this was the hottest angle of the year and Punk leaving WWE with the WWE title is regarded as one of the greatest moments in Pro-Wrestling history.

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#1 The Rock steals the Smoking Skull belt

Before The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin battled for years on end over the WWE title, these two Superstars were in a feud for the Intercontinental title. On an episode of Raw, The Nation of Domination unleashed a beatdown on Austin, followed by The Rock stealing the title belt. Austin got the title back at D-Generation X: In Your House, but Vince McMahon stated that he would have to defend it against The Rock.

Austin chose to forfeit the title instead and throw it into the New Hampshire river. Over a year later, The Rock was handed Austin's Smoking Skull belt by Shane McMahon. He proceeded to throw the title as well as Austin into a river. Austin later returned and beat the tar out of The Rock to get back his title.

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Edited by Umid Kumar Dey