Top 5 Hardcore Champions in WWE history 

#1 Mick Foley was the first-ever WWE Hardcore Champion

Hardcore legend Mick Foley became the first-ever WWE Hardcore Champion. Under his Mankind gimmick, Foley was awarded the championship by the promotion's chairman Vince McMahon. The title was initially introduced as a nod to Foley's history of hardcore wrestling around the world.

Despite only having one reign as Hardcore Champion, he goes down as the Hardcore Legend. Foley competed in hardcore and deathmatches in Japan and also had a stint with Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Following its retirement, Hardcore Championship made two appearances in storylines, all involving Foley. The first was in June 2003, when Stone Cold Steve Austin awarded Mick the title for his contributions to hardcore wrestling.

The second was during Foley's feud with Edge, where they eventually became co-holders of the title, leading into a match with Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer at the ECW One Night Stand 2006. The title was taken out of the storyline following the pay-per-view.

Mick Foley will forever be a hardcore legend and one of the pioneers that brought hardcore wrestling to the mainstream.