5 surprising WWE Hardcore champions you should know about

The American BadassNo, hardcore is not exclusively used for just fans in the WWE. It had a championship specifically designed for its attributes and it lasted four years. The Championship was the kind of championship which had superstars execute many violent moves to fight and win for it.The interesting part about this championship was the 24x7 stipulation. This meant that the champion had to defend their title every hour, every minute, every second in a day.This led to more than 200 title changes and some surprising champions in the realm of the World Wrestling Federation/ Entertainment.Here are the 5 most surprising Hardcore champions.

#1 Trish Stratus

Stratus making her WWE debut

Trish Stratus is one of the greatest names in professional wrestling history. She redefined women's wrestling with her frenemy Lita for years, the likes of which are yet to be matched.

During a match against Jazz, chaos made it way after Steven Richards accompanied Jazz to the ring. He was the hardcore champion. That led to many superstars come out to the ring Including Bubba Ray Dudley. One thing led to another where Crash Holly was the champion.

Dudley hit him with a garbage can only to turn around to the crowd. Stratus took advantage and pinned Holly. Dudley put Stratus through a table later on. She lost it later against the same guy who Terri Runnels pinned to win- Stevie Richards.

#2 Never before, never again - Terri Runnels

Terri Runnels has only won one championship in the WWE

The 24x7 rule made the hardcore championship defendable anywhere and anytime. This led to many surprising winners. This included Vince McMahon’s sidekicks Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe holding the titles.

This also led one of Godfather’s girlfriends get a pinfall victory, the name of whom may forever remain unknown.

This rule also led backstage interviewer Terri Runnels to win the championship from Stevie Richards. She was instantly pinned by him, but this remains the only title she’s ever won during her stint with the WWE.

#3 R- Truth

How many of you even remember R- Truth being part of the main roster back in the beginning of the 21st century? He was part of the roster in 2001 when he won the Hardcore Championship twice. He defeated Raven to win his first title.

But the glory was short lived as the 24x7 rule prevented him to sustain his winning momentum. And he lost to the same man he pinned to win the title- Raven.

R- Truth may not see a championship coming to him anytime soon but he is one of the most amazingly hilarious parts about the main roster an he has consistently maintained the level of entertainment in whichever title feud he’s put into.

#4 The British Bulldog

The British Bulldog

The British Bulldog has held many titles except the World title. He’s had spectacular moments with every championship title he’s held, even main eventing PPVs winning and defending the Intercontinental title and the European title respectively.

So, what happened when he won the Hardcore Championship?

Bulldog returned to the WWE and defeated the Big Bossman to win the title, only to walk to the ramp, stay there celebrating and then hand over the title to Al Snow. Bulldog may just be one of thw few champions who’ve never been pinned for a title.

This was just a pleasant surprise. He moved on to eye the World title later on.

#5 The Undertaker

Taker was one of the longest reigning hardcore champions

We start the list with one of the biggest, greatest names in the wrestling business- The Undertaker. Like Cena and Bryan, Undertaker was a main event guy with a mid level title. But he did become one of the longest reigning champions in the hardcore championship history.

He faced off the likes of Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy to consecutively retain his title. The matches obviously involved extreme circumstances.

He lost to Maven, the same guy who eliminated him at one of the Royal Rumbles and then the reign was done. The American Badass, as his gimmick was then, gave a new face to the championship in its brief history.