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Wrestlers Who Should Have Never Held The WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is the top prize in all of professional wrestling. Established in 1963, it has been held by some of the very best to have ever stepped into a professional wrestling ring. To date, 55 different individuals have had the honor of holding the title. Names such as John Cena, Steve Austin, The Rock, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and more have all helped in making it what it is today.

Related

10 Times The WWE Championship Was An Afterthought

While the WWE Championship is seen as the most prestigious title in all of wrestling, it sometimes isn’t the focal point of WWE programming.

However, not every WWE Champion has been the very best. For a variety of reasons, some of them ended up being forgettable and unimportant. With that being said, here are 10 wrestlers who should not have been WWE Champion.

10

Chris Jericho

He Was Not The Main Point Of His Feuds

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

1

Longest Reign With WWE Title

98 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

98 Days

Chris Jericho is among one of the most decorated professional wrestlers of all-time. He has held countless different championships for various promotions. However, his reign as WWE Champion was one that, when looked at deeper, is very unmemorable.

Jericho’s win to defeat The Rock and Steve Austin was an impressive one that he would recall various times. But, the majority of his reign was very uninteresting. He often felt second place compared to other names on the roster, despite the fact that he was WWE Champion.

9

The Miz

Bigger Storylines Overshadowed Him

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

2

Longest Reign With WWE Title

160 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

8 Days

The Miz had two separate reigns as WWE Champion in his career so far. On both occasions, not unlike Jericho, it felt like he was in second place because other stories were more interesting than the one he was a part of.

His first reign saw him feud too often with Jerry Lawler for the title. Even though he main evented WrestleMania against John Cena, the bigger story was between Cena and The Rock. For his second reign, he was simply just a transitional champion to make Bobby Lashley the WWE Champion.

8

Alberto Del Rio

Fans Did Not Care For Him As Champion

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

2

Longest Reign With WWE Title

35 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

49 Days

On more than one occasion, WWE tried to make fans get behind Alberto Del Rio. However, on virtually every occasion, it did not work. Fans simply did not care about his career and he was a boring WWE Champion.

At the time that Del Rio was champion, he was competing in the main event against names such as CM Punk and John Cena. These were names that fans had far more investment in and care than they ever did for Del Rio.

7

Vince McMahon

It Was The First Time McMahon Booked Himself As Champion

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

1

Longest Reign With WWE Title

6 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

6 Days

It has almost never gone over well when authority figures book themselves to win the top championship of their promotion. Vince McMahon won the WWE Championship from Triple H in 1999. It was simply a way to just get him back on TV because of storyline stipulations.

Overall, McMahon did not need to win the WWE Championship. It was not necessary and a waste of time. He later redid this again when he became ECW World Champion.

6

Kane

His Reign Lasted One Day

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

1

Longest Reign With WWE Title

1 Day

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

1 Day

During the Attitude Era, Kane became one of the biggest stars in the company very quickly. He skyrocketed to the main event scene and feuded with the biggest stars in the promotion. So, it made sense when he got to face Steve Austion for the WWE Championship and won it.

Related

Every WWE Champion Of The 2020s, Ranked By Their Reign

The 2020s have featured eight different wrestlers winning the WWE Championship so far, with some fortunate enough to have multiple reigns.

However, Kane’s one and only reign as WWE Champion was one that came and went in about 24 hours. On the RAW after King of the Ring 1998, he lost the title back to Austin. It was a totally unnecessary title change if the plan was just for what had happened.

5

Diesel

His Time At The Top Came At The Worst Time

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

1

Longest Reign With WWE Title

358 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

358 Days

At the time that Diesel became WWE Champion, the WWE was in the midst of one of its worst eras. The New Generation Era did not bring too much change that many fans had wanted to see at the time. In this case, Diesel was in the wrong place at the wrong time in WWE.

WWE lacked a lot during Diesel’s reign when it came to the creative booking. Boring feuds with the likes of Sycho Sid and King Mabel did no favors for Diesel. A lack of main event scene heels also did not help Diesel.

4

Sgt. Slaughter

He Only Became Champion Due To Real World Events

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

1

Longest Reign With WWE Title

64 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

64 Days

When it comes to the case of Sgt. Slaughter, the only reason that he became the WWE Champion was because of real world geopolitical events. In the early 1990s, the Gulf War was taking place. So, much like WWE had done at various points, they used this in a storyline.

Sgt. Slaughter, who had been a pro-US character, turned heel and became an Iraqi sympathizer. WWE booked Slaughter in a feud against Hulk Hogan in a feud that simply was not interesting. Slaughter’s reign as champion was not great and is one that has ultimately been forgotten.

3

The Ultimate Warrior

He Was Terrible In The Ring

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

1

Longest Reign With WWE Title

293 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

293 Days

Despite being popular at the time he was around, The Ultimate Warrior was truly one of the worst in-ring workers at the time that he reached his height in WWE. He won the WWE Championship in a high-profile match against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 6 in a Winner Takes All Match.

Warrior held the title for 293 days. WWE tried hard to make him as big as Hogan, but that never happened. Especially when thinking about the rest of the roster at the time and their in-ring work, there were far more deserving names of being in the WWE Title picture than The Ultimate Warrior.

2

Bob Backlund

His Second Reign Was Unnecessary

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

2

Longest Reign With WWE Title

2,135 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

3 Days

Bob Backlund had a historic run as WWE Champion early in his career. He had one of the longest championship reigns in the history of the title. His first reign was 2,135 days long. That was a solid reign for him. However, the WWE Championship run that he did not need was his second one.

In the midst of the New Generation Era, WWE chose to put the title on Backlund for a second time. He defeated Bret Hart to win it, with help from Owen Hart. Instead of putting the title on an up-and-coming name, WWE went with Backlund for a three day reign where he lost the title to Diesel at a house show.

1

Jinder Mahal

He Was Not At The Point To Be Champion

Number Of WWE Title Reigns

1

Longest Reign With WWE Title

170 Days

Shortest Reign With WWE Title

170 Days

The story of Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion is one that has been discussed many times by fans. In all fairness, Mahal is talented when it comes to in-ring action and can do solid character work. But, where he was one the card at the time, it did not warrant him becoming a WWE Champion.

Related

10 Past WWE Stars Who Receive Too Much Hate From Fans

These WWE wrestlers didn’t deserve all that hate they got from fans!

Mahal’s reign as WWE Champion went on for too long. He defeated names far above him in terms of in-ring skills and star power, such as Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura. It was a reign that fans did not care for at all.
1. The Great Khali – While he was a formidable force in the ring, The Great Khali’s limited wrestling abilities and lack of charisma made him an unlikely WWE Champion.
2. Jinder Mahal – Despite a brief and underwhelming reign as WWE Champion, Jinder Mahal was not a fan favorite and his title reign was met with criticism from many wrestling fans.
3. The Miz – While The Miz has had a successful career in WWE, many fans believe he was not deserving of a WWE Championship reign due to his limited in-ring abilities and perceived lack of star power.
4. Sheamus – Despite being a multiple-time WWE Champion, Sheamus has often been criticized for his bland character and lackluster promo skills, leading many to believe he was not a strong choice for a top title reign.
5. Alberto Del Rio – Despite his impressive in-ring skills, Alberto Del Rio’s controversial behavior both in and out of the ring made him a questionable choice for a WWE Championship reign.
Tags:
1. WWE Championship
2. Wrestlers
3. Pro Wrestling
4. Wrestlers Who Shouldn’t Have Won
5. WWE Champions
6. Wrestling Titles
7. WWE Superstars
8. Wrestling History
9. Controversial Champions
10. WWE Legends
#Wrestlers #Held #WWE #Championship
February 2, 2025
Special Forces’ Kyla Pratt Says There’s ‘No Animosity’ for Recruits Who Held Back Group (Exclusive)
“When you see somebody working hard, if they make a mistake, we’re not going to penalize you or be mad at you,” Pratt told TooFab exclusively, after being asked about Christy Carlson Romano’s underweight bag.

Kyla Pratt says there was “no animosity” between any of the Special Forces recruits if the rest of the group was punished due to one person’s mistakes.

In an interview with TooFab following the January 29th episode of FOX’s reality series, the actress opened up about her exit from the course.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Pratt told TooFab. “I think if I would have left any earlier, I might have. But when I decide, I think after the mud workout, I wanted to leave in the mud workout, but I refused to because I don’t like when someone’s trying to make me do something. And then the next day I was like, ‘I think I’m done.’”

The mud workout was given to the recruits after it was discovered Christy Carlson Romano’s bag was underweight — a big no no.

“There was no animosity at all,” Pratt insisted. “It’s crazy because you go into the situation at first and you are forced to be with 15 other people who you don’t know, you don’t even know their names … We’re in this together.”

“So, knowing that we were all there doing our best, no one was vindictive,” she continued. “No one was trying to do anything to ruin you and we are lacking sleep, lacking nutrition, lacking warmth,” she said before adding the conditions they were under caused mistakes to happen.

“We’re going to mess up. No one’s going to be perfect. So for her bag to be underweight, and that was crazy because she was ‘Miss, we got to wear our bags.’ So when you see somebody working hard, if they make a mistake, we’re not going to penalize you or be mad at you.”

FOX/Toofab

Christy Carlson Romano Compares Special Forces to Working in Hollywood, Exit Wasn’t Her Choice (Exclusive)

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The Proud Family

The 38-year-old — who is known for voicing Penny Proud in the original Disney Channel series The Proud Family — recently reprised the role in the reboot, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

“It was absolutely amazing,” she said of the opportunity to go back to the Proud family.

“Not a lot of people can say that they got to play a character 20 years later. I didn’t realize how important the Proud family was to so many people growing up until it was canceled,” she shared. “Everybody kept asking for it to come back and being a part of the show with the original creators and producers and older writers and newer writers. And I get to be a part of a cartoon that now my kids get to watch and get excited about new episodes.”

Even thought it’s been 20 years, Pratt said her voice “has not changed one bit.”

FOX/Instagram

Carey Hart Details Sacrifices He Made for Family & Why Wife P!nk Would Never Do Special Forces (Exclusive)

View Story

Fans of The Proud Family can expect even more from the universe too.

“We have a lot of things coming up in The Proud Family universe. I cannot share them, but let’s just say Disney plus is not playing. I think they see that the fans really enjoy the show. So they’re finding any and every way to make sure The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder lives on,” she teased.

Watch more of our interview with Kyla Pratt and her experience on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test above, as she also opens up about who she forged the best bond with on the show.

The series continues on Wednesday on FOX.

In a recent interview with Special Forces’ Kyla Pratt, she revealed that there is no animosity towards recruits who held back the group during their training. Pratt shared that in the high-pressure environment of Special Forces training, it is common for recruits to struggle and not perform at their best at times.

Pratt emphasized the importance of teamwork and support within the Special Forces community, stating that they are trained to work together and lift each other up, even when facing challenges. She also mentioned that recruits who may have held back the group are not judged or looked down upon, as everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.

Overall, Pratt’s message was one of understanding and empathy towards her fellow recruits, highlighting the camaraderie and acceptance that is fostered within the Special Forces. It is clear that despite the intense nature of their training, there is a sense of unity and respect among the members of this elite group.

Tags:
1. Kyla Pratt interview
2. Special Forces recruitment
3. Team dynamics in Special Forces
4. Exclusive interview with Kyla Pratt
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7. Kyla Pratt talks about recruits in Special Forces
8. Special Forces camaraderie
9. Kyla Pratt on group dynamics in the military
10. Special Forces unit cohesion
#Special #Forces #Kyla #Pratt #Animosity #Recruits #Held #Group #Exclusive
January 31, 2025
Five held in Gaza released by Hamas
Paweena Ninbut and Jiraporn Sricham of BBC Thai and Flora Drury

Reporting fromBangkok and London

BBC

The five farm workers were taken hostage in October 2023

Five Thai farm workers who were abducted during the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel have been released after being held for almost 500 days in Gaza.

They were handed over to the Red Cross during chaotic scenes along with two Israelis, shortly after a first Israeli hostage was freed.

Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all been working in southern Israel when they were kidnapped during the attacks in October 2023.

Thailand’s prime minister said she was elated to hear news of their release and her government was working with Israel “so that they can reunite with their families soonest”. One Thai hostage remains unaccounted for.

“The Thai government, including everyone here in Thailand, have long been waiting for this very moment,” PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on social media.

“I hold on to my hope that the remaining Thai national will be released and returned to us safely and speedily.”

For the families of the released hostages, it was a day they had long been waiting for.

Wilas Thaenna wept after receiving a call to say his son Pongsak had been freed on Thursday.

“I never thought this day would come, everything has been too quiet for a while,” the 65-year-old told the BBC.

He revealed he had barely slept the night before, as he was so excited at the prospect of his son being released.

“I don’t know how to explain how I got through all that happened,” he continued.

“My son was taken captive, I lost my wife, I had to stay strong.

“First five or six months, I’ve lost so much weight. It was distressing, I didn’t have strength to do anything or go anywhere. I was worried all the time.

“When I see him, I’m going to give him a hug and tell him to come home.”

Reuters

Wiwwaew Sriaoun thanked God for the release of her son

Wiwwaew Sriaoun also sobbed as it was confirmed her son Watchara had been released.

“The first thing I want to do is to hug my son and tell him I miss him very much,” she said. “His daughter, Nudee, was also happy. She has been praying every day for her daddy to return.”

She said all of Watchara’s relatives have come to her home in Udon Thani province to closely monitor the news.

“I’ve had hopes but I also lost hopes several times already,” she said, adding she received a call on Wednesday night but wasn’t sure if her son would still be alive. She too was unable to sleep, revealing to AFP news agency she and her husband had gone rubber tapping on their farm in the early hours of the morning.

Sirinna Suwannakham, the younger sister of freed hostage Sathian, said her family had only managed to keep the hope alive because they had no proof he had been killed.

“If he had died, we would have had a body to hold a ceremony,” she said. “But there was none. So we never lost hope. We always believed that my brother was still alive. We never gave up. We always waited for him to come home.”

Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv

This picture of the five men was shared by the Thai embassy in Israel

The released hostages will now be taken to hospital in Israel, after being met by Thai government officials.

Thirty-one Thai workers were taken hostage in the October 2023 attacks, the Thai government has said previously. Another 39 were killed on the day.

The majority were released in November 2023, leaving just eight in Gaza, according to officials. It is believed two have since died, while the fate of the final hostage – Nattapong Pinta – is not known.

Nearly all of the foreign workers abducted during the attack were Thais. Israel employs some 30,000 of them as farm labour, making them one of the largest migrant groups in the country.

The release is part of a separate agreement between Hamas and the Thai government – it’s not part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal agreed on 19 January.

In a surprising turn of events, Hamas has released five individuals who were held in Gaza. The reasons for their detainment and subsequent release have not been disclosed by the militant group.

This move comes amidst escalating tensions in the region, with Hamas facing increased pressure from both internal and external sources. The release of these individuals may be seen as a gesture of goodwill or an attempt to ease tensions within the community.

The identities of the five individuals have not been revealed, but their families and loved ones are undoubtedly relieved to have them back home. It remains to be seen whether this release will have any impact on the overall situation in Gaza.

As the situation continues to evolve, it is crucial for all parties involved to work towards a peaceful resolution and ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Gaza. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

Tags:
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2. Hamas release
3. Gaza conflict
4. Palestinian prisoners
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10. Political prisoners released
#held #Gaza #released #Hamas
January 30, 2025
Victor Wembanyama Was Held Back From Charging Ivica Zubac After Hard Shove
Victor Wembanyama didn’t appreciate a shove from Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac as the two sprinted toward the hoop Wednesday night.

The San Antonio Spurs‘ Harrison Barnes knocked down a three-pointer as Zubac sent Wembanyama flying into his own bench as the shot went through the net. Wembanyama quickly got up to chase after Zubac but was stopped by coaches and teammates. No technical fouls were handed out following the play.

Wemby vs. Zubac pic.twitter.com/LSydIQDZnQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2025

The madness quickly deescalated with both sides walking back to their respective benches. Zubac debatably should have received at least a common foul for the hip-check as he was behind Wembanyama, but no harm, no foul.

The Clippers got the best of the Spurs Wednesday night with a 128–116 win. Zubac had a 20–20 game with 21 points and 22 rebounds. Wembanyama had 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Luckily nobody was hurt in the dust up, although Wemby appeared to have wanted the smoke.

In a recent game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors, young rookie Victor Wembanyama showed his fiery competitive spirit when he was held back from charging at Ivica Zubac after a hard shove.

Wembanyama, who stands at an impressive 7’2″ and has been turning heads with his skills on both ends of the court, was not backing down from the physical play of Zubac. After a particularly aggressive play under the basket, Zubac delivered a hard shove to Wembanyama, who immediately retaliated with a heated response.

Teammates and coaches quickly stepped in to prevent a potential altercation between the two players, with Wembanyama being restrained and escorted away from the situation. Despite his young age, Wembanyama’s passion and intensity on the court are clear for all to see, and he is not one to back down from a challenge.

While the incident may have been quickly diffused, it is clear that Wembanyama is not one to be taken lightly and is willing to stand up for himself and his team. As he continues to develop and grow in the NBA, fans can expect to see more of his competitive spirit and determination on display.

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#Victor #Wembanyama #Held #Charging #Ivica #Zubac #Hard #Shove
January 30, 2025
LeBron James Explains How Lakers Held Warriors’ Stephen Curry Scoreless In Second Half
The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business on Saturday night by defeating Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in a primetime battle. Anthony Davis and LeBron James led the way in a game the Lakers had control of for much of the way. The Warriors had their biggest lead of six points early in the first quarter, and L.A. led the way from there.

One way the Lakers were able to keep their lead throughout the game was their ability to limit Stephen Curry. The Warriors superstar could have easily taken over the game at any point, but he couldn’t hit shots with any consistency. He finished with 13 points on 4-for-17 from the field and 2-for-9 from beyond the arc and did not score in the second half.

LeBron was asked after the game how the Lakers were able to keep Curry scoreless in the second half and keep him largely in check throughout the game. He said that it was less about the gameplan and more about Curry simply missing, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“Just hoped that he missed. It’s Steph, man. Put bodies in front of him and hoped that he miss.”

Beyond just Curry, LeBron felt the Lakers did a great job with their defense, mainly with the way they helped one another when there were breakdowns:

“Just flying around, helping each other when things broke down, which is gonna happen because when you play a Steph Curry team, you’re gonna have breakdowns. That’s just how good he is. You have a lot of eyes on him, a lot of bodies in front of him. For a majority of the game when we did break down, we had guys covering for them and that helps.”

The Lakers got defensive contributions across the board on Saturday, especially with Jarred Vanderbilt making his return to the lineup. With Vanderbilt, Dorian Finney-Smith, Max Christie and Davis, the Lakers actually appear to have some defensive versatility and switchability in some lineups.

LeBron got to see that first-hand from L.A. on Saturday, and it was instrumental in keeping Curry in check — beyond just him missing — and in the Lakers getting their fifth win in six games.

LeBron James staying even-keeled after big wins

The Lakers picked up their best win of the season on Thursday night, dominating the Boston Celtics 117-96. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves all had big nights, but it was a true team effort that allowed the Lakers to come away with the victory.

In terms of the main reason for the win, James pointed towards the Lakers simply executing the gameplan laid out for them by Redick and the coaching staff.

Despite the impressive nature of the performance, LeBron isn’t reading too much into this victory and reiterated that he still feels the Lakers aren’t title contenders just yet.

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