Greatest 25 Wrestlers To Have Never Won The WWE Championship

The following slide show contains 25 wrestlers from the WWE who I feel should have won the WWE Championship on one or more occasions during their tenure with the company.

I no you have probably seen enough of these lists during your time at B/R thats why I decided to take a different approach when choosing there 25 superstars so i hope you dont get to bored reading this and feel free to comment

Rick Rude

Rude is one of the most underrated wrestlers ever to enter the business; even though he had some great achievements during his time as a wrestler, he never really manage to capture the biggest one of them all the WWE title.

He is regarded by many wrestlers including Dynamite Kid and Randy Savage as the toughest wrestler they have ever come across with, his slap of God was feared in every single locker room he appeared in.

Bret Hart credits Rude as a hero, a man who stood by him during the whole Montreal Screw Job, Even though Rude was working with DX at the time.

His legacy will be one of hard knocks however his charisma as well as his trade mark posed physique will always be remembered as true brilliance. H 

He won the IC championship, which was his biggest achievement in WWE, he has also had some enduring feuds with the likes of Ultimate Warrior whom he wrestled for the WWE championship on numerous occasions.

Rikishi

Rikishi was been a veteran for WWE for over 15 years as part of the legendary Anoai family; his brother was the late great Umaga. 

Rikishi helped WWE out in one of their most successful years. In 2000, Rikishi played Super Villain as we found out that it was Kish who in fact ran over Austin. I feel that during 2000 if any Rikishi would of been a perfect candidate to win the championship instead of Angle, Rock and HHH having the same old feud week in week out.

Jake The Snake Roberts

Jake "the Snake" Roberts, considered by many in the IWC to be the greatest wrestler to have never won the WWE Championship. While this may be so, Jake to me is one of those guys who does not need to hold a title to prove just how good he is.

His singles matches alone were good enough to sell out arenas worldwide. He was seen more a circus act at time with the edition of his snake, Damien, in his corner Jake would win the majority of his matches, beating the likes of Kamala, Brutus Beefcake, and Randy Savage

Ricky The Dragon Steamboat

Ricky The Dragon is one word, Amazing.

For a man his age, he still has all the qualities of a young wrestler.

During his peak he enjoyed success with tag partner Jay Youngblood. They were one of the first Hawaiian wrestlers to make a real impact in wrestling. his match with Savage at Wrestlemania 3 could as well of been for the WWE championship it had great chemistry, flunitcey and elegancy that any WWE Championship match requires. 

Jesse Ventura

Ventura is one of the biggest stars in the WWE and the USA.  Although many may not remember his matches in the 70 ad 80’s he was a definite phenomenon in the business at the time. With his trademark attire and hair do, he was a definite face that the fans could always remember.

Ventura Wrestled the likes of Superstar Billy Graham for the WWWF championship, he was billed to ace Hogan for the WWE title however due to health issues it prevented him from achieving his full goal in his wrestling life.

Christian

Currently he is the most deserving man on any of the rosters to have never won the WWE championship. What Christian lacks that Edge has I really don’t know. Christian is an outstanding wrestler and like his nickname he is one of the most charismatic wrestlers today. When you have such great quality in front of you, I don’t Understand why the WWE don’t make the best of it.

Christian was the ECW championship for a while however due to the lack of TV time or acknowledgement that came with that championship we have yet to see his full potential as a champion. Only I Vince watched some TNA when Christian was a part of that organization he will only know what he is missing out on.

Ted Dibiase

The Latest edition to the WWE HOF and the creator of the Million Dollar Championship is a definite candidate for the most misused wrestler in the business.

Well I suppose he was making a name for himself when the likes of Hogan and Savage were running the main event so there was no real place for Ted to step in and make his mark especially seen as how successful the other two were ding at the top. Ted was also a natural heel something at the time the crowd never take a liking to and saw many Heels including some to follow in this slideshow to never win the gold.

Bam Bam Bigelow

Bam Bam was a gifted Heavyweight wrestler who could perform some of the most spectacular moves for a man of his size and magnitude.  

The former ECW Champion had some great matches with Bret Hart in particular, who till this day ret goes on the record to state that the matches he had with Bam bam was in his top 5 of all time. That is definitely saying something.

King Kong Bundy

King Kong was a huge star back in the late 80’s early 90’s. He headlined wrestlemania 2 with Hogan for the WWE Championship, a match in which he obviously came out short.  He also wrestled the Undertaker at Mania in a match which Taker really started to make a name for him as he toppled the giant over.

He can be regarded as the Big Show or Kane of the 80’s, all men with incredible power and force.

Farooq

Ron "Faarooq" Simmons is the first African-American to ever hold the WCW Championship and the second in history to ever become a Heavyweight Champion.

A Footballing icon, Ron easily made the switch into Professional wrestling, as he had all the necessary requirements to make it to the top.

He is a former three-time WWE Tag Team champion and is responsible for creating one of the most powerful stables in the history of the sport, The Nation Of Domination.

His feud with Ahmed Johnson was a huge turning point in Black wrestling as it allowed them to capture the audience's attention and imagination.

He regarded as one of the most toughest and strongest wrestlers in the game today and he is definitely shoo-in as a future Hall of Fam

Owen Hart

Owen Hart was everything that you wanted in a wrestler, he was agile, quick, and talented and one of the most energetic guys you could ever find in the ring.

I feel that if Bret was not so popular then perhaps Owen would have been given more opportunities o succeed at the top. Even Bret said that Owe could do more in the ring then any of his brothers including him. Owen should have been given the title during one of his many feuds with Bret this would have created a much more exacting and emotional feud somewhat like undertaker and Kane’s now. 

British Bulldog

You don't get any bigger then Davey Boy Smith or The British Bulldog.

One of the most talented and powerful men to ever grace the sport of professional wrestling. He was adored by many and hated by most, due to his ties with the Hart Foundation.

He is a former IC, Tag and Hardcore Champion. He had one of the most emotional yet five-star matches in the history of WWE, when he took on Bret Hart for the IC Championship in Wembley, England, in which he defeated Bret to win his first ever singles title.

Although he was never really given the opportunity to reach his full potential, Davey will always be remembered

Ken Shamrock

En was a very popular wrestler during the Attitude Era, known for his MMA background Shamrock had the ability to make any wrestler fear him from the likes o HBK to British Bulldog.

Shamrock had many feuds with top flight wrestlers such as Owen Hart, Rock, Austin, HBK and Bret. All of his matches with these wrestlers showcased just how talented one cold be when given the opportunity. Although he did have some success in the WWE such as winning the KOTR< IC championship and the Tag team championship many feel that he would have been a great candidate or champion.

Ahmed Johnson

Like Ken, Ahmed was very popular during the mid 90’s he was regarded as a great up and comer in the business, he was the first ever African American to hold the IC Championship, according to sources he was in line for a WWE championship run however he suffered a major injury which resulted in the collapse of what looked like a promising career.

Mr. Kennedy

If not for injuries Kennedy would of arguably won the WWE Championship, I mean he did with the MITB match at Wrestlemania so I suppose the Creative team were intending for him to cash in his title and win the Championship at on point during his 1 year contract.

Vader

Big Van Vader, a star in WCW, was a monster in WWE but a gentle soul outside the ring.

In WWE, Vader was given one of the most hyped up debuts in the history of WWE. Wherever he went or who ever he came across was left in a pile of blood.

Vader is very agile for 350 pounds; he can perform amazing moves from all sorts of angles and directions such as moonsaults, leg drops, etc

Razor Ramon

Razor may not be the most pleasant individual to be around outside the ring. His personal life has hugely impacted his wrestling career, he is currently working his way back to the wrestling world.

Personal life aside I feel Razor is underrated, he put on some of his best matches in WWE in the early 90's with the likes of Owen Hart, HBK, and others. He has held the IC Championship on several occasions, at one time being the record holder for the title.

Razor can be deemed great because for a non-white American wrestle,r he has done rather well in his tenure with the company.

Once a beloved fan favorite, Razor used his gimmick to win over fans, his move to WCW showed more glimpses of how great Hall really is.

He has never won the big one in any organisation; however, his work attitude towards the company is in a league of its own!

Jimmy Snuka

Jimmy Snuka was born in the great islands of Fiji. He is one of the most charismatic and energetic wrestlers of all time. He is regarded as the original high flier of WWE. 

During his cage match with Don Muraco, Snuka did the unthinkable at the time.

He jumped of the 15-foot Steel Cage and frog splashed his way to stardome. Many cite this day as a true turning point in their lives, i.e., Mick Foley, who stated after he saw Jimmy fly he knew then that he wanted to become a professional wrestler.

Snuka is arguably the greatest wrestler to never become the WWE Champion

Jerry Lawler

Lawler has won over 140 championships during the course of his illustrious wrestling career.  He is a 52 time AWA Southern Champion, a great feat in any organization.

Lawler would have been a great champion he had everything a wrestler could dream of. He was very sneaky and capable of winning matches with aides of outside instruments. He was also a great Mic Performer ad a wrestler with great enthusiasm and charisma for the sport.

His feud with Bret Hart would have been a great moment to give Lawler the belt even if it was for a single day.

DDP

How could DDP not be given a title shot, he was one of the biggest tars in WCW during a time where Goldberg and Sting were the top performers. If he was given the right material then I’m sure he would have been a great champion.

Lex Luger

The Total Package" Lex Luger feuded with Ric Flair over the NWA title and finally won it after Flair jumped to WWE. He received a gigantic babyface push from WWE, touring the country in a star-spangled tour bus. 

During this time I Feel that th WWE should of really capitalized on the success and popularity luger was creating by giving me the Championship instead of having him win the Rumble only to loose at Mania.

Booker T

Booker T or King Booker as he was once known, is perhaps the most decorated black wrestler in the history of wrestling.

He has won nearly every single title and still holds the record as the most successful WCW Tag team champion along with elder brother Stevie Ray.

He is a former five-time WCW Champion and one-time World Champion, 2006 KOTR Champion, IC, US and Tag champion.

Booker T was very agile and tough when it came to wrestling, he was able to perform aerial assaults as well as ground-based attacks making him the perfect all rounded wrestler

Mr. Perfect

Well besides his incredible strength, wrestling ability and charisma Hennig was able to electrify any arena or any match that he was involved in.

Fans knew if Perfect was in a wrestling ring, then the ticket was worth the money, i.e, Royal Rumble 2002.

Hennig was remarkable in the ring; his matches with Bret Hart in particular was pure class.

Even though Bret is regarded as a better wrestler between the two, you would not be able to tell the difference when these two were going at it in the ring.

Perfect, like the men before him, were never really given the big one.

HBK and Hart were two rare superstars who were middleweight stars who became WWE champions

Rowdy Piper

Piper is regarded as the greatest heel in wrestling. His antics and character has demonstrated to the world just that if you act like an idiot you will get handsomely rewarded.  

Piper, although Canadian, was portrayed as a rough Scotsman who hated everything and everyone in his path.

During a time when everyone was a face, the company needed a villain, and Vince decided he needed Piper.

Piper created such moments as Piper's Pit where he would bring on guests such Snuka and Andre but only to have them beaten to a bloody pulp, well not Andre but you get the picture. To this day, many have tried but no one will come close to Piper and Evil

Dynamite Kid

Dynamite was regarded by many, including Bret Hart as the greatest singles wrestler ever to grace the squared circle.

That, coming from the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be, surely must mean a great deal.

The late Chris Benoit and Owen Hart molded their wrestling abilities from The Kid, as they cited him as a true inspiration to their wrestling lives.

With such a reputation, I only hope that Davey along with The Kid get inducted in the Hall of Fame in the future as true icons and pioneers of the sport.