Golden: Greatest Champions of the 21st Century, Voted by Bleachers

Following up my poll slideshow, Golden: The Greatest Wrestling Champions of the 21st Century, the results are finally in. If you didn't catch the slideshow, it was basically a ten page slideshow listing the best wrestlers fitting their Championship Category.

Note that all of the choices deserved to be there. Based off of length,number of reigns, and prestige of reigns.

Also remember the Wrestlers were ranked based on 2000 to present day. Received a lot of votes from 90s Talent.

Most of the following are indeed lopsided. Personally, I don't agree with some of the Winners. So I will be giving my own opinion on each winner. Once again, I apologize if this isn't up to my "usual" standards. 

First up.....

Women's Championship: Trish Stratus

Stats:

7x Women's Champion (most in history)

Runner up: Lita

This pick by Bleacher's does not surprise your's truly at all. Remember when Trish was manager to Albert and Test? She was just eye candy for WWE Fans. Who knew Stratus would become arguably the Greatest Women's Champion in WWE history?

I didn't.

Trish forever cemented her name in WWE History after winning the Women's Title in her retirement match. Defeating her rival, Lita to win the Gold for the 7th and last time.

When the Women's Championship was retired a few weeks ago, Trish's record is officially unbeatable.

Thoughts: Personally, I can't choose between Lita and Trish. Both were extremely talented. Lita and Trish are the female versions of Rock and Austin. Simply can't be replaced by anyone. Also Trish won this by a LANDSLIDE. Lita is definitely popular among Bleachers, but I think the Matt/Edge conflict swayed their judgement. 

I'm glad to see at least one reigned as the best.

Intercontinental Championship: Chris Jericho

Stats: 9x IC Champion (most in WWE history

Runner up: Randy Orton & RVD (tie)

Like there was anyone else? Y2J has definitely established himself as main event material. But before that, he was dominating the mid cards. Holding the IC Title more times than any other wrestler. Jericho first won the title in a match against Chyna at Armageddon 1999. Though he won the title multiple times after that, he was destined for a main event spot. Becoming your first Undisputed Champion. Defeating the two Greatest Superstars in WWE history. The Rock and Stone Cold.

Thoughts: Y2J has indeed won the titles numerous times. But I don't agree with him being voted the Greatest. Out of nine reigns, only four lasted more than two months. My pick would've been Jeff Hardy, or Shelton Benjamin. Shelton's three reigns, lasted more than all of Y2J's. Shelton defended the title numerous times and is one of the most underrated Superstars ever.

Jeff Hardy didn't exactly need the Top Title to be successful. Winning the title on four occasions, even pinning Triple H for his first reign. Hardy's steps to the top began with the IC title win. 

Bleachers apparently disagree, this category was also one sided. 

X Division Championship: AJ Styles.

Stats:

6x X Division Champion

Runner up: Christopher Daniels

AJ Styles unsurprisingly wins the X Division Category. Styles is the inaugural Champion, defeating Kaval, Jerry Lynn, and Psychosis in a four way match. Styles made competing in the X Division better than pursuing the World Title. The Best Match in TNA history, AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels. Contested for the X Division title. A star of Styles caliber wasn't going to stay in the mid cards for long. Winning every title possible in TNA.

Thoughts: No other TNA Star deserves this honor more than AJ. I wouldn't mind if Joe or Daniels won in the voting, but AJ revolutionized the X Division. Bleachers will receive no argument from me.

Who am I to argue when Daniels and Joe's votes together wouldn't top AJ's.

TNA (NWA) Tag Team Championship: Motor City Machine Guns

Stats:

1x TNA Tag Team Champions

Runner up: Beer Money

The current Tag Team Champions reign supreme. Both Stars exited the X Division to team together. After years of unsuccessful attempts, The Guns are finally the Tag Team Champions. Since becoming the Champs, the Guns have put on some of the Best Matches of the year. 

There series with Beer Money was absolutely amazing. Subsequent matches with Generation Me are also worth watching. The Guns will continue to dominant the Tag Team division, and I expect multiple title reigns in their future.

Thoughts: Don't get me wrong, the Guns are incredible in the ring. But best of the 21st Century? I half to disagree. America's Most Wanted or Team 3D deserve that honor. Simply because AMW ruled the tag team division for the better part of a decade. Team 3D has won EVERY major tag title.

WWE, ECW, WCW, TNA, NWA, you name it, they've won them. Calling the Guns the Greatest is a little premature.

WWE Tag Team Championship: John Morrison and The Miz

Stats:

1x WWE Tag Team Champions

Runners up: Los Guerrero's

The Dirtsheet Duo narrowly won this category. But a win's a win nonetheless. Possessing the 4th Longest Reign in the titles history at 270 days, who else could win? Jomo and Miz were definitely an odd duo, and they hated each other when they won the titles. Besting MVP and an injured Matt Hardy on Smackdown for the titles.

Morrison and The Miz beat all of their challengers, and were never pinned to lost the titles. The Miz's in ring ability improved once these two became a tag team. Miz and Morrison were perhaps the last "entertaining" tag team to hold the titles.

Now the Division is dead.

Thoughts: It's simply not easy to choose out of the Guerreros and Miz and Morrison. Both were two of the Greatest Tag Teams in the WWE. But the reason Jomo and Miz deserve the honor is because of the incompatibility. Placing exact opposites in a Tag Team was one hell of an idea.

The Guerrero's were family. They were so similar it wasn't much of a difference when they tagged.  

World Tag Team Championship: Edge and Christian

Stats:

7x World Tag Team Champions.

Runner up: The Hardy's

Edge and Christian, the Awesome Ones. Your pick for the Greatest World Tag Team Champions of the 21st Century. These guy's have amassed seven different title reigns in 3 year tenure. From their Surfer type accent's, to their goofy hat's and glasses, E&C are among the greats. Their TLC match 3D and the Hardy Boyz was the highlight of Wrestlemania 2000.

The rematch at Wrestlemania X-Seven was no different.

E&C have also done something no other Tag Team has done. Both winning multiple World Championships, and having successful Singles Career's. Edge is a 9x World Champion while Christian is a 2x NWA Champion, along with the longest reigning ECW Champ in WWE history.

What more can you ask for?

Thoughts: It would be extremely agonizing to choose between these two and Hardy's. But because of their innovative styles, the Hardy's would've edged E&C out by a small margin. The Hardy's also continued to tag with each other over the years. They won the Tag Titles again in 2006. 

The Hardy's were alot more popular than Edge and Christian to.

U.S. Championship: Chris Benoit

Stats:

3x U.S. Champion

Runner up: MVP

The Rabid Wolverine deservingly reigns as the Greatest U.S. Champion in the 21st Century. Benoit is actually a five time U.S. Champion, but 2 of his reigns were in WCW before 2000. Benoit's first reign in the WWE began after beating Orlando Jordan in twenty five seconds. Benoit held the titles twice afterwards.

Holding the longest reign in since the Championships tenure in the WWE. Later bested by the man who defeated him for the title, MVP.

Benoit defeated Orton, Jordan, Booker T, and Mr. Kennedy while holding the U.S. Title.

Thoughts: Benoit deserves this honor. If someone were to come before Benoit, it would be MVP. Because of the length of his first title reign. Porter also defended the belt on numerous occasions. That's why the Miz wasn't included in voting.

TNA (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship: Kurt Angle

Stats:

TNA World Heavyweight Championship 4x

NWA World Championship 1x

Runner up: AJ Styles

The Final NWA and first TNA Champ in TNA history, Kurt Angle. Angle has amassed four successful reigns as the TNA Champion. His reign as NWA Champion was cut short. TNA had severed all ties with NWA the day Angle on the Championship. Angle also had many successful title defenses. Besting AJ Styles, Christian Cage, Samoa Joe, and Abyss before losing the title to Sting.

Angle won the title on two more occasions. The title is like a staple on Kurt Angle. His character is totally different as World Champion. Though AJ might be the face of TNA, whenever it comes to the TNA Title, Angle is the superior. Landslide victory for Kurt.

Thoughts: Because AJ's more prominent reigns were as NWA Champion, Kurt is my pick for the TNA Title. He and Sting put TNA on the map.

World Heavyweight Championship: Triple H

Stats:

5x World Heavyweight Champion

Runner up: The Undertaker and Edge

The inaugural Champion, The Game. While he was basically handed his 1st reign, Triple H was the most prominent figure to hold the title. Though his tactics were questionable, he was always entertaining. We all hated the Game and Evolution. We loved to see him dethroned as World Champion. 

But no matter who won the title, Triple H would always regain it. Randy Orton, Kevin Nash, HBK, Goldberg, Kane, Edge, and even Y2J have all failed to snatch the title out of Triple H's claws. Triple H dominated the RAW Roster as World Champion, and led Batista and Orton to the promised land.

Thoughts: The World Title is synonymous with Triple H. If not him, it would be Dave Batista. His first reign was the longest in it's history. He dethroned Triple H as World Champion at Wrestlemania 21. He was the only one to successfully take the title from HHH and end his reign over RAW. 

He then carried the title over to Smackdown! Setting up feuds with Edge, Orton, Mysterio, Taker, and Booker.

WWE Championship: The Rock

Stats:

4x WWE Champion

Runner up: John Cena

The most controversial and one sided pick of this poll, The Rock. The Great One is a 7x WWE Champion but only held the title three times since 2000. Most of Rock's reigns didn't last over a month. Sometimes a few days. But the Great One didn't need the title to get "over" with fans. The Rock's last to WWE title reigns ended prematurely because of Hollywood.

Some of the matches he participated in were some of the best. From Austin at Wrestlemania X-Seven to Undertaker and Kurt Angle at Vengeance 2002. The Rock's in ring ability can't be questioned. He was a great wrestler, and proved to be a better actor.

Thought: While Rock may be one of my favorite wrestlers, he doesn't deserved the honor bestowed upon him. Like many have said, his title reigns were way to short and weren't prestigious as his runner up. John Cena is without a doubt, the Greatest WWE Champion of the 21st Century. 

The majority of his reigns have lasted over a six months. Numerous feuds with HBK, HHH, Orton, Edge, RVD, and Batista. Headlining every Wrestlemania for the past five years.

Four of those being for the WWE Championship. The Rock's popularity obviously swayed judgement here.