WWE: The Lost Championships of the Mid-Card (Part 1)

You know what's the worst type of match in my opinion (even worse than the Punjabi Prison Match).....a title unification match.

Since WWE bought out WCW 10 years ago, we the fans have seen some of our favorite titles go.....BYE BYE!

There's always certain wrestlers who you know will never get a shot at the big title....well thats what the other titles use to be for, it was a way to put some of the spotlight on the lesser known wrestlers even just for a moment.

The mid card titles also sometimes served as a stepping stone for a wrestler to eventually find his way and become the next great thing.

This slide show is dedicated to all the former titles that we always loved for one reason or another.

WWF/E Light Heavyweight Championship

The Light Heavyweight Championship was used by a few different organizations before the WWF decided to use it for their own programming.

The first champion was Taka Michinoku....(yes the dude from Kai En Tai). He won it during the inaugural tournament held in 1997.

From 1997 until it's unification with the WCW Cruserweight Championship in 2001 there was 12 title changes, some of the best known mid carders held this title (Christian, Crash Holly, Jerry Lynn and the final champion....X-Pac).

The longest reigning Light Heavyweight Champion was Gillberg (....yes Gillberg) who held the title for 15 months.

Although only Christian and Jerry Lynn would go onto hold Heavyweight titles (in different wrestling promotions) the title gave a sense of dignity to the lightweights of the company.

That is until.....

The WWE Cruiserweight Championship

it was unified with this championship.

When it was merged with the Light Heavyweight Championship it become known as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

However in 2008 it was retired for good...

I still can't understand why Vinnie-Mac got rid of this title....I can't fathom it. Did all the steroids finally mess your brain up??? Alzheimer??? I'm up for suggestions!....just saying!

This title was the WCW version of the Light Heavyweight Championship

When it was merged with the Light Heavyweight Championship it become known as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Some of the best known highflyers and little guys have held this title (both WCW and WWE Champions).

Billy Kidman (7 reigns)

Brian Pillman (2 reigns)

Chavo Guerrero (6 reigns)

Chris Jericho (4 reigns)

Eddie Guerrero (2 reigns)

Gregory Helms (3 reigns)

Matt Hardy (1 reign)

Rey Mysterio (8 reigns)

Tajiri (3 reigns)

X-Pac (2 reigns)

Rey Mysterio has the most reigns at 8 while Gregory Helms has held the title for a combined total of 532 days.

However the title lost all it's prestige when they decided to retire it with Hornswoggle as the final champion.

The WWF/E Hardcore Championship

Do I really need to explain this one.....this title was just all sorts of epic.

Anyone who was a fan of wrestling from 1998-2002 knew when they saw or heard the words "Hardcore Championship" you knew you were in for an exciting yet hilarious match or segment.

With 26 reigns Raven has won it more times than any other insane wrestler.

Crash Holly (who introduced the 24/7 rule) came in second with 22 reigns....R.I.P.

Steve Blackman held it for 172 days during his 6 reigns.

Although it was mainly used for comedic relief and to give the psychotic fans (like myself) a healthy does of 2x4 over your head, it still was a major championship that anyone could hold....The Undertaker held it for nearly two months!

This is one title I wish would come back but won't because of this PG Crap....but I guess sometimes it's better to leave things dead and buried.

Here's a list of some of the former champions:

Al Snow (6 reigns)

Big Boss Man (4 reigns)

British Bulldog (2 reigns)

Bubba Ray Dudley (8 reigns)

Chris Jericho (1 reign)

Crash Holly (22 reigns)

Kurt Angle (1 reign)

Jeff Hardy (3 reigns)

Raven (26 reigns)

Rob Van Dam (4 reigns)

Steve Blackman (6 reigns)

Steven Richards (21 reigns)

The Undertaker (1 reign)

In 2002 the Hardcore Championship was unified after Rob Van Dam defeated Tommy Dreamer in a ladder match to unify the Intercontinental Championship and the Hardcore Championship.

WWF/E Intercontinental Championship

This title use to mean something!

When you saw this title defended it meant a great match (remember HHH vs Rock at Summerslam 1998).

Or how about the rivalries that went along with it, (HBK vs Razor Ramon, Jericho vs Angel vs Benoit & Stone Cold vs Rock.

The first champion was Pat Patterson who won it in the "Rio De Janerio Tournament".

Pedro Morales has the longest combined reigns at 619 days.

Most people who held this title would go onto winning the Heavyweight Championship....they include....

Bret Hart (2 reigns)

Chris Benoit (4 reigns)

Chris Jericho (9 reigns)

Eddie Guerrero (2 reigns)

Edge (5 reigns)

Jeff Hardy (4 reigns)

Kurt Angle (1 reign)

Pedro Morales (2 reigns)

Randy Orton (1 reign)

Randy Savage (1 reign)

The Rock (2 reigns)

Rob Van Dam (6 reigns)

Shawn Michaels (3 reigns)

Triple H (5 reigns)

The Ultimate Warrior (2 reigns)

The first champion was Pat Patterson who won it in the "Rio De Janerio Tournament".

Pedro Morales has the longest combined reigns at 619 days.

In 2002 the title was unified with the World Heavyweight Championship. However 8 months later it was revived and in my opinion....it's never been the same.

Sure people that have held it since then have gone onto great things, but the passion and the storytelling just isn't there anymore....maybe it's the creative teams fault...maybe it's the wrestlers fault....maybe I'm crazy and this makes no sense.....I can't tell...but I just don't see it anymore....do you?

Hope I Didn't Put You to Sleep!

Which titles do you want talked about in the next part?

Aside from the Intercontinetal Championshp, which one of these titles do you want to see be revived the most and why?

Until next time!

Let the debating...begin!