Rey Mysterio and the Shortest WWE Title Reigns of All Time

Tonight's Monday Night RAW is filled with a lot of suspense and uncertainty in relation to the WWE Championship. Last Monday, Rey Mysterio won an eight-man tournament to become the new champion, only to lose his first title defense later that night to John Cena. Cena would later be graced with the presence of CM Punk, who left Money in the Bank, and the WWE entirely, with Cena's WWE Championship.

Lost in all of the controversy is Mysterio's championship victory. Mysterio won three matches between two episodes of RAW to win the championship, only to lose it later on that week. It still doesn't make sense why Mysterio had to honor the rematch clause from Cena after Punk's title win, but it meant that Mysterio's third world title reign and first with the WWE Championship ended early.

Mysterio became the 42nd different person to hold the top prize in the history of the WWE. In that time, most of those who have held the title have had at least one reign that didn't last very long. In fact, some of the shorter WWE Championship reigns are almost as famous as the longer reigns. Mysterio's reign now joins that list of the shortest title reigns in the history of the WWE Championship.

13. Bob Backlund

Length of Reign: three days

Bob Backlund's reign in 1994 is the longest of those on this list. At the 1994 Survivor Series, Backlund faced Bret Hart in a "Throw in the Towel" submission match. The stipulation stemmed from Backlund's first reign with the championship all the way back in 1983, when Backlund stated that his manager threw in the towel to The Iron Shiek instead of actually tapping out.

In the match, Bret's brother Owen acted as Backlund's cornerman, while Bret had Davey Boy Smith, his real-life brother-in-law, in his corner. Smith was kayfabe knocked out during the match, and when Backlund had Bret in a crossface chickenwing, Owen showed concern for his brother and had their mother throw the towel in. Owen would then begin to celebrate Backlund's title win, building on the growing feud with Bret.

Backlund would lose the title during a house show in New York City three days later to Diesel. The match with Diesel lasted just eight seconds. The match is still listed as the fastest WWE Championship match in history. Since that day, there has not been one instance of the WWE Championship changing hands during an untelevised match.

12. Batista

Length of Reign: two days

Six weeks after winning the championship at Backlash 2009, Randy Orton would lose the WWE Championship to Batista. The match took place at Extreme Rules inside a steel cage. It was the first time Batista would hold that specific belt. Unfortunately, not everything was OK with Batista after the match.

Batista suffered a torn left biceps and was forced to vacate the championship. Just 48 hours after winning the belt, WWE.com announced that Batista would vacate the title. A match was held the following Monday on RAW, just six days removed from the announcement. Orton would win a Fatal Four-Way match to win back the WWE Championship.

11. The Rock

Length of Reign: two days

In the middle of a feud with WWE Champion Mankind, The Rock sought after winning the world championship back. At Royal Rumble 1999, Mankind and The Rock took part in an "I Quit" match. Knowing that it would be difficult to have Mankind say those two words, The Rock had a plan.

During the Sunday Night Heat before the event, Mankind was interviewed about the match and said the words "I Quit" in his promo. The Rock and his cronies used that sound clip to make it seem like Mankind said those two words, even though he was incapacitated in the match. Despite not being conscious at the time, Mankind was credited with saying those words, and The Rock was awarded the championship.

Following that match and the surrounding controversy from it, The Rock would face Mankind in an Empty Arena match during Halftime Heat, WWE's response to the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Even though it would air on that big Sunday, the match itself was taped in an empty arena on the Tuesday before. Therefore, Mankind's victory, which aired a week after Royal Rumble, really happened just two days after it.

10. Hulk Hogan

Length of Reign: one day

At this time in 1991, Hulk Hogan was feuding with The Undertaker. The Deadman had finally gotten the upper hand on Hogan, winning the championship at Survivor Series. WWE attempted to turn Tuesdays into an alternate pay-per-view day by having This Tuesday in Texas just six days after Survivor Series.

In the match, Ric Flair would come out to try and interfere. Flair was cut off by then-WWE President Jack Tunney. Tunney would have Flair knocked into him by Hogan's chair shot to Flair. With the president no longer watching, Hogan took some ashes out of The Undertaker's urn and blinded the champion with them. Hogan was said to have won the match.

On the next day, Tunney stripped Hogan of the title, not liking the controversial ways that matches were ending in at that time. The championship would be awarded to the winner of the Royal Rumble, which ended up being Flair.

9. Bret Hart

Length of Reign: one day

Bret Hart was on top of his game at this time in 1997. Now with Shawn Michaels and his back issues, Hart seemed to have smooth sailing with the championship. Hart would win it at the In Your House: Final Four. The following night, Sycho Sid would win the championship.

After just 24 hours, Hart was forced to try and retain, but could not. Sid would go on to wrestle The Undertaker at that year's WrestleMania. The Deadman would extend his undefeated streak at WrestleMania and become WWE Champion while at it.

8. Kane

Length of Reign: one day

Kane was becoming a certified monster in 1999, chasing after Stone Cold Steve Austin with some help from The Corporation. It all led to a match at King of the Ring 1998. The match was deemed a First Blood Match, meaning that you win if your opponent begins to bleed.

Early in the match, blood was seen from little scrapes on arms, but was told to be ignored by the commentators. With that being the only areas exposed on Kane's body, it seemed destined for Kane to win. The interesting way would be how WWE would bring you to that moment.

People backstage were lowering and raising Hell In A Cell, which had been used by Mankind and The Undertaker right before. In all of the confusion, The Undertaker made it inside the cage, hitting Austin instead of his brother. Austin was bleeding, which was good enough for a run with the Mets, but he would lose the title and directions.

With Kane as the WWE Champion, Austin would win the championship back the following night on RAW. Kane would not be given another world championship until this past year.

7. Mankind

Length of Reign: one day

Mankind was given the WWE Championship for just one day back in 1999 when he was entered into a Survivor Series world title match. Triple H was chasing after Stone Cold Steve Austin's WWE Championship and a returning Mankind, coming back from knee surgery, made that match a triple threat match. Jesse Ventura served the match as a special guest referee.

There is speculation for why Mankind was entered into the match and won the title. Many believe that Austin refused to drop the championship to Triple H and Mankind was brought in for that one night reign. Mankind has been on record saying that he helped the dynamic of the match since Austin had a torn ligament in his knee.

Regardless of the reason, Mankind won the match, and Triple H attacked Austin after the match, effectively writing him off to treat his injury. The following night on RAW, Triple H had a match with Mankind, defeating him for his first world championship.

6. Triple H

Length of Reign: two hours, 30 minutes

John Cena had one of the longest WWE Championship reigns in recent memory, 380 days, before injuring himself. It is believed that a match on RAW against Mr. Kennedy injured Cena's torn right pectoral. Orton's scheduled run-in still occurred, having Orton be the one to write him off television.

At No Mercy 2007 later that week, the vacated championship was presented to Orton, only to have Orton defend against Triple H. Triple H won that match and thought his sixth reign as WWE Champion was a great night. Instead, Vince McMahon put Triple H in his scheduled bout with Umaga and put the WWE Championship on the line. Triple H defended successfully, but would face Orton later on that match with Orton's rematch clause.

Orton would win the match and get his championship back, ending one of the oddest pay-per-views of all-time.

5. Rey Mysterio

Length of Reign: one hour, 46 minutes

Mysterio's reign from last Monday was emotional for the little man. The World Heavyweight Championship is a nice belt to win, but the WWE Championship, for as ugly as it looks, is still the top belt in the company. To be the WWE Champion means that the company sees you as the top overall guy and the face of the company at that time. After two reigns with the World Heavyweight Championship, getting one chance to hold the WWE Championship had to be a great moment for him.

Losing the championship later on that night to John Cena had to sting, but it only meant that Mysterio was a company guy. Not every guy can stomach being a world champion for a short amount of time, especially with this current storyline. It isn't like Mysterio is really in the world title picture anymore.

4. Randy Orton

Length of Reign: 24 minutes

We already mentioned Orton's reign from No Mercy 2007. It was just given to him, and he would lose his first match with it to Triple H. However, having that reign not only boosted Orton's accomplishments, but it gave him a reason to have a Last Man Standing match with Triple H later that night and leave the event with the title. It effectively helped move the feud he had with John Cena over to Triple H.

3. John Cena

Length of Reign: three minutes, 30 seconds

John Cena must hate Elimination Chambers at this point. While he already had a Money in the Bank briefcase cashed in on him after one, Cena would win the championship at Elimination Chamber 2010, only to have Vince McMahon book him in a match right after it. It mirrored the Money in the Bank cash-in from New Year's Revolution 2006, but there was no guaranteed match for anyone. Instead, McMahon came out with the mentality of punishing Cena for siding with Bret Hart in his feud with McMahon. He brought out Batista and gave him a title match immediately.

Three and a half minutes later, Batista was WWE Champion in his last great run with WWE before retiring from the company.

2. Yokozuna

Length of Reign: two minutes, 30 seconds

WrestleMania IX was a very odd and awkward WrestleMania. This was the one with the togas and stuff. It also had Bret Hart as WWE Champion and Hulk Hogan in the undercard with a black eye. Hogan would be interviewed backstage and said that he would like to face the winner of Yokozuna/Bret Hart. Yokozuna won his first WWE Championship from Hart and Hogan came to the rescue of Hart.

Mr. Fuji, Yokozuna's manager, challenged Hogan to a championship match right then and there. Hogan would defeat Yokozuna in just 21 seconds to win the championship belt. In the years since, there has been a lot of controversy to putting the belt on Hogan, who was leaving the company later that year. WWE did not want a face vs. face title match, inserting Yokozuna into the mix. Instead of Bret Hart's rematch, Yokozuna would receive the championship from Hogan after defeating him 10 weeks later at King of the Ring. Bret would have to wait a whole year to win back the WWE Championship at WrestleMania X.

1. Andre the Giant

Length of Reign: 45 seconds

It is hard to imagine that a superstar as physically intimidating and beloved by fans as Andre The Giant only had one WWE Championship reign. At the first Main Event show, Andre would face Hulk Hogan in the main event with the title on the line. A bunch of questionable moments ensued. Andre would pin Hogan to win, but Hogan clearly kicks out before the three count, which happened anyway. Did Hogan not want to lose the title or was that part of the script?

Regardless, Andre was considered the winner and new champion. Andre, however, would try to give the title to Ted DiBiase for a price, of course. President Jack Tunney would come out, nullify the trade with DiBiase, vacate Andre's title reign and have a tournament at WrestleMania IV to decide a new champion. The tournament saw Randy Savage win his first WWE Championship by defeating DiBiase in the finals.