Sunday, July 3, 2016

One Day Champions


This year at WrestleMania XXXII in Dallas, Texas Zack Ryder won the 7 Man Ladder Match to become the Intercontinental Champion.  The next night he lost it on Raw to the Miz making him a one day champion.  However I don't think the length of his Championship reign  diminishes the fact that he won the title in a hard fought contest and he can always claim that he is a former Intercontinental Champion.

So that got me thinking how many other one day champions have there been?  Continue reading and you'll find the answer. I'm going to list the match in which they won the championship and then explain how they lost it.

As with my blog about House Show Title Changes I'm going to start with active championships and then inactive ones.  Also I am only going to list officially recognized title changes.

Also the Hardcore Championship is not going to be listed, but for those wondering there were 169 title reigns that last one day or less.  Incidentally Shawn Stasiak is a fifteen time Hardcore Champion whose combined reigns is less than one day.

I did not include TNA Championships because too many of them were recorded on the same evening for tape delayed airing weeks or months later.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

February 5, 1998 Indianapolis, IN The Main Event
Andre The Giant pinned Hulk Hogan


This was the famous twin referee angle where the evil Hebner counted Hogan out even though his shoulder was clearly off the mat.  After winning the title Andre surrendered it to the "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase ending his title reign at under 10 minutes.

December 3, 1991 San Antonio, TX This Tuesday in Texas
Hulk Hogan pinned The Undertaker

This match took place six days after their match at the Survivor Series which saw Undertaker defeated Hogan for the title in controversial fashion.  President Jack Tunney was sitting at ringside for the rematch and witnessed Hogan use ashes from the Undertakers urn to win the bought.  Hogan was stripped of the title the next day earning him a one day reign.

April 4, 1993 Las Vegas, NV WrestleMania IX
Yokozuna pinned Bret "Hitman" Hart after Mr. Fuji threw salt in Hart's eyes

Hulk Hogan came out to check on Hart and Fuji immediately challenged Hogan on behalf of Yokozuna.  With Hart's blessing Hogan accepted the challenge and 22 seconds after the bell was rung and some miss-thrown salt Hogan pinned Yokozuna for his 5th title win.

February 16, 1997 Chattanooga, TN In Your House 13: Final Four
Bret "Hitman" Hart defeated "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Undertaker, & Vader in a four way over the top rope elimination match

The next night on Raw Hart was defending the championship against Sid when Austin interfered hitting Hart with a steel chair costing him the match and ending his title reign at one day.

June 28, 1998 Pittsburgh, PA King of the Ring
Kane defeated "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a first blood match


The next night on Raw Austin goaded Kane into a rematch reclaiming the championship and to date Kane's only reign with the championship.

August 22, 1999 Minneapolis, MN SummerSlam
Mankind defeated Steve Austin & Triple H in a triple threat match

The next night on Raw Triple H defeated Mankind with special guest referee Shane McMahon.  This match signified Mankind's last and Triple H's first championship reign.

October 7, 2007 Rosemont, IL No Mercy
Randy Orton was awarded the vacant championship
Triple H pinned Randy Orton
Randy Orton defeated Triple H in a Last Man Standing match

So this one is a bit confusing.  John Cena had been the champion for over a year when he tore his pectoral muscle.  At the beginning of the PPV Mr. McMahon awarded Randy Orton the championship but then ordered him to defend it in the opening contest against Triple H who defeated Orton for belt.  Three matches later Triple H then successfully defended that Championship against Umaga.  Than later that night Triple H was forced to defend the title against Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match which Orton won ending Triple H's sixth reign as champion with Orton becoming a two time champion in the same event.

February 21, 2010 St. Louis, MO Elimination Chamber
John Cena defeated Sheamus, Triple H, Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, & Kofi Kingston to win the championship

Moments after winning Vince McMahon ordered John Cena to defend the title against Batista who ended Cena's reign with an official time of the fall being 32 seconds.

July 25, 2011 Hampton, VA Raw
Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated The Miz in a tournament final for the vacant championship


CM Punk had defeated John Cena at Money in the Bank for the title the same night his contract expired.  A tournament was held over two episodes of Raw with Mysterio winning the championship.  Mysterio then accepted the challenge of John Cena and lost the title that same night to Cena.

August 18, 2013 Los Angeles, CA SummerSlam
Daniel Bryan pinned John Cena

Moments after winning the title Randy Orton cashed in his Money in the Bank defeated Bryan after referee Triple H pedigreed him.

September 15, 2013 Detroit, MI Night of Champions
Daniel Bryan pinned Randy Orton

The next night on Raw Triple H stripped Bryan of the championship stating that referee Scott Armstrong has made a fast three count and Bryan was in on it.  Daniel Bryan is the only person to have two single day or less WWE World Heavyweight Championship reigns.

November 22, 2015 Atlanta, GA Survivor Series
Roman Reigns defeated Dean Ambrose in a tournament final for the vacant championship

Seconds after winning Sheamus brogued kicked Reigns then cashed in his Money in the Bank contact winning the title.

June 19, 2016 Paradise, NV Money in the Bank
Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns with the pedigree

Moments after winning Dean Ambrose cashed in his Money in the Bank that he won that night to defeat Rollins.

WWE Intercontinental Championship

October 22, 1995 Winnipeg, Manitoba In Your House 4: Great White North
Dean Douglas was awarded the vacant championship


Shawn Michaels had been attacked outside a nightclub in Syracuse, NY the week prior. Douglas defended the championship that night losing it to Razor Ramon.

July 24, 1999 Toronto, Ontario house show
Edge defeated Jeff Jarrett

The next night at Fully Loaded in Buffalo, NY Jarrett defeated Edge in a rematch

October 27, 2003 Fayetteville, NC Raw
Chris Jericho defeated Rob Van Dam

Later that night in a steel cage match Van Dam regained the title from Jericho marking this as his shortest of his nine total reigns.

April 7, 2013 East Rutheford, NJ  WrestleMania XXIX pre-show
The Miz defeated Wade Barrett

The next night at Raw Barrett regained the championship in a rematch.


September 21, 2014 Nashville, TN Night of Champions
The Miz defeated Dolph Ziggler

The next night at Raw Ziggler regained the championship in a rematch.

April 3, 2016 Arlington, TX WrestleMania XXXII
Zack Ryder won a 7 man ladder match defeating Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn, Stardust, Kevin Owens, Sin Cara & The Miz

The next night on Raw The Miz defeated Ryder to win his fifth championship.

NWA/WCW/WWE United States Championship

September 18, 1994 Roanoke, VA Fall Brawl 1994: War Games
"Stunning" Steve Austin was awarded the title as Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat was unable to compete due to injury

Austin was forced to defend the title against "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan who won the title in 35 seconds

April 19, 1998 Denver, CO Spring Stampede
Raven defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Raven's Rules Match


The next night on WCW Monday Nitro Goldberg defeated Raven extending his winning streak and winning his first ever championship

August 10, 1998 Rapid City, SD Monday Nitro
Lex Luger defeated Bret "Hitman" Hart

The next night at WCW Thunder in Fargo, ND Hart regained the title in a re-match

October 24, 1999 Las Vegas, NV Halloween Havoc
Goldberg defeated Sid Vicious by referee stoppage

The next night at Monday Nitro Bret Hart defeated Goldberg after interference from the nWo

December 19, 1999 Washington DC Starrcade
Chris Benoit was awarded vacant title

Scott Hall has suffered a knee injury.  At Starrcade Benoit defended the title against Jeff Jarrett in a ladder match.  The next night on Nitro Jarrett defeated Benoit in a return ladder match.

September 22, 2000 Amarillo, TX house show
Terry Funk defeated Lance Storm


The next night Funk lost the title to Storm in a rematch at another house show in Lubbock, TX.

January 11, 2016 New Orleans, LA Raw
Kalisto defeated Alberto Del Rio

The next night at the SmackDown taping Del Roi defeated Kalisto in a rematch.

WWE Tag Team Championships

October 24, 2010 Minneapolis, MN Bragging Rights
The Nexus: John Cena & David Otunga defeated Drew McIntyre & Cody Rhodes

The next night on Raw Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel won the titles when Wade Barrett ordered David Otunga to be pinned keeping the titles in The Nexus


February 20, 2011 Oakland, CA Elimination Chamber
The Corre: Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel defeated Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov

The next night on Raw The Corre lost the titles to John Cena & The Miz, however won them back later that evening.

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

August 27, 1994 Philadelphia, PA
Shane Douglas defeated 2 Cold Scorpio in a tournament final for the vacant championship


After winning the title Douglas cut his famous promo throwing down the championship declaring it dead and proclaiming himself the ECW World Heavyweight Champion.


Inactive Championships

WWE World Championship September 2, 2002 - December 15, 2013

June 7, 2009 New Orleans, LA Extreme Rules
Jeff Hardy defeated Edge in a ladder match

Moments later CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank winning his second World Championship

February 15, 2011 San Diego, CA SmackDown 600th Episode
Dolph Ziggler was awarded the vacant championship


Co-General Manager Vickie Guerrero had banned the spear and stripped Edge of the championship for using it, awarding the title to her boyfriend Ziggler.  Co-General Manager Teddy Long granted Edge a title match that night who won the championship for the 7th time.

December 18, 2011 Baltimore, MD TLC
Big Show defeated Mark Henry in a chairs match

Moments later Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank contract

WWE World Tag Team Championships June 3, 1971 - August 16, 2010

August 9, 1980 New York, NY Showdown at Shea
Bob Backlund & Pedro Morales defeated the Wild Samoans: Afa & Sika in a two out of three falls match two falls to none.


The next day Backlund & Morales were stripped of the titles because Backlund was the current WWF World Heavyweight Champion and by-laws at that time prevented a wrestler from holding more than one title at a time.

January 22, 1995 Tampa, FL Royal Rumble
The 1-2-3 Kid & Bob Holly defeated Bam Bam Bigelow & Tatanka in a tournament final for the vacant championships

The next night on Raw the Smoking Gunns won the titles

September 24, 1995 Saginaw, MI In Your House: Triple Header
Two Dudes with Attitudes: Diesel & Shawn Michaels defeated Yokozuna & British Bulldog (substituting for Owen Hart) when Owen was pinned

Yes Owen was pinned even though he was not involved in the match.  That is why the next night on Raw the titles were returned to Owen and Yokozuna who then lost them that night to The Smoking Gunns.

March 29, 1998 Boston, MA WrestleMania XIV
Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie defeated The New Age Outlaws: Billy Gunn & Road Dogg in a dumpster match

The next night on Raw the Outlaws regained the titles in a Steel Cage Match

September 20, 1999 Houston, TX Raw
The Rock n' Sock Connection: The Rock & Mankind defeated Big Show & The Undertaker


The next night at the Smackdown taping The New Age Outlaws on the titles.

October 22, 2000 Albany, NY No Mercy
Los Conquistadores defeated The Hardy Boyz

Edge & Christian were dressed as Los Conquistadores, the next night on Raw E & C challenged Los Conquistadores to a match, which they lost as now the Hardy's were in the costumes so technically Edge & Christian won and then lost the belts to the Hardy Boyz.

December 18,2000 Greenville, SC Raw
The Rock & Undertaker defeated Edge & Christian

The next night E & C regained the titles with Kurt Angle as the special guest referee

March 19, 2001 Albany, NY Raw
Edge & Christian defeated The Hardy Boyz

Later that same evening the Dudley Boyz beat Edge & Christian for the titles

January 19, 2003 Boston, MA Royal Rumble
The Dudley Boyz defeated William Regal & Lance Storm


The next night on Raw Regal and Storm regained the titles.

WWE European Championship February 26, 1997 - July 22, 2002 

August 22, 1999 Minneapolis, MN SummerSlam
Jeff Jarrett defeated D'Lo Brown winning the Eurocontinental Championship

The next night on Raw Jarrett awarded the title to Mark Henry for helping him defeat D'Lo Brown at SummerSlam.


April 2,2000 Anaheim, CA WrestleMania 2000
Chris Jericho defeated Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a two fall triple threat match where the second fall was for the European Championship.  The first fall had been for the Intercontinental Championship.  Jericho pinned Benoit.

The next night on Raw Eddie Guerrero defeated Jericho for the championship.

WWE Women's Championship September 18, 1956 - September 19, 2010

January 31, 2000 Pittburgh, PA Raw
Hervina defeated The Kat in a lumberjill snowbunny match


Hervina is Harvey Wippleman in drag.  He was defeated the next night at the SmackDown taping by Jacqueline.

September 17, 2006 Toronto, Ontario Unforgiven
Trish Stratus defeated Lita

This was Trish Stratus' retirement match and the title was vacated

April 24, 2007 Paris, France live event
Mickie James defeated Melina and Victoria in a triple threat match

Melina was awarded and immediate rematch as Victoria was pinned and not Melina, who went on the recapture the championship.

WWE Diva's Championship July 20, 2008 - April 3, 2016

October 12, 2009 Indianapolis, IN Raw
Jillian Hall pinned Mickie James


Jillian was forced to immediately defend her newly won championship against Melina losing it to her.

WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship March 20, 1996 - July 22, 2007

October 4, 1999 Kansas City, MO Monday Nitro
Psychosis was awarded the vacant championship

Lenny Lane had been the champion since 8/19/1999 but was stripped of the title by Turner Broadcasting due to publicity backlash over Lane's homosexual character gimmick.  Psychosis lost the title to Disco Inferno the same night.


March 30, 2000 Baltimore, MD house show
Billy Kidman defeated The Artist

The next night The Artist regained the title at a house show in Pittsburgh, PA.

WCW World Heavyweight Championship January 11, 1991 - December 9, 2001

April 19, 1998 Denver, CO Spring Stampede
"Macho Man" Randy Savage defeated Sting

The next night on Nitro Savage lost the Championship to "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan in a no disqualification match

April 26, 1999 Fargo, ND Nitro
Sting defeated Diamond Dallas Page

That night Diamond Dallas Page regained the championship in a Fatal Four-Way no DQ match that also featured Sting, Kevin Nash, & Goldberg

July 11, 1999 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Bash at the Beach
Randy Savage & Sid Vicious defeated Kevin Nash & Sting to win the championship


Kevin Nash was the champion and as he was pinned by Savage in the match he lost the title to him.  The next night on Nitro Savage was defeated by "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan

January 16, 2000 Cincinnati, OH Souled Out
Chris Benoit defeated Sid Vicious for the vacant championship

The next night Benoit quit WCW vacating the championship.  Storyline was Sid's foot was under the ropes when he tapped out.

April 24, 2000 Rochester, NY Nitro
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Jeff Jarrett in a steel cage match

The next day at the Thunder taping Page teamed with David Arquette against Eric Bischoff and Jeff Jarrett when the title was on the line.  Arquette pinned Bischoff winning the championship.

May 22, 2000 Grand Rapids, MI Nitro
Jeff Jarrett defeated Kevin Nash in a falls out anywhere match for the vacant championship


The next day at the Thunder taping Nash defeated Jarrett and Scott Steiner in a triple threat match

May 29, 2000 Salt Lake City, UT Nitro
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair was awarded the title by Kevin Nash

Flair had one the title on May 15th the suffered what was thought to be a severe medical condition so he was stripped of the title on May 22nd.  When it was discovered that Flair medical cleared the have Nash give Flair the belt back.  Later that same night on the 29th Jeff Jarrett defeated Flair.

WCW World Tag Team Championship January 29, 1975 - November 18, 2001

September 17, 1995 Asheville, NC Fall Brawl
Harlem Heat: Booker T & Stevie Ray defeated Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck


The next night on Nitro The American Males: Marcus Bagwell & Scotty Riggs upset Harlem Heat for the titles.

February 23, 1997 Daly City, CA SuperBrawl VII
Lex Luger & The Giant defeated the Outsiders

This was at the height of the nWo,the next night on Nitro Eric Bischoff returned the titles to the Outsiders as Lex Luger scored the victory and was not medically cleared to wrestle.

October 24, 1999 Las Vegas, NV Halloween Havoc
Harlem Heat: Booker T & Stevie Ray defeated Konnan & BIlly Kidman and Brian Knobbs & Hugh Morrus in a triple threat match

The next night on Nitro Konnan & Billy Kidman regained the titles.

February 12, 2000 Oberhausen, Germany house show
The Harris Brothers: Ron & Don defeated The Mamalukes: Johnny The Bull & Big Vito

The next night in Leipzig, Germany the Mamalukes regained the titles


August 13, 2000 Vancouver, British Columbia New Blood Rising
Dark Carnival: The Great Muta & Vampiro defeated KroniK: Brian Adams & Bryan Clark

The next night on Nitro Rey Mysterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera won the belts.

WCW World Television Championship February 27, 1974 - April 10, 2000

February 17, 1996 Baltimore, MD live event
Lex Luger defeated Johnny B. Badd

The next day in Norfolk, VA Badd regained the title

April 30, May 1 - 3, 1998
Chris Benoit & Booker T traded the title back and forth
4/30 Benoit beat Booker Augusta, GA
5/1 Booker beat Benoit Greenville, SC
5/2 Benoit beat Booker Charleston, SC
5/3 Booker beat Benoit Savannah, GA
5/4 Fit Finlay defeated Booker T Indianapolis, IN Nitro


WCW Hardcore Championship November 21, 1999 - March 26, 2001

May 22, 2000 Grand Rapids, MI Nitro
Shane Douglas defeated Terry Funk

The next night on Thunder Funk regained the Championship


June 5, 2000 Atlanta, GA Nirto
Eric Bischoff defeated Terry Funk

The next night on Thunder Bischoff awarded the title to Big Vito & Johnny the Bull

August 14, 2000 Kelowna, British Columbia Nitro
Carl Ouellet was awarded the title by Lance Storm

That night Ouellet was defeated by Norman Smiley

ECW World Heavyweight Championship April 25, 1992 - April 4, 2001

April 25, 1992 Mount Tabor, PA house show
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka defeated Salvator Bellomo in a tournament final

Snuka was the first ever champion but lost it the next night to Johnny Hotbody in Philadephia, PA


April 22, 2000 Philadephia, PA ECW Arena CyberSlam 2000
Tommy Dreamer defeated Taz

Moments later Justin Credible goaded Dreamer into defending the championship where he defeated the innovator of violence.

January 7, 2001 New York, NY Guilty As Charged
The Sandman defeated Steve Corino & Justin Credible in a TLC & Canes match

Moments later Rhino was awarded a title shot defeating Sandman becoming the final champion.

Active/Inactive titles with no One Day Champions

Women's Champion April 3, 2016 - present

NXT Championship July 1, 2012 - present

NXT Tag Team Championships January 23, 2013 - present

NXT Women's Championship April 5, 2013 - present

WWE Light-Heavyweight Championship December 7, 1997 - November 30, 2001

WW-ECW Championship June 13, 2006 - February 16, 2010

WCW Light-Heavyweight Championship October 27, 1991 - September 2, 1992

WCW Women's Championship December 29, 1996 - September 20, 1997

WCW Women's Crusierweight Championship April 7, 1997 - September 20, 1997

WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship March 18, 2001 - March 26, 2001

WCW World Six-Man Tag Tea Championship February 17, 1991 - November 30, 1991

WCW United States Tag Team Championship September 28, 1986 - July 31, 1992

This was way more of a daunting task that I thought it would be.  It took me several hours to research and record this information.

Thanks for reading please leave a comment and like my blogs Facebook page and check out my blogs other pages full of off beat wrestling information and facts.

Later Readers!!

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