From The Undertaker to The Rock: 6 WWE Superstars who won World Championship by both fair and unfair means

First Published Dec 18, 2020, 1:51 PM IST

Every WWE superstar aims to win the World Championship at least once in his career, as it is the ultimate title in the industry. While most win it to much acclaim of the fans, some win it on a controversial note, as they are at the receiving end of the same and some superstars.

<p>The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is undoubtedly the global leader in professional wrestling, as the superstars light it up with their breath-taking in-ring performances and the character they portray. Meanwhile, every superstar wishes to win the World Championship at a point in his career.</p>

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is undoubtedly the global leader in professional wrestling, as the superstars light it up with their breath-taking in-ring performances and the character they portray. Meanwhile, every superstar wishes to win the World Championship at a point in his career.

<p>While most of them have won it even on multiple occasions, not all have won it all fair and square. In the same light, we take a look at the superstars, winning it on various occasions, both legally and unfairly.</p>

While most of them have won it even on multiple occasions, not all have won it all fair and square. In the same light, we take a look at the superstars, winning it on various occasions, both legally and unfairly.

<p><strong>The Rock:</strong> In case one remembers, The Rock was a heel during the initial phase of his career, as he had aligned himself with Vince McMahon, during his rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin. He won his first title unfairly after McMahon had turned on Mankind. Nonetheless, he went on to win it on numerous occasions thereon, with most of them coming on a fair note, including his last championship reign, as he ended CM Punks's over a year reign in 2013.</p>

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The Rock: In case one remembers, The Rock was a heel during the initial phase of his career, as he had aligned himself with Vince McMahon, during his rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin. He won his first title unfairly after McMahon had turned on Mankind. Nonetheless, he went on to win it on numerous occasions thereon, with most of them coming on a fair note, including his last championship reign, as he ended CM Punks's over a year reign in 2013.

<p><strong>Triple H: </strong>The 14-time world champion has portrayed both face and heel in his illustrious career so far. Most of his championship wins have come as a heel and babyface. His most notable fair success came at WrestleMania 18, when he faced Chris Jericho, in what is deemed as one of the worst main events on WrestleMania history. As for his most unfair one, it was at Armageddon 2003 when Batista had interfered and pulled Kane out of the ring, while Hunter was facing Goldberg for the championship.</p>

Triple H: The 14-time world champion has portrayed both face and heel in his illustrious career so far. Most of his championship wins have come as a heel and babyface. His most notable fair success came at WrestleMania 18, when he faced Chris Jericho, in what is deemed as one of the worst main events on WrestleMania history. As for his most unfair one, it was at Armageddon 2003 when Batista had interfered and pulled Kane out of the ring, while Hunter was facing Goldberg for the championship.

<p><strong>Bret Hart: </strong>The Hitman had his share of face and heel as well, as he too is a part of this controversial list. His initial championship win came in 1992 when he had beaten the dirtiest player in the game, Ric Flair, on a fair note. However, it was in 1997 when he had turned heel for a brief period, after being felt mistreated by the fans. As he faced The Undertaker for the championship, with his arch-rival Shawn Michaels being the special guest referee, Michaels accidentally hit Taker with a chair, as Bret capitalised on it and won it on an unfair basis.</p>

Bret Hart: The Hitman had his share of face and heel as well, as he too is a part of this controversial list. His initial championship win came in 1992 when he had beaten the dirtiest player in the game, Ric Flair, on a fair note. However, it was in 1997 when he had turned heel for a brief period, after being felt mistreated by the fans. As he faced The Undertaker for the championship, with his arch-rival Shawn Michaels being the special guest referee, Michaels accidentally hit Taker with a chair, as Bret capitalised on it and won it on an unfair basis.

<p><strong>Shawn Michaels:</strong> Speaking about Bret's rival, Michaels, too, has undergone a similar fate. He won his initial championship as a face, at Wrestlemania 12, as he beat Bret in a 60-minute iron-man match. However, it was during the 1996 Survivor Series where he won the title controversially, as Bret did not tap out to his sharpshooter, while Vince called for the bell. As Michaels won it as a heel, this led to a real-life fight between Bret and Michaels-Vince, while it is infamously known as the Montreal Screwjob.</p>

Shawn Michaels: Speaking about Bret's rival, Michaels, too, has undergone a similar fate. He won his initial championship as a face, at Wrestlemania 12, as he beat Bret in a 60-minute iron-man match. However, it was during the 1996 Survivor Series where he won the title controversially, as Bret did not tap out to his sharpshooter, while Vince called for the bell. As Michaels won it as a heel, this led to a real-life fight between Bret and Michaels-Vince, while it is infamously known as the Montreal Screwjob.

<p><strong>Batista:</strong> Batista was one of the fan favourites superstars, who rose to fame in 2005 after he beat Triple H to win his maiden world title in a fair manner. However, it was in 2010 when during an elimination chamber match, Batista was handed an opportunity at the championship during the Elimination Chamber match against John Cena. He was given the final spot among the six men, as Cena was already bloodied and exhausted by then, with the former dismantling him to win the championship, unfairly.</p>

Batista: Batista was one of the fan favourites superstars, who rose to fame in 2005 after he beat Triple H to win his maiden world title in a fair manner. However, it was in 2010 when during an elimination chamber match, Batista was handed an opportunity at the championship during the Elimination Chamber match against John Cena. He was given the final spot among the six men, as Cena was already bloodied and exhausted by then, with the former dismantling him to win the championship, unfairly.

<p><strong>The Undertaker:</strong> The most shocking name on the list, Undertaker is the most prominent face in the industry, having won many world titles as a face. His most famous win came in 2008 when he beat Edge fair and square inside Hell in a Cell for the title. However, it was initially during his career, he won some of them unfairly, with his first being the heinous one, as he tombstoned Hulk Hogan on a chair, aided by Flair, in 1991 Survivor Series.</p>

The Undertaker: The most shocking name on the list, Undertaker is the most prominent face in the industry, having won many world titles as a face. His most famous win came in 2008 when he beat Edge fair and square inside Hell in a Cell for the title. However, it was initially during his career, he won some of them unfairly, with his first being the heinous one, as he tombstoned Hulk Hogan on a chair, aided by Flair, in 1991 Survivor Series.