seven Times A WWE Title Changed Hands At A Non-PPV Event

It doesn't happen often, but it's always shocking when it does.

It doesn't happen often, only it's always shocking when it does.

There are currently two height prizes in WWE: the WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship. These belts seldom change hands, and when they do, it'south typically on a massive phase like WrestleMania or SummerSlam. It's a marketing strategy; if a pay-per-view event increases the likelihood of a title change, people are more probable to open their wallets and buy the PPV.

But occasionally, the earth title will change hands on a much smaller stage: on Raw or SmackDown, or even on a business firm show, where no boob tube cameras are rolling. It keeps the storyline unpredictable. And it tells that fans that, yeah, the house shows mean something! There is a chance (admitting a minuscule ane) that fans who attend a non-PPV can run across history happen in front of them. Imagine the thrill of buying cheap tickets to a weekly taping and seeing your favorite wrestler clinch gold.

Here are the most memorable times the WWE world titles inverse hands at non-PPVs. Because like good ol' J.R. is fond of saying, "Annihilation can happen in the WWE."

AJ Styles

AJ Styles

Here's the most recent entry. The WWE title never changes easily overseas equally a matter of precedent. But AJ Styles is not a performer of precedent. He's the single greatest wrestler who is currently agile. And when he pinned Jinder Mahal cleanly in the center of the band, the Manchester Raw crowd, which couldn't have possibly expected a title change, roared in approval.

Styles' next obstacle is Lesnar in a non-title fight at Survivor Serial, although eventually, he'll accept to confront Mahal over again. And then fans will know for sure whether WWE has given up on the Maharaja or if it still thinks he can be the access bespeak to India'due south market.

Edge Steals Mr. Kennedy's Moment of Glory

Edge Steals Mr. Kennedy'southward Moment of Celebrity

Information technology was a 2007 SmackDown moment that befitted the Ultimate Opportunist. The current WWE World Heavyweight champion, The Undertaker, had barely made it out of his match with Mark Henry alive. And and so the music hit, and out came Edge, Money in the Bank briefcase in mitt, ready to cash in on the wounded champion. He hit his signature spear and pinned the Expressionless Human for his tertiary world title win.

It was shocking and memorable, merely it wasn't fifty-fifty supposed to happen. The original Coin in the Depository financial institution winner, Mr. Kennedy, was supposed to cash in on The Undertaker instead of Edge. Simply unfortunately, Kennedy was diagnosed with a possible triceps tear, and he was forced to driblet his briefcase to The Rated-R Superstar. To brand matters worse, the triceps tear turned out to be nada more than a hematoma, which meant that Mr. Kennedy gave up his championship shot for no reason.

How unlike would WWE history be if Mr. Kennedy cashed in on The Undertaker that evening instead of Edge? Coulda, woulda, shoulda. But Kennedy never recovered from this early on career snag. He later got suspended for Wellness violations and gained a reputation for being injury-decumbent. The company released him in 2009.

Steve Austin Gives Kane A One-Day WWE Championship Reign

Steve Austin Gives Kane A One-Day WWE Championship Reign

Kane's commencement yr with WWE was impactful, to say the least. He made his debut at Badd Blood during the Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell match by ripping off the cell door and tombstoning The Undertaker. Then, he fought The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Then, in June 1998, Kane defeated "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at King of the Ring to go WWE champion.

Unfortunately, Kane lost the belt back to Austin the following solar day on Raw, thank you to a well-timed Stone Cold Stunner. Just Glenn Jacobs, the homo backside Kane, holds no ill feelings well-nigh his curt reign. He concedes that it was best for business--that Austin was once-in-a-lifetime talent who deserved his push. And Jacobs keeps addicted memories of how electric the crowd was during their Monday rematch that evening.

Mankind Kills WCW

Flesh Kills WCW

When Mankind, aka Mick Foley, won the WWE title for the first time, WWE was losing the Mon Nighttime war to WCW. But on Mon, January iv, 1998, WCW fabricated a fatal error. Because Raw was pre-taped (Mankind actually won the title on December 29), WCW announcer Tony Schiavone spoiled Flesh's win on the alive WCW Nitro, hoping that viewers would lose interest in the competitor.

Instead the opposite happened, 600k fans switched over from WCW to WWE. Foley was an overwhelming fan favorite, and knowing the result drew fans to WWE programming rather than abroad from it. WCW began losing the ratings war and would somewhen go out of business concern three years later.

Don't Cross The Boss

Don't Cantankerous The Dominate

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is often defendant of nepotism. His daughter Stephanie and her husband, Triple H, both help run the company he founded. Clearly, McMahon wants to keep WWE in the family unit.

Merely one of his most nepotistic scripted acts occurred in September 1999, when he fought Triple H in the master event of SmackDown. Thanks to an assist from Austin, McMahon won the WWE title, albeit barely; he had blood all over his confront, and he staggered to his feet to take the victory.

Thankfully, McMahon didn't concur onto the title; he vacated it the following Monday on Raw. He, more than than well-nigh people, understood the championship's importance, and property onto it for any longer could accept compromised its integrity. It was publicity stunt, and thankfully, it didn't become any more than that.

The Miz Cashes In On The Viper

The Miz Cashes In On The Viper

In 2010, Miz had a ameliorate reputation as a tag team specialist than a singles competitor, thanks to his fruitful tag partnerships with John Morrison and The Big Bear witness. But then he won Money in the Bank, and on the November 22, 2010 episode of Raw, The Miz cashed in his contract on a tired Randy Orton, who had just successfully dedicated his WWE Championship against Wade Barrett.

Miz took a long difficult road to the peak, from Real Globe reality star to WWE champion, with a whole lot of locker room hazing mixed in.

This clip, of Miz celebrating backstage subsequently winning the title, is a fascinating peek behind the scenes. Particularly interesting are his interactions with McMahon, who warns him not to "f*** upwards," and John Cena, who Miz cheers for helping him amend in the ring.

Diesel Pins Bob Backlund In Eight Seconds

Diesel Pins Bob Backlund In Eight Seconds

Bob Backlund was WWE's All-American hero and champion in the late 70's and early on eighty'due south. Simply he missed the massive wrestling boom that followed, and got none of the glory that his contemporaries, like Andre the Giant and Blob Hogan, would achieve.

In the mid-90'south, Backlund re-debuted, this time as an unhinged, dangerously tearing heel, who insisted that everyone call him Mr. Backlund and was in deprival that he ever lost the title to the Iron Sheik. In an unlikely plough of events, Backlund clinched the title from Bret Hart at Survivor Series, later on Owen Hart guilted their mother into throwing in the towel.

Backlund was champion. Only a new reign of authorisation was not meant to be. At a not-televised house bear witness at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 1994, "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel kicked Backlund in the gut, Jacknifed him, and hooked the leg for a pin. The match only lasted eight seconds.

Diesel would go on to defend the championship at WrestleMania Xi against Shawn Michaels. And Backlund would persist for some time (including a kayfabe run for President of the United States) before fading into obscurity again. He recently resurfaced as Darren Immature'south manager and motivational speaker.