It doesn't happen often, but it's always shocking when it does.
There are currently two top prizes in WWE: the WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship. These belts seldom change hands, and when they do, it's typically on a massive stage 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 likely to open their wallets and buy the PPV.
But occasionally, the world title will change hands on a much smaller stage: on Raw or SmackDown, or even on a house show, where no television cameras are rolling. It keeps the storyline unpredictable. And it tells that fans that, yes, the house shows mean something! There is a chance (albeit a minuscule one) that fans who attend a non-PPV can see 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 changed hands at non-PPVs. Because like good ol' J.R. is fond of saying, "Anything can happen in the WWE."
AJ Styles
Here's the most recent entry. The WWE title never changes hands overseas as a matter of precedent. But AJ Styles is not a performer of precedent. He's the single greatest wrestler who is currently active. And when he pinned Jinder Mahal cleanly in the center of the ring, 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 Series, although eventually, he'll have to face Mahal 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 point to India's market.
Edge Steals Mr. Kennedy's Moment of Glory
It 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 then the music hit, and out came Edge, Money in the Bank briefcase in hand, ready to cash in on the wounded champion. He hit his signature spear and pinned the Dead Man for his third world title win.
It was shocking and memorable, but it wasn't even supposed to happen. The original Money in the Bank winner, Mr. Kennedy, was supposed to cash in on The Undertaker instead of Edge. But unfortunately, Kennedy was diagnosed with a possible triceps tear, and he was forced to drop his briefcase to The Rated-R Superstar. To make matters worse, the triceps tear turned out to be nothing more than a hematoma, which meant that Mr. Kennedy gave up his title shot for no reason.
How different 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 career snag. He later got suspended for Wellness violations and gained a reputation for being injury-prone. The company released him in 2009.
Steve Austin Gives Kane A One-Day WWE Championship Reign
Kane's first year 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 become WWE champion.
Unfortunately, Kane lost the belt back to Austin the following day on Raw, thanks to a well-timed Stone Cold Stunner. But Glenn Jacobs, the man behind Kane, holds no ill feelings about his short reign. He concedes that it was best for business--that Austin was once-in-a-lifetime talent who deserved his push. And Jacobs keeps fond memories of how electric the crowd was during their Monday rematch that evening.
Mankind Kills WCW
When Mankind, aka Mick Foley, won the WWE championship for the first time, WWE was losing the Monday Night war to WCW. But on Monday, January 4, 1998, WCW made a fatal mistake. Because Raw was pre-taped (Mankind actually won the title on December 29), WCW announcer Tony Schiavone spoiled Mankind's win on the live 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 away from it. WCW began losing the ratings war and would eventually go out of business three years later.
Don't Cross The Boss
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is often accused 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.
But one of his most nepotistic scripted acts occurred in September 1999, when he fought Triple H in the main event of SmackDown. Thanks to an assist from Austin, McMahon won the WWE championship, albeit barely; he had blood all over his face, and he staggered to his feet to accept the victory.
Thankfully, McMahon didn't hold onto the title; he vacated it the following Monday on Raw. He, more than most people, understood the championship's importance, and holding onto it for any longer could have compromised its integrity. It was publicity stunt, and thankfully, it didn't become any more than that.
The Miz Cashes In On The Viper
In 2010, Miz had a better reputation as a tag team specialist than a singles competitor, thanks to his fruitful tag partnerships with John Morrison and The Big Show. 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 defended his WWE Championship against Wade Barrett.
Miz took a long difficult road to the top, from Real World reality star to WWE champion, with a whole lot of locker room hazing mixed in.
This clip, of Miz celebrating backstage after winning the title, is a fascinating peek behind the scenes. Particularly interesting are his interactions with McMahon, who warns him not to "f*** up," and John Cena, who Miz thanks for helping him improve in the ring.
Diesel Pins Bob Backlund In Eight Seconds
Bob Backlund was WWE's All-American hero and champion in the late 70's and early 80's. But he missed the massive wrestling boom that followed, and got none of the glory that his contemporaries, like Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan, would attain.
In the mid-90's, Backlund re-debuted, this time as an unhinged, dangerously violent heel, who insisted that everyone call him Mr. Backlund and was in denial that he ever lost the title to the Iron Sheik. In an unlikely turn of events, Backlund clinched the championship from Bret Hart at Survivor Series, after Owen Hart guilted their mother into throwing in the towel.
Backlund was champion. But a new reign of dominance was not meant to be. At a non-televised house show 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 title 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 Young's manager and motivational speaker.
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