It's been a long time since WWE was a truly hardcore place. Changing TV ratings have seen a host of Attitude Era mainstays disappear from sight. There are no shots to the head from weapons, an almost blanket ban on blood, and even hand gestures are a big no-no. If we had the Hardcore title today, it would be a shadow of what it was.
But there are some superstars who would fair very well if it was still around. Whether that be through their current persona or just having a desire for violence, here are ten who would fit the mold.
10 Randy Orton
We’ve seen Randy Orton do some evil things, and many of those haven’t even needed the aid of a weapon. His punt kick was treated as the most dangerous finisher in WWE for a time, and some of his despicable actions over the years have drawn genuine outrage. But if he did want a weapon for the Hardcore title, he’d still have enough experience. From his hellacious match with Mick Foley in 2004 to his screwdriver decimation of Jeff Hardy in recent months, he’s certainly got an impressive resume. As he now slips down the main card into a position where he’s not challenging for the WWE title, a Hardcore run would be the perfect way to wind down.
9 Woken Matt Hardy
It looked like the days of Matt Hardy in a wrestling ring were over, let alone the days of him carrying gold. But his return in recent months has changed all that, and there are still hints of Hardy’s "Woken" character. His Ultimate Deletion match with Bray Wyatt was a masterpiece, and Hardy showed he still has all the capabilities to run the wrestling industry. Whether it was the battle for the Chair of Wheels or the Mower of Lawn, Hardy’s unhinged character would have the daringness to do whatever he wanted with whatever he wanted—a key part of the Hardcore title.
8 Elias
The guitar-wielding, applause-holding Elias has reached heights nobody really expected since making the step up from NXT. But he’s still without a title in that time. The Hardcore would be the perfect place to start. Another wrestler who’s not afraid to use a weapon in the ring, Elias has been through more guitars than Hendrix during his relatively short time on the main roster. A guitar shot over the head would be very apt in Hardcore title days, and Elias is another current superstar who could see his career catapult to new heights if he had some gold to hold.
7 Bo Dallas
During the Attitude Era, a number of superstars were created. The likes of The Rock and Stone Cold were quite obvious, as were the more risqué characters such as The Godfather. But what about some of the pluckier individuals who really would be lost in modern wrestling? Crash Holly was one of the biggest draws at the time, and that was entirely down to his Hardcore title reigns. Known as the innovator of the 24/7 rule—the absolute best amendment to a title in wrestling history—Crash was someone who wouldn’t go too far today, just like Bo Dallas. We’ve seen Dallas’ brilliant persona during his original ‘Bo-lieve’ run, and he would reach stratospheric levels if the Hardcore title was to be put on him today.
6 Samoa Joe
If we were to compare today’s superstars with those of the Attitude Era, Samoa Joe is undisputedly akin to Tazz. They practically use the same finishing move, they’re both two brawlers and, as if necessary, both wore some kind of towel on their being. Joe has been threatening to reach the very top in his short time on Smackdown (and now Raw) but has been unable to pick up the big belts. While the Hardcore was never a big belt, it helped to make mid-carders truly important. Joe is a beast and, you just know he would have dominated the Hardcore division for a very long time if he was around just a decade or so earlier.
5 Becky Lynch
We’re already seeing more and more overlaps between women’s wrestling and their male counterparts. The 2019 Royal Rumble saw Nia Jax enter the fray and deliver moves to a host of stars. And for the first time in a long, long time, WWE dared to push the boundaries with male on female violence. The Attitude Era incorporated this action regularly, with Chyna picking up male championships. And the way that Becky Lynch is being pushed, she would fill the Chyna role perfectly. She wouldn’t be the first female to win the title, but a hardcore championship for The Man would perfectly fit her development over the past 12 months.
4 Braun Strowman
This one goes without saying, but Braun Strowman is an absolute beast. We’ve seen him destroy top stars such as Roman Reigns and use his power to cause utter destruction to individuals, vehicles, and stages. And, though the Hardcore championship is designed to use a variety of weapons, this wouldn’t be necessary for Strowman, who would just use those hands. Big Show had a run with the title, and, as a modern-day version, Braun would be a surefire choice to validate it. The only problem would be getting the title off him because, despite his booking, he should be unbeatable.
3 Kevin Owens
It would surely be a comedown for Kevin Owens to challenge for what would be a mid-card belt, but let’s look at his past. The man is a bully, and people who use weapons in real life tend to be seen as bullies as well. Imagine the prestige a guy like Owens could bring to the Hardcore title. At Wrestlemania 2001, Kane and Big Show made it a must-watch belt with a bout that was one of the best of the night. Owens and Zayn could do the same, and their career paths seem to be leading up to one ultimate bloodbath—at least it would if blood was still allowed.
2 Eric Young
Sanity has been destroyed since moving to the main roster, and they seem to be no more following the departure of Alexander Wolfe to NXT UK. Young has been in freefall throughout his WWE run, but he still has the insane personality that suited so many Attitude Era stars. Even his recent move during the Superstar Shake Up doesn’t look set to produce newfound glory. Al Snow and Raven were both complex characters in the same way Young is, and both had Hardcore title runs. He needs something to propel his time and take him back to TNA success, and a title like this would be exactly what’s needed.
1 Bray Wyatt
Perhaps the most obvious current star most fitting to Hardcore days is the recently returned Bray Wyatt. A Hardcore title holder needs to have something a little bit unscrewed about them, and Wyatt is all that and more. We’ve seen his eerie recent promos, and we’ve seen everything that came before (let’s forget the House of Horrors mess). Wyatt is still a little out of place in a PG era, and you can just tell his character would take off if given a different timescale. Wyatt against the likes of Raven, Tazz, and Al Snow would be captivating and allow him to make the absolute most of his skillset.