Championships generally change hands in one-on-one affairs, tag team matches, or multi-man matches. However, in some instances, a champion has lost their championship in a handicap match.
Handicap matches are designed for wrestlers to be disadvantaged in two-on-one, three-on-one, or three-on-two affairs. It can be a sign of punishment, therefore, there are no surprises when the numbers game is proven to be too much.
However, it is incredibly rare for a champion to defend their title in a handicap match, which is an extraordinary way for a singles championship to be defended in. Moreover, sometimes a Tag Team Title has been defended in a handicap match when the partners are no longer functioning as a cohesive unit. Nevertheless, fans are always hyped up for title matches and to see a championship change hands in a handicap match is a special moment.
10 Acolytes Defeat Hardy Boyz W/ Michael Hayes For The WWE Tag Team Championship - Fully Loaded 1999
At Fully Loaded 1999, Bradshaw and Faarooq were determined to recapture the WWE Tag Team Championship from The Hardy Boyz. In this title rematch, The Hardys were not alone as their manager Michael Hayes joined them in a three-on-two handicap match.
The match was under Acolyte Rules and The Hardys dominated the early proceedings but the pendulum swung with The Acolytes gaining control of the match with their strength advantage. Ultimately, The Acolytes regained the WWE Tag Team Championship after dropping Hayes with a jaw-dropping Double Powerbomb.
9 Sami Zayn W/ Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro Defeat Braun Strowman For The Intercontinental Championship - Elimination Chamber 2020
Braun Strowman never thrived as an Intercontinental Champion, but he had his hands full at Elimination Chamber 2020. The Monster Among Men put the prestigious title on the line against former champion Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, and Sami Zayn in a three-on-one handicap match.
It wasn't the greatest spectacle, and Zayn ran away every time Strowman tried to get his hands on him. Nevertheless, The Great Liberator finally captured his first singles title on the main roster when he covered Strowman for his first Intercontinental Championship reign.
8 Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase Defeat Hardcore Holly For The World Tag Team Championship - Night Of Champions 2008
Ted DiBiase teased for weeks that he would make his debut at Night of Champions 2008, and he had a secret partner to challenge Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly for the World Tag Team Championship. However, it was a ruse as DiBiase revealed that Rhodes was his tag team partner.
Holly was shocked, as he was blindsided by Rhodes. Rhodes turned heel in the process, and he had no answers to fend off Rhodes and DiBiase. Ultimately, DiBiase and Rhodes captured the World Tag Team Championship with DiBiase pinning Holly.
7 Layla W/ Michelle McCool Defeat Beth Phoenix For The Women's Championship - SmackDown 5/14/10
Beth Phoenix captured her third WWE Women's Championship when she defeated Michelle McCool in an Extreme Rules Makeover match at Extreme Rules 2010. However, The Glamazon was nursing a knee injury, and she had to battle past LayCool in a two-on-one handicap on the May 14, 2010, edition of SmackDown.
Phoenix showed her strength by hoisting both women on her shoulders and she dropped them with a Samoan Drop, and she seemed to be getting the better of LayCool. However, McCool and Phoenix clashed heads, and Layla picked up the scraps by becoming the final WWE Women's Champion. Layla was the recognized champion although she and McCool were co-WWE Women's Champions.
6 AOP Defeats Seth Rollins For The Raw Tag Team Championship - Raw 11/5/18
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose were no longer on the same page although they were the Raw Tag Team Champions. However, The Architect was forced to defend the Raw Tag Team Titles alone against Akam and Rezar of AOP on Raw in November 2018 which emanated from Manchester, England.
The Lunatic Fringe no-showed, and Rollins gave a good account of himself by impressing against AOP. Ultimately, the power and strength advantage of AOP was a step too far for Rollins to deal with, and AOP unseated Rollins as the new Raw Tag Team Champions.
5 Finn Balor Defeats Bobby Lashley W/ Lio Rush For The Intercontinental Championship - Elimination Chamber 2019
This time the reigning champion had the numbers advantage with Bobby Lashley partnering Lio Rush with Lashley's Intercontinental Championship on the line. Lashley's title was at stake in a two-on-one handicap match against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber 2019.
Lashley and Rush's partnership was great, and they did everything in their power to dismantle Balor. However, Balor was smart, and he fancied his chances when he was isolated with Rush. Balor executed his Coup De Grace on Rush, and he pinned him to capture the Intercontinental Championship. Lashley was far from happy, and he assaulted Rush after the match.
4 Natalya Defeats Michelle McCool W/ Layla For The Divas Championship - Survivor Series 2010
After Night of Champions 2010, LayCool were the reigning co-WWE Divas Champions but Natalya was hellbent on ending their reign as Divas Champion. McCool was the recognized Divas Champion but it did not matter to Natalya as she had a shot at both women at Survivor Series.
Natalya had that look in her eye, and she dominated LayCool who hardly had any answers. Natalya forced McCool to submit with her patented Sharpshooter for her first taste of silverware in her WWE career.
3 Shelton Benjamin W/ Triple H & Chris Masters Defeat Rob Van Dam & John Cena For The Intercontinental Championship - Raw 5/15/06
Triple H was supposed to collide with John Cena for the WWE Championship on the May 15, 2006, edition of Raw, but Mr. McMahon changed the match. It ended up being a three-on-two Texas Tornado Handicap match with Cena and Rob Van Dam defending the WWE and Intercontinental Titles against Shelton Benjamin, Chris Masters, and Triple H.
It was a unique match that was captivating to watch right from the start. The Game laid out both RVD and Cena with his patented Pedigree but Benjamin picked up the scraps to kickstart his third reign as Intercontinental Champion.
2 Chris Jericho W/ Kevin Owens Defeat Roman Reigns For The United States Championship - Raw 1/9/17
Roman Reigns was a legitimate threat to Kevin Owens' Universal Championship but Owens and Chris Jericho did everything in their power to keep The Big Dog away from the Universal Title. However, Reigns was also in possession of the WWE United States Championship.
Nevertheless, on the January 9, 2017 episode of Raw, Reigns defended the United States Title against Owens and Jericho. Reigns had some offense in this contest but Jericho captured the United States Championship, which was one of the major titles missing him from his trophy-laden career.
1 Mr. McMahon W/ Shane McMahon & Umaga Defeat Bobby Lashley For The ECW Championship - Backlash 2007
Mr. McMahon was humiliated by Bobby Lashley after getting his head shaved bald at WrestleMania 23, and The Evil Genius forced Lashley to defend the ECW Championship in a three-on-one handicap match at Backlash 2007. Mr. McMahon was not alone as his son Shane and Umaga were his tag team partners.
McMahon always gets his way, when he gets embarrassed and he often gets the last laugh. Backlash was no different with The Samoan Bulldozer doing the majority of the dirty work. Mr. McMahon covered Lashley for the pinfall, doing the unthinkable by becoming the new ECW Champion.