When you say “anything can happen,” occasionally anything has to happen. Anything to disrupt the flow of what the WWE perceives is going to happen. No matter whether it’s appreciated or not, shaking things up is always good to break up any monotony that can happen in WWE.
Or Vince just wants to shake things up for the heck of it. After all, the WWE really is for just an audience of one. Over the years, title changes have happened at the mere snap of The Chairman’s fingers, forever altering the WWE landscape (at least for the time being). Here are 10 title wins in WWE that came from out of nowhere.
10 Chris Jericho - Vengeance 2001
How out of nowhere was Jericho becoming the first-ever Undisputed Heavyweight Champion ever? According to Y2J, he was told in catering that afternoon. Vince walked by and was telling Undertaker something to the effect of “can you believe Chris Jericho is going to win the World Title tonight?”
The oldest AEW Champion ever was able to take out both Stone Cold and The Rock in one night - something no one has ever done before or after.
9 Bret Hart - October 12, 1992
Bret Hart got to live a dream so many fans and superstars have. He got to beat a great world champion in his home country! At a house show way back in late ‘92, the Hitman faced off against Ric Flair, defending the WWE
The Nature Boy did what he always does and helped to make a star out of Bret Hart, as he captured his first-ever world title. House show title changes are always a little shocking, and this one was completely shocking and helped change the landscape of the whole company for years to come.
8 Diesel - November 26, 1994
Bob Backlund nefariously ending Bret Hart’s second title reign at Survivor Series ‘94. Less than a week later, Backlund was back in Madison Square Garden where he defended his title for years.
Now he stood across the ring from a seven-foot monster, Diesel. In just eight seconds, Diesel nailed the Jackknife Powerbomb and became the new world champion.
7 Hulk Hogan - WrestleMania IX
Not every title change on this list is going to be a popular one. For a lot of fans, Hulk Hogan swooping in and taking the WWE title off of Yokozuna in less time than it takes to blow a bubble was seen as a huge step back to whatever the WWE’s plans were for The New Generation.
But after Bret Hart got beaten by Yoko, the Sumo immediately challenged Hulk to take him on. But a misplaced salt toss by Mr. Fuji and the newly crowned champion was immediately left laying on his back.
6 Shawn Michaels - Survivor Series 2002
Shawn Michaels was supposedly just returning for just one match - against Triple H at SummerSlam 2002. But HBK also wanted to prevent Triple H from retaining his title in the first-ever Elimination Chamber match, so he joined the fray at the 2002 Survivor Series.
Since the rest of the participants were eliminated, that only left HBK and The Game to do battle. Despite not knowing for how long he’d be back, The Showstopper was able to stop the show and once again became the man.
5 Jinder Mahal - Backlash 2017
After being released several years prior, Jinder Mahal reshaped his body into chiseled granite. For his perseverance, the Modern Day Maharajah was awarded a WWE title match at Backlash against Randy Orton for the WWE title.
Suffice to say, coming from beyond the brink of obscurity to winning the richest prize in the entire industry was a complete shocker. As was his successful defenses against the likes of Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura.
4 Ivan Koloff - January 18, 1971
If you don’t know, then ask your parents or grandparents about the night that Bruno Sammartino lost the WWWF Title after holding it for eight years.
They’ll most likely tell you a story about the night the Garden went silent. It would sound eerily similar to the night The Streak ended. On January 18, 1971, the Russian Bear Ivan Koloff did the unthinkable and defeated Bruno for the WWWF Title.
3 Edge - New Year's Revolution 2006
After lugging around the Money In The Bank briefcase for nearly a year, the Rated R Superstar was able to give the world a template for how to cash it in. Cash in at the most opportune time, after the champion has just been through hell or the Elimination Chamber in this case.
John Cena entered New Year's Revolution as WWE champion and entered the chamber at number two. He’d have to endure the entire match if he wanted to walk out the champ, which he did. But he wasn’t able to survive a fresh and amped up Edge. He cashed in, speared Cena twice and won his first-ever world title.
2 Braun Strowman - WrestleMania 36
With WrestleMania being a very different event this year, Roman Reigns pulled out of the event and his Universal Title match against Goldberg. Braun Strowman was inserted to the match against Big Bill and was able to make short work of the WCW legend.
Him being inserted into the match and defeating Goldberg in such convincing fashion was enough to get his title reign off on the right foot.
1 Eddie Guerrero - No Way Out 2004
Even in 2004, no one ever assumed Brock Lesnar was going to lose. He headed into No Way Out 2004 defending the WWE title against the much smaller Eddie Guerrero.
There was seemingly no hope for Latino Heat. But Eddie was able to not just overcome The Beast, but shock the world in one of the most emotional title wins of the modern era.