Some WWE World Champions only reached the pinnacle once throughout their WWE career. However, many have failed in their quest to become a multiple time World Champion in WWE.
The main objective for many top-level talents when they get into the wrestling business is to win a World Championship. Moreover, some of the all-time greats have managed to win at least one World Title in their career. Nevertheless, once a wrestler drops the World Title, they generally fall down the card into the mid-card scene.
However, some wrestlers have sustained injuries or departed WWE which is another factor as to why they never managed to win another World Title. Ultimately, the likes of Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, and Triple H have been at the top for so long and had a vice grip on World Titles which has been difficult for some to get another World Championship victory.
10 Andre The Giant
Andre The Giant became one of the biggest attractions in the 1980s, and he had one WWE Championship reign to his name. However, it came in controversial circumstances when he defeated Hulk Hogan on The Main Event despite Hogan's shoulders clearly being off the mat.
Nevertheless, his WWE Title reign was short-lived as Ted DiBiase "purchased" the title from him. Andre never needed the WWE Championship in fairness, as he was a huge star without it. He had a few WWE Championship matches with Randy Savage but they all ended in disqualification or a count-out.
9 Jinder Mahal
The Modern-Day Maharaja Jinder Mahal is arguably one of the most unlikely WWE Champions in WWE history. Mahal stunned Randy Orton at Backlash 2017 for his sole WWE Title reign. Moreover, there were some bright moments in his WWE Title run and some forgettable ones.
Nevertheless, Mahal managed to hold the title for six months until he dropped the WWE Championship to AJ Styles. He lost his mandatory rematch to Styles at Clash of Champions 2017, and he came up short in their subsequent rematches on live events. As expected Mahal went back to mediocrity after his stint on top.
8 Sgt. Slaughter
Sgt. Slaughter returned to WWE as an Iraqi-sympathizer, and he was pushed as a main eventer. He made history at the 1991 Royal Rumble when he became the first man to win the WWE Title at the Rumble. He defeated The Ultimate Warrior for his maiden WWE Championship reign.
Slaughter garnered heat, and he was one of the most detested WWE Champions in history. He was a transitional champion as Hulk Hogan dethroned him at WrestleMania VII. Slaughter was never going to reach those dizzy heights as WWE Champion again, and his final shot was in the 1992 Royal Rumble Match for the vacant WWE Title.
7 The Great Khali
Unfortunately, Edge relinquished the World Heavyweight Championship in the summer of 2007. The Great Khali was in the right place at the right time, and he prevailed in a Battle Royal for the vacant World Heavyweight Title.
Khali wasn't a great World Champion as his performances inside the squared circle were languid. Finally, Batista ended his lackluster run at Unforgiven 2007. Khali failed to regain the title in a Punjabi Prison Match, and he had a WWE Championship match against Triple H at SummerSlam 2008 which he was never going to win.
6 Mark Henry
Fifteen years after his debut, Mark Henry finally captured the World Heavyweight Championship at the expense of Randy Orton in 2011. The World's Strongest Man deserved a World Title reign for his hard work and commitment to WWE.
He only held the title for three months and failed to be a World Champion once more. Nevertheless, Henry had a couple of WWE Championship matches against CM Punk in April 2012, and he failed to defeat John Cena at Money in the Bank 2013.
5 Jack Swagger
Jack Swagger had a lot of potentials but he missed the mark in his WWE career. The Real American cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, and he defeated Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Swagger retained the gold against Randy Orton, and he had an underwhelming feud with Big Show. Unfortunately, Swagger didn't fit the mold as a World Champion and he fell down the pecking order. He lost to Rey Mysterio at Money in the Bank 2010, and to Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania XXIX. Swagger became a jobber and his days of becoming a World Champion in WWE were long gone.
4 Finn Balor
The return of the brand split in the summer of 2016 saw the creation of a second World Championship. The Universal Championship was born, and Finn Balor defeated Seth Rollins in a magnificent match at SummerSlam to become the inaugural Universal Champion.
Unfortunately, the Universal Title got off to a dreadful start as Balor sustained an injury that forced him to relinquish the title just 24 hours later. He waited two years for his rematch, and he lost to Roman Reigns on an episode of Raw in August 2018. Furthermore, Brock Lesnar overpowered him in a WWE Title match at the 2019 Royal Rumble, and Balor currently is in NXT so it remains to be seen if when he re-emerges on the main roster.
3 Mr. McMahon
Mr. McMahon defeated Triple H to become the oldest WWE Champion in history at the age of 54 in September 1999. His record remains but The Chairman of The Board had no business holding the most prestigious title in his own company. He saw sense and quickly vacated the title.
Nevertheless, McMahon has been nowhere near to becoming WWE Champion again. He did have a WWE Title match against Kurt Angle in December 2000 but it was a setup as himself and Angle brutalized Mick Foley.
2 The Ultimate Warrior
The Ultimate Warrior was touted to become the next Hulk Hogan as he was one of the most polarizing stars in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Warrior overcame The Hulkster at WrestleMania VI to kickstart his run as WWE Champion.
However, despite holding the WWE Title for over 200 days, Warrior's WWE Championship run wasn't memorable. Moreover, Warrior only had one shot at regaining the WWE Championship but that wasn't until SummerSlam 1992 when Randy Savage retained by count-out.
1 Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston had to be incredibly patient to become a WWE Champion but his time came at WrestleMania 35. Kofi defeated Daniel Bryan in one of the greatest WWE Championship matches in the history of WrestleMania. Kofi thrived in his new role as WWE Champion but the way it ended was tasteless.
Brock Lesnar squashed him to take the WWE Championship away from him on the 20th Anniversary edition of SmackDown. Kingston went on to win multiple Tag Team Titles once more in The New Day. However, the Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber 2021 was Kingston's first legitimate shot at regaining the WWE Title in months.