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Over the years, WWE has put on many iconic world championship matches. The likes of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels in a 60-minute Iron man match for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XII was one of the longest world title matches in history. Moreover, there have been some underwhelming world titles matches, where a champion or challenger has been squashed.Nevertheless, the shortest WWE world championship matches in history have created some shocking moments that fans did not see coming. Even the very best in the business are not exempt from falling victim to an extraordinarily short match.
10 John Cena Vs. Batista - Elimination Chamber 2010 (0:30)
John Cena outlasted five other wrestlers inside the Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber 2010 to become an eight-time world champion. However, shades of New Year's Revolution 2006 came back to Cena's mind as Mr. McMahon handed Batista an immediate WWE Championship opportunity.
Batista marched down the aisle, and after Cena hit Batista with a right hand to the face, the Animal took exception to that. He nailed Cena with a thunderous Spear, and he captured his sixth WWE Championship with a Batista Bomb.
9 The Miz Vs. Bobby Lashley - Raw 3/1/21 (0:27)
On the March 1, 2021, edition of Raw, the newly crowned WWE Champion The Miz defended the WWE Championship against Bobby Lashley. The Awesome One had to thank Lashley for his second WWE Championship reign as he systematically beat up Drew McIntyre.
Miz wanted no part of Lashley as he knew that he was no match for The All Mighty. Therefore, as soon as the bell sounded, Miz retrieved the WWE Championship and he got himself intentionally counted out. By the close of play, Miz eventually dropped the WWE Title to Lashley in a Lumberjack match.
8 Kevin Owens Vs. Goldberg - Fastlane 2017 (0:22)
Kevin Owens was six months strong into his Universal Championship reign when he defended the gold against Goldberg at Fastlane 2017. Goldberg was looking for his first world title reign since he beat Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at Unforgiven 2003.
KO retreated to the outside before the bell sounded. However, he did go inside the squared circle but his former tag team partner Chris Jericho's theme song distracted him. Goldberg capitalized and he nailed KO with a Spear, and the Jackhammer sealed the deal to win the Universal Championship for the first time in his career.
7 Yokozuna Vs. Hulk Hogan - WrestleMania IX (0:21)
WrestleMania IX is arguably the worst WrestleMania that WWE staged. Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Championship but his joy was short-lived as his manager Mr. Fuji challenged Hulk Hogan to face Yoko in an impromptu title match.
It proved to be a foolish decision on Fuji's part as Fuji threw salt in Yoko's eyes which was intended for the Hulkster. Ultimately, Hogan tackled Yokozuna to the ground and his signature Leg Drop saw Hogan win the WWE Championship at 'Mania for the third time in five years.
6 John Bradshaw Layfield Vs. Shannon Moore - SmackDown 12/30/04 (0:18)
On a special edition of SmackDown called SmackDown Night of Champions to bring 2004 to a close, John Bradshaw Layfield had to defend the WWE Championship. Layfield didn't know who his challenger was going to be as he handpicked his opponent out of the fishbowl.
JBL's opponent ended up being Shannon Moore, and Layfield took advantage of Moore as he beat him up on the outside before the match even began. He planted Moore with a powerbomb and a couple of Clotheslines from Hell to retain the WWE Championship in just 18 seconds.
5 Daniel Bryan Vs. Sheamus - WrestleMania XXVIII (0:18)
2012 Royal Rumble winner Sheamus opted to challenge Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXVIII. Surprisingly, Sheamus and Bryan opened up the show which marked the second year in succession that the World Heavyweight Title opened proceedings at 'Mania.
However, after AJ Lee kissed Bryan, Sheamus nailed him with a Brogue Kick to capture the World Heavyweight Championship in just 18 seconds. This was a shocking turn of events with Bryan's 105-day reign as World Heavyweight Champion curtailing in such fashion.
4 The Rock Vs. Shane McMahon - Raw 7/3/00 (0:10)
Shane McMahon had the opportunity of a lifetime when he was looking to unseat The Rock for the WWE Title on the July 3, 2000, episode of Raw. The Boy Wonder went through an announce table at King of the Ring but the WWE Championship would have been the perfect painkiller.
The Great One punched Shane, and he executed the spinebuster to set up the People's Elbow. However, Rock was in doubt going to humiliate Shane with a quick pinfall win, Chris Benoit intervened and he nailed Rock in the back with a steel chair which allowed the People's Champion to retain in 10 seconds albeit by disqualification.
3 Sheamus Vs. Zack Ryder - Raw 8/23/10 (0:10)
On the 900th episode of Raw in August 2010, Sheamus put the WWE Championship on the line against Zack Ryder. The Celtic Warrior had the size and strength advantage and Ryder was looking to snap his losing streak by taking the WWE Title away from Sheamus.
No one believed that the Long Island Iced-Z would be capable of beating Sheamus for the WWE Championship. As soon as the bell sounded, Sheamus immediately nailed Ryder with the Brogue Kick. Sheamus' cover was so nonchalant and he remained WWE Champion in just ten seconds.
2 Bob Backlund Vs. Diesel - House Show 11/26/94 (0:08)
One of the most important but unexpected WWE Championship changes took place on a house show in Madison Square Garden on November 26, 1994. Big Daddy Cool Diesel had just turned face, and he challenged Bob Backlund for the WWE Championship.
Backlund beat Bret Hart for the WWE Title at the 1994 Survivor Series, but he was never going to be a long-term WWE Champion at this stage of his career. Diesel pulverized Backlund with ease as he dropped him with his Jackknife Powerbomb to win the WWE Championship in just eight seconds, and he went on to hold the championship for 358 days.
1 Kofi Kingston Vs. Brock Lesnar - SmackDown 10/4/19 (0:07)
To kickstart their partnership with Fox, the 20th Anniversary of SmackDown saw Kofi Kingston put the WWE Championship on the line against Brock Lesnar. This was by far the sternest test in Kofi's WWE Title reign as the Beast Incarnate was in no mood to hang around.
As soon as the bell sounded, Lesnar executed the F5 on Kofi and he captured his fifth WWE Championship in just seven seconds. It's the shortest WWE Championship match in WWE history, and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry's face in the audience painted a picture as he was in shock. Kofi didn't deserve his WWE Championship reign to end in that manner considering he had done a good job as champion.