Ranking WWE’s 12 Greatest Hardcore Champions On The 12th Anniversary Of Its Death

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On August 26, 2002 – twelve years ago yesterday – Rob Van Dam defeated Tommy Dreamer to unify the WWE Intercontinental and Hardcore Championships, thus ending nearly four years of wrestling anarchy.  I remember the Hardcore Championship fondly… as a kid just getting into wrestling, it was the easiest possible thing for a short attention span like mine to process.  Here’s one guy, here’s another guy, here’s a kendo stick and a fire extinguisher, defenses can happen at any time or place, GO CRAZY.  Obviously, I was sad to see the title go.  At the time, I thought maybe they’d bring it back eventually.  WWE resurrected the United States Championship, so there was hope, right?  I don’t really know if there’s a place in the modern PG era for a Hardcore Championship, but we’re not here to discuss the future.  Let’s dwell on the past!  I hereby submit my countdown of the twelve greatest WWE Hardcore Champions, one for every year of inactivity.  You know how this works – I attempt to justify my picks, and you call me an idiot in the comments section.  Fun for everyone!

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12. Big Boss Man (Four title reigns, 154 total days)

Right off the bat, let’s start with some controversy.  Boss Man’s 154 combined days as Hardcore Champion are the second most of any WWE superstar, so why am I placing him so low?  Three words: Kennel From Hell.  No one walked away from that match with their dignity intact.  Dominant though he was, I cannot bestow a high rank to anyone who has wrestled while literally surrounded by dog crap.  Speaking of which…

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1999 called, they want their shirt back

11. Al Snow (Six title reigns, 129 total days)

First of all, raise your hand if you were too young to get the “Head” joke at the time.  How on earth did my parents let me watch this?

Here he is, Big Boss Man’s opponent in the Kennel From Hell match.  Unlike Boss Man, Snow was much more of an easy fit for the hardcore division.  Hardcore wrestling occasionally works when a more straight-laced wrestler like Boss Man comes in and starts succeeding almost out of spite, but more often than not, you need a borderline crazy person like Al Snow.  He was not the slightest bit afraid to get weird with it, and that was the charm.  Also, this was about as creepy as mannequins got until Condemned: Criminal Origins came out.

10. Goldust (Nine title reigns, 13 total days)

With only 13 total days as Hardcore Champion, you might be starting to accuse me of bumping Goldust up a few spots just because I met him back in April and he was super nice.  And wouldn’t you know it, you’d be right.  Jokes aside, it’s GOLDUST.  The Bizarre One has figured out some key to wrestling longevity, previously only held by Yuji Nagata.  All of Goldust’s short reigns came in 2002, starting when he played spoiler to Tough Enough winner Maven, who will not be appearing on this list.  At least he can say he’s the only Home Shopping Network personality to pin The Undertaker.