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5 huge WWE Championship wins that nobody saw coming

Rollins shocked the world when he cashed in Money in the Bank during the main event of WrestleMania 31.
Rollins shocked the world when he cashed in Money in the Bank during the main event of WrestleMania 31.

In the history of WWE, there is no prize richer than the WWE Championship. Established in 1963, the title has only been held by a handful of Superstars, from various backgrounds.

From the colossal brute strength of the Big Show, to the technical skillset of current champion Daniel Bryan, the title has been held by a variety of Superstars, every single one of whom will now be immortalized in the company's history books.

But sometimes, the title has changed hands in the most shocking of ways, and to the most surprising of wrestlers.

Here are five huge WWE title changes that nobody saw coming, and the Superstars who shocked the world.


#5: Bob Backlund and Diesel pull off a shock

Big Daddy Cool dethroned Backlund in seconds at Madison Square Garden.
Big Daddy Cool dethroned Backlund in seconds at Madison Square Garden.

A two-for-one special, as these two shocking title wins came so close together. On February 20, 1978, Bob Backlund became the 7th man to hold the WWF Championship.

Holding the title for an astounding 2,135 days, Backlund became an established figure of the time as a clean-cut babyface, though by 1994, a lot had changed. Surprising everyone with a return to the ring, Backlund would feud with WWF Champion Bret Hart.

Meeting in a special 'throw in the towel' match, Hart never tapped to Mr. Backlund, but lost the gold anyway, shocking everyone when Owen Hart who had feuded with brother Bret, convinced his mother to give up for her son.

Though some feared another lengthy reign, this wouldn't be the case, as he would lose the gold just three days later on a house show to Diesel. To add insult to injury, the match where Backlund lost the title lasted mere seconds.

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