WWE Wrestlers Who Won A World Title & A Midcard Title In The Same Year

It’s seen as a natural progression in WWE for wrestlers to win a midcard championship before winning a world championship. Winning the Intercontinental Championship has proven to be a stepping stone for wrestlers to capture before becoming the WWE Champion. However, there have been some instances where a former world champion has dropped down the card and won a midcard championship after they’ve already won a world championship.

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While these pro wrestlers did reach the top of the mountain by becoming World Champions, they had better runs with midcard titles.

Some wrestlers have a knack for winning championships, and a plethora of wrestlers have won world championships and a midcard championship in the same calendar year. Others did a better job holding a world championship, and others were better off as midcard champion.

Bobby Lashley

Lashley Recaptured The WWE Championship In 2022

Bobby Lashley regained the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar at the 2022 Royal Rumble, all thanks to outside interference from the WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Unfortunately, the Almighty sustained an injury, and he was unable to compete in the men’s Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship.

Lashley’s WWE Championship reign only lasted three weeks, with Lesnar regaining the title inside the Elimination Chamber. Nevertheless, Lashley got his hands on more silverware by becoming a three-time WWE United States Champion after beating Austin Theory for the title at Money in the Bank 2022.

Diesel

Big Daddy Cool Completed The Triple Crown In 1994

Diesel was originally introduced as the bodyguard of Shawn Michaels in 1993, but Big Daddy Cool compiled a solid 1994 for himself. Diesel defeated Razor Ramon in the spring of 1994 to win the Intercontinental Championship. A couple of months later, Diesel attempted to become the WWE Champion but was unable to unseat Bret Hart for the WWE Championship at King of the Ring 1994.

Diesel became a double champion, albeit for one night, as he won the WWE World Tag Team Championship with Shawn Michaels. Diesel’s Intercontinental Championship reign was ended by the Bad Guy at SummerSlam 1994. Nevertheless, Diesel beat Bob Backlund in a matter of seconds in November 1994 for the WWE Championship. Diesel became one of the fastest in history to complete the Triple Crown set.

The Miz

Miz Held Several Championships In 2010

The Miz began 2010 as the WWE United States Champion, and he was one-half of the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions with Big Show. Surprisingly, Miz’s US Championship reign was curtailed by WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart. Nevertheless, Miz recaptured the gold from R-Truth in a fatal-4-way match with John Morrison and Zack Ryder also involved.

Miz’s run as the United States Champion was brought to an end by Daniel Bryan at Night of Champions 2010. Furthermore, Mr. Money in the Bank successfully cashed in his briefcase on Randy Orton to become the WWE Champion for the first time in his career. Miz’s WWE Championship reign lasted 159 days, including a victory over John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 27.

Bret Hart

The Excellence Of Execution Became A Triple Crown Champion In 1992

Bret “The Hitman” Hart kickstarted 1992 as the reigning Intercontinental Champion, but he suffered a defeat to The Mountie, who became a transitional champion. Mountie’s reign was curtailed days later by “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Hart and Piper collided over the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 8, with the Exellence of Execution defeating Piper to become a two-time Intercontinental Champion.

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Hart had a solid four-month run as the Intercontinental Champion, and his brother-in-law The British Bulldog dethroned him in the main event of SummerSlam 1992. It was only a matter of time before Bret was going to win the WWE Championship, and he finally won it by defeating two-time WWE Champion Ric Flair. Hart proved his worth in his maiden WWE Championship reign, and he retained the title against the Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series 1992.

Kurt Angle

The Olympic Gold Medalist Had One Of The Best Rookie Years In WWE History

Kurt Angle made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 1999, but he wasted no time in getting his hands on championships. The Olympic Gold Medalist defeated Val Venis for the WWE European Championship, and weeks later, he defeated Chris Jericho at No Way Out 2000 to become a double champion as he won the Intercontinental Championship.

Angle dropped both titles in a unique two-fall triple threat match at WrestleMania 16. However, the 2000 King of the Ring winner capped off one of the best debut years in WWE history as he defeated The Rock for his maiden WWE Championship reign at No Mercy 2000. Angle continued to have success in 2001 as WWE purchased WCW, and Angle captured the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and the WCW United States Championship. A second WWE Championship reign came Angle’s way when he saw off Steve Austin at Unforgiven in front of his hometown fans in Pittsburgh.

Roman Reigns

Reigns Edged One Step Closer To Becoming A Grand Slam Champion

Roman Reigns’ second WWE Championship reign came to a halt in the 2016 Royal Rumble match with Triple H eliminating him en route to a 14th world title. Reigns wasn’t going to go away easily, and he secured his third WWE Championship by defeating the Game for the title in a lackluster main event at WrestleMania 32.

Reigns’ WWE Championship reign only lasted a couple of months, but he had some solid title defenses against AJ Styles. Ultimately, Reigns’ former Shield stablemate Seth Rollins dethroned him for the title at Money in the Bank 2016. The Big Dog moved into the United States Championship title picture, and Reigns defeated Rusev for the title. Reigns just needed to win the Intercontinental Championship, which he achieved in 2017 to become a Grand Slam Champion.

CM Punk

Punk Won A Couple Of World Heavyweight Championships In 2009

CM Punk defeated William Regal for the Intercontinental Championship on the January 19, 2009, edition of Raw, and it was a significant victory for Punk. He became a Triple Crown Champion, and Punk’s title reign lasted seven weeks with JBL defeating him for the gold, who went on to complete his Grand Slam set.

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Punk won the Money in the Bank ladder match for the second consecutive year at WrestleMania 25. The Straight Edge Savior won the World Heavyweight Championship twice by trading the title with Jeff Hardy, including a victory in the main event of SummerSlam 2009 in an outstanding TLC match.

Big Show

The World’s Largest Athlete Was Back In The Winner’s Circle In 2012

2012 turned out to be one of the most successful years in Big Show’s WWE career. The Intercontinental Championship eluded Big Show throughout his career, but the World’s Largest Athlete finally won the Intercontinental Championship after he defeated Cody Rhodes for the title at WrestleMania 28.

Show turned heel once again in 2012, and he found himself back into world championship contention. In an underrated encounter at Hell in a Cell, Show defeated Sheamus for his second World Heavyweight Championship reign.

Chris Jericho

Jericho Became The First-Ever Undisputed WWE Champion In 2001

Unquestionably, 2001 was one of the strongest years in Chris Jericho’s WWE career. He won the Intercontinental Championship for the fourth time at the Royal Rumble. The Rock mocked Jericho for not winning the Big One, but Y2J finally became a world champion when he defeated Rock for the title at No Mercy 2001.

Jericho dropped the title back to The Rock 15 days later, but he produced one of the finest nights in his WWE career at Vengeance. Jericho became the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion when he defeated Rock and Steve Austin on the same night, a remarkable feat. Seven years later, Jericho won the Intercontinental Championship for the eighth time and the World Heavyweight Championship twice.

Seth Rollins

Rollins Became The First Man To Hold The WWE And United States Titles Simultaneously

Seth Rollins made history at WrestleMania 31 as he became the first man to cash in their Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania. Rollins joined Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns’ WWE Championship showdown, and Rollins covered Reigns to become the WWE Champion for the first time.

Rollins did an excellent job as the WWE Champion, but his thirst for gold didn’t end there. Rollins dethroned John Cena at SummerSlam 2015 to become the first man in history to hold the WWE and United States Championships simultaneously. Rollins’ stint as a double champion lasted just one month, with Cena recapturing the title at Night of Champions 2015.