MR. TITO: Ranking WWE World Champions Since 2010 – Where Does Sami Zayn and Jey Uso’s Reigns Rank Among Them?
Happy 4th of July! Recently, former WWE, WCW, and TNA writer and now current JCW writer Vince Russo called Sami Zayn’s recent WWE Title win an “absolute joke”, calling wrestlers “marks” for supporting Sami’s win, and then said the most ironic thing ever with “this is legitimately the equivalent of David Arquette beating Diamond Dallas Page”. Wait a second, on that last statement… Didn’t you book David Arquette to win the WCW Title during your tenure as lead writer for WCW? Or was that Eric Bischoff’s fault, as he took some of the blame for that during the “Who Killed WCW” show? But, Russo’s role was lead writer back then and was overseeing WCW from April 10th, 2000 through the end of September 2000 that saw 13 title changes and 2 title vacancies, including David Arquette and making himself champion.
BUT, to a degree, as I wrote in my last column, wrestlers like Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Christian, and even Chris Benoit won their World Titles as “lifetime achievement” awards. It’s the company rewarding hard work and providing a “THANK YOU” for their efforts and showing loyalty. As Virtue said on the recent NoDQ Review show, it’s a way to allow loyal and dependable wrestlers to advertise themselves as a “former world champion” at appearances and autograph signings. On the “lifetime achievement” criticism, I agree with Russo…
HOWEVER, I disagree that it’s a “joke” to have Sami Zayn as champion. While I’d prefer wrestlers with much more star power, such as CM Punk or Roman Reigns, I’d argue that WWE has had MUCH WORSE champions holding their World Championships since 2010. For every deserving champion, there exists multiple wrestlers who were total experiments, riding short-term fan momentum, or were desired by Vince McMahon to be champion. If you look back to the year 2010, Sami Zayn and Jey Uso were FAR MORE deserving than many other champions.
Don’t believe me? Then fine, let’s rank ALL WWE World Champions since the beginning of 2010. The criteria is simple… Did they deserve the world title? And when they got the world title, did they do anything great as champion? And hell, do we even remember their title reign or consider it worthwhile to their career?
Simple format for this 4th of July spectacular column. Oh, you don’t like me celebrating my patriotism today? Well, then you should TURN OFF that pro wrestling promotion that you’re enjoying. WWE, TNA, and AEW are each American made products that other countries are importing or emulating. So yeah, you should celebrate the 250th birthday of this great nation for allowing us to share its culture with you.
Let’s jump into it.
40) Jinder Mahal
Worst WWE World Champion, ever. I don’t know what was going on with the WWE during 2017, but I want my money back! Jinder lost often between 2016 and 2017 on RAW, but when he’s swapped to the Smackdown roster, he’s immediately rushed to the Main Event, defeats Randy Orton, and then holds the title all Summer long. He was supposed to wrestle Brock Lesnar later that year when Brock reportedly intervened and wanted to wrestle someone else. That gave AJ Styles a tremendous opportunity!
39) Jack Swagger
He is only this low due to timing… Had size, had ability… Just pushed way too early as an unknown to the top and WWE kept trying. He could have been ready later with the “we the people” gimmick, but WWE cooled that gimmick down and then eventually let him go. He’s only this low because he was pushed too fast and too soon, and thus it ruined his career.
38) The Miz
I liked his later World Title run and felt it was a deserving “lifetime achievement award”, but what was that 2010-2011 title reign? Just wasn’t title worthy and felt like a midcarder in a world champion’s role. Personally, I’m getting less offended by the 2010-2011 title run, with age, because I kind of like older Miz and what he’s grown up into as a steady WWE hand and family man. He’s a good dude and has done a lot for WWE during his long tenure.
37) Finn Balor
Rushed to the World Title from NXT and then got injured. Main roster WWE fans were just baffled at how fast he was pushed to the top.
36) Alberto Del Rio
Another “pushed too fast and too early” wrestler… He did have the intangibles of charisma, look, in-ring ability, and character, but Vince wanted him champion NOW and even hijacked the “Summer of Punk” to make it happen. Then the personal problems started happening… If they were just a little more patient with him and policed him personally, he could have been a massive star. Major “what if” story right here.
35) Dolph Ziggler
Dolph does NOT deserve to be this low. Damn concussion right after his awesome post-Wrestlemania cash-in! And sadly, WWE didn’t believe in him at the top after that.
34) Braun Strowman
Looks like the role you want at the top, but not always consistent in the ring while also lacking maturity as well. With better backstage mentors and trainers, he could have been bigger.
33) Sheamus
Another “pushed too soon and too early” guy, and he benefitted from being Triple H’s workout buddy. Tried several times during the 2010s to get him to the top. Should have been more patient and he could have been a bigger star.
32) Damian Priest
Talent and look are there, but drawing power from charisma, mic skills, and personality are not. He had a solid run as champion and legitimately tried, but it was just a mistake to make him champion without the fan momentum to get him there.
31) Kofi Kingston
Short-term fan momentum and to his credit, he was a fighting champion. But, WWE flipped him from a tag team wrestler to a main eventer overnight. Love his title win at Wrestlemania, though, against Daniel Bryan as Bryan really turned up the heat and gave him an incredible match. Sad what Brock Lesnar did to him on the first FOX Smackdown, but I could see the argument that rushing Kofi to the title out of the tag division was a mistake to be corrected. Still, I’m personally happy for him and am OK with the “lifetime achievement” award.
30) Big E Langston
Kind of rushed to the title and I thought it was a big mistake to exclude him from New Day. He should have remained with the group and been a World Champion as a New Day member versus avoiding the group. I’m still sad that he got injured and we’ll never know if he could have had more title reigns that were better.
29) Jey Uso
Lifetime achievement award, for sure. Deserved it after years of great tag wrestling and being a massive component to the Bloodline angle from 2020 through 2023. He was getting seriously over during late 2024 and became the #1 merchandise seller. So, they made him champion during 2025. I agree with the lifetime achievement award, but disagree with him defeating Gunther for it.
28) Sami Zayn
Lifetime achievement award, but I’d argue Sami has given more main event moments than Jey so hence the higher spot. Massive contributions made to the WWE that I can make a case for rewarding.
25) Christian
Lifetime achievement award for a great WWE career, but also proving he could get over elsewhere. Hence why I think he deserves some additional recognition.
24) Big Show
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better prior title runs.
23) Kane
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better prior title runs.
22) Mark Henry
LOVED what he matured into as a wrestler, deserved more honestly. Once he got the attitude and the theme music, he figured it all out but possibly too late.
21) Rey Mysterio Jr.
Two separate title wins since 2010, one of which was that bad title vacancy. Has a prior World Title that matters more.
20) Batista
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better prior title runs. Batista was great and had a fine 5-year run through 2010.
19) Chris Jericho
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better title runs. Crazy thing about Jericho is that he’s still doing this and was AEW champion during 2019-2020. Best reinventor of all time!
18) Dean Ambrose (now Jon Moxley)
Deserved much better in the WWE, but was happy that he got his World Title run. Then he goes and proves WWE wrong by having a solid career in AEW.
17) Bray Wyatt/The Fiend
RIP Windham Rotunda. Loved the Bray Wyatt character, but his title runs were murky but out of his control at times (like Goldberg defeating him). Still, I didn’t like the Fiend character and would have preferred he remain as Bray.
16) Bobby Lashley
Good champion and looked great with the Hurt Business stable surrounding him.
15) Triple H
Came in briefly to give Roman Reigns an opponent at Wrestlemania. Good little run and storyline for HHH.
14) Kevin Owens
Always solid… While maybe missing the look of a champion, his work is consistent and dependable. That, and he’s tremendous on the mic to sell the match before it happens.
13) Randy Orton
Always dependable and remains a star, but some bad title runs here such as 2013-2014 and 2017. I just cringe at those runs and the storylines surrounding them.
12) Drew McIntyre
Great wrestler and great champion, but deserved longer reigns. Victim of the damn COVID year, too, as he beat Lesnar during Wrestlemania during 2020.
11) Edge
Retired as World Champion. Crazy that it has been over 15 years ago now, and it was a retirement due to a bad neck. Then, Edge came back during 2020 and is still working!
10) AJ Styles
LOVED AJ Styles’s WWE run, but he did his job as champion for late 2016 and late 2017. This man wrestled his arse off, every time.
9) The Rock
Rock was a World Champion in the past 17 years, remember that? Defeated CM Punk to wrestle John Cena for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania during 2013. Big put over job for Cena, returning the prior year’s favor which I respect and appreciate. Rock gutted out a bad injury in that match, too.
8) Gunther
Better IC Champ than a World Champ, in my opinion. WWE just can’t get Gunther right at the main event.
7) Seth Rollins
Has many title reigns with many personas. Always dependable and reliable, can draw as a face or as a heel. Multi-dimensional wrestler. I just wish WWE didn’t ban his Curb Stomp during 2015 after he wins the title with that very move.
6) Daniel Bryan
Damn WWE Creative on this one… He deserved better treatment, but made the most with what he had. Wrestlemania 30 was great for him, but I liked his heel title run in which he put over Kofi the most. Did great business there and made Kofi look like a star. SummerSlam 2013 should have been a launching pad, but then it wasn’t thanks to WWE wanting Orton vs. Batista at WM 30. Ooops, we, the fans, disagreed.
5) CM Punk
After falling prey to the Money in the Bank nonsense, his 2011 win over John Cena at MITB is one of the best WWE matches in their history. Punk would then hold the WWE Title for a year and then return during late 2023 to be vindicated with a few additional World Title runs. Punk’s match with Roman Reigns at WM 42 should be commended.
4) Cody Rhodes
Two massive title wins with one over Roman at WM 40 and then defeating John Cena at SummerSlam 2025. Those are massive all-time great title wins and he carries himself well as champion. Go Cody!
3) John Cena
You forget from 2014 through 2024, no World Titles… BUT, before 2014 and then during 2025, several great title runs. However, the magic with Cena isn’t the 17 times that he won the title, but for the past 17 years, who he has put over with a World Title on the line. CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and Cody Rhodes, for example… And he’s put over many other wrestlers without a title on the line, as well. Cena is truly one of the biggest wrestlers of all time, but his generosity is what makes him great. Cena made stars. LOVE his match against AJ Styles at SummerSlam!
2) Brock Lesnar
Think about how BAD 2010s WWE would be without Brock Lesnar as a box office attraction. Seriously… He CARRIED WWE on his back during the WWE Network Era. Dominant champion, multiple times… Always a massive draw.
1) Roman Reigns
Let’s ignore the bad 2010s where he became a John Cena wannabe. 2020s featured Roman as a heel, under the influence of Paul Heyman, and he was an exceptional and dominant champion from 2020 through 2024. Cody Rhodes is higher on this list because he was the one who defeated Roman and ended the long reign. Sadly, WWE couldn’t reward this great reign with a satisfying victory of the Rock, at least not yet. Regardless of whatever else Roman does in his career, his 2020-2024 is ALL TIME GREAT.
*****
LAST WORD: Think about this for a second, folks… 40 separate wrestlers were World Champions since 2010. That is CRAZY and in my opinion, I’d probably cut off at #29 as that bottom 11 features wrestlers who were either rushed to the title or maybe should have become champion. Thus, in my opinion, where was Vince Russo when each of those wrestlers won titles? Jinder Mahal, Jack Swagger, The Miz… Come on, Vinnie Roo, where’s your opinions on those much weaker champions in comparison to Sami Zayn who I’d argue legitimately drew money when involved in big matches or big feuds? Come on, bro!
At least Sami Zayn didn’t win his WWE Title in a match where his opponent laid down on purpose and then afterward, Sami cut a promo saying “that’s why this company’s in the damn shape it’s in, because of BS like this!” like we saw Hulk Hogan cut during WCW Bash at the Beach 2000.
Personally for me, I’d probably cutoff at 18, as you had several late title runs by veterans. I can understand the top 18 being champions since 2010.
40 wrestler in 17 years being World Champion is just too much, especially with positions 40 through 30 either not deserving the World Title, was rushed after debut, or went from midcarder to main eventer too quickly without justification. Lots of BAD booking that ruined many great champions from having better reigns or additional quality reigns, too.
Hope you enjoyed this review… Goes to show you that WWE has had many weak world champions and many of you wrestling fans are just hating too much on Jey and Sami. Those two did more for wrestling than many other world champions tried.
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