Bloody Memories Of The Hardcore Championship

In this edition of The Wrestling Estate roundtable, we look back on the history of the Hardcore Championship.

Should WWE resurrect the Hardcore Championship?

Calvin Gibbon: Yes. It would add space for a new category of superstar that used to be prevalent throughout the Attitude Era: hardcore wrestlers. It can be done in the PG environment of current WWE television effectively, and would add an extra element of excitement to which ever brand holds the gold (maybe both?).

John Corrigan: Although the 24/7 rule would make more sense in the digital age with social media and the constant streaming of WWE Network, the company has neutered hardcore matches to the point that they mean nothing now, anyway. It’s funny – no blood or headshots, but chairs, tables and kendo sticks have become a staple of nearly every PPV.

David Gibb: That’s a hard no.

Juan Bautista: The timing is probably right, I’m just not sure if they would utilize it to its full potential. The way the United States Championship has disappeared while being held by Shinsuke Nakamura is my main worry with having an additional belt.

Steven Jackson: I think the Hardcore Championship was of a certain time, and in this current PG age of WWE programming, it just wouldn’t work in the same way. Resurrecting the Hardcore Title would very much be like when WWE resurrected ECW. It would unnecessarily taint the legacy of the original.

Chad Gelfand: I would love to see the Hardcore Title resurrected, as it led to a ton of fun segments in its initial incarnation, but I really don’t trust WWE to give the title much attention beyond when it’s first introduced. Ideally though, the title would give lower card guys something to do, especially with five hours of main roster TV to fill.

Jack Goodwillie: Why bother? We live in this topsy-turvy world right now where chair shots to the head have been outlawed (good?) and hardway blood is technically the only way a wrestler can bleed (not good). Unless WWE were to bring the belt back and make it more compelling than it once was (unlikely), then I think we have our answer. Side note (and I may get a lot of heat for this): What if the WWE brought back chair shots to the head, but altered the material of the chairs? My brain is too conditioned to chair shots to the head for the psychology of “I have a chair. I will target the abdomen!” to really hit home. Believe me, it’s probably for the best that we don’t have them, I’m just suggesting another avenue.

If the title did come back, which current WWE Superstar would make a good champion?

Gibbon: I could definitely see the WWE placing it on Samoa Joe first because he’s a man with credibility and a known aggressive streak. If you put it on someone with credibility, the title would be coveted right from the beginning. Eric Young of Sanity would be a great choice as well.

Corrigan: Bray Wyatt. The “anything goes” element would make his matches infinitely more interesting, he can disappear from any challenge and he desperately needs something to revive his career.

Gibb: If we’re counting NXT wrestlers, Adam Cole. He has the best “everything but the kitchen sink” matches in the company. If we’re sticking to the main roster, probably Dean Ambrose. He has the blend of physical intensity and borderline wackiness that makes hardcore wrestling work.

Bautista: Probably Aleister Black or Kyle O’Reilly. As a technical ground wrestler, Kyle would suit the 24-hour concept. Black would be able to put on great matches as his NXT Championship reign has proved. If a woman got to hold it, I would probably pick Sasha Banks or maybe Ruby Riott.

Jackson: Due to his personality and look, Kevin Owens would be able to pull off a Hardcore Title reign really well. He would really add another level of prestige to the title, too, after his other previous title reigns in WWE and on the independent scene.

Gelfand: I think Elias would actually make a good champion and give the belt instant credibility. Plus, he can swiftly switch between comedy and seriousness, which not a lot of people can do.

Goodwillie: One positive of more championship titles is more storylines. I could definitely see Elias making a good Hardcore Champion, since after all, he is formally “The Drifter” and can defend the belt anywhere at any time. Roman Reigns (get well soon) or Dean Ambrose would also be fun champions.

Were you a fan of the 24/7 rule?

Gibbon: Honestly, I thought it was stupid at the time, but I still enjoyed it. There definitely should have been some sort of better “end game” planned for the 24/7 rule – it went on way too long. It became diluted and was dead well before it was retired on Raw by Rob Van Dam.

Corrigan: Absolutely. As a kid, it was hilarious seeing the Houdini of Hardcore escape threats in the airport and fun house. Plus, I believed everything back then so all the weapons were cool.

Gibb: No. The idea of a championship title is to get people over. All 24/7 got over was that the act of changing the title was more interesting than the conflict between the wrestlers competing for it, which bled into the booking of the WWF/E Championship between ‘99 and ‘02 and was a big part of many people (including me) burning out on wrestling.

Bautista: I have seen the 24/7 rule utilized in promotions such as Defiant and it’s a great rule. The Hardcore Title can be an attraction for house shows or even a marquee match on PPV.

Jackson: I thought that the 24/7 rule was perfect Attitude Era goodness. Far-fetched for wrestling, but thoroughly entertaining. It created some really fun and unique segments, and also helped the division thrive in the lower card. Plus, I liked how anyone and everyone could win the title, making it really unpredictable.

Gelfand: I was a big fan of the 24/7 rule, from Crash Holly running around a fun house to Gerald Brisco winning the Hardcore Championship by literally catching his opponent sleeping and the announcers whispering the call. There were so many great hijinks that came out of the 24/7 rule.

Goodwillie: I was indifferent to it. It yielded some funny moments, but the best stuff with the Hardcore Championship usually took place inside the squared circle.

What is the greatest hardcore match you’ve ever seen?

Gibbon: If we’re talking WWE, I’d have to say Undertaker vs. Rob Van Dam was a special one at Vengeance 2001. If we’re talking outside of WWE, the recent Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho match was particularly awesome. But if we’re classifying no holds barred matches as hardcore matches, then the greatest hardcore match of all time has to be Steve Austin vs. The Rock at WrestleMania X-7.

Corrigan: Raven vs. Big Show vs. Kane at WrestleMania X-7. I wore the VCR out re-watching Raven get tossed through that window.

Gibb: I mean, how are we even defining a hardcore match, here? If you mean WWF Hardcore Title match, I don’t think I have one. If you mean a violent gimmick match, Piper and Valentine at Starrcade. If you mean a match that primarily relies on props and big bumps involving those props for its storytelling, then the Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000.

Bautista: Bea Priestley vs. Nixon Newell from WCPW Refuse To Lose 2016. It was a great, fascinating match.

Jackson: The greatest hardcore match I saw was at WWF InVasion in 2001 between RVD and Jeff Hardy. Crazy high spots, dangerous weapon moves and awesome psychology. Definitely worth a watch.

Gelfand: RVD vs. Jeff Hardy at Invasion 2001 is incredible. This is the match I believe where JR’s famous “How do you learn to fall off a 20 foot ladder” call originates from. Also, check out this match for the sick German suplex that Hardy hits on Van Dam and the vicious Van Terminator that knocks Jeff Hardy into a pit in the stage.

Goodwillie: There are a lot of semantics between “Extreme Rules,” “Street Fight” and “Hardcore,” plus I Quit matches have a different means to the end with the same journey, but it’s all pretty much the same to me (video games defined hardcore as being able to pin the opponent outside the ring). I’ll say this: I don’t think my top five favorite hardcore matches have the Hardcore Championship involved in them. Abyss is probably responsible for four or five out of my top 20. Edge and Mick Foley has a special place in my heart for that finishing spot, one of my favorite and most appreciated wrestling finishes of all time. Then there’s Kurt Angle and Shane McMahon, and even unsanctioned fights like Triple H-HBK and Ciampa-Gargano.

Personally? I loved the JBL-John Cena I Quit match. It seems like any time JBL gets involved in a weapons match, his opponent is doomed to pop a blood vessel. I just remember Cena being covered in blood from his crimson mask down to his chest. In my younger years, it really sold to me the idea that these guys, polar opposites as characters, had a real disdain for one another. That’s really the name of the game.

Who was the greatest Hardcore Champion?

Gibbon: Crash Holly. Love it or hate it, the 24/7 rule would have meant nothing without Crash Holly as one of the top stars of the hardcore division. The crazy shenanigans he pulled to remain champion over what seemed like months was nothing short of spectacular.

Corrigan: Raven. He has the most reigns (27), the most memorable hardcore matches and I loved seeing what kind of goofy shit he’d stuff in his shopping cart.

Gibb: Crash Holly, because it’s the name I remember first.

Bautista: Since no reign surpassed 100 days and there were over 200 champions, I’ll have to say Big Boss Man or Davey Boy Smith, based off merit.

Jackson: It’s difficult to answer who was the greatest Hardcore Champion as a lot of the reigns were so short, they weren’t that great. But the most memorable was definitely Crash Holly. The belt elevated him hugely, and he really carried the title like a true champion. The Hardcore Championship became synonymous with him and due to it, he really became the face of the division.

Gelfand: Crash Holly will always be my favorite Hardcore Champion. When you think of the Hardcore Championship or the 24/7 rule, you think of Crash Holly.

Goodwillie: It’s the originator, Mick Foley! The Hardcore Legend, and no, I’m not talking about Sasha Grey. Foley was the first “champion,” really before the belt even meant anything, and is someone who I think is synonymous with the championship’s unique look and feel.