WWE Hardcore Championship
Encyclopedia
The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling
championship in World Wrestling Entertainment
(formerly the World Wrestling Federation) and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere. In the latter part of the title's history another rule is implemented which allows for anyone to challenge the champion at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, provided there is a referee present (dubbed the "24/7" rule).
first awarded Mankind
(Mick Foley) the belt, originally known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Hardcore Championship, on November 2, 1998. After losing the title to The Big Boss Man
, he never attempted to recapture it, mainly because of the main event push
he received shortly after he lost the belt. At the time of the belt's conception, the idea was that the belt was to have been used in comedy segments to try to push Mankind's reputation as a famous hardcore wrestler, but as Foley was getting over with the crowd as well as the rising popularity of hardcore wrestling
at the time, the Hardcore Championship seemed to gain a life of its own. Its growing popularity led competitor World Championship Wrestling
to create their own Hardcore Championship
, a move followed by numerous independent
promotions.
won the belt, he introduced the "24/7 rule" which meant the belt was to be defended "at all times...as long as there was a referee present." This allowed for many comic relief
moments, including the belt once changing hands while the champion was asleep, and a segment on an episode of SmackDown! where The Headbangers
chased Crash Holly around Funtime USA and an amusement park in Brooklyn, New York
with Crash escaping repeated attempts to take the title from him before escaping from the ball pit and running from the building. There was also a moment at WrestleMania X8
when the title was involved in a strange twist of events. The champion going into the event, Maven
defended against Goldust. After they knocked each other out with trash can lids, Spike Dudley
entered and pinned Maven to win the title. Then, in the backstage area, The Hurricane
defeated Spike to win the title. Mighty Molly
(The Hurricane's Sidekick) told The Hurricane to go to the "Hurri-cycle" before knocking him out when his back was turned with a frying pan and pinning The Hurricane to become champion (and the second female to do so). While looking for a safe place, Christian
won the title by slamming a door into Molly's head. Christian, who was about to leave the building in a taxi, was attacked by former champion Maven to regain the title. Maven then escaped in the taxi and celebrated as Christian was left all alone in the parking lot, whining and cursing bitterly.
Another event was when Trish Stratus
fought Jazz (managed by then-Hardcore Champion Stevie Richards
) for the Women's Championship which Trish lost due to Steven Richards interference. After the match, Bubba Ray Dudley attacked Steven Richards from behind and pinned him making Bubba Ray the new hardcore champion. Raven
appeared and attacked Bubba to gain the championship but soon lost it to Justin Credible. Justin was then pinned by Crash Holly, making the latter the new champion. Bubba then hit Crash Holly with a trash can, however Stratus stole the win by pinning the unconscious Crash Holly thus making her the third woman to win the championship. Bubba then tried to attack Trish from behind but failed as Jazz sprayed him with a fire extinguisher. Steven Richards then stole the win after Bubba delivered an accidental power bomb to Trish through a wooden table, making him champion again.
The addition of this rule is said to have made the division both more interesting and unpredictable, adding a vast array of holders and matches. Still, others believed this rule cheapened and devalued the championship for the same reasons. This rule has led to the shortest title reigns and quickest title changes in WWE history. During this time, four women have held the Hardcore Championship: Molly Holly
, Trish Stratus
, Terri Runnels
, and Bobcat
. Also during this time, the championship would change hands at house show
s in an attempt to allow the fans in attendance to see something big. In the end, the title would always return to its original holder.
Of all the hardcore champions, Steve Blackman
is known to be the most aware of the 24/7 rule, defending the belt the longest. With Blackman as champion, however, surprise attacks no longer resulted in title changes: within the matches, Blackman was so dangerous in hand-to-hand combat that surprise attacks were not effective enough to defeat him. During his stint as Hardcore Champion, Blackman's full martial arts talent was utilized. The first time he lost the title for a significant amount of time was against Shane McMahon, largely due to interference from Test, Albert, Edge, and Christian, with Mick Foley suspending the 24/7 rule to make sure McMahon didn't try to get out of facing Blackman in a rematch. At SummerSlam, Blackman fought McMahon for the title. During that match, they both climbed the TitanTron with Blackman able to knock Shane off with a Singapore cane, then performed a diving elbow drop for the pin fall . Blackman would go on to defend the title on several occasions, but he would ultimately lose the title on a more permanent basis to Raven in late 2000.
Between the Invasion storyline and pre-Wrestlemania 18, the "24/7" rule has been nearly absent from the scene. The only time where it has been applied was during a match on RAW (September 10, 2001); Kurt Angle Vs. Rob Van Dam. Kurt Angle won the match with an Ankle Lock, only to have Austin throw Angle off the ramp, as well as throw RVD off the ramp too, causing RVD to pin Angle nearly unconscious and regain the Hardcore Championship Belt. During this time, it was either assumed that the it would be nearly impossible to implement the 24/7 rule during this time or assumed that neither team (WWF or Alliance) want to risk losing their belts to prove brand dominance. After the Invasion storyline was finished, the Undertaker wins the Hardcore Championship against RVD. Due to his new persona gimmick (which made him heel
), the Undertaker went against numerous opponents (usually smaller than him) and severely cripples them after the match, with the exception of the Big Show
who Undertaker beat but left after the match. As a result excessive brutality, it would be assumed that (kayfabe) none of the WWE superstars in the hardcore division want to utilize the 24/7 rule against the Undertaker due to life-threatening fear. After Maven wins the belt against the Undertaker after The Rock interfered in the match against Maven on Smackdown (February 5, 2002), the 24/7 rule resumes.
The 24/7 rule was enforced until August 19, 2002 when Raw
General Manager Eric Bischoff
decided to suspend it following a six minute Hardcore Battle Royal
won by Tommy Dreamer
. Prior to this a 24 hour suspension on the rule was in place for Rob Van Dam
and Jeff Hardy
's match at WWF Invasion
. Commissioner Mick Foley also suspended the rule while Shane McMahon
held the belt to ensure he was still the champion at SummerSlam 2000 to defend against Steve Blackman, whom he cheated out of the belt.
In 2006, Mick Foley proclaimed Edge
the Hardcore Champion, before Edge proclaimed them both co-Hardcore Champion. However, this angle was never entertained further.
Rob Van Dam defeated Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer to unify the titles. This was one month after Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy in a ladder match to unify the WWE Intercontinental title and the European Championship
.
On the June 23, 2003 episode of Raw
, Mick Foley (who was the first champion as "Mankind") was awarded the WWE Hardcore Championship belt by the Raw brand
—a storyline division
in which WWE employees are assigned to a television program of the same name—authority figure Stone Cold Steve Austin
for his contributions in hardcore wrestling. Edge
and Foley then introduced themselves as co-holders of the championship in 2006, due to a storyline with alumni of the hardcore wrestling-based Extreme Championship Wrestling
promotion.
When Bradshaw
won the title in June 2002, he briefly renamed it the Texas Hardcore Championship, and brought a custom belt to the ring with a Texas flag and oversized bull horns. The original design was resumed later in June when Raven
reclaimed the championship. Tommy Dreamer would use a variation of the belt with a New York license plate where the center plate should be.
Mick Foley announced himself and Edge as the new co-holders of the title (after the belt's official retirement), however this announcement is not recognized by WWE as an official WWE Hardcore Championship reign.
to COO Triple H
and subsequently to Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis
, and the return of the first Hardcore Champion, Mick Foley
.
After Foley made his return to the WWE, the company's website posted an updated article calling for the championship to be brought back, which included a direct plea for Foley to be the one to do so. However, no matches or means of declaring a champion have been issued and the title is still listed as retired on WWE.com.
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
championship in World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(formerly the World Wrestling Federation) and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere. In the latter part of the title's history another rule is implemented which allows for anyone to challenge the champion at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, provided there is a referee present (dubbed the "24/7" rule).
History
Vince McMahonVince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
first awarded Mankind
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
(Mick Foley) the belt, originally known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Hardcore Championship, on November 2, 1998. After losing the title to The Big Boss Man
Ray Traylor
Ray Walter Traylor, Jr. was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Big Boss Man and World Championship Wrestling under various ring names, most notably Big Bubba Rogers.-Early years:Traylor, a prison guard in...
, he never attempted to recapture it, mainly because of the main event push
Push (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a push is an attempt by the booker to make the wrestler win more matches and become more popular or more reviled with the fans depending on whether they are a heel or a face...
he received shortly after he lost the belt. At the time of the belt's conception, the idea was that the belt was to have been used in comedy segments to try to push Mankind's reputation as a famous hardcore wrestler, but as Foley was getting over with the crowd as well as the rising popularity of hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
at the time, the Hardcore Championship seemed to gain a life of its own. Its growing popularity led competitor World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
to create their own Hardcore Championship
WCW Hardcore Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Hardcore Championship was a title in World Championship Wrestling. The title was defended in Hardcore matches, in which there were few rules and restrictions and weapons were allowed. Eventually, the rules were changed so that matches began in the backstage area...
, a move followed by numerous independent
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
promotions.
24/7 Rules
When Crash HollyMike Lockwood
Michael John "Mike" Lockwood was an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment under the ring name Crash Holly....
won the belt, he introduced the "24/7 rule" which meant the belt was to be defended "at all times...as long as there was a referee present." This allowed for many comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
moments, including the belt once changing hands while the champion was asleep, and a segment on an episode of SmackDown! where The Headbangers
The Headbangers
The Headbangers is a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Mosh and Thrasher, best known for their work in the World Wrestling Federation...
chased Crash Holly around Funtime USA and an amusement park in Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
with Crash escaping repeated attempts to take the title from him before escaping from the ball pit and running from the building. There was also a moment at WrestleMania X8
WrestleMania X8
WrestleMania X8 was the eighteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on March 17, 2002 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario. The event marked the final WrestleMania event under the WWF name...
when the title was involved in a strange twist of events. The champion going into the event, Maven
Maven Huffman
Maven Klint Huffman is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between October 2001 and July 5, 2005 under the name Maven. In 2008 he became a guest expert on the Home Shopping Network.-Early life:Maven was born to an African-American...
defended against Goldust. After they knocked each other out with trash can lids, Spike Dudley
Matt Hyson
Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...
entered and pinned Maven to win the title. Then, in the backstage area, The Hurricane
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
defeated Spike to win the title. Mighty Molly
Nora Greenwald
Nora Kristina Greenwald , better known by her ring name Molly Holly, is an inactive American professional wrestler. Greenwald is best known for her appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment .Greenwald began her professional wrestling career in WCW, where she...
(The Hurricane's Sidekick) told The Hurricane to go to the "Hurri-cycle" before knocking him out when his back was turned with a frying pan and pinning The Hurricane to become champion (and the second female to do so). While looking for a safe place, Christian
Jason Reso
William Jason Reso is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring names Christian and Christian Cage...
won the title by slamming a door into Molly's head. Christian, who was about to leave the building in a taxi, was attacked by former champion Maven to regain the title. Maven then escaped in the taxi and celebrated as Christian was left all alone in the parking lot, whining and cursing bitterly.
Another event was when Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus
Patricia Anne Stratigias , better known by her ring name Trish Stratus, is a Canadian professional wrestler, actress and television personality currently signed with WWE. She is also a former fitness model....
fought Jazz (managed by then-Hardcore Champion Stevie Richards
Stevie Richards
Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr...
) for the Women's Championship which Trish lost due to Steven Richards interference. After the match, Bubba Ray Dudley attacked Steven Richards from behind and pinned him making Bubba Ray the new hardcore champion. Raven
Scott Levy
Scott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
appeared and attacked Bubba to gain the championship but soon lost it to Justin Credible. Justin was then pinned by Crash Holly, making the latter the new champion. Bubba then hit Crash Holly with a trash can, however Stratus stole the win by pinning the unconscious Crash Holly thus making her the third woman to win the championship. Bubba then tried to attack Trish from behind but failed as Jazz sprayed him with a fire extinguisher. Steven Richards then stole the win after Bubba delivered an accidental power bomb to Trish through a wooden table, making him champion again.
The addition of this rule is said to have made the division both more interesting and unpredictable, adding a vast array of holders and matches. Still, others believed this rule cheapened and devalued the championship for the same reasons. This rule has led to the shortest title reigns and quickest title changes in WWE history. During this time, four women have held the Hardcore Championship: Molly Holly
Nora Greenwald
Nora Kristina Greenwald , better known by her ring name Molly Holly, is an inactive American professional wrestler. Greenwald is best known for her appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment .Greenwald began her professional wrestling career in WCW, where she...
, Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus
Patricia Anne Stratigias , better known by her ring name Trish Stratus, is a Canadian professional wrestler, actress and television personality currently signed with WWE. She is also a former fitness model....
, Terri Runnels
Terri Runnels
Terri Lynne Boatright Runnels is a former World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation professional wrestling manager, television host and occasional wrestler....
, and Bobcat
Cynthia Lynch
Cynthia Lynch is an American professional wrestler. She is perhaps best known for her time in the World Wrestling Federation as one of the The Godfather's many "hos"...
. Also during this time, the championship would change hands at house show
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
s in an attempt to allow the fans in attendance to see something big. In the end, the title would always return to its original holder.
Of all the hardcore champions, Steve Blackman
Steve Blackman
Steve Blackman is a American professional wrestler who is best known for his career in the World Wrestling Federation under his own name.-Stampede Wrestling and South Africa :...
is known to be the most aware of the 24/7 rule, defending the belt the longest. With Blackman as champion, however, surprise attacks no longer resulted in title changes: within the matches, Blackman was so dangerous in hand-to-hand combat that surprise attacks were not effective enough to defeat him. During his stint as Hardcore Champion, Blackman's full martial arts talent was utilized. The first time he lost the title for a significant amount of time was against Shane McMahon, largely due to interference from Test, Albert, Edge, and Christian, with Mick Foley suspending the 24/7 rule to make sure McMahon didn't try to get out of facing Blackman in a rematch. At SummerSlam, Blackman fought McMahon for the title. During that match, they both climbed the TitanTron with Blackman able to knock Shane off with a Singapore cane, then performed a diving elbow drop for the pin fall . Blackman would go on to defend the title on several occasions, but he would ultimately lose the title on a more permanent basis to Raven in late 2000.
Between the Invasion storyline and pre-Wrestlemania 18, the "24/7" rule has been nearly absent from the scene. The only time where it has been applied was during a match on RAW (September 10, 2001); Kurt Angle Vs. Rob Van Dam. Kurt Angle won the match with an Ankle Lock, only to have Austin throw Angle off the ramp, as well as throw RVD off the ramp too, causing RVD to pin Angle nearly unconscious and regain the Hardcore Championship Belt. During this time, it was either assumed that the it would be nearly impossible to implement the 24/7 rule during this time or assumed that neither team (WWF or Alliance) want to risk losing their belts to prove brand dominance. After the Invasion storyline was finished, the Undertaker wins the Hardcore Championship against RVD. Due to his new persona gimmick (which made him heel
Heel
In human anatomy, the heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.- Human anatomy :...
), the Undertaker went against numerous opponents (usually smaller than him) and severely cripples them after the match, with the exception of the Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
who Undertaker beat but left after the match. As a result excessive brutality, it would be assumed that (kayfabe) none of the WWE superstars in the hardcore division want to utilize the 24/7 rule against the Undertaker due to life-threatening fear. After Maven wins the belt against the Undertaker after The Rock interfered in the match against Maven on Smackdown (February 5, 2002), the 24/7 rule resumes.
The 24/7 rule was enforced until August 19, 2002 when Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
General Manager Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, and professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
decided to suspend it following a six minute Hardcore Battle Royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
won by Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
. Prior to this a 24 hour suspension on the rule was in place for Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy
Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is a former two–time TNA World Heavyweight Champion...
's match at WWF Invasion
WWF InVasion
Invasion was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on July 22, 2001 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio...
. Commissioner Mick Foley also suspended the rule while Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
held the belt to ensure he was still the champion at SummerSlam 2000 to defend against Steve Blackman, whom he cheated out of the belt.
In 2006, Mick Foley proclaimed Edge
Adam Copeland
Adam Joseph Copeland is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract....
the Hardcore Champion, before Edge proclaimed them both co-Hardcore Champion. However, this angle was never entertained further.
Unification and retirement
The title was retired on August 26, 2002 when WWE Intercontinental ChampionWWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
Rob Van Dam defeated Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer to unify the titles. This was one month after Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy in a ladder match to unify the WWE Intercontinental title and the European Championship
WWE European Championship
The WWE European Championship was a professional wrestling championship competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment. A coveted singles title of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was held by superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and was...
.
On the June 23, 2003 episode of Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, Mick Foley (who was the first champion as "Mankind") was awarded the WWE Hardcore Championship belt by the Raw brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
—a storyline division
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
in which WWE employees are assigned to a television program of the same name—authority figure Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
for his contributions in hardcore wrestling. Edge
Adam Copeland
Adam Joseph Copeland is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract....
and Foley then introduced themselves as co-holders of the championship in 2006, due to a storyline with alumni of the hardcore wrestling-based Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
promotion.
Origin of the belt
The WWE Hardcore Championship belt itself is a replica of the "Winged Eagle" WWF Championship title that was smashed in several places and reassembled with two long pieces of duct tape with the words "Hardcore" and "Champion" written in marker. A long-standing rumor stated that this belt was the same one that was stolen by Mr. Perfect from Hulk Hogan on a 1989 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event and destroyed with a hammer at the end of the episode. However, this has been proved to be false, since the destroyed belt was kept by then WWF referee/booker Mel Phillips. A new belt (replica) was purposely destroyed to create the Hardcore Championship.When Bradshaw
John Layfield
John Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
won the title in June 2002, he briefly renamed it the Texas Hardcore Championship, and brought a custom belt to the ring with a Texas flag and oversized bull horns. The original design was resumed later in June when Raven
Scott Levy
Scott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
reclaimed the championship. Tommy Dreamer would use a variation of the belt with a New York license plate where the center plate should be.
Mick Foley announced himself and Edge as the new co-holders of the title (after the belt's official retirement), however this announcement is not recognized by WWE as an official WWE Hardcore Championship reign.
Possible Reinstatement (2011)
On October 27, 2011, WWE.com posted an article advocating for the reinstatement of the championship. Among other reasons, the article referenced the title's unpredictable and unique set of rules and high number of title changes, with the possibility of multiple changes in the same night, as support for bringing the title back into contention. Also mentioned was the "unsafe working conditions" that were facing the roster at the time, possibly referring to WWE's shift in programming away from their "family-friendly" style, the change in on-screen control from Vince McMahonVince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
to COO Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
and subsequently to Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis
John Laurinaitis
John Joseph Laurinaitis is the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations for WWE and appears on WWE's Raw Brand as interim General Manager. He was previously a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Ace, and wrestled for such promotions as the National Wrestling Alliance and All...
, and the return of the first Hardcore Champion, Mick Foley
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
.
After Foley made his return to the WWE, the company's website posted an updated article calling for the championship to be brought back, which included a direct plea for Foley to be the one to do so. However, no matches or means of declaring a champion have been issued and the title is still listed as retired on WWE.com.