However, the popularity of hardcore wrestling in the United States at that point in time, due mainly to the influence of the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion led by Paul Heyman, influenced the WWF to follow suit and make hardcore wrestling a focal part of the promotion.

WWF owner, Vince McMahon shrewdly capitalised on the craze and the Hardcore Title soon became an important addition to the company’s title ranks, until it was discontinued in summer 2002 when the popularity of the extreme style of wrestling had declined.

A look at the six very best Hardcore Champions during the belt’s heyday:

#6 Big Boss Man

The Big Boss Man became the second ever Hardcore Champion in the title’s history when he defeated Mankind in a Ladder Match on the November 30, 1998 episode of Raw.

Boss Man reigned as Champion for a fortnight before dropping the title to New Age Outlaw, Road Dogg.

The former prison guard would not regain the belt until July 1999’s Fully Loaded pay per view wherein he memorably defeated Al Snow after handcuffing him to a fence outside the arena, on the streets of Buffalo, New York.

Boss Man would trade the belt with Snow in a long series of matches, which included an infamous “Kennel from Hell” match at Unforgiven 1999, which was a calamity of an attraction which took place after the sadistic Boss Man had killed Snow’s dog, Pepper and proceeded to unknowingly feed the poor animal to its owner.

That match that took place inside the Hell in a Cell structure and saw the dogs fail to obey their handler’s instructions, therefore ensuring the bout was bereft of suspense.

Boss Man won his fourth (and final) Hardcore Championship from Snow on the October 12 episode of Smackdown.

This reign remains the longest in the title’s history at 97 days. Boss Man’s run as Champion was finally ended by Test on the January 17, 2000 episode of Raw.

Boss Man unquestionably was one of the most memorable title holders in the title’s four-year history.

#5 Steve Blackman

Steve Blackman may not be a renowned or well remembered former WWE superstar but he was synonymous with the Hardcore Championship during the year 2000.

Blackman made use of the 24/7 rule meaning the title could be defended at any time, anywhere, so long as a referee was present to count the pinfall, to defeat Crash Holly for his first Hardcore Championship win, during Crash’s title defence versus Al Snow.

Blackman reigned as Hardcore Champion six times in total and his most memorable feud came against Shane McMahon. Their rivalry culminated in an entertaining encounter at Summerslam 2000 when Blackman knocked McMahon off the Titantron in a scary looking spot which left the unconscious McMahon a sitting duck for Blackman to win the belt.

Blackman’s final two reigns came on non-televised house shows in early 2001 before he left the company the following year.

Blackman holds the record for longest combined days as champion across his six reigns at 172 days, meaning no list regarding the Hardcore Championship would be complete without his name on it.

#4 Raven

The ECW legend made the inevitable leap to the WWF’s Hardcore division upon entering the company in September 2000.

Raven defeated Steve Blackman to win his first Hardcore Championship on the December 22 episode of Raw.

The former ECW World Champion would memorably defend the title in famous bouts at Wrestlemania X-7 versus Kane and Big Show and Backlash 2001 versus Rhyno.

Although he would lose both encounters, Raven played a major role in the entertainment value of both matches.

Before the belt’s retirement, Raven racked up an unprecedented (and record) 27 reigns as Hardcore Champion. His final Championship run came just nine days before the belt’s retirement on August 26, 2002.

Raven - the very essence of hardcore.

#3 Crash Holly

The “Houdini of Hardcore” Crash Holly did more to popularise the Hardcore Championship than any other superstar in WWE history.

It was Crash who initiated and took full advantage of the 24/7 rule which was the source of many comedic moments as Crash was forced to defend the belt whilst he was getting massaged, out shopping or even at a child’s indoor playground.

Crash reigned as Hardcore Champion 22 times in total and will forever be remembered as one of the most entertaining Hardcore Champions of all time.

#2 Rob Van Dam

The former ECW World Television Champion, Rob Van Dam knew all about hardcore wrestling when he burst onto the scene in the WWF as part of the WCW/ECW invasion.

It made sense that RVD would target the Hardcore Championship and he won the title in a stunning match versus Jeff Hardy at the Invasion pay per view event.

RVD dropped the belt three weeks later before regaining it from Hardy in a Ladder Match at Summerslam 2001, several days later in an equally impressive bout.

RVD lost and regained the title within seconds when he was pinned by Kurt Angle before Stone Cold Steve Austin threw Angle off the stage and then threw RVD on top of the new champion, resulting in RVD pinning Angle to win his third Hardcore strap.

RVD reigned as Champion for 90 days before succumbing to The Undertaker in one of the “American Bad Ass’s” finest matches of 2001.

Following this title loss, RVD turned his attention to the Intercontinental Championship which he won three times before he unified the Hardcore Title with the IC strap on August 26, 2002 to become the final Hardcore Champion in the title’s history.

A different kind of Hardcore Champion to the other combatants on this list. RVD contested more stunning Hardcore Title matches than any other title holder in the strap’s history.

#1 The Undertaker

The Undertaker destroyed Rob Van Dam at Vengeance 2001 in December of that year to win his first (and only) Hardcore Championship

He reigned as Champion for two months, in which time he defeated all comers such as Raven, Big Show and Kane as a fighting Champion.

Despite the 24/7 rule being in operation, not one superstar challenged the “American Bad Ass” utilising it, such was his fearsome reputation.

Undertaker finally dropped the title to the debut winner of Tough Enough, Maven, who incidentally had also eliminated him from the 2002 Royal Rumble on February 5, 2002, when The Rock entered the ring Rock Bottoming the Champion leading to Maven’s successful pin.

Had it not been for The Rock’s interference, there is no telling how long Undertaker’s reign would have lasted. The most dominant Hardcore Champion in the title’s history may well have been the longest reigning title holder as well.

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