Why WWE's Successor To The Hardcore Title Failed
Sophia Edwards Highlights
- The 24/7 Championship in WWE was meant as a comedic gimmick belt and was not taken seriously by fans.
- The title's design was unpopular, and segments featuring the title were not consistently amusing.
- The 24/7 Title failed to recapture the excitement and unpredictability of the previous Hardcore Championship and was ultimately retired.
In professional wrestling, there is no greater prize to win than a championship. They are what has motivated virtually every person who has stepped into the squared circle. Some of the most legendary feuds of all time have revolved around them. However, there have also been those championships that were held to the same level of prestige. Enter the WWE 24/7 Championship. A successor to the far more popular and memorable Hardcore Championship, the 24/7 Title was active from May 20, 2019, to November 7, 2022. From the get go, it was something that was doomed to fail for a variety of different reasons.
The History Of The 24/7 Championship In WWE
Title Held By Wrestlers, Legends, And Celebrities
The 24/7 Championship was introduced by Mick Foley, who was admittedly the best person for the job. Foley was the inaugural Hardcore Championship, which later adopted the concept of being defended 24/7 in its lineage. Foley left the title in the ring, allowing whoever retrieved it to become the inaugural champion. That person ended up being Titus O’Neil, but as per the gimmick of the title, it did not last very long. Bobby Roode ended up being the one to pin O’Neil and win the title. Later that night, R-Truth ended up pinning Roode to win the title.
In its three-year history, R-Truth became the most recognizable person to hold the title with 54 reigns to his name. Other wrestlers to hold the title included Drake Maverick, Carmella, Elias, Akira Tozawa, and more. Legends won it. Musicians such as Bad Bunny and Marshmello won it. Even Santa Claus became the 24/7 Champion. The title was ultimately meant as a comedic gimmick belt that was most prominently featured in the lower card and given to wrestlers who were not involved in more important storylines. The final time the title was seen was on the November 7, 2022, episode of RAW when Nikki Cross threw out the title in the trash.
When it was all said and done, there were 202 recognized reigns with the 24/7 Championship by WWE.
Most 24/7 Championship Reigns | R-Truth (54 Reigns) |
Inaugural Champion | Titus O'Neil |
Final Champion | Nikki Cross |
The 24/7 Title Was Doomed To Fail In WWE
Never Taken As Seriously As The Hardcore Title
However, the title was never something that was truly embraced by fans. Firstly, the title’s design was one of the worst in recent history. Mick Foley himself even acknowledged how fans were not pleased with it. He said on Busted Open Radio (h/t EWrestling):
“The title design was the least of the issues. Look…no matter what you pull out…I was there with Stephanie ringside when we unveiled the Universal Title. So no matter what you pull out of there, unless it was that old hardcore title is gonna be met with some disinterest. It’s still kind of frustrating, not just frustrating but kind of terrifying when you realize they’re not buying what you’re selling.”
Another issue was that the segments featuring the title, apart from some of the ones that featured R-Truth, were not all that amusing. Many of the competitors who could be seen chasing it, such as Cedric Alexander, Eric Young, Drew Gulak, Shelton Benjamin, and more, felt like their talents were being wasted in pursuit of that title. The Hardcore Championship was featured in major storylines. It was presented as a championship that competitors on the roster wanted to win. It was featured in numerous WrestleMania matches and competed for by top names like The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Raven, Rob Van Dam, and many more. When top names wanted a championship, it meant something and added to it. However, the 24/7 Title felt like a downgrade for wrestlers.
Not long after its introduction, the 24/7 Championship’s segments were getting stale. None of this is to say that comedy does not have a place in professional wrestling. Many gimmicks in recent history that incorporate it, such as Danhausen in AEW, have shown that there certainly is a place for it in business. However, the 24/7 Championship was not one of these ideas. It was quickly an afterthought, with many not really caring about it nor did it help wrestlers.
The WWE Hardcore Title Was Actually A Brilliant Concept
Though not without its weird moments, WWE's Hardcore Championship helped push some quality talents and was brilliant in hindsight.WWE Tried To Appeal To Hardcore Championship Nostalgia
Some WWE Championships Are Best Left In The Past
WWE has oftentimes tried to tap into the past as a means to rekindle the feelings of nostalgia from fans. Sometimes it works, like the reintroduction of WarGames. However, other times it does not work as intended.
The Hardcore Championship worked for the era of WWE that it was in. The 24/7 Championship never came close to recapturing the excitement and unpredictability that was present with the Hardcore Title. It was the best choice for WWE to retire it when it did, as it really did not have a place anymore within the contemporary landscape of the company.
