Taking a cue from ECW's tremendous popularity of the 1990s, WWE introduced the Hardcore Championship in late 1998, but just a few short years later, the title had devolved into something of a no holds barred punchline.
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Bob Holly became so enamored with the emerging ring style that he formally ditched “Bob” to become Hardcore Holly.
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Believe it or not, Gerald Brisco was a two-time Hardcore Champion, and faced off with Pat Patterson in a Hardcore Evening Gown Match for the title at King of the Ring 2000.
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Steve Blackman was one of the better Hardcore Champions and faced off with Shane McMahon in a memorable Hardcore Championship Match at SummerSlam 2000.
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Big Show won the Hardcore Championship on three occasions.
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Kane won the Hardcore Title only once, but it was a memorable victory at WrestleMania X-Seven.
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Rob Van Dam was a four-time Hardcore Champion as well as the title's last champ.
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ECW's Rob Van Dam took on WWE's Jeff Hardy for the Hardcore Championship at 2001's unique Invasion pay-per-view event.
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Pat Patterson battled Gerald Brisco for the Hardcore Championship in an Evening Gown Match at King of the Ring 2000.
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The Triple Threat Match for the Hardcore Championship at WrestleMania X-Seven was memorable for a number of reasons, including Kane's decision to use a golf cart backstage to travel to the action.
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Main event competitors including The Rock and Kurt Angle battled over the Hardcore Championship.
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Raven and Rhyno's match for the Hardcore Championship at Backlash 2001 used every conceivable object, including the kitchen sink!
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Even The Undertaker won the Hardcore Championship, defeating Rob Van Dam at Vengeance 2001. He held the title for nearly two months.
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The Godfather, one of WWE's most fun-loving competitors of the era, was never Hardcore Champion. But one of his female associates briefly was.
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Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli had two reigns as Hardcore Champion, as did Spike Dudley.
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Mankind, the Hardcore Championship's first-ever titleholder, was presented with the accolade by Mr. McMahon himself.
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One of Mick Foley's most notable title defenses was against Ken Shamrock.
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Crash Holly meant more to the Hardcore Title more than any other champion. He is responsible for starting the so-called "24/7 rule."
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Rhyno was the final World and Television Champion of the original incarnation of ECW, and a three-time Hardcore Champion in WWE.
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Tommy Dreamer fashioned a custom Hardcore Title using a New York state license plate.
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Raven held the Hardcore Championship on 26 occasions, an all-time record.
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The Big Boss Man held the Hardcore Championship for 154 total days, second only to Steve Blackman.
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Boss Man won his first Hardcore Title in a memorable Ladder Match against Mankind.
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In one of the Hardcore Title's most memorable moments, Maven defeated The Undertaker in a shocking upset.
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Maven was scheduled to take on Goldust for the Hardcore Championship at WrestleMania X8, but the title ended up changing hands several times throughout the evening.
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Al Snow was a mainstay of Hardcore Championship Matches during the early era of the title.
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Tag team specialist Bubba Ray Dudley was an eight-time Hardcore Champion.
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Mike Awesome was a member of both the ECW and WCW rosters and won the Hardcore Championship during the early portion of 2001's Invasion.
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After returning to WWE in 2003, Mick Foley was presented with the Hardcore Championship by Mr. McMahon.
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After their classic Hardcore Match at WrestleMania 22, Foley and Edge declared themselves co-holders of the Hardcore Championship. The title has not been seen since.