Some WWE title matches are legendary, but others are remembered for all the wrong reasons. These are the championship bouts that bent the rules, shattered expectations, and left fans questioning the integrity of the fight.
Championship gold is supposed to be earned through skill, determination, and grit. However, wrestling history has shown us that sometimes, underhanded tactics, interference, or outright manipulation can steal the spotlight. WWE thrives on drama and unpredictability, but when a title match is so unfair that it feels unjust, it becomes part of wrestling folklore for years to come. Whether it’s a blatant screwjob, outside interference, or lopsided odds, these matches are burned into the memories of WWE fans worldwide. Let’s take a closer look at four of the most unfair WWE title matches that left audiences outraged and debating for years.
1. Montreal Screwjob — Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (Survivor Series 1997)
Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart (Image via Getty)No list of unfair WWE title matches would be complete without mentioning the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Bret Hart, then WWE Champion, was set to defend his title against Shawn Michaels. Hart was planning to leave WWE for WCW but didn’t want to lose the title in his home country of Canada. Despite an agreed finish, Vince McMahon and officials secretly changed the plan. As Michaels locked Hart in the Sharpshooter, the referee called for the bell, awarding Michaels the WWE Championship — even though Hart never tapped out. The betrayal was blatant, making this one of the most controversial title changes in WWE history and altering the relationship between fans and WWE leadership forever.
2. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton — Night of Champions 2013
Daniel Bryan had spent months defying the odds, battling corporate favoritism to earn his WWE Championship shot. At Night of Champions 2013, Bryan defeated Randy Orton to win the title, sending fans into a frenzy. However, just one night later, Triple H and The Authority stripped Bryan of the championship, claiming a “fast count” by referee Scott Armstrong. The title win was nullified, and Bryan’s reign was erased as if it never happened. This was a crushing moment for Bryan and his fans, highlighting WWE’s “Authority vs. underdog” storyline. Many saw this as an unjust move by WWE’s top brass, designed to keep Bryan away from the spotlight — even though fan support for him was at an all-time high.
3. The Miz vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler — Elimination Chamber 2011
The Miz vs. Jerry The King Lawler (Image via Getty)Jerry “The King” Lawler had a rare WWE Championship opportunity against The Miz at Elimination Chamber 2011. At age 61, Lawler was the sentimental favorite, with fans rooting for the veteran to achieve his first WWE title win. However, unfair odds were stacked against him from the start. Alex Riley, Miz’s associate, constantly interfered during the match. Despite Lawler’s best efforts, the outside distractions and Miz’s underhanded tactics proved too much. Miz retained the title, but many fans felt cheated of a magical moment that could have made history. This match is remembered not only for its emotional weight but also for how an unfair contest robbed a legend of his last real title shot.
4. Seth Rollins vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt — Hell in a Cell 2019
The Hell in a Cell match between Seth Rollins and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt for the Universal Championship was expected to be a brutal, no-holds-barred encounter. Fans anticipated a decisive winner inside the steel structure. Instead, they got a finish that left everyone confused and frustrated. Despite Hell in a Cell being a “no disqualification” match, the referee stopped the fight after Rollins used a sledgehammer on Wyatt, ruling it too violent to continue. This bizarre decision handed Rollins a controversial win and robbed Wyatt of the title. Fans booed loudly, feeling that the result made a mockery of the match’s “no rules” stipulation. To this day, it stands as one of WWE’s most criticized and unfair title matches.
From backroom betrayals to blatant interference and nonsensical rulings, these unfair WWE title matches prove that sometimes, controversy reigns as much as champions do.