|
Alright, I just looked up Wikipedia (which is not the best source, I know), but that argues that in 2001 the WWE argued that the Hardcore Championship could be substituted for the European Championship in the Grand Slam. I never read that. Does anyone know if it is true?
The WWE Tag Team Championship is also a legitimate substitute for the World Tag Team Championship, but the US Title does not count towards a Grand Slam, nor does the ECW Championship. If I were to make up a reason for this, could it be because their histories extend back to other promotions?
Wikipedia lists the WWE Grand Slam Champions as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Jeff Hardy and John Bradshaw Layfield. Kane, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero and Booker T are questionable, as they have all held substitute components of the Grand Slam. Especially Booker T, who held neither the European Championship or WWE Championship, but the Hardcore and World Heavyweight Titles.
This same source indicates that the following wrestlers can win the Grand Slam with one title victory: Big Show (needs to win IC Title), Christian (needs to win WWE World Title), Goldust (needs to win WWE World Title), The Undertaker (needs to win IC Title), William Regal (needs to win WWE World Title).
The "true" Grand Slam Champions, by the original distinction, are Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy and John Bradshaw Layfield. Oddly enough, all of those wrestlers save for Jeff Hardy can be symbolised by three characters: HBK, HHH, Y2J, RVD and JBL.
|