WWE’s New Generation was very different from the ones that had come before it. The biggest names of the Golden Era had moved on to other pastures, leaving WWE to build its company on the backs of younger stars. Men like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, and Diesel became the faces of World Wrestling Entertainment, leading the New Generation.
As much as things changed, many things stayed the same. During the New Generation, there were still championships to be won, and some of the best won those titles. The New Generation was short but was still abundant with the greatest champions to step foot between the ropes. They were the men and women who led the WWE into a new age and became the greatest champions of the New Generation.
Bret Hart
The Hitman was the focal point of WWE’s New Generation. He was the man that the fans had supported, and he was the one who legitimized a lot of the in-ring action. When the big names left for other organizations, Hart was tagged as the future WWE Champion, and he epitomized what it meant to be a champion.
Bret Hart was all over the WWE Championship during the New Generation. He captured the strap 4 times, becoming the most fighting champion in company history. Bret Hart took on all comers, having fantastic matches with everyone who stood across from him. Bret Hart was the man who defined what it was to be a WWE Champion during the New Generation.
Razor Ramon
Every Era needs a wrestler who is the one in charge of the mid-card. A wrestler who is the gatekeeper to the main event, and carries themselves with the dignity required of being an Intercontinental Champion. Every Era has this man, and the New Generation’s version was the man from Miami, Razor Ramon.
The Bad Guy’s hold over the Intercontinental Champion has reached legendary status. During the New Generation, he captured the championship a then-record 4 times, holding it for over 480 days. The Intercontinental scene ran through Razor Ramon when he was a part of WWE. It was impressive how he could make the championship mean as much as the big title, having show-stealing matches with the likes of Shawn Michaels and Diesel.
Shawn Michaels
Very few men were able to boast the success that Shawn Michaels did over the course of the New Generation. Not only did he discover new popularity amongst the WWE Universe, but he also became a belt collector.
Shawn Michaels is one of only two men who were able to capture all three levels of WWE Championships throughout the New Generation Era. He captured tag team gold with partner Diesel and enjoyed successful reigns with both the WWE and Intercontinental Championships.
During this time, Michaels had great matches with Razor Ramon, Diesel, and Bret Hart for the WWE and Intercontinental Championships. It was insane how often Michaels was walking out of Gorilla Position with a title strapped securely around his waist.
Yokozuna
A championship scene is not complete without a monster heel for the babyfaces to chase after. Yokozuna was the man who filled that void with his 500lb frame and became one of the greatest WWE Champions to step foot inside World Wrestling Entertainment.
Yokozuna’s first WWE Championship reign was not the thing of legend, but his second came with a length that rivals only the greatest of title holders. For close to a year, the Sumo Grand Champion was an unstoppable force. The list of men he cut through reads like a who’s who of WWE Hall of Famers. There was no other heel that held the WWE Championship with such fear and dominance as Yokozuna. He was the heel champion of the 1990’s.
