While Raw and Smackdown have had their off days in 2016, most pay-per-views this year have been solid. In some ways, this just goes to prove that the roster is stacked with phenomenal talent, but it is the writers, who haven’t been delivering the goods.
However, despite the wealth of talent in the current roster, there have been at least five pay-per-view main events this year, that have been sub par. In each one of them, we were promised competitive matches, but the eventual outcome was simply lacklustre. Here is our countdown of 5 pay-per-view main events that failed to live up to the hype.
#5 Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt (No Mercy 2016)
No Mercy had a pretty weird card, from top to bottom. Because of the U.S. Presidential debate, WWE had moved the explosive triple threat match for the WWE title (between AJ Styles, John Cena and Dean Ambrose), to the very start of the show! As one would expect, that match started the pay-per-view with style(s).
Soon after, there was a match-of-the-year candidate, ‘career vs. title’ contest between Dolph Ziggler and The Miz, that was almost impossible to follow; leaving Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt to close this fabulous show.
Their match, was alright, at best. It was slower than the rest of the matches on the card, and the crowd was already exhausted from the previous hard hitting encounters. As a consequence, nobody really got into the match, and it just ruined what had been a fabulous show until then.
Even the surprise return of Luke Harper did little to whet the appetite of fans. Somehow, the two men went from being enemies to friends and work far better as a tag team unit. Strange indeed!
#4 Royal Rumble Match (One versus all)
As a result of the dynamics that exist in a Royal Rumble match, it is hardly ever a boring affair. That said, this year’s Royal Rumble was simply underwhelming. Roman Reigns became the first WWE World Heavyweight Champion to defend his title in a Royal Rumble Match. This was after he had snapped at Survivor Series, taking on The Authority.
It could have been the ideal career jumpstart for a new talent from NXT or an opportunity to give someone from the mid card a renewed career push. Instead, the middle-aged man with the shovel would eliminate Dean Ambrose and become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion for the 14th time. We are talking about The King of Kings – Triple H, of course.
In addition to this, Roman Reigns would spend most of this match in the backstage area with a kayfabe injury. It didn’t help that the WWE Universe wanted the debuting AJ Styles to win this 30 man match, over other WWE talent.
#3 Roman Reigns vs. Triple H (Wrestlemania 32)
There is no way any two athletes can follow a contest between The Undertaker and Shane McMahon inside Hell in a Cell, which involved a death-defying jump, and, come out stronger. This was the curse of the main event spot that these two wrestlers were cast in.
Sure, their match was solid, and even received a positive review from the usually grumpy Bret Hart; but it was simply not good enough to close a seven-hour long show with the highest recorded audience in the United States for a professional wrestling event.
At this point, Roman Reigns was simply not over with the WWE Universe (sadly nothing has changed since); and it was quite obvious that he could emerge the victor. The lack of suspense was the death knell for this otherwise technically sound championship contest.
#2 Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar (Summerslam 2016)
At the conclusion of the Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton match at Summerslam 2016, the whole world was in shock. After what was advertised as a highly competitive affair, Randy Orton got almost no offence in... as he would be taken to Suplex City, and thereafter beaten to a pulp by The Beast Incarnate.
Orton was left a bloody mess in the middle of the ring, losing the match by TKO. Fans were offended by this match because Brock Lesnar, a part-timer and the second highest paid wrestler in WWE (after John Cena); was getting away with lazy spots. He was not putting in the requisite effort that a traditional WWE main event is known for.
Summerslam 2016 ended with more disappointed WWE fans than satisfied ones. It’s sad but true.
#1 Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks (Hell in a Cell 2016)
It is an undisputed fact that no two women in history have deserved to main event a pay per view, more than Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks. Unfortunately, it came in a bit too early for both. In a contest where we’ve seen the finest male athletes risk life and limb, their spots seemed confused and at times, quite sloppy.
Having Charlotte Flair defeat Sasha Banks in her hometown did not help matters at all. There was also a corny stretcher spot to start off the match, which just made the match look weak. Maybe, these two talented ladies can have a rematch someday and put on a better performance.
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