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WWE's pay-per-views are where rivalries escalate or culminate. While the current pay-per-view schedule is intact, there are some classic shows fans will never forget. Some of these shared classic moments during the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras; such as new faces, championship victories, and historic Hell in a Cell matches.
Here are five former Pay-Per-View events that should return to WWE.
#5 WWE No Mercy
Wrestling fans saw Kurt Angle win the WWE Championship for the very first time on this pay-per-view. When the show returned in 2016 and 2017, WWE proved that the event could still deliver. With stacked cards and match stipulations, everything was game.
In the last WWE No Mercy, Roman Reigns defeated John Cena while Brock Lesnar retained his Universal Championship against Braun Strowman. The retro pay-per-view was so significant that WWE named one of its legendary video games after the event.
For some historical facts about No Mercy, a match involving the WWE Championship was once an opening match back in 2016. The outcome was AJ Styles successfully defending his championship against Cena and Dean Ambrose in a triple threat match.
Brock Lesnar also has a unique statistic at No Mercy. Lesnar has a win-loss record of 3-0. For every No Mercy that Lesnar was part of, he would be involved in championship matches, whether the WWE or Universal Championship.
Lesnar retained the WWE Championship against The Undertaker twice in back-to-back No Mercy's from 2002-2003 in a Hell in a Cell and a Biker Chain Match. Lesnar also retained his Universal Championship against Strowman at No Mercy 2017.
If No Mercy were to return, it could take place in October. WWE could use the show before one of the most significant pay-per-views, the Survivor Series. The show could also feature new rivalry matches now that the draft is held in the latter half of the year.
#4 WWE No Way Out
WWE's No Way Out is an unforgettable pay-per-view. It was once known as the show in which the Road to WrestleMania reached its final stop. No Way Out used to be a show that featured unexpected title changes before WrestleMania.
Moments in which the WWE Championship changed hands before WrestleMania include The Rock winning the WWE title from Kurt Angle in 2001, and Eddie Guerrero defeating Brock Lesnar in 2004 to become champion. Eddie's triumphant title win was so famous that pro wrestling analysts critically acclaimed the match.
Sometimes, No Way Out was where the new number one contender entered the Royal Rumble winner's guaranteed title shot at WrestleMania. Although No Way Out was a famous event in the 2000s, it made a one-time return in 2012.
But, as time in WWE went on, No Way Out evolved to a different name known as Elimination Chamber, which ended up becoming pay-per-view. If the event were to make a comeback and happen a month before WrestleMania, the main matches don't necessarily need to occur inside the Elimination Chamber.
For instance, WWE can have the main matches happen inside Hell in a Cell or a Steel Cage. Instead of having a yearly Elimination Chamber Match, it can take place when least expected.
#3 WWE Armageddon
When WWE established Armageddon in 1999, the event would naturally become the closing pay-per-view of WWE's yearly schedule. Most storylines were continuations of the Survivor Series, where rivalries would conclude before moving on to the Royal Rumble.
Armageddon always hinted at the end of a rivalry due to the show's slogan, "The End is Here." The classic pay-per-view also has its share of memorable moments. One of the show's top matches was Hell in a Cell. Also, one of the biggest memories was back in 2008 when Jeff Hardy became WWE Champion for the very first time in his career.
Although TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs replaced Armageddon in 2009, WWE can reinstate the show. Armageddon can be a good way for WWE to reduce the risk of injuries for their wrestlers by making them compete in standard matches instead of ladder matches.
#2 WWE Unforgiven
Unforgiven is also on the list of WWE's retro pay-per-views. Almost every Unforgiven featured a World Title Match as the main event. The last Unforgiven was in 2008 when Chris Jericho became the World Heavyweight Champion. If WWE were to bring back Unforgiven, it doesn't necessarily need to be an event for the main roster.
Instead of having Unforgiven as part of their main roster's pay-per-view schedule, it can be a Pay-per-view for NXT. What WWE can do is have an event either titled NXT TakeOver: Unforgiven.
The timing of when Unforgiven should take place could be the fall season. Unforgiven could also be a show that replaces Clash of Champions since every title is defended at most WWE pay-per-views.
#1 WWE Judgment Day
If there is one WWE pay-per-view that can be considered underrated, it's Judgment Day.
Judgment Day used to take place in May, with half the rivalries that escalated at WrestleMania reaching a final conclusion. Every Judgment Day always had a stacked card. Whether these featured debut matches, Iron Man Match, Stretcher Match, Hell in a Cell, "I Quit Match," or even a Hair vs. Hair Match, the former spring event never failed to deliver an excellent show for the WWE Universe.
At first, Judgment Day had average buy rates after WrestleMania. But between 2006-2009, Judgment Day's buy rates made a gradual increase as the event had higher buy rates than WrestleMania's fallout pay-per-view, Backlash.
WWE can bring back Judgment Day and make moments as memorable as The Undertaker's "American Badass" debut, Kurt Angle's head shaving, or even a gory WWE Championship Match between Eddie Guerrero and John Bradshaw Layfield. Judgment Day can be a show where the WWE Universe can see new faces from NXT making names for themselves while rivalries from WrestleMania come to a memorable end.
What pay-per-view do you think should return? Let us know in the comments below.
