5 times the WWE let down the fans

Bubemi
WWE has a track record of disappointing fans
WWE has a track record of disappointing fans

Over its entire existence, it’s fair to say the WWE has provided as many ups as downs. And I suppose that’s why we all love professional wrestling so much. It has the potential to send us into euphoria whilst also holding the power to depress us for weeks on end.

With the social media era in full effect, there has never been an easier time for fans to voice their dissenting opinion on the company’s product. Trending hashtags are a platform in which fans can share their opinions with other fans, in front of the whole world.

Recently, the WWE has given the fans plenty of reasons to complain, because they’ve let down the fans on several occasions. They’ve disappointed us through cutting short wrestler’s pushes, giving us the wrong match finishes and above all, showing a blatant disregard for the fans.

Here are five times the WWE let fans down.

#5 Braun Strowman burial in Riyadh

Braun Strowman has now lost 17 PPV matches
Braun Strowman has now lost 17 PPV matches

The Monster among men was meant to be the one to rival Roman Reigns for the undisputed top guy position. Braun Strowman was pushed through the roof throughout the backend of 2017 through to 2018. It seemed like a matter of time before he would conquer Brock Lesnar, instead, Lesnar has now beaten Strowman on several occasions. The worst of those defeats happened at Crown Jewel 2018.

Many fans branded this as the last chance saloon for Braun Strowman’s main event career. It was either he won the Universal title here or we’d stop investing any emotion in him. And the WWE showed their hand in the manner of his defeat too. Strowman ate countless F5s, in a match that barely lasted more than ten minutes. In essence, it was a squash match on a larger scale and ever since that day, the monster amongst men has never ever looked the same.

#4 Zack Ryder 1-day reign

Zack Ryder has lost 469 matches since signing for WWE
Zack Ryder has lost 469 matches since signing for WWE

The undefeated, undisputed internet champion of the world has been a long-time favourite of the WWE universe for several years now. Zack Ryder created a lane for himself on the internet before the era of social media. He established a connection with the fans in a way the WWE couldn’t deny for much longer. Ryder then entered a programme with the face of the company and began to be heavily featured on Monday Night Raw.

That ‘push’ ended with Ryder losing a tag team match at Wrestlemania due to a low blow from Eve Torres. In essence, this was designed to humiliate and bury Ryder, lowering him to a comedy act. After several years of being a jobber and hardly featuring on TV, Ryder was randomly inserted into a multi-man ladder match at Wrestlemania 32.

Against all odds, Ryder won the Intercontinental Champion in a fairy-tale moment. But as WWE do with all good things, they have to put their own twist on it. And Ryder lost his title on the next day to the Miz, thus completely sending him into oblivion again.

#3 Roman Reigns #30 in the 2017 Royal Rumble

Roman Reigns is a 4-time world champion
Roman Reigns is a 4-time world champion

Over the past few years, Roman Reigns has been at the centre of several fan backlashes. Vince McMahon has given the WWE Universe no other option but to accept the Samoan as the heir apparent, and this did not go down well. Despite having featured earlier in the night, in a title match against Kevin Owens, the WWE still felt the need to present Reigns as the focal point of the show by having him enter at #30 in the 2017 Royal Rumble.

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The rumours of Roman Reigns vs. the Undertaker were floating around the Rumble period and people took to the news positively. They believed this would take Reigns out of the WM main event, thus meaning he wouldn’t have to be near the Royal Rumble and title picture. Alas, they were wrong, and it was that false hope that made them react even stronger. Fans were hoping for a debuting Samoa Joe or Finn Balor, instead, Reigns came out at the coveted #30 spot, much to the disdain of the wrestling world.

#2 John Cena rains on Rey’s parade

Cena
Cena

After a storied 9-year WWE career, Rey Mysterio finally won the WWE Championship on one special episode of Monday Night Raw in 2011. The fans were ecstatic, his co-workers were overjoyed, and the Mexican was in absolute ecstasy until the boss got involved.

Vince McMahon in typical ‘boost up ratings’ fashion, announced that John Cena would be getting a rematch for the title that same night. The naivety in us felt maybe Cena was being used to put over Rey to then set up a long-term feud. But no. Cena was shoe-horned back into the title picture after not being involved in the entire tournament process.

It’s these kinds of decisions that led WWE fans to build up much resentment to the face of the company. Cena would undoubtedly go on to beat Rey cleanly in the main event of the show, thus moving on to fight CM Punk for the undisputed title. The worst thing is, Rey didn’t even get his deserved rematch. In space of one night, WWE disrespected Rey’s fanbase and entire legacy.

#1 The Rock ends CM Punk’s title reign

CM Punk held the WWE title for 434 days
CM Punk held the WWE title for 434 days

Yes, The Rock is the great one, in many people’s eyes, he can do no wrong. However, perhaps for the first time in his career, he received some backlash for winning a WWE title. CM Punk is one of the longest reigning world champions of the modern era. The voice of the voiceless encapsulated the minds and hearts of the WWE Universe, providing them with that alternative to John Cena they’d been begging for.

Such was his popularity and merchandise sales, the WWE trusted him to be their champion, despite Cena still holding the main event slot. The fans weren’t happy at this, but they endured it just to see Punk’s historic reign continue.

Until the WWE decided that the end of Punk’s reign would be used as a tool to make a Rock-Cena rematch more ‘prestigious’. The company didn’t have the decency to even slot Punk into that rerun of a main event. And it was in that moment that the WWE mentally lost one of their biggest ever stars.

Meet the man who called CM Punk the softest man alive HERE