5 WWE feuds that were cancelled in 2018

2018 is done and dusted, and what a year we had in the WWE. New records set, new title holders, new fan favourites, and a promise to listen to the fans and offer more.

The year saw some great feuds on WWE television, on WWE RAW and SmackDown; Becky Lynch showed us she is "The Man" with her feud against Charlotte Flair, as well as the invasion of RAW; AJ Styles and Samoa Joe had a very personal feud on SmackDown; while Ronda Rousey feuded with Nia Jax on RAW.

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We also saw the long-awaited feud between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, after the latter won the 2018 Royal Rumble, and although their feud didn't live up to the lofty expectations many fans set for it, it was entertaining and enjoyable.

But, there were certain feuds that did not happen, or were teased by the WWE but fell flat due to various reasons. Here, let's take a look at 5 WWE feuds that were cancelled in 2018:

#5 Roman Reigns vs The Rock

This was a match that was set for WrestleMania 35, which the WWE would've hoped to bring back WWE fans to the product, as well as casual viewers. Roman Reigns vs The Rock would have been a match that would've churned out millions commercially for the WWE, with the former being the Universal Champion, and the latter being one of the most popular actors in the world.

But Reigns' illness, which he revealed on RAW, will not see him in the WWE ring in the near future. The Rock has spoken about his desire to return to the WWE ring and this was the only match that probably made sense, storyline-wise, as The Rock and Reigns are similar in a lot of aspects, as well as being cousins.

He even revealed which wrestler he would want to face in his return to the WWE ring, “The other one would be a guy who just needs my foot in his ass, Roman Reigns.”

Recent reports have said that The Rock was supposed to enter the 2019 Royal Rumble, win it, and face Reigns at WrestleMania.

#4 Sasha Banks vs Bayley

This could have been a great feud if it had happened

The feud between Sasha Banks and Bayley, two close friends on WWE television, as well as two of The Four Horsewomen, ended abruptly with WWE not finishing the storyline with a victor or loser.

At the 2018 Elimination Chamber, the seeds for this feud were planted when the two fought each other inside the Elimination Chamber, a match that was eventually won by Alexa Bliss. Banks and Bayley tag teamed following Elimination Chamber, but there was friction between the two which hinted at a heel turn by one of the two, which most believed was going to be Banks.

Things really got heated between the two, and it was certain that they would feud with each other after Bayley eliminated Banks in the women's battle royal match at WrestleMania where Bayley turned on Banks and eliminated her.

But WWE didn't go anywhere with the storyline, and the rivalry soon fizzled out, and the two are now tag team partners. WWE possibly ended the rivalry as they were to announce the women's tag team titles, which will possibly see the team of Bayley and Sasha Banks as the strongest tag teams in the women's division.

#3 Elias vs Baron Corbin

Another storyline that WWE didn't give a clear ending to. Elias turned babyface when he attacked Baron Corbin with a guitar in October 2018 and later began a feud with Bobby Lashley on RAW.

Corbin and Elias were both heels, but WWE decided to turn things around when they made Elias a babyface, along with Kevin Owens, who had to take time off from WWE to get knee surgery.

But WWE didn't go back to explaining how the storyline between the two ended on RAW. We did see Elias being ambushed and attacked by Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley with the blessing of then RAW GM Baron Corbin, which they could've certainly tied up with Elias hitting Corbin with a guitar. A missed opportunity, perhaps, for WWE!

Corbin was later fired as RAW GM, while Elias continued his feud with Lashley on RAW.

#2 Ronda Rousey vs Natalya

It has been well reported, with WWE themselves showcasing how Natalya helped Ronda Rousey train to become a pro wrestler before her WWE debut.

The two supposedly became good friends, which was a great thing to weave into a storyline between the two of them on RAW. It was widely expected that Natalya would eventually turn on Rousey, becoming a heel, which she has thrived on over the years.

But that didn't happen. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter revealed that there were plans for Natalya to turn heel and attack her friend, Rousey, but those plans were shelved after Natalya's father and former WWE Superstar, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, tragically passed away.

WWE surprisingly used Neidhart's death in Natalya's feud with Ruby Riott, a feud which ended at the TLC PPV in 2018. Natalya did have a chance to face off against Rousey on RAW for the RAW Women's Championship which she lost. But that was a friendly competition match, not a grudge rivalry.

#1 Triple H vs Batista

This could have been a great match for WrestleMania

A proposed feud and possible WrestleMania match between Triple H and Batista was teased on the SmackDown 1000th episode, when Evolution - the faction that comprised of Triple H, Batista, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton, returned to WWE television for one night.

All four Superstars praised each other and recalled memories while thanking the WWE Universe, but WWE did plant a seed for a future feud during the reunion of Evolution. While praising everyone in the ring, Batista turned to Triple H and said this: "There is nothing that this man hasn't done in this business...except beat me!"

Batista's statement got the WWE Universe buzzing, with many predicting a possible match between the two at WrestleMania 35.

But it wasn't to happen. At WWE's controversial Crown Jewel show in Saudi Arabia, Triple H tore his pectoral muscle, which would put him out of action for several months and a possible match at WrestleMania 35.