10 WWE Matches Doomed From The Start

9. The Undertaker Vs The Great Khali (Great American Bash 2006)

Undertaker Bray Wyatt
WWE

The snake-bit Great American Bash 2006 lost several huge stars at the worst possible time thanks to wellness testing revealing some elevated liver enzymes up and down the roster, but few stipulations needed their key stars more than the inaugural Punjabi Prison.

It sadly wasn't to be.

The Great Khali's own liver said no thanks, and 'The Deadman' was left to die on his a*se in the overtly gimmicked brawl with The Big Show. The contest absolutely reeked, but did it really ever stand a chance anyway?

The Punjabi Prison gimmick, from conception to execution, is fatally flawed. Wrestlers may find themselves trapped in one ring when doors dramatically drop, but the structure is such that it's actually easier to exit than a standard post-blue bar steel cage. Sharpened bamboo spikes were alleged deterrents but weren't remotely as insurmountable as they (sort of) looked. When they're out of that, the outer structure is an even easier escape - particularly if one of the combatants has the athleticism of a leaping Batista.

Regrettably, neither 'Taker nor Show had an iota of Big Dave's dexterity.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett