6 Huge First-Time Matches WWE Have Totally Wasted In 2017
Cena vs. Nakamura wasn't bad, but...
WWE's chronic lack of patience when building towards potentially huge pay-per-view matches is becoming a real problem.
It's something that the company have done for years, but it has been particularly noticeable throughout 2017. A number of bouts that could've headlined any of the year's biggest events have been thrown away on free television or B-level PPVs, and although some were excellent regardless, each would've come off stronger on a bigger stage.
While duds like Jinder Mahal are headlining PPVs, WWE are carelessly burning first-time clashes between some of their most popular stars, usually with zero build. It's one of their most frustrating booking practices, and while there's nothing wrong with staging the occasional big match on Raw or SmackDown, there isn't any sense in wasting potential dream matches.
The habit is exacerbated by WWE's episodic weekly TV format. The sheer volume of content they produce means it'll inevitably happen every so often, but it still shouldn't be occurring with such regularity. The bookers' unwillingness to wait has never been more apparent, and their tendency to jump the gun will soon see them run out of fresh, exciting PPV match-ups...
6. AJ Styles Vs. Randy Orton
WWE's 2017 epidemic of giving away potentially massive pay-per-view matches began on 7 March, when Randy Orton wrestled AJ Styles on SmackDown.
The goal was to determine WWE Champion Bray Wyatt's opponent for WrestleMania. 'The Viper' should've been guaranteed a title shot after winning the Royal Rumble, but initially relinquished it while still aligned with 'The Eater Of Worlds.' His decision to burn Sister Abigail's burial site down threw him back into title contendership, and he met 'The Phenomenal One,' who'd earned a shot by overcoming Luke Harper.
If it sounds contrived, that's because it was. Orton had been earmarked as Bray's opponent several months prior, and was always going to face his former master at 'Mania, no matter what happened. This means their match wasn't just a total waste, but a needless diversion towards an inevitable conclusion.
The bout itself was strong, and one of SmackDown's best TV offerings of the year. Orton is currently going through one of the worst individual in-ring years in recent memory, but his style meshed well with AJ's, and he walked away with a clean victory. Still, just think how awesome this match would've been on pay-per-view.