10 Worst WWE PPV Matches Of 2021 (So Far)
WWE promoted intergender madness, wonky gimmick matches and more during 2021's first half.
Did anybody really care about January's Superstar Spectacle?
Some reading this might've forgotten that WWE promoted that particular Network special at the turn of the year at all, and that's no surprise - Spectacle doesn't feature on this list because it wasn't actually a proper pay-per-view. No, only Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, Fastlane, WrestleMania 37, WrestleMania Backlash and Hell In A Cell count as main roster PPVs here.
Generally, the standard has been fairly high. Bouts like the men's Rumble itself, Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Edge at 'Mania and a thumping Reigns vs. Cesaro gem at Backlash would all make it onto any list looking at the best of 2021 thus far.
Then, there's the other end of the scale.
Admittedly, not all of the 10 matches featured here could be considered horrible. Some had merit or were largely inoffensive midcard battles, but that's besides the point; they qualify as the worst because WWE put on better. It's as simple as that.
As for a few others? Revisiting them will make you shudder and realise how utterly sh*te pro wrestling can be when everything goes wrong.
10. Rhea Ripley Vs. Charlotte Flair
Where: Hell In A Cell
Why It's Here: OK, so this singles bout from HIAC wasn't one of the worst offenders, but it's a nice starting point because of that. Plus, what was up with Charlotte Flair dominating 99.9% of the action and making reigning Raw Women's Champ Rhea Ripley look like some rookie who was in over her head?
Honestly, Rhea came across as a jobber more than anything, and that's not cool. WWE are doing a frankly terrible job of presenting Ripley as somebody casual fans should care about - HIAC didn't help that. Charlotte slapped Ripley around for 15 minutes, then Rhea got DQ'd and escaped with the belt by the skin of her teeth.
These women are capable of so much better, and they were knackered by WWE's match formatting here. Protecting Flair is fine. Making the champion look like she's totally out of her depth, meanwhile, just isn't.