11 Main Event Mistakes WWE Have Made In 2022

11. Down Since Day One (January 1)

WWE’s most admirable feat of ineptitude this year may well have occurred in 2022’s first four broadcast hours.

When the ongoing pandemic sent immunocompromised Universal Champion Roman Reigns momentarily to the sideline, slated challenger Brock Lesnar entered Atlanta on New Year’s Day without an opponent. Then the powers that be called an audible.

An otherwise commendable six-match card was bookended by an 11th hour announcement of Reigns’ absence and Lesnar’s reallocation to the WWE Championship match. While the closer itself was a captivating demolition derby, the writing was on the wall. Sure enough, the night ended with ‘The Beast Incarnate’ once again as WWE Champion. Most objectionable, though, was who took the fall in the contest.

Most likely suspected that then-WWE Champion Big E would emerge empty-handed on the evening. However, the five-person free-for-all created an opportunity to crown a new champion without sabotaging the current champion’s trajectory. Rather than pin the loss on Seth Rollins or Kevin Owens, whose Road to WrestleMania had not yet materialized, Lesnar instead massacred a promising reign by defeating the champion himself.

Even in the aftermath, Big E main eventing WrestleMania was not inconceivable. A win at the Royal Rumble four weeks later and subsequent WWE Championship pursuit would have been an easy enough story to tell. Unfortunately, WWE had much grander, much dumber plans in mind. Another cruel twist of fate saw Big E trade the WWE Championship for a neck brace two months later.

Get well soon, E. We all miss you.