5 Wrestling Matches Nobody Wanted (But Now Anticipate Massively)
The best choice isn't always the most obvious one when it comes to wrestling booking.
Booking a wrestling company can be a thankless task at times. Creating new angles, fresh feuds, and an enthralling product can be a tough task for any promoter, especially when weekly TV is involved. A fact WWE is finding increasingly problematic with the sheer volume of programming they produce each and every week.
However, where there's a will, there's a way and McMahon and co. are not averse to trying something different in the pursuit of ratings gold. While that doesn't always translate into good TV - the Alexa Bliss 'This is Your Life' segment as a recent catastrophic example - the writing team have been known to knock it out of the park when you least expect it.
Vince McMahon once said on SmackDown way back in April 2002, "I could care less what the public wants 'cause, quite frankly, I know what they want better than they do." That ethos apparently rings true today, as Vinnie Mac is still producing match-ups that, while at first seem flawed from the outside looking in, eventually grow into something spectacular.
Here's some of the biggest match-ups on the horizon that nobody wanted but now everyone can't wait to see.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Jinder Mahal
Few would have called the pairing of Jinder Mahal and Shinsuke Nakamura a hotly anticipated contest going into SummerSlam and even fewer would have labelled it their highlight of the PPV. However, the result of their PPV bout has created an interesting scenario going forward.
While their SummerSlam match ended with an uninspired finish, the intrigue itself lies more in the subsequent journey it now presents for Nakamura. As the chasing challenger, Nakamura finds himself in hot pursuit of the title rather than simply winning it on his first attempt.
It felt short-sighted when 'The King of Strong Style' defeated Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship on his very first try and the win made his run at the top seem like less of an achievement as a result. The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory and seeing Shinsuke triumph over adversity will make for far more compelling viewing. When he eventually does claim the gold, it will be worth the wait.
In an era where people are often clamouring for fresh faces in the title picture, Nakamura chasing Jinder is a welcome deviation from Cena and Orton's constant presence in the championship hunt. However, Mahal still needs to prove himself as champion, while Nakamura also has his detractors since arriving from NXT.
With both men on a mission to make a name for themselves and top their so-so bout at SummerSlam, WWE could have the perfect storm to surprise us all.