6 Huge First-Time Matches WWE Have Totally Wasted In 2017

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.