WWE Day 1: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best
7 matches (including the Kickoff) on WWE's first pay-per-view of 2022, but which was best?
It's rather obvious when WWE itself knows a pay-per-view is threadbare.
On Saturday night, the company had its announcers call Day 1 "the first premium live event" of 2022 at every given opportunity. That couldn't mask the truth: Day 1 was another 'B' level show in a long string of them, and no amount of hyperbole was going to change that.
That's not to suggest there wasn't entertainment to be found. WWE's latest card, whilst definitely secondary compared to the upcoming Royal Rumble on 29 January, had some cracking matches on it. A couple of them even managed to threaten the best that 2021 delivered - there's no doubt that this roster, when motivated, is as talented as they come.
So, what was the most must-see match of the night? Or, for those who prefer to look on the negative side, which bout fared worst? Also, will any of these matches (even the better ones) be remembered come the end of the year? That remains to be seen, but Day 1 was hardly the worst wrestling show out there.
Again, WWE's talent pool is far too deep for that.
7. Cesaro & Ricochet Vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland
Things are not looking up for Cesaro and Ricochet.
The babyface pair effectively lost a handicap match during the Day 1 Kickoff show. Sure, Ridge Holland's injury and removal from the match couldn't be helped, but an audible should've been called to protect Cesaro and Rico. They looked like chumps for losing to Sheamus despite the numbers advantage, and really should've won.
It must be hard for workers to get amped up when they know they're on the pre-show too. That's probably why this, in spite of the quality involved, was barely functional and came out looking more like something from Main Event than a pay-per-view bonus.
Getting excited about matches like this is harder as a fan when WWE themselves seem totally uninterested in the talents on screen. Cesaro's 2021 heights have plummeted to sinking depths, and Ricochet's recent flurry has been yet another false dawn.
Nobody will remember this even happened come Monday morning.