10 Costly Mistakes That DOOMED Great Wrestling Feuds
2. Randy Orton Vs. Bray Wyatt - Getting Too Spooky
Another 2016/17 program that once felt like one of the most compelling stories being told on WWE programming, Randy Orton and the late Bray Wyatt's rivalry heading into WrestleMania 33 was initially quite fascinating.
After clashing with 'The Eater of Worlds' and the late Luke Harper in the months that followed getting bludgeoned by a 'Beast' at SummerSlam 2016, 'The Viper' shockingly joined forces with that heel stable.
A Team SmackDown victory at Survivor Series, SmackDown Tag Team title reign, and both a Royal Rumble and WWE Championship win for Orton and Wyatt respectively eventually followed, all while fans waited on the edge of their seats for the unavoidable collapse of the team.
Orton seemingly giving up his guaranteed title shot at 'Mania to remain loyal to his gold-wearing "master" acted as another unexpected twist. But then things all started to get a little odd when the apparent "babyface" went back on his word, burned down the Wyatt Compound, and challenged Bray to a bout at 'Mania.
A violent, personal war was to be expected after this particularly hot angle. Instead of that, though, WWE foolishly decided to just get a bit silly.
Projecting various bugs on the canvas throughout a rather dull WWE title contest, the once-gripping rivalry was already completely ruined before the company then doubled down on the ridiculous spookiness with a terrible "House of Horrors" match at Payback.
Sadly, their second attempt at giving this rivalry an epic 'Show of Shows' conclusion didn't work out either, with even more spooky - and this time black gooey - nonsense leaving a bad taste in most fans' mouths.