10 Great Wrestling Matches Hidden On Terrible Pay Per Views

8. Daniel Bryan Vs. Dolph Ziggler - WWE Bragging Rights 2010

Bryan Wyatt
WWE.com

Bragging Rights was, in a word, pointless. Not only were their no stakes - one can imagine the titular trophy being left in a jobber's locker as a rib - but by the time it was trotted out, the rosters had begun to merge with no rhyme or reason. As a marketable concept, it wasn't Fatal 4-Way bad - but it was bad.

Bar the exquisite opener, the action was as dismal in execution. It was 2010, after all, an era positioned between the retirement of Shawn Michaels and the emergence of the Indy darling era. Accordingly, David Otunga, Ezekiel Jackson and Tyler Reks all featured.

Truthfully, it is a typical Dolph Ziggler match - in that it is a back and forth fifteen minute affair in which both men were positioned (and thus emerged, a little pointlessly) as equals - but it was contested when that was a thrilling novelty. So too were Bryan's independently-honed chops, which stood out in a sea of Deep South Wrestling-trained dross.

It is a testament to its quality that it retains its appeal. Michael Cole (for once) speaks for all of us; despite his hatred towards Bryan, he is so impressed during one exchange that, almost in spite of himself, he shouts "What a sequence!"

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!