10 Modern WWE PPV Matches Allocated Far Too Much Time
1. The Miz Vs. Randy Orton - Royal Rumble 2011
Match length: 19:48
Why it was too long: Miz was found to not have what it takes in a main event setting.
In truth, this is an easy criticism to make in retrospect, given what we know happened to Miz's main event career just four months later. The match probably was allocated the correct amount of time - how else would WWE know that he could help carry a main event length match, without actually tasking him with one?
Much too methodical in its pacing, both Miz and Orton (not the best pairing to begin with), neither of whom are famous for their vast arsenal of moves, relied too much on restholds. Worse still, they used kicks and punches to such an excessive extent that the match often resembled two noobs battling it out on Street Fighter 2.
Screwy finishes are a hex on modern pro wrestling, but CM Punk's interference at least signified (though not guaranteed) that Orton was set to be matched against a performer who wouldn't bring out his worst traits.
The placement of the match was as much to blame as its length for its failure, and WWE should take their share of the flak for that - it should have been obvious that the preceding Edge Vs. Ziggler was bound to be a scorcher, and they should have compensated for that accordingly.