10 Modern WWE PPV Matches Allocated Far Too Much Time

6. The Usos, Lucha Dragons & Ryback Vs. The New Day, Sheamus & Wade Barrett - Survivor Series 2015

John Cena Randy Orton Hell in a Hell 2014
WWE.com

Match length: 17:50

Why it was too long: It indirectly lessened the impact and quality of the more important matches on the card.

Provided of course that the guys involved can go, a WWE title match on Pay Per View with a clean finish should never run shorter than ten minutes. This is supposed to be the biggest prize in the industry - if you're deemed worthy of getting a shot at it, and fail in less than the time it takes a run of the mill RAW match to conclude, what does that say about the title?

There's nothing wrong with this match in itself, but it's played almost entirely for laughs, from Xavier Woods' classic 80's hairdo to Barrett's gyrating alongside the twerking Kingston. Beyond that, with the exception of Ryback's implausible top-rope splash on the heel team, there isn't a great deal distinguishing it from a TV bout.

Not only was Reigns Vs. Ambrose (just 09:03) a WWE title match, there was a massive amount of scope for the two 'brothers' to have worked a emotionally-fuelled epic, playing into their storied shared history.

Instead, Ambrose was swatted away handily, making way for Sheamus to cash-in his Money In The Bank contract...the same Sheamus who'd been dancing during the aforementioned elimination match just over an hour earlier.

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!