10 PPV Quality Matches WWE Gave Away For Free On Weekly TV In 2021
8. The Bloodline Vs. The New Day - RAW September 20
WWE outdid itself on the September 20 edition of RAW, giving away two matches and months of potential storytelling for free on one night. Who cares about long term planning, right?
The New Day and The Usos have been feuding for years and years, sometimes showing respect, sometimes showing absolute disrespect. Big E’s rise to the WWE Championship was a cause for great celebration for the former, while Jimmy and Jey’s allying with Universal Champion Roman Reigns made all the sense in the world. All of a sudden, you had two units of longtime rivals at the top of each brand.
Survivor Series is nominally a Battle of the Brands, so surely putting a couple of months build into a New Day/Bloodline that culminates at the November show makes all the sense in the world. Surely?
Nope. On the September 20 episode of RAW, WWE ran through the whole thing in one night. The Bloodline defeated The New Day in a trios match to open the show, but Bobby Lashley’s interference meant a triple threat was made for the main event.
Wait, what?
Yep. With zero build, WWE decided to give away Roman Reigns vs. Big E. vs Bobby Lashley for free, on RAW. Two major matches, given away for free, with no build. That is the sort of thing that did for WCW.