10 Quietly Brilliant WWE PPVs

7. WWE Unforgiven 2002

CM Punk Jeff Hardy
WWE.com

Unforgiven 2002 is probably best remembered as a dispiriting battle in Triple H's war on upstart talent. In beating the still white-hot Rob Van Dam in just 08:17, many fans rightly condemned it as a burial. Rob Van Dam gained precisely nothing in defeat - and many felt it was time to actually pull the trigger on his main event run.

The year itself isn't remembered with much fondness, owing to the dismal nWo reformation and the general malaise RAW found itself in, post-Monday Night Wars - but Unforgiven, some questionable booking decisions aside, embodied its unassuming excellence. In fairness to its detractors, many of the matches hold up as inferior sequels or prequels to superior outings.

Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker wrestled their second worst match together, outside of WrestleMania XXX - but it was far superior to that unfortunate, hamstrung affair. Though an utter blinder, Chris Benoit's victory over Kurt Angle wasn't nearly as effective in elevating him as his defeat was at the next year's Royal Rumble - an odd paradox which might wrongly lead you to consign it to the recesses of your mind.

But, watched in its entirety - as intended - Unforgiven 2002 is as gripping as it is diverse.

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!