10 Times Stipulations Ruined Wrestling Matches
5. Royal Rumble Match - WWE Royal Rumble Match 2016 (WWE Championship)
The quality of the Royal Rumble match has declined in recent years, in parallel with WWE's overarching creative regime. It has been all too obvious who was destined to point at the WrestleMania sign at the coda of the January Classic.
But even in 2013, there was cause for some optimism. All indications, and leaked information from reputable industry sources, all but confirmed that John Cena was set to win - but Ryback had just enough momentum to plunge the outcome in doubt. One year later, the match was anticipated with an intriguing polarisation. It was inconceivable that Batista was drafted back into the fold, just to lose - but it was equally inconceivable that Daniel Bryan wouldn't win. It would have infuriated the legion of supporters who were unanimous in their support of him. WWE, of course, circumvented that by not including him altogether.
One year later, that polarity was replicated, but with Roman Reigns occupying Vince McMahon's side of the spectrum. Reigns won, but by this point, feelings had been hardened.
In 2016, the decision to put his WWE Championship up for grabs telegraphed the outcome. All hope was lost. His WrestleMania 32 match opposite Triple H wasn't a mere inside rumour - WWE had built towards it in their inimitably heavy-handed way on television. Sure enough, the Rumble was just one of many cultural institutions to die a depressing death in 2016.