10 Times WWE Booked The Wrong Guy To Win

Leon 'Vader' White was doomed in the WWF from the start - despite his auspicious, Gorilla Monsoon-smashing introduction.

Vince McMahon, who it must be remembered hired the man presumably on the strength of his work in WCW and New Japan, wished to do away with the Vader name and repackage him as the copyrightable Mastadon. Early indications weren't good, despite his eventual acquiescence.

According to onscreen charge Jim Cornette, Vader then became the latest subject of Shawn Michaels' infamous backstage politicking. Michaels cried foul at the stiffness with which Vader worked - his foremost appeal. Vader was a beastly sh*tkicker. That was his thing. Both McMahon and Michaels should have known what they were getting and allowed him to do his inimitable thing unimpeded. There was a war going on.

Michaels consequently sabotaged the already half-hearted Vader push, manoeuvring his way into a SummerSlam victory. Vader never recovered. Instead, Sycho Sid was transplanted into the role of the monster heel who'd temporarily unseat Michaels as WWF champion. Michaels wasn't thrilled at that prospect either, admonishing him as "the most expensive piece of luggage in WWF history".

Michaels, therefore, was directly responsible for the worst WrestleMania main event in Federation history - Undertaker Vs. Sid at 13. As seen at Calgary Stampede a few months later, a 'Taker Vs. Vader match would have rescued its unenviable legacy as a one-match show.