10 Times WWE Were Forced Into A Money Match
It was never the plan, but maybe it should have been...
Over the years, WWE fans have been truly spoilt by the amount of big name matches the company have been able to frequently book on their programming.
Through verbal sparring, an ever twisting narrative or high quality video packages - regardless of the bout's eventual quality - the company always seems to manage to get a ton of eyes on the product with the promise of a serious money match.
However, not all of WWE's historic big time matches were part of the plan and sometimes circumstances completely out of Vince McMahon's control have forced the company into booking a huge match or finish completely on the fly.
It's long been known that WWE perform some of their best work when forced into a corner and some matches that seemed completely unimaginable in the lead up to a PPV or weekly episode of Raw or SmackDown very quickly became a surprising reality when the landscape unexpectedly shifted.
It's incredible to think that some of these marquee matches weren't even on the cards in the lead up to the event they appeared on.
But, never fear! They did come to fruition in the end.
10. Seth Rollins Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Kevin Owens Vs. Big Cass (Raw, 2016)
Injuries have a tendency to completely up-root any plans Vince McMahon has for his company going forward and many of WWE's biggest stars have all been cut down by an extended setback just as they made it to the top of the promotion's ladder.
Finn Bálor found himself in that unfortunate position in the summer of 2016, the day after he'd become the company's inaugural Universal Champion at SummerSlam.
With Balor struck down by a serious shoulder injury, WWE were forced to think on their feet in order to decide who would become Raw's new world champion.
They landed on the inspired decision to throw Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens and Big Cass into an elimination fatal four-way for the vacant big red belt on Monday Night Raw, a week after Bálor relinquished the title.
Three of Raw's biggest names (and Big Cass) all threw caution to the wind in a match which could have easily main evented any PPV that year.
That alone was enough to earn it a spot on this list. But, the swerve ending of Triple H turning on Rollins to hand Owens his first world title, only sweetened the unplanned deal in hindsight.