10 Times You SERIOUSLY Should Have Asked WWE For Refunds

3. Battleground 2013

No No No
WWE

A very boring test precursor to the inconsequential Network Era - testing is the appropriate term, since it tested the f*cking patience of everybody watching - WWE promoted the ironically-titled Battleground in October of 2013 with absolutely no intention of drawing a line underneath the war between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan.

In order to prolong the rivalry, WWE, for the second consecutive pay-per-view, refused to provide fans with a conclusive finish. At Night Of Champions, WWE opted for one of its most rancid go-to tropes: making a referee look utterly incompetent. Just one month later, WWE opted for another of its most rancid go-to tropes: the Big Show heel turn. The Authority had used some b*llocks or other to manipulate the Big "Ironclad Contract" Show to screw Bryan out of the match and screw paying punters out of their money. A $60 television finish - when WWE TV was as worthless as it is now - this was WWE plagiarising itself incorrectly. The Corporation operated so effectively because they showed ass to Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Authority simply made asses of its ineffective goons: why was Randy Orton selected as the Face of WWE, when he couldn't get the job done? We already knew that when Bryan bettered him throughout the spring in free matches better than their PPV series.

This entire farce made a mockery of WWE's all-too-simple babyface/heel dynamics and its paying audience alike.

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!