10 Ways WWE Has Been An Absolute Mess In 2021

WWE is hardly a stranger to crummy finishes, but the company has really outdone itself in 2021. Whether it's Raw or SmackDown (sometimes NXT), fans are sure to see multiple throwaway finishes whenever they tune in.

When done correctly and sparingly, surprise roll-up victories, disqualifications, and distractions are decent tools to help further a feud. However, when they become abused, their effect is watered down, and they can ruin an otherwise terrific bout.

The main reason WWE relies on these old hat tricks is that it's constantly booking itself into a corner. Two big-name wrestlers are pitted together, but the brass doesn't want either performer to lose. At Hell in a Cell, Bobby Lashley employed a sneaky pinfall to retain against Drew McIntyre. It's undeniable the less decisive finish was meant to make it look like the champ barely squeaked by, and McIntyre "looked strong" in defeat.

But therein lies another issue. It was a small sin whenever WWE started to make it rain throwaway finishes on free TV. It's a damn-near travesty that the same lazy match endings have crept their way onto PPVs. HIAC had two near-identical surprise roll-ups within a three-hour span. One might have been acceptable, but two... that's just lazy booking.

Maybe one day WWE will learn something about satisfying finishes to great showdowns. Then again, that'll also be the day WWE stops booking the same few matches every week on Raw and SmackDown.