10 Wrestlers Who Didn't Get The Reaction They Wanted

9. John Cena And Randy Orton Tease A Match NOBODY Wants

Triple H
WWE Network

John Cena and Randy Orton have worked one another rather a lot.

The two men feuded extensively across 2007 and 2009. Some of these matches were very good. Many were overbooked, though still entertaining, but the length of those matches and the excessive content in them didn't much help the overwhelmed feeling. It was an attempt at a legacy feud befitting of the time: staid, repetitive, and lacking in the gravitas of the big occasion. It was the epitome of the "This feud must continue!" era.

It was never received as a grand legacy feud, in something of an indictment, but WWE sold it as one regardless. They were the WWE guys, after all. The belief and investment was lanced quite spectacularly in the 2011 Royal Rumble match.

Also hilariously: they slowed to a crawl, soaking in the reverent atmosphere and fevered anticipation like they were Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior or something. No such atmosphere was forthcoming. This sh*t was positively funereal. They might as well have been Eric Escobar and David Flair in there for how little the crowd gave a f*ck.

The WrestleMania mega-match, teased via the customary sign-pointing, was met with a reception colder than Vince McMahon's heart.

In this post: 
Triple H
 
First Posted On: 
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!