10 Wrestling Pay Per View Concepts That Didn't Catch On

5. WWE Breaking Point

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WWE Network

Like Fatal 4-Way and Capitol Punishment, Breaking Point was a pay-per-view gimmick that WWE ran only once before realising it was a flawed concept. Taking place in September 2009, it was actually a pretty decent show all-round. Highlighted by a tremendous John Cena vs. Randy Orton WWE Title match, it’d be a stretch to call Breaking Point one of WWE’s best PPVs that year, but it was nowhere near as awful as some of the shows on this list.

The show’s gimmick just didn’t work. Every major match was given a submission-based stipulation, and the show featured an I Quit match, a Submission Count Anywhere tag match, and CM Punk and The Undertaker’s World Heavyweight Title Submission Match. The latter was particularly bad, with WWE pulling a Montreal Screwjob-esque finish (in Montreal, of course) by having Teddy Long restart proceedings following a legitimate submission.

There are only so many stories you can tell within the confines of a submission-based match, and WWE drained the well at Breaking Point. They forced a bunch of wrestlers not at all known for their technical expertise into stipulations that didn’t suit them, and while the quality wasn’t atrocious, the show was poorly received.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.