10 WWE Matches That Were Meant To Be Epic (But Failed Miserably)
10. Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt (Summerslam 2014)
Beginning the list is the most modern example that has yet to get a chance to stand the test of time, but failing to achieve epic when epic is expected is not typically a situation that deserves to be given an opportunity to change perceptions when the original reality was so underwhelming. When Y2J returned in the early summer to be attacked by Bray Wyatt, fans around the world were buzzing with the potential for what might ensue. Jericho is one of the top 15 stars of the WrestleMania Era. Bray Wyatt is a fast-emerging star of tomorrow. Each is blessed with the gift of gab and immense storytelling ability that shames their peers. So, what in the world happened? There was no riveting story. The chemistry was never there in the ring or on the microphone. A year earlier, fans began to question how much Jericho had left in the tank. A return spent feuding with the likes of Fandango and Ryback could have given his 2013 a pass for being a by-product of the men he was working against, but the 2014 arc with Wyatt seemed to confirm that, perhaps, Y2J has little left to offer the modern product. By the time Jericho and Wyatt finally delivered in a Cage match on Raw as the seasons changed, the moment had come and gone; what started as a situation ripe with anticipation for Match of the Year candidates and praiseworthy television segments had devolved through two months of mundane hype and average pay-per-view matches into a story of what might have been.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
