10 WWE PPVs John Cena Main-Evented (But Shouldn't Have)
9. TLC 2010 (Vs. Wade Barrett)
The Nexus was the most prominent storyline of WWE programming in 2010, starting out hot in the summer. However, by December, and with most of the Nexus members being exposed and buried, the angle had cooled off significantly. However, that didn't stop John Cena and Wade Barrett from closing out the TLC PPV with their blowoff chairs match.
Yes, a chairs match. WWE headlined a PPV with a chairs match. At the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs PPV in 2010, the final match, the exclamation point... was a chairs match. You must wonder how the creative team from that time sleeps at night.
That's not even to say Cena and Barrett's match was bad. By the standards of chairs matches, it was actually a fairly decent encounter. But given that the angle had already run out of steam, there were no titles on the line, and the extended sequence post-match in which Cena tortured Barrett with a barrage of chairs (including a spot where he literally buries the guy), the decision to have this close out the final PPV of the year just comes off as bizarre.
It's especially sad considering the actual TLC match was slotted in the semi-main event, and it featured Edge winning what would end up being his final world title. That feel-good moment would have been a better way to close the show.