A WWE PPV with a hot opener can go one of two ways. Occasionally, a show-stealing curtain-jerker will inspire the rest of the locker room to match it, resulting in one of those pay per views that just feels right from top to bottom. On the other hand, sometimes the bar is set too high, setting up the rest of the card for a monumental fall. Bad PPVs are hardly a rarity in the world of professional wrestling; it seems as though fans go into shows with a "don't disappoint me" attitude these days, as opposed to excitement or anticipation. However, there's something about a hot opener that makes a poor show all the harder to swallow - far more so than a terrible all-round show. Whether a result of bad booking, bad performances, or simply bad luck, some PPVs are doomed to this fate. Very occasionally the legacy a great opening match will actually eclipse the memory of a shoddy card a few months down the line. More commonly, however, a good curtain-jerker can be lost amidst the criticism and scorn poured upon an unsatisfactory show. The moral of the tale appears to be: 'don't go out there first, but if you really have to, save your best matches for another time'.
10. WrestleMania 9 - Shawn Michaels vs. Tatanka
WrestleMania 9 (aka the Roman-themed WrestleMania) is commonly considered one of the worst instalments of the event's history. However, its opening match - a technical 18 minute encounter between Shawn Michaels and Tatanka - is a deceptively thrilling introduction to the show. Strange managerial pairings aside - Shawn and Luna look particularly uncomfortable together - the match is a fantastically versatile display. Suplexes, strikes, high-flying moves, and intricate pinfall attempts all combine to make a visual spectacle, all tied together by Michaels' stellar heelwork. This isn't an all-time great opening bout, but it could have been, had it just been granted a proper ending. It builds fantastically, both men delving deep into their movesets, pulling out counter after counter. Sadly, the finish is hugely anti-climactic. HBK, realising he can't stop the resilient Tatanka, puts his hands on the referee and draws a disapponting DQ. As deflating as the match's ending is, it doesn't prevent it from being easily the best thing on the card. The rest of WrestleMania 9 ranges from underwhelming to disastrous, the worst offences being Undertaker's stinker against Giant Gonzales (easily the worst match of his undefeated streak), and the debacle of a main event. For the uninitiated, Bret Hart loses his WWF Championship to Yokozuna, who immediately challenges Hulk Hogan to a match for no reason. Hogan wins in 22 seconds, completely stalling the evolution of the company in the process.
