7 Most Infuriating Last Minute WWE PPV Changes

2. Daniel Bryan Vs. Sheamus Gets Relegated - WrestleMania XXVII

Big Show Wwe Title
WWE.com

The planned WrestleMania XXVII United States championship match between Daniel Bryan and Sheamus was an interesting proposition.

Bryan, in his thrilling win over The Miz and quality defences against even the average likes of Ted DiBiase, Jr. had restored the belt's reputation to somewhere approaching the standard it attained shortly after it was exhumed.

Sheamus was a more powerful but equally stiff performer struggling for relevance in the wake of his premature push to the top of the WWE mountain. A match between the two men, both pay-per-view headliners in waiting, promised much in-ring excitement and scope for advancement up the card.

The match was relegated to the dark slot just hours before the run-time was finalised - a decision which Sheamus has since bemoaned as the lowest point in his career.

Time had to be trimmed to make way for The Rock's meandering show opening promo and Triple H's crack at Undertaker's streak (after his prolonged viking cosplay, naturally). Triple H had claimed in the build-up to it that there was nobody else in the back more deserving of a shot at it. Maybe if you had actually let them wrestle, mate...

Worse still, this lumberjack match was transitioned into a battle royal in order to give everybody the WrestleMania payday.

It was won by The Great Khali.

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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!