Ranking 2017's WWE PPV Endings: From Worst To Best
4. Extreme Rules: Joe Shocks The World
Predictability has long been one of WWE's greatest curses.
For a multitude of reasons, the company have great difficulty in keeping their fans guessing, particularly in the main event scene, where the vast majority of bouts can be telegraphed. Wrestling thrives on shock and awe, yet WWE's product is almost bereft of such qualities. On the flip side, this helps make the few surprises they're actually able to deliver all the more satisfying, with Samoa Joe's Extreme Rules victory one such example.
Few expected 'The Destroyer' to triumph that night. Facing off against Seth Rollin, Finn Balor, Roman Reigns, and Bray Wyatt for a Universal Title shot, Joe was only there to make up the numbers, or so we thought.
The former NXT Champion delivered one of his best late-career performances, and WWE opted against the 'safe' option of a Balor or Reigns victory, with Joe choking the unfortunate Irishman out for a clear, decisive win. It was an awesome conclusion to an awesome match. Suddenly, Samoa Joe was one of the biggest threats in the company, and WWE parlayed this momentum into an outstanding feud with Brock Lesnar, which ranks favourably among the year's finest.