WWE Matches That Were PAINFUL To Watch
1. Keith Lee Vs Karrion Kross (NXT TakeOver: XXX)
By the time TakeOver XXX came around in the summer of 2020, Keith Lee was a dead cert for a main roster call-up and Karrion Kross was even more of a nailed-on bet to become NXT Champion at the first attempt. But a result that was never really in doubt wasn't why this potential clash of the titans was so painful. Nor, oddly, was a shoulder injury Kross suffered during the contest.
It was that all of the above took place over 21 drab and draining minutes.
What this wasn't was an exhilarating Keith Lee match filled with jaw-dropping feats of athleticism from the Champion, nor a destructive display from the newcomer akin to his domination of Tommaso Ciampa from the brand's last special. Restholds and glacial exchanges removed the feeling of danger from a match that already lacked the feeling of suspense.
A contract exploding in Lee's face wasn't exactly a build that promised a blockbuster, but Kross' NXT start had, up to that point, been immaculately handled. This dud was a sign of more to come even when the injury had cleared up, and Lee's time went from bad to worse thanks to a disastrous Raw stint more indicative of Vince McMahon's broken creative vision than the man himself.