The WWE is the biggest name in professional wrestling. Numerous legendary stars have been a part of it, It has played host to many exciting feuds, and given die-hard fans memorable segments that are replayed to this day. However, no entity is immune to critique, and the WWE is no exception. The advent of social media has made it easier for fans and former personnel to voice their opinions, and one area that often draws criticism is the WWE’s experimentation with match stipulations. While some of these attempts at in-ring innovation have been hits, others have been misses, resulting in some infamous anomalies that the WWE would likely love to forget.
1. Edge vs. Randy Orton – “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” (WrestleMania 36):
Edge, known as the “Rated-R Superstar,” was forced to retire in 2011 due to a neck injury. In 2020, he made a shocking return at the Royal Rumble, leading to a feud with Randy Orton. Their match at WrestleMania 36 was followed by another at Backlash, billed as “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever.” Despite the weird subtitle and the strange semi-cinematic format, the match lacked a meaningful gimmick. The wrestling veterans delivered a strong match, but attaching the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” tagline set unreasonably high expectations for both the vets and fans alike.
2. CM Punk vs. Chavo Guerrero – “Gulf of Mexico” Match (ECW 2008):
WWE rarely features matches outside the ring or in the arena. Matches outside the venue itself though, are few and far in between. On an episode of “ECW” in 2008, CM Punk and Chavo Guerrero competed in a match that took them to the edge of the continental United States. The Gulf of Mexico match ended with Guerrero taking a dip in the water, declaring Punk the winner. The match was unique but absurd in its execution, taking place outside the arena with no relevance to the storyline.
3. Dumpster Matches:
Dumpster matches are the unsanitary counterpart to casket matches which require one wrestler to place their opponent inside a dumpster and close the lid. These matches are rare, with only a handful occurring in WWE history. The most recent one took place in 2017 between Braun Strowman and Kalisto, with Strowman emerging as the victor. While entertaining, these matches are often forgotten due to their infrequency.
4. Erick Rowan vs. Big Show – Stairs Match:
One of WWE’s greatest match types is TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs) which became its very own pay-per-view event back in 2009. In 2014, Big Show and Erick Rowan faced off in the first and only stairs match in WWE history. This match, which took place at the TLC: Tables, Ladders, Chairs…and Stairs event, was slow-paced and lacked excitement. Big Show was the winner, most likely the only TLC+S match winner ever, unless things change. The limited use of stairs as a weapon made the match feel forced and gimmicky, leading to its unmemorable status in WWE history.
Kaira’s Insight:
While gimmick matches can add excitement to WWE events, they can also fall flat when executed poorly. The matches mentioned above showcase the fine line between creativity and absurdity in professional wrestling. As fans, we appreciate the effort to innovate, but we also expect matches to make sense within the context of the storyline and the wrestlers’ abilities. As WWE continues to push the boundaries of entertainment, let’s hope they strike the right balance between memorable and ridiculous gimmick matches.
