The discussion regarding the worst WWE PPVs of all time is often brought up among fans. Unanimous picks such as the Great American Bash 2004, Super ShowDown 2020, Crown Jewel 2018 and December to Dismember are all valid choices for that crown.
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While there is no argument about the quality of the aforementioned special events, many of the shows on this list are often criticized too harshly by fans. None of the following PPVs are classics by any means, but when given a second chance, the results may be surprising.
10 Great Balls Of Fire
Many PPVs on this list catch slack from fans based on the quality of the event, but when WWE announced this Raw-exclusive show in 2017, many wrote it off based on its name alone.
Yes, Great Balls of Fire is a goofy name for a wrestling PPV, but that doesn’t guarantee the show itself to be a failure. In fact, it was one of the best special events of the calendar year.
Highlights included a fun opening contest between Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins, a great 30-minute Iron Man Match pitting The Hardy Boyz against The Bar, one of the best Ambulance Matches ever in Braun Strowman V. Roman Reigns, and a hard-hitting main event between Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar.
9 Taboo Tuesday 2004
WWE often receives criticism for not having its finger on the pulse. However, when the company introduced this first-time concept in late 2004, it was perhaps even ahead of its time.
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This show gets criticized for running on a weekday which led to one of the lowest attendances for a WWE PPV ever and many fans speculate the voting for each match was rigged by the company.
Despite this, fans were treated to a fun show featuring two always reliable matchups in Shelton Benjamin V. Chris Jericho and Triple H V. Shawn Michaels, saw a great tag title bout and a fantastic main event steel cage match between Randy Orton and Ric Flair.
8 Over The Limit 2012
Oftentimes, the quality of a PPV is based on the quality of its main event. When a special event has one of the worst show closers of all-time, it’s not hard to see why many fans write off the PPV entirely.
John Cena V. John Laurinaitis is a horrible match that absolutely should not have main evented Over the Limit 2012. Especially when great matches such as CM Punk V. Daniel Bryan and Sheamus V. Randy Orton V. Chris Jericho V. Alberto Del Rio took place on the same card.
Also, seek out Kofi Kingston and R-Truth V. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger, as well as Cody Rhodes V. Christian and see why this PPV has one of the most underrated undercards of the 2010s.
7 WrestleMania 18
Another instance of a main event labeled ‘disappointing’ affecting the legacy of an otherwise solid show, WrestleMania 18 is often looked at as the oddball stuck between WrestleMania 17 and WrestleMania 19. On top of many fans walking away from Triple H V. Chris Jericho feeling short-changed, a majority felt ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was misused in his contest against Scott Hall.
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While nothing else on this card comes close to the magic of The Rock V. Hulk Hogan, the two aforementioned contests really aren’t as bad as their reputations suggest. On top of that, this PPV featured a great bout between The Undertaker and Ric Flair and a fun opener pitting RVD and William Regal against one another.
6 Survivor Series 2008
As a warning, each entry on the remainder of this list has a sour reputation due to one match.
In 2008, Jeff Hardy was easily the most popular wrestler in the world and his journey to becoming WWE Champion ran across the entire calendar year. When he was written out of his title bout against Triple H and Vladimir Kozlov, fans were outraged.
However, this development led to a fantastic return by Edge, giving the lethargic match a jolt of energy. Elsewhere, the Undertaker and Big Show’s Casket Match was as good as it could have been, Chris Jericho V. John Cena was a fun main event and Randy Orton further cemented himself as Mr. Survivor Series in a great 5-on-5 tag match.
5 Extreme Rules 2021
Just over a year into his historic title reign, Roman Reigns had perhaps his most infamous defense in the main event of this PPV. Competing in an Extreme Rules match against ‘The Demon’ Finn Balor, the two tore the house down until the controversial finish.
Balor seemingly came back to life at ringside in what truly needs to be seen to be believed and closed in on defeating the Tribal Chief before the top rope randomly broke and Reigns retained. Despite the horrible finish and lack of stipulation matches in the undercard, nearly every other match on the show delivered.
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The New Day V. Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles and Omos; The Street Profits V. The Usos; Damian Priest V. Jeff Hardy V. Sheamus; and Bianca Belair V. Becky Lynch were all worth the price of admission.
4 WrestleMania VIII
Two excellent matches and an electric return save 1992’s WrestleMania from deserving its reputation amongst the worst in history. Yes, the Fed certainly should have ran Hulk Hogan V. Ric Flair in the main event, but pitting the Nature Boy against Randy Savage instead is a heck of a consolation prize.
Fans in the Hoosier Dome were also treated to a classic Intercontinental Championship match between Roddy Piper and Bret Hart. And while the show closer of Hulk Hogan V. Sid Justice is truly one of the worst of all-time, those in attendance lost their collective minds when the Ultimate Warrior sprinted to the ring to save the Hulkster.
3 Hell In A Cell 2019
Speaking of one of the worst main events of all-time, The Fiend V. Seth Rollins may just be the worst Hell in a Cell match ever. Even aside from the pathetic disqualification finish, the action leading up to that point was cartoonish instead of violent.
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However, three great matches bolster a very fun undercard that make this show better than most remember. Becky Lynch V. Sasha Banks is one of the best Hell in a Cell bouts of the modern era, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns V. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan is chaotic fun while Randy Orton V. Ali is a treat.
2 Royal Rumble 2014
Everyone and their dog knows Daniel Bryan should have won the 2014 Royal Rumble match. Despite fan support, the recent return of Batista ensured that was never going to happen.
This costly decision may have derailed the finish to this PPV’s titular match, but the action leading up to that point is truly underrated. Along with it, Bryan stole the show in a great opener against Bray Wyatt, and while fans may have dreaded Big Show V. Brock Lesnar and John Cena V. Randy Orton, they were actually a lot of fun despite the monotony.
1 WrestleMania 27
That’s right. Often regarded as one of the worst editions of the Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania 27 deserves a second chance.
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The main event of John Cena V. The Miz is underwhelming and Michael Cole V. Jerry Lawler is perhaps the worst match in WrestleMania history, but the rest of the event is actually a lot of fun with some great action along the way.
Randy Orton V. CM Punk, Edge V. Alberto Del Rio, Cody Rhodes V. Rey Mysterio and Triple H V. The Undertaker are all worthy of the grandest stage and are enough to make up for a couple of duds.
