10 Bad Feuds Between Elite Wrestlers

Kane and Edge

10. The Undertaker vs. Diamond Dallas Page

This feud took place in 2001 and served as DDP’s introduction to WWE. Weeks of footage showed a stalker filming The Undertaker’s wife Sarah. The stalker was revealed to be DDP who presented himself as someone obsessed with her. WWE further escalated the angle by showing that DDP had built shrines dedicated to Sarah and had entered the couple’s home to steal her underwear. Mark Callaway dominated every physical encounter which left DDP without momentum. The company presented him as a one sided victim rather than a credible opponent. The story ended when Sarah pinned DDP on Raw after Undertaker choke slammed him. The feud damaged DDP’s position in the company from the beginning.

9. Shawn Michaels vs. The British Bulldog

This feud unfolded in 1996 when WWE created a personal scandal to accompany their championship match. WWE presented claims from Diana Smith, the British Bulldog’s wife, who said Michaels was pursuing her. A woman described as an ex wife of a former wrestler later appeared and accused Michaels of being involved with her while her husband traveled for work. Diana eventually sought a restraining order in the storyline. The angle generated tension within the Smith family while Michaels denied all accusations. The championship match took place at the event unofficially referred to as the Beware of Dog pay per view and ended in a double pin. Michaels retained the title because of the ruling. The company abandoned the planned twist that Diana had been trying to seduce Michaels because both Diana and Bulldog were uncomfortable with the idea.

8. Booker T vs. Edge

This feud took place before WrestleMania X8 in 2002 and revolved around a fictional Japanese shampoo commercial. WWE presented it as a sudden rivalry without meaningful stakes. A fan held a sign at the event that stated they were fighting over shampoo which summed up the audience reaction. WWE briefly considered a hair versus hair stipulation but Booker T declined because he did not want to cut his dreadlocks. The storyline lasted only a short period and did not add any depth to either performer. Both wrestlers were rising stars who expected stronger material. The match at WrestleMania did not mention the shampoo commercial during the contest.

7. Triple H vs. Chris Jericho

This feud led into WrestleMania X8 in 2002 and suffered because Jericho was presented as Stephanie McMahon’s assistant. Jericho originally pitched a story where he would be involved in an affair with Stephanie while Triple H was injured. Triple H rejected the idea because he believed his character would not be portrayed in that situation. WWE instead had Jericho performing tasks for Stephanie such as cleaning up after their dog. Y2J's credibility as undisputed champion weakened because he rarely acted independently. Most segments positioned Stephanie as the person directing him. Triple H’s return from injury dominated the storyline and drew attention away from Jericho. Their ultimate WrestleMania match received little reaction because the champion had been presented as a subordinate throughout the build.

6. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle

This rivalry took place in 2002 and began when Rikishi gave Angle a stinkface during a tag match. Benoit laughed at Angle for the incident and the Olympic champion retaliated the next week by restraining Benoit so Rikishi could repeat the act. The story centered on embarrassment even though both men were known for serious technical wrestling. The feud continued with backstage confrontations that emphasized humiliation rather than competition. Rikishi’s involvement remained the trigger for each new development. Fans expected a serious wrestling program but the storyline focused on the comedic premise. Their match at Unforgiven delivered the high level performance expected of them despite the unusual setup.

5. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan

This feud occurred in 2012 and opened strongly with a competitive match at Over the Limit. WWE quickly added Kane and AJ Lee which shifted attention away from the in ring rivalry. AJ’s unpredictable behavior became the central element of the storyline and she influenced most of the major plot points. Kane’s involvement created a love square that changed the tone of the feud. Segments revolved around AJ’s shifting loyalties which frequently altered the direction of the storyline. Each week presented a new emotional twist that placed her at the center of the championship narrative. Punk and Bryan still produced a high level match at Money in the Bank. The build up remained dominated by dramatic elements more than their actual wrestling.

4. Molly Holly vs. Trish Stratus

This feud took place in 2002 during a period when the women’s division was gaining momentum. WWE portrayed Molly as a conservative heel who disapproved of revealing outfits worn by other women. The story soon revolved around repeated claims that Molly had a large backside which was not based on reality. Trish Stratus targeted her with insults and Jerry Lawler made crude remarks on commentary. Segments often involved attempts to embarrass Molly with wardrobe related moments. The rivalry relied more on humiliation than athletic storytelling. WWE treated Molly’s conservative attire as something to mock which became the running theme of the angle. Molly later said publicly that the constant remarks toward her appearance affected her personally.

3. Edge vs. Kane

This rivalry took place in 2010 when Kane held the World Heavyweight Championship. Edge attempted to unsettle him by kidnapping Paul Bearer. WWE presented Bearer tied to a wheelchair with tape over his mouth while The Rated-R superstar used multiple Bearer dummies to lure Kane into frantic rescue attempts. The story reached its peak when Kane accidentally pushed the real Bearer off a balcony after mistaking him for another decoy. The rivalry focused more on psychological games than on championship stakes. Edge appeared amused by the chaos he created while Kane spent most of the feud responding to threats against Bearer. The company later aired a montage summarizing the entire story set to comedic music. The presentation highlighted how exaggerated the storyline had become.

2. Kurt Angle vs. Booker T

This feud took place in 2005 and changed direction when Angle delivered a promo explaining that he wanted to perform disturbing acts with Booker T’s wife Charmel. WWE portrayed Angle as an aggressive pursuer who attacked Charmel backstage, held her down and later attempted to handcuff her to the ropes for an implied assault. He continued the behavior during matches by grabbing Charmel in suggestive ways. The story removed the competitive dynamic between the wrestlers and became uncomfortable for viewers. Booker T responded with visible anger in every segment that involved Charmel. The focus stayed on her vulnerability rather than the in ring rivalry. In the end, Booker defeated Angle twice to end the feud and Angle later said he regretted being involved in the storyline.

1.⁠ ⁠Triple H vs. Kane

This storyline unfolded in late 2002 and centered on a claim that Kane had accidentally caused the death of a woman named Katie Vick in a car accident ten years earlier. WWE escalated the angle when Triple H stated that Kane had taken advantage of her after she died. The company then aired the infamous funeral home segment where Triple H wore Kane’s gear and acted out a graphic reenactment that became one of the most criticized moments in company history. The Hurricane later appeared with footage showing Triple H having an object medically removed from a private area which WWE used as comedy during the feud. The title unification angle that should have defined the rivalry became secondary to the sensational storyline. Kane won the closing casket match which did not have the championship on the line. The feud ended soon after because the presentation overshadowed any athletic purpose.