10 Bad Matches That Feature Great Wrestlers
Brothers of Destruction vs. DX
10. The Brothers of Destruction vs. D-Generation X
This main event at the controversial WWE Crown Jewel 2018 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was widely panned as a "disaster". The match quality was poor due to the advanced age of all four legendary participants and was marred by real injuries and visible botches, including Triple H suffering a legitimate torn pectoral muscle early in the bout and Shawn Michaels landing awkwardly on a moonsault attempt. The contest received a rare Wrestling Observer Newsletter rating of negative three stars (-*), underscoring its critical failure to deliver a competent or safe wrestling match.
9. Sting vs. Jake Roberts
The match at Halloween Havoc 1992 was a major disappointment because a "Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal" gimmick resulted in a lackluster "Coal Miner's Glove" stipulation that failed to deliver a quality contest. The finish, which involved a snake in a bag and Sting pinning Roberts after using the glove, was confusing and widely disliked by fans. Jake Roberts has since publicly stated that the match was "horrible" and "stunk," cementing its legacy as one of the worst gimmick matches in WCW history.
8. Rick Rude vs. Masahiro Chono
While both were world-class talents, this NWA World Heavyweight Championship match at Halloween Havoc 1992 was a letdown compared to their previous acclaimed bouts in Japan. The match was characterized by a slow, methodical pace that struggled to engage the American audience. It ended in a disqualification win for Rude after Chono threw him over the top rope, a finish that did not sit well with the crowd or critics and protected Chono from losing the title cleanly.
7. Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff vs. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy
This tournament quarterfinal match at the 1992 Great American Bash for the NWA World Tag Team Titles was rated a "DUD" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Following several fast-paced matches, this contest struggled with a lack of crowd interest and poor match structure, failing to showcase the talents of any of the four experienced competitors effectively. The match went to a 30-minute time limit draw, which was poorly received and didn't help the tournament's overall momentum.
6. Goldust vs. Stardust
This real-life brother vs. brother rivalry was largely seen as a missed opportunity due to poor booking and creative direction from WWE management during its run primarily on RAW and SmackDown in the mid-2010s. The storyline was stretched out for too long without a compelling payoff, resulting in fan apathy and matches that were often underwhelming, ultimately contributing to Cody Rhodes' (Stardust) departure from the company. The pairing's potential for a meaningful, emotionally charged story was squandered by a silly gimmick and repetitive in-ring encounters.
5. Kota Ibushi vs. Naomichi Marufuji
This "dream match" at Pro Wrestling NOAH's "The New Year" 2024 show was marred by Kota Ibushi's visible physical struggles with injuries. The performance was widely criticized by fans as being dangerous due to Ibushi's condition, leading to him apologizing for the match quality and being hospitalized for an ankle injury immediately after the bout. The match ended by referee stoppage and was a concerning display of a talented wrestler pushing his body too far while clearly not fit to compete.
4. Bret Hart vs. Bob Backlund
The "I Quit" match between these two legends at WrestleMania XI is widely regarded as disappointing by fans and by Bret Hart himself, who called it his "worst PPV match ever". The contest was poorly received due to the constant, annoying interjections from guest referee Roddy Piper asking "What do you say?", and an unsatisfying, confusing finish where Hart's mother threw in the towel to end the match. The bizarre ending completely undermined the intensity of an "I Quit" match and failed to deliver the technical classic fans hoped for.
3. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe
This main event at the 2018 WWE Backlash pay-per-view faced an uphill battle due to a tired and largely apathetic crowd who had already invested their energy in the prior AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura match. The crowd's negative reaction to Roman Reigns at the time, combined with a slow-paced match featuring many rest holds, resulted in a forgettable and disappointing main event. Fans chanted for everything but the match itself, creating an atmosphere that overshadowed any in-ring effort from the two talented performers.
2. Barry Windham vs. The Great Muta
This NWA World Heavyweight Championship match at WCW SuperBrawl 3 is viewed as underwhelming because it failed to deliver a classic performance expected from two top-tier international stars. Reviewers noted a lack of energy, with Muta in particular being accused of a "lazy performance" and not properly selling the finish, resulting in a merely "serviceable" but ultimately disappointing title change. The match was described as "flat" and did not live up to the high standards both men were capable of producing.
1. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker
The final pay-per-view match between these two icons of the Attitude Era was a forgettable contest at WWE Backlash 2002 that lacked the intensity of their previous encounters. It featured a controversial finish where The Undertaker pinned Austin to become the number one contender for the title, despite Austin clearly having his foot on the bottom rope during the three-count. The disappointing finish and lack of chemistry made this a low point in the shared history of two of WWE's biggest stars.
