2015 has been a year of highs and lows for the WWE. The network they thought would be easy to sell still has to be plugged and the ratings from RAW haven’t seen a steady increase in years. The inclusion of the Roman Reigns versus the Authority storyline seems to finally be breathing new life into a much needed dark hole of wrestling boredom. However, the product still needs more to keep climbing.
This year has seen an unusual amount of pay-per-view events that failed to build hype and anticipation, and in the cases of the ones that did, many of those fell short of delivering. We, as well as many other sites have pointed to the over abundant rematches and controversial booking decisions that led to what may go down as one of the worst creative PPV years most of us have ever seen.
Now that every PPV is in the books, let’s go back and take a look at the year’s shows and determine which ones would have been worth paying for and which ones fell below the Mendoza line. Feuds were creative, directions have been invented and twists continue to develop. Looking over the full lineup with an open mind, I have done my best to compile the rank below. Please add your thoughts in the comment boxes below.
13. Survivor Series
Unfortunately, Survivor Series was a dreadful show that continues to make us hope for the recreation of the original format that made this one of the most memorable PPV’s of each year. Once considered one of WWE’s “Big Four”, the event has been surpassed by about half a dozen other shows on the calendar.
The show started strong with the two tournament semifinal matches, but the crowd atmosphere was unenthusiastic throughout most of the night. The tournament final was really disappointing and the Sheamus cash-in was a head scratcher based on the time of need.
Obviously the Brothers of Destruction match was put in just for the hopes of making the PPV a trending success. Reusing the finish from SummerSlam 2013 – one that everyone hated when it originally happened– with a champion people liked even less was just one in a night full of disappointment. The Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose match should have been something the company built to and presented it as a main event clash, instead it was a rushed bout on the undercard of a horrible show.
Everything else on the card was either completely forgettable or actually offensive with how terrible it was.
12. Fastlane
Fastlane was another poorly promoted PPV that lacked the intrigue needed to make it a watchable event. Unfortunately, this falls in line with the norm when we are speaking of WWE creative.
There were many problems with this show that stemmed from poor execution and overused match angles. For example, Cena/Rusev 3 was a far cry from an intriguing match and Roman Reigns/Daniel Bryan did not leave the fans in a state of satisfaction. The match itself may have been the best of Roman’s solo career up until that point, but it didn’t matter because everyone was already disgusted over another snooze fest on Sunday night.
Sure, there was a feeling of excitement for the Triple H and Sting encounter where they confirmed their match for WrestleMania, but selling a PPV on a stare down or promo between 2 wrestlers is hardly a way to promote a show.
11. Elimination Chamber
This was another mediocre PPV at best that tried to limp along to the more anticipated MIB. The official main event featured the first WWE Heavyweight Championship bout between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. This was a pure wrestling match, but left nothing to the imagination. The ending wasn’t very creative, but it at least peaked our interest when Ambrose proceeded to steal Seth’s title.
The match of the night, though, was John Cena facing off against the debuting Kevin Owens. After a phenomenal battle where neither man ever left the ring, Kevin Owens shocked the world with a clean victory over Cena. In a way it was Owen’s coming out party within the WWE. He already had a background centered on the Indie scene and it was nice to see his potential put on full display for the national audience.
10. Extreme Rules
In the memory of the hellacious ECW, this PPV that is based entirely on hardcore stipulations, has become the land of the predictable rematches and unenthusiastic action. This year it seemed to turn the corner a little bit and decided to have a few good matches on the card. However, when The Big Slow is involved in the best match on the card that tells you all you need to know about the quality of a show.
While it wasn’t as bad as Fastlane or Survivor Series, absolutely nothing memorable took place at this PPV. Besides the main event cage match featuring Seth Rollins defending the title against Randy Orton, there was nothing worth going back and watching here. Yes John Cena/Rusev was on the card, but I think that was just another reason to get a refill on the refreshments.
9. Payback
If the WWE audience thought Payback would save them from the lackluster effort of Extreme rules, they were sadly mistaken. Payback was entertaining at times, but nothing more than a mediocre showing of an Authority based card.
The John Cena/Rusev feud was in full effect again and the Divas contest may as well been left off the card all together. However, the tag team match between New Day and Tyson Kidd/Cesaro was a technically sound match that gave us all something to actually get into.
The best contest of the night was easily the fatal four-way for the WWE world title, where Seth Rollins managed to retain by pinning Orton thanks to some interference from Kane. Not a bad main event but full of the usual overbooked Authority nonsense that carried on throughout Seth’s entire title reign.
Seth Rollins retained his WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a match filled with many nostalgic moments. None may have been more prominent than the Triple Powerbomb to Randy Orton, in true SHIELD fashion. Still the WWE keeps searching for a complete PPV.
8. Battleground
This year’s Battleground was a significant improvement over the inaugural 2014 edition of the show, which was one of the worst of that year. 2015 gave us three very good matches, including the final chapter in what was easily the best trilogy in WWE.
John Cena and Kevin Owens squared off for the final time in the third bout in their classic series, Roman Reigns kicked off the feud with Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins/Brock Lesnar was set for an action packed PPV. Cena/Owens tore the house down again showing why they are true players in the game.
Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar closed the show with a main event that looked like it was heading toward being something special before Taker showed up. Still upset from his loss over a year ago, The Deadman interrupted what could have been a classic, and the match having no definitive ending hurts this PPV’s ranking. The whole match seemed to be centered on setting up his rematch against Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, which took away from the overall prestige of the booking itself.
In comparison to last year’s show, Battleground was really good, it just wasn’t as great as the some of the other shows this year.
7. Night Of Champions
Night of Champions will always be remembered as the fight between 2 of wrestling’s biggest attractions. This night had a lot of potential and it was booked around being a one man show to display the gifts of Seth Rollins. Wrestling two matches in one night is a feat reserved only for the most talented of workers and Rollins proved he is definitely that. Facing two of the sport’s biggest icons on the same show was a daunting task, but one Seth proved he could handle. The last time someone had worked twice in a night; Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania XXX, he wrestled the opening match and the main event.
Rollins turned in two stellar performances against very different opponents. At the age of 56, Sting is still capable of putting on a show, but needs someone to help carry him and Seth was game. The match was better than it had any right to be and were it not for the unfortunate neck injury that Sting sustained that likely ended his career it would be remembered even more vividly.
There were other credible matches as well with Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper facing Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose and The New Day vs. The Dudley’s as acceptable bouts. Sprinkle in a Kevin Owens Intercontinental championship match with Ryback, and overall you have one of the more interesting PPV’s of 2015.
6. Hell In A Cell
The Hell in a Cell match is known by some as a concept that is no longer compatible with the PG environment of WWE. And while there is some validity to that criticism, this show proves that it can still work within the strict structure of the new rules.
Brock Lesnar locked horns with The Undertaker in what was billed as the final meeting between the two, and although it didn’t love up to the standard set by their cell bout from 2002’s No Mercy, it wasn’t disappointing by any stretch. At this stage of the game in both of their storied careers that kind of label is somewhat unfair and unrealistic.
To be honest, with 2 very entertaining HIAC matches there wasn’t really a bad contest on the entire card, and that earned the show a favorable ranking.
5. Royal Rumble
Who is coming into the ring next? Who will be #1? Who will be #30? What surprise entrants will be included? The Royal Rumble is always the second most anticipated event on the WWE slate, as it’s such a fun concept that allows us to see all of our favorites in action and interacting all at once. While WWE provided us with the direction for WrestleMania, for the second year in a row they failed miserably when it came to the handling of the 30-man rumble.
From Roman Reigns getting the planned win of the Rumble to Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt getting the elimination treatment of the Brooklyn Brawler, nothing during that match seemed to add up. The final two in the ring with Reigns were Kane and The Big Show, enough said! The inclusion of Diamond Dallas Page and Bubba Dudley was awesome, but there were less legends this year, and the action in the rumble seemed slower than normal.
Looking past the Rumble Match itself, I have to say that the main event certainly stole the show. In what could be conceivably be considered as the match of the year, 22 minutes of nonstop action, thrills and breathtaking near falls really helped put Seth Rollins on the map as a major singles player.
Seeing Lesnar interact with someone unexpected was the key and Rollins delivered in a huge spot. Also, Cena showed why he’s the franchise carrying his end of the triple threat, and giving the audience something to remember. I still think this was PPV was solely centered on Seth Rollin’s coming out party as the future of the WWE throne.
4. SummerSlam
It’s apparent that every year as of late, SummerSlam delivers, and becomes one of the best shows of the year. This year was no different. The stakes were high and the quality was too. Aside from the lackluster bookings of Ryback vs The Miz vs The Big Show and Dolph Ziggler vs Rusev, it was an exceptional card.
Putting this show in this spot may be disagreeable for some because SummerSlam 2015 was the recipient of a mixed reaction. I personally thought highly of the show. After WrestleMania 30, everyone expected Taker/Lesnar to underwhelm for a SummerSlam main event. However, the fountain of youth was clearly on Taker’s side as he pulled out all the stops and took us on an old school ride to prominence one last time. In the end the bout was marred by the wired finish with the confusion over who won and Taker technically avenging his streak-ending loss, but the 21 minutes that preceded were incredible.
Kevin Owens and Cesaro also pulled off a great match that showed the two men are capable of giving us classics with the right time and circumstances and Rollins/Cena put on a monumental performance that was probably the best of their series thus far. SummerSlam wasn’t the landmark legendary card it’s been known to be in the past, but this year’s event was a fun show that showed us a glimpse of the future and a blast from the past all in one.
3. Money In The Bank
When the Money in the Bank concept was first introduced over a decade ago at WrestleMania it was a fresh, exciting gimmick match that reinvigorated a lagging ladder match. The competitors wowed us with eye-popping moves and memorable spots that we’d never seen before.
But like all things, the Money in the Bank match was susceptible to overkill and that’s exactly what’s happened the last few years. That being said, this year’s Money in the Bank was one of the better shows WWE produced in 2015. The Money in the Bank ladder match for the briefcase was very good, but loses points for giving us Sheamus with the briefcase. The match itself as incredible and set us up for a great show.
Up next, came the Kevin Owens vs John Cena trilogy. The previous match they had was so great that it would take a miracle to top it. And the truth is, in terms of wrestling ability and overall undefinable charisma, it did. Both men had proven to the world what they can do, and even though Owens lost, he stood tall at the end after some fine heel work.
The main event of Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose facing off in a ladder match was yet another installment in their epic feud, with this match doing a lot to legitimize both men as top stars. Being over half an hour long, it would take a lot of work to keep the audience gripped for that long, and the sheer quality of the match did just that. It also established Rollins as a strong champion, and did no damage to Dean Ambrose at all.
2. TLC
The exciting concept that continues to build intrigue year after year, TLC showed us it still can be a gem if booked properly. We all know the history including The Dudley Boyz, Hardys and Edge & Christian and the standards they set. Even though the current roster will never duplicate those matches, they continue to try and satisfy all of their high flying fans year after year.
The Usos, New Day and the Lucha Dragons responded to the claims of the past and put on a star making show of their own. There were many highlights to remember, but Kalisto’s Salida Del Sol off the ladder and onto another one will be a staple of highlight reels forever.
The rest of the matches on the card were all average to very good, but other than the opener the real star of the show was the closing segment. Roman Reigns finally snapping and unleashing a torrent of rage on Sheamus and Triple H was great and hopefully a missing ingredient in getting the fans to accept him. You can almost say the new Stone Cold Steve Austin of the PG era was born. TLC was a satisfying show with some electrifying moments that put it near the top of this list.
1. WrestleMania 31
The Grand Daddy of wrestling absolutely should be the most anticipated event on the schedule and one that pulls out all the stops. I have no problem saying that the WWE succeeded in making that happening 2015. While the hype and expectations were fairly low going in, WWE creative managed to surprise us all.
Anchored by a main event that was far better than expected, there wasn’t much on the card that underwhelmed. Stings debut in a WWE ring, a MIB cash in, UFC meets WWE, and a rehash of the NWO. Instead of going into particulars, that’s how I sum it up. For my money, the best PPV of the year. Did I miss anything?
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