FanPost

Ranking every WWE main roster Premium Live Event match from 2022: #90-81

WWE.com

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Ah, the holidays! A time of wonder. A time of cheer. A time of end-of-year wrestling lists. Inspired by the fine folks over at Cultaholic, and fueled by an ability to hyperfixate that would make a microscope blush, yours truly decided to rank every match from every WWE main roster Premium Live Event in 2022. Yes, this is a cry for help.

So what are we pulling from? Well, WWE ran 13 Premium Live Events in 2022. In chronological order, those events were: Day 1, Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania Night 1, WrestleMania Night 2, Backlash, Hell in a Cell, Money in the Bank, SummerSlam, Clash at the Castle, Extreme Rules, Crown Jewel, and Survivor Series: War Games. With 90 matches to go through, the plan is to release these in increments of ten from now through the end of the year, starting with what yours truly believes was the worst match of the year, and ending with what could be argued as the best.

Let's talk about criteria. Since this was an idea that was born in the middle of the year, and an idea that required going back to watch certain missed PLEs, there really wasn't much of a set criteria that went into this. It's safe to say how fun the match was (or was not) plays a big factor, but things like storyline, the right person winning, and the match implications play a factor.

So let's get started with numbers 90 through 81, AKA the worst of the worst AKA the armpit of WWE, AKA never watch these matches again because they have zero watchability whatsoever.

#90: Mr. McMahon def. Pat McAfee, WrestleMania Night 2

Hopefully this is the least controversial entry on this list. In true Vince McMahon fashion, Vince had to enter himself into something cool and ruin it for everyone. Stone Cold Steve Austin did a lot to try and salvage this segment in the aftermath, but the damage was already done. Vince McMahon taking the worst stunner in history is a pretty fitting metaphor for this tire fire of a match.

#89: Brock Lesnar wins the Men's Royal Rumble Match, Royal Rumble

Zero surprises of note, an ending everyone saw coming after Roman Reigns cost Brock Lesnar the WWE Championship, backstage drama... This was the beginning of the "WWE Creative makes the whole male roster look like chumps in order to build up Brock Lesnar" phase of 2022 and... no one misses it. As Rick said... the 2022 Rumble was booked with contempt, like an annoying obstacle, rather than the attraction it is.

#88: Ronda Rousey © def. Shotzi to retain the Smackdown Women's Championship, Survivor Series: War Games

The lowest rated title fight on our list, and frankly it was not even close. This was a match very clearly thrown together because WWE is spending a lot of money on Rousey and so she needs to be in big events like this. But the lack of build translated to a complete lack of chemistry, a muted crowd, and an underwhelming finish to the year for the Smackdown Women's Championship.

#87: The Brawling Brutes def. The New Day; WrestleMania, Night 2

So many things about this. First, the match was cut for time on night one. Second, the match was an incredibly short affair on night two. Lastly, the very obvious New Day revenge for Big E's broken neck angle was ignored in favor of a Brawling Brutes victory that the Brutes did not really need. This whole thing just stunk to high hell. Luckily for both teams, they would each have incredible rebounds to close out 2022.

#86: Karrion Kross def. Drew McIntyre in a strap match; Extreme Rules

Maybe it was the dodgy finish, maybe it was the fact that Drew McIntyre's prior feud with Roman Reigns was more about Karrion Kross than it was about Kross winning gold, but this was another thoroughly underwhelming match in an overall underwhelming feud.

#85: Bobby Lashley def. Brock Lesnar © to win the WWE Championship; Royal Rumble

A dream match for many, but an ultimately disappointing result. Bobby Lashley looked largely overmatched in this contest, being rag-dolled around by Lesnar for long stretches. It took an interfering Roman Reigns to make Bobby Lashley a 2x champion, in a match that made both men look weak and frankly made Roman Reigns look dumb. Why purposefully draw the ire of the one man you have been unable to consistently beat in your career? The Paul Heyman swerve here was cool, but... that was about it. Luckily, these two would get a chance to run it back later in the year, to much better results.

#84: Austin Theory wins the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match; Money in the Bank

While Vince McMahon ran creative in 2022, Austin Theory was very much the mid-card version of Brock Lesnar. If he appeared, you know he was winning. This ladder match was no exception. When Adam Pearce inserted Theory into the match, everyone knew that Drew McIntyre, Madcap Moss, Matt Riddle, Omos, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, and Sheamus stood no chance. So much of wrestling is based on storytelling, and while it is possible to tell a good story when there's a foregone conclusion, it's incredibly difficult. Case in point; this match.

#83: Liv Morgan © def. Ronda Rousey to retain the Smackdown Women's Championship; SummerSlam

Not too dissimilar to the Lesnar/Lashley match where both sides emerged looking worse, this title match did no favors for either Ronda Rousey or Liv Morgan. Liv looked weak for tapping out, Ronda looked dumb for refusing to let go of the armbar. Despite being just a bad match in general with no chemistry, it doomed Liv Morgan to a dud title run that was dead on arrival.

#82: Brock Lesnar wins the Men's Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship; Elimination Chamber

Step 1: Brock Lesnar is here. Step 2: Everyone else is doomed. Not only did Brock Lesnar win this totally telegraphed (and also unnecessary) match after ALSO winning the Royal Rumble, but he pinned everyone in the match not named Bobby Lashley. And people wonder why Vince McMahon's WWE had absolutely not sustainable mid-card. AJ Styles? See ya. Matt Riddle? Bye. Seth Rollins? Never heard of him. Bleh.

#81: Liv Morgan wins the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match; Money in the Bank

A complete and utter lack of chemistry between the participants kind of offset what should have been a feel good moment for Liv Morgan here. In the end, the right person won which gives it a boost over the men's match. But just barely.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Cageside Seats readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cageside Seats editors or staff.