FanPost

Ranking every WWE main roster Premium Live Event match from 2022: #80-71

WWE.com

It's that time again! After going through the bottom of the barrel of WWE main event PLE matches last week, this week focuses on bad matches that are either just redeemable enough to avoid the basement, or are uneventful enough to not trigger strong feelings of resentment. A couple of notes regarding the #81-90 list from last week:

  • A lot of match criticism was harsh, but it's important to remember that they were also the bottom 10. Sometimes, one must be blunt.
  • While some of the in-ring action was great in those matches, specifically the spots in the MitB ladder matches, the storylines involved (or lack of storylines involved - more notably on the men's side) sometimes took away from the effect of the match.
  • Many of the "bottom-middle" are matches that are less notable than the ones who brought up the rear. Simple explanation: In order to be offended enough to mark a match in the bottom tier, one must care enough to be offended. Hence, why many of those matches were pivotal matches. Madcap Moss and Omos make it hard to stir up emotions of any kind, positive or negative, so here they are; in the nondescript tier.

Anyways, enjoy #80-71...

#80: Omos def. Bobby Lashley; Backlash

Okay first off, I am never referring to Backlash as WrestleMania Backlash. It's dumb. Secondly, what’s there really to say about this match? The feud went on way too long, and this match is evidence of that. After getting about as good of a match as they were going to get out of Omos at Mania, the decision to run this one back and extend this feud backfired.

#79: Drew McIntyre def. Madcap Moss; Day 1

That’s right, Madcap Moss is on this list. Like, a lot. There was nothing inherently wrong with this match, except for the fact that it featured Madcap Moss and so by default cannot rank that high. Also, a big problem with this match and the McIntyre / Corbin / Madcap feud in general was the fact that McIntyre was built up to be a legitimate threat to end Roman Reigns' title run in Wales, yet he spent most of the year messing around with midcard heels.

#78: Drew McIntyre def. Madcap Moss in a falls count anywhere match; Elimination Chamber

See above.

#77: Bobby Lashley def. Omos & MVP in a handicap match; Hell in a Cell

The last match in the underwhelming "Bobby vs. Omos" saga ended in really the only way it could. Bobby won a handicap match to look strong, but MVP took the pin because, well, he’s a manager and pins don’t affect him. Was it pretty? No. But at least it ended things.

#76: Austin Theory © def. Mustafa Ali to retain the United States Championship; Hell in a Cell

Now in terms of, like, in-ring ability, this match is MILES ahead of anything in the bottom 25. The issue is that the wrong guy won. If Ali was just a casualty of a long, sustained Austin Theory US Title reign, it would be one thing. But Theory dropped the title on the literal next PLE, to a main event-level guy who probably did not need it. And Ali has done a lot of losing since then. Thus, into "rankings purgatory" it goes.

#75: Naomi & Ronda Rousey def. Charlotte Flair & Sonya Deville; Elimination Chamber

Man, remember that Naomi / Sonya Deville feud? I probably would have left the company too if I was Naomi.

#74: Ronda Rousey wins the Women’s Royal Rumble match; Royal Rumble

While infinitely more watchable than the men’s counterpart due to fun surprise entrants, the return of Mickie James, and and overall victory lap for a women’s division that has really come so far since the day of bra & panty matches, much of the atmosphere was sucked out of the place when Ronda Rousey showed up. Like Lesnar would do an hour later, Ronda’s mere existence in this match meant that nobody else stood a chance.

#73: Madcap Moss & Street Profits def. Austin Theory & Alpha Academy; Clash at the Castle

No, not even a babyface Madcap Moss can get any higher than the 70s.

#72: Bobby Lashley def. Omos; Wrestlemania, Night 2

You know the old adage people use to describe how great of a wrestler someone is? The one where they say "X could have a 5 star match with a broomstick"? Well, all things considered, Bobby did a pretty good job with a broomstick here.

#71: The Judgment Day def. Finn Balor, AJ Styles & Liv Morgan; Hell in a Cell

Full disclosure, I think that The Judgment Day has evolved into something pretty cool. Dare I say, I also actually like the group better on its own than in Edge’s shadow. This match was very much the turning point in the rise of Judgment Day, and was an indicator of positive things to come. The match itself, however, was a bit stale and saw Finn Balor lose yet another big match. Positive points come out of this for where the story would go next, but at the time I remember not being impressed by this match, a match in which the ending was a bit telegraphed.

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