5 times WWE pulled a match from pay-per-view at last minute

5 times WWE pulled a match from pay-per-view at last minute – Roman Reigns’ Hell in a Cell match, Becky Lynch's dream match compromised

By Shruti Sadbhav

Modified Jun 20, 2021 23:26 GMT

WWE had to cancel high-profile matches at times

#1 Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg (WWE WrestleMania 36)

Roman Reigns was gearing up to face Goldberg at WWE WrestleMania last year

Last year at WWE WrestleMania, Roman Reigns was scheduled to challenge Goldberg for the Universal Championship. Fans were eagerly waiting for the title change at the pay-per-view. Unfortunately, the promotion had to simultaneously start an unexpected battle with the adversities of the Covid-19 pandemic. A few backstage reports suggested that Reigns had decided to pull out of the match due to safety concerns.

Days before WrestleMania, WWE replaced Roman Reigns with Braun Strowman. The “Monster Among Men” then faced Goldberg in a decent match and defeated the Hall of Famer to win his first world title in WWE. Following that, Strowman feuded with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt for the majority of his brief title reign on SmackDown. One year later, he was released by the company.

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As far as Roman Reigns is concerned, he remained off television for months after WrestleMania. He then returned as a heel and joined forces with Paul Heyman to create his most successful WWE run to date. Missing the match at WrestleMania ultimately paid off by nudging Roman Reigns into making the required changes to his gimmick. As a result, he returned and established himself as one of the best heels in the business.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

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Edited by Greg Bush