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The year 2018 is done with its pay per views and what a roller coaster ride it has been indeed.
WWE has hardly been able to be consistent with their pay per view qualities, something which NXT does extremely well.
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2018 marked the return of the dual-branded pay per views which was a step taken to bring back both brands closer and taken due to below the mark attendance figures. Some of them were decent, while some were disappointed, to say the least.
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After analysing every pay per view that took place this year, I have formed this opinion that WWE does not always intend absolute viewer satisfaction.
Some of these events are on purpose booked in a way to anger the fans, but, most of us fail to realize that that is exactly how they want to make us feel. This is why the next event feels much better usually.
WWE wants us to feel that mixed bag of emotions to build up to moments such as Daniel Bryan's Wrestlemania 30 triumph and make them the moments of euphoria to cherish forever or to just get a reaction one way or the other and stay in good business.
NXT, however, is a thing of beauty. It never makes the smarks angry, it does evoke the best of our emotions (like the DIY breakup) but always intends to be a better show than it was earlier.
This sharp contrast is probably reflective of differing tastes of Triple H and Vince Mcmahon. I do appreciate this difference in opinion, however as this list ranks pay per views in terms of their quality, not on the larger purpose served.
NXT Takeovers have been excluded from this list for one, they would easily be better than every main roster event and second, opinion remains divided over whether they should be considered pay per view events. Let's delve in to see the best and worst of 2018.
Disclaimer: The opinions written in the article belong to the writer and doesn't essentially reflect Sportskeeda's stand.
#15 Backlash (Rating: 2/10)
This event built as the commencement of Best of Both Worlds was abysmal, to say the least. There was no title change or anything else significant.
The Good
Seth Rollins and the Miz had an amazing match for the Intercontinental Title, which was the perfect start for the show. That was pretty much it.
The Bad
Everything else to be true was either bad or hands down boring. Starting from Bayley vs Ruby Riott on the pre-show to both Women's title matches were poor.
The matches between Bryan and Cass, Hardy and Orton and Lashley with Strowman and Zayn and Owens were poor to mediocre at best.
The Styles and Nakamura match for the WWE title was a decent one with a terrible finish and for some reason, Joe vs Reigns for nothing at stake was the main event instead, which also turned out to be a match far worse than even the matches these two had on RAW.
#14 Crown Jewel (Rating: 3.5/10)
Surrounded by so much of controversy, WWE would be happy that they are finally done with this event. This PPV was lacklustre but had a nostalgic main event.
The Good
Nakamura and Rusev were decent on the pre-show. The fact that Miz and Ziggler became the finalists of the World Cup was good as they rarely get recognition for being the highly prolific veterans they are. It was nice to see two of the all-time great teams reunite, although this had far more negatives.
The Bad
The ridiculous World Cup tournament which had an even more ridiculous winner in Shane Mcmahon. Braun Strowman losing once again and Brock Lesnar becoming champion again after a nothing match was infuriating, to say the least.
The other mid-card matches were mediocre at best. Styles and Joe was decent but, the lack of purpose rendered it meaningless.
The main event was a sad slog for it pained to see four icons wrestling such a sub par match.
#13 Extreme Rules (Rating: 4.5/10)
This event was hardly live up to its name. There was one proper extreme rules match and a steel cage match on the main show. The main event was in no way extreme and disqualification even caused a fall in that match.
The Good
The New Day and Sanity had decent tables match on the pre-show. Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns delivered much more than people expected them to. Rusev against AJ Styles was good though nowhere near the best of The Phenomenal One's matches.
It was also great to see Team Hell No get back together despite Kane's unfortunate foot injury.
The Bad
The Extreme Rules Match between Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss was below the mark. The main event was a decent match but, a non-extreme rules match should not have been the main event.
Also, Rollins and Ziggler had better matches on Raw. Most Importantly. why didn't Braun Strowman toss Owens inside the ring instead of outside so that he could win?
#12 Greatest Royal Rumble (Rating: 5/10)
This was a glorified house show where all the top stars competed. However, the match quality was also mostly house show like.
The Good
John Cena vs Triple H was an above average match and a good way to start the show. Kalisto and Cedric were fun to watch for the little time they were given.
The 50 men royal rumble match had some exciting moments like the one involving Titus and Hornswoggle coming back. Daniel Bryan's performance was also very impressive. The ladder match for the Intercontinental title was especially impressive.
The Bad
The marquee matches such as Reigns and Lesnar and Styles and Nakamura failed to live up to the expectations. Undertaker and Rusev was absolute mediocrity.
The RAW tag title match was too short for anything significant to happen. The main event became a bit too long after a point. Most significantly Jinder vs Hardly was very poor.
#11 Super Showdown (Rating: 5.5/10)
This was another glorified house show in a different part of the globe. This show had two particularly good matches along with other bad to average matches.
The Good
Styles and Joe delivered the best match of their feud which still was not the finest of Styles though.
Buddy Murphy's championship win over Cedric Alexander in front of his home crowd after a very exciting match was perfect. The SHIELD vs the Dogs of War was also a good match with a nice underlying story.
The Bad
The IIconics' match was funny at times but had poor quality. Becky and Charlotte had a decent match but, the disqualification finish was disappointing.
The women's tag team match, as well as the John Cena match, gave the perfect house show feel. Miz and Bryan were given two minutes for the last match of theirs then feud. The main event was especially dull and sad to see. Kane was booked like an idiot and the Undertaker clearly showed his age throughout.
#10 Fastlane (Rating: 6/10)
This was the last Smackdown Exclusive pay per view and was fun in general. There were some matches which seem very unnecessary when looked at now, but, they were meant to expose the roster more which is hard to do these days with dual branded events.
The Good
Randy Orton vs Bobby Roode was a good match in Randy's bland babyface run. The no contest end for the New Day vs the Usos to put the Bludgeon brothers over as a serious threat was effective.
The six-pack main event for the WWE title was especially very fun and interesting to watch. Ruby Riott and Charlotte also had a decent match.
The Bad
The six-man tag team, match, and the Women's tag team match seemed like complete redundant fillers and were nothing special either. Nakamura vs Rusev did not live up to the expectations but was not particularly bad.
