The 10 most important WWE matches of the 2010s

#4 The 2014 Royal Rumble match

Disaster.

One of the most infamous matches of the decade, it came as a result of two forces within WWE.

One force was the popular adoration of Daniel Bryan, who had gotten over huge in 2013. By this match, everyone wanted him to go on to WrestleMania and win the title.

But this butted up against the interests of the higher-ups. Batista had returned, and having found some success in Hollywood, they wanted to take advantage. So the company wanted to set up a match between Batista and fellow Evolution alum Randy Orton, which no fan wanted to see.

This tension resulted in an earthquake at the Royal Rumble. When Daniel Bryan didn't enter the match, no less a figure than Rey Mysterio was booed to kingdom come. Fans revolted against the ending of the match, and Batista got one of the worst receptions any winner ever got.

Realizing their mistake, Daniel Bryan was eventually inserted into the storyline, but this match significantly worsened relations between the company and its fanbase, a dynamic which would prove influential in the coming years.