Worst Booked WWE Match Every Year Of The 1990s

The 1990s were one of the most fascinating, and well-documented periods in WWE history. The decade started while the company was still in the midst of The Golden Era and ended well into The Attitude Era – with the New Generation Era in the middle.

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The Most Over-Booked WWE Match Every Year Of The 1990s

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As with any other decade in WWE, the booking had its share of hits and misses. For every Bret and Owen Hart match, or Shawn Michaels and Undertaker classic, there were plenty of matches that left a lot to be desired. Let’s look back at the worst booked WWE match for every year of the 90s.

1990: The Survivor Series Grand Finale

This Was An Experimental Concept That Was Never Revisited

When the annual Survivor Series rolled around in 1990, it was casually announced that for the first time ever, a “Grand Finale” featuring all of the night’s survivors from their respective elimination matches would be held. We weren’t told much other than that, and of course that the match would also be contested under traditonal Survivor Series rules.

The match would end up being a 5 on 3 affair, with the heels having the advantage. The problem was that while the booking made sense in kayfabe terms, it didn’t make much literal sense in how the teams were determined. Legend has it that Tito Santana was paired with Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior, as he was being considered for a major push, that would end up going to Bret Hart instead.

1991: Hulk Hogan Vs. Sgt. Slaughter

This Match Main Evented WrestleMania 7

It was one of the strangest and most controversial builds to a WrestleMania in company history. It all began with an ill-advised heel turn by Sgt. Slaughter, as WWE attempted to use the real-life American/Iraq conflict in storyline. An American, Sgt. Slaughter, would inexplicably and illogically become an Iraqi “sympathizer, and the results were not good.

The idea was to build to a WrestleMania match between Slaughter and The Real American, Hulk Hogan. Because the stroyline was muddled and in bad taste, it led to one of the flattest WrestleMania main events we’ve ever had.

1992: Hulk Hogan Vs. Sid Justice

This Match Was The Main Event Of WrestleMania 8

The original plan for the main event of WrestleMania 8 was said to see Ric Flair defend the WWE Championship against Hulk Hogan. It was considered a dream match at the time, as both men had been the top draw in their respective promotions, before finally ending up in the same place at the same time. There are several theories as to why the match was scrapped, but the WWE would pivot to Randy Savage/Ric Flair, and Hulk Hogan/Sid Justice as a double main event feature.

While the former would deliver, Hogan and Sid would close the show, with what many consider to be one of the worst main events in WrestleMania history. The match would actually end in a disqualfication; that’s right, the biggest match of the year would end in a non-finish.

1993: Lex Luger Vs. Yokozuna

This Match Main Evented SummerSlam

Much like the prior entry, this match would headline one of the biggest events of the year, only to conclude without a pinfall or a submission. After bodyslamming Yokozuna aboard the USS Intrepid, WWE had strapped the proverbial rocket to the back of Lex Luger, complete with the Lex Express tour bus. All things indicated that Lex was well on his way to unseating Yokozuna for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.

However, the match would end when Yokozuna was counted out, as Luger celebrated as though he had just won the title, though he certainly had not. By all accounts, the WWE had gotten cold feet when it came to Lex, and most feel that his career in WWE never truly recovered as a result.

1994: The Undertaker Vs. The Undertaker

This Match Actually Headlined SummerSlam 1994

One look at this match on paper, and it’s rather self explanatory why it’s considered the worst booked match of 1994. It was enough to garner some instant intrigue, but the closer it got to bell time, fans quickly decided it was something they didn’t really want to see.

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When The Undertaker was booked to wrestle his evil doppelganger, it was clear that creative had stretched the limits of the character, entirely. The match itself was a chore to get through as The Undertaker was still working at a painfully methodical pace at the time. It hasn’t aged well, and requires explanation to anyone who wasn’t watching WWE when it transpired.

1995: Mabel Vs. Diesel

Mabel Earned A WWE Championship Match By Winning King Of The Ring

Mabel shocked the wrestling world when he captured the King Of The Ring crown in 1995. As was customary at the time, he would then be granted a WWE Title opportunity at SummerSlam of that year. The problem was that the championship was held by Diesel, and as we’ve come to learn, big man matches rarely work in execution. This one was especially bad as Mabel would actually injure Diesel during the match.

Neither man was seasoned enough to carry the other to the caliber of performance that was expected of them, and the results were virtually disastrous. Legend has it that Vince McMahon was so upset that he was ready to fire Mabel, but was talked out of it by Diesel.

1996: The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Triple H

This Match Took Place At WrestleMania 12

If you believe Bruce Prichard, then this match is what happens when you allow the talent to determine their own finishes. This match would mark The Ultimate Warrior’s return to WWE after a 4 year absence. At the time, Triple H, aka Hunter Hearst Helmsley, was competing in his first WrestleMania.

Hunter was booked to be The Warrior’s opponent that night, and would later call him “the most unprofessional person he ever worked with”. It’s alleged that The Ultimate Warrior changed the match when he learned of the original plan, making this one the worst booked of 1996.

1997: Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels (Montreal Screwjob)

This Is Conidered One Of The Most Controversial Matches In Wrestling History

While some consider the fallout to this match to have positve results, the bout itself is among the most embarrasing in company history. In November of 1997, it was announced that the annual Survivor Series would be headlined by Bret Hart defending his WWE Championship against arch-nemesis, Shawn Michaels. Bret was on his way out of the company, and didn’t really want to give Shawn the honor of defeating him.

However, Vince McMahon wanted Shawn to leave with the championship, and would deceive Bret into believing a proposed finish, only to swerve him at the final hour. It’s one of the most talked about matches of all time, and it’s for all the wrong reasons.

1998: The Undertaker Vs. Kane

This Match Took Place At Judgment Day And Featured Steve Austin As The Special Referee

Creatively speaking, 1998 was one of the best calendar years in WWE history. Occasionally, however, the company would book itself into a proverbial corner. Such as the case when Mr. McMahon was actively trying to take the WWE Championship from Steve Austin.

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Steve was scheduled to be the special referee of the match between The Undertaker and Kane, obstensibly forcing him to raise the hand of the new champion. However, Austin would predictably sabotage the match, counting a double pinfall and declaring himself the winner. The result was the absolute worst booked match of 1998.

1999: The Royal Rumble Match

The 1999 Royal Rumble Was Won By Mr. McMahon

Wrestling fans are all in on great storytelling, but this would be an example of storytelling at the expense of one of the most prestigious and anticipated events of the year. The entire 1999 Royal Rumble would serve as little more than a backdrop to the ongoing Steve Austin/Mr. McMahon saga. As a result, the match itself would prove to be completely inconsequential.

Mr. McMahon, the Chairman of the company, would actually be declared the winner of the 1999 Royal Rumble, essentially making a mockery of the entire concept. While 1999 was a mixed year in terms of creative, this stands head and shoulders above all others, as the worst booked match of the final year of the 1990s.