The 2000s was a huge changing era for WWE which saw the promotion move from the Attitude Era to the Ruthless Aggression Era to the PG Era, hosting a boat load of major stars during that time and putting forth many important matches. Some of the matches in the 2000s didn’t always have the desired outcomes for many WWE fans though.
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The opinions on some of these match winners is far from unanimous, with fans arguing over the result for many years after the match ended. The following matchups had unpopular winners, leading to debates lasting until the present day for a variety of different reasons.
Royal Rumble 2000
Winner: The Rock
- The Rock’s feet touched the floor
- Some believe the winner should have been Big Show
- WWE did use this in storyline to build WrestleMania
The 2000 Royal Rumble match had a divisive winner for quite a bizarre reason. At the end of the match, The Rock and The Big Show both went tumbling over the top rope, but in a legit botch, The Rock’s feet briefly touched the floor before Big Show, meaning that The Rock should’ve technically lost.
For the sanctity of the Royal Rumble match, there are still fans to this day who argue over the result, claiming that The Big Show should’ve been crowned the winner.
Triple H Vs. Booker T
Winner: Triple H
- The storyline heading into WrestleMania was controversial
- Booker T should have arguably won this match
- This will forever be a weird result
A storyline with racial connotations should’ve seen the underdog Booker T win, vanquishing the vile world champion. However, Triple H beat Booker T in a result which is still contested by fans to this very day.
Sure, Triple H was the bigger star and went on to help elevate the likes of Batista and Randy Orton, but Booker T losing here was a bad call, and in hindsight the result has not gotten any easier to swallow for many WWE fans.
Extreme Elimination Chamber
Winner: Bobby Lashley
- The audience wanted a CM Punk win
- Bobby Lashley was WWE’s handpicked guy
- This match is regarded as one of the worst Chamber’s ever
At the one and only ECW December To Dismember PPV, a new ECW World Champion was crowned as Bobby Lashley won an ‘Extreme’ Elimination Chamber match. He was certainly someone with a great look, but he did not represent the ECW brand, legacy, or character in the slightest.
Someone who did was CM Punk, who to this day fans feel should have walked out with the gold instead of being eliminated from the match first in a baffling booking call.
Triple H Vs. The Rock Vs. Big Show Vs. Mick Foley
Winner: Triple H
- A heel had never won the Mania main event before
- The Rock had to wait until Backlash for his moment
- Fans wanted The Rock to get a big babyface win
For the first time ever, a fatal four way headlined WrestleMania, and for the first time ever, a heel walked out of the biggest show of the year as a winner in the main event. This was a huge shock due to the happy endings fans had become used to.
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On one hand, it was a fresh take on WrestleMania and opened the door to more unpredictability, though on the other hand it robbed The Rock of a major WrestleMania moment that fans were desperate to see him have.
John Cena Vs. Edge
Winner: John Cena
- Edge cashed in the Money In The Bank contract at New Year’s Revolution
- Cena won the title back at the Rumble
- Fans didn’t want the reign to end so soon
The 2006 Royal Rumble event featured new WWE Champion Edge defending his title against John Cena just a few weeks after his massive Money In The Bank cash in. Edge dropped the title straight back to Cena, something not everyone was overly impressed with.
Given that Cena was the bigger star heading into WrestleMania season, it did make sense for Cena to be the focus heading into the show, plus it did lead to Edge’s great match with Mick Foley. However, it was another case of WWE not banking on a new star, and handing the title straight back to the ultimate good guy. Fans wanted to see Edge have a longer reign with the title.
Brock Lesnar Vs. Big Show
Winner: Brock Lesnar
- Lesnar’s first loss was against Big Show
- Paul Heyman turned on Lesnar to help Big Show win
- The result was divisive due to it being Lesnar’s first defeat
Heading into Survivor Series 2002, Brock Lesnar was an undefeated WWE Champion. It is unsurprising that having Big Show be the first man to defeat him was a divisive result. The shock turn of Paul Heyman was admittedly a great moment, which has led to an argument between fans over who should’ve won.
Lesnar should have put over a new star with his first ever defeat and not been beaten by Big Show, but the moment itself was such a great swerve.
JBL Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Winner: JBL
- JBL was unproven in the main event scene
- He beat popular champion Eddie Guerrero
- JBL proved fans wrong with a good run as WWE Champion
Eddie Guerrero’s reign as WWE Champion wasn’t overly perfect, but fans were still unhappy at the decision to dethrone him at the hands of JBL, who had only just broken into the main event scene in WWE.
The 2004 Great American Bash brought the one and only world title reign of Guerrero to an end, in a decision that many fans groaned about. JBL did prove to be a solid heel champion, so there is an argument to suggest that this was the correct call, especially since Guerrero’s run with the gold wasn’t perfect due to his booking.
Elimination Chamber 2003
Winner: Triple H
- Triple H defended the World Heavyweight Title at SummerSlam 2003
- Goldberg was undefeated in WWE heading into the match
- He lost his record at the hands of an interfering Evolution
The booking of Goldberg was baffling in 2003, as the WCW star arrived in WWE as a watered down version of the man who dominated the rival brand. By SummerSlam 2003, his undefeated streak was brought to an end inside the Elimination Chamber as Triple H used a sledgehammer to put him down.
On one hand, it helped build heat, “protected” Goldberg, and gave him more of an underdog story, but on the other it damaged his aura and played a part in ruining his star power in the company.
Matt Hardy Vs. Jeff Hardy
Winner: Matt Hardy
- WrestleMania 25 was the first singles match for both Hardy Boyz
- Jeff Hardy was at the peak of his popularity
- Fans wanted Jeff Hardy to have a WrestleMania moment
Jeff Hardy was removed from the world title scene ahead of WrestleMania 25 in an unpopular call, feuding with brother Matt Hardy, leading up to their first singles match the the show of shows. Instead of giving the popular babyface a big win on the grandest stage, it was the heel Matt Hardy who won… clean.
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On one hand, it was a nice shock result and it led to Jeff Hardy getting revenge, but it did rob fans of seeing a big, happy moment for their hero.
Chris Jericho Vs. Shawn Michaels
Winner: Chris Jericho
- Fans wanted to see Michaels win a world title again
- Jericho’s heel work was on fire at the time
- Fans were split over who should’ve won
Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels had an iconic rivalry in 2008, leading up to their fantastic No Mercy ladder match. Michaels hadn’t won a world title in many years, and it felt like now was the right time for him to get one more run with a top prize.
Jericho won the match in a result which fans are still divided on, especially since Michaels never got another chance to win a world title before finally retiring. Additionally, Jericho’s reign would come to an end unceremoniously at the hands of John Cena just the following month.