Worst in the World: Randy Orton vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 37 (Night 2)

I don't normally jump the gun on choosing matches for the Worst in the World so soon after they took place, but...man, what the fuck was this? WrestleMania 37 was actually a pretty good show despite having a very lackluster build. The main events of both nights were great, Cesaro had a killer match with Seth Rollins, and Bad Bunny heavily exceeded expectations and had arguably the best celebrity match in the history of wrestling. That being said, there were definitely some missteps over the course of the weekend. Big E vs Apollo Crews was going well, but the finish was pretty underwhelming, and the women's tag team gauntlet was easily the worst match of Night 1. Going into Night 2, it was going to be hard to be worse than that gauntlet match...and then Night 2 started.

Randy Orton vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt opened Night 2 of WrestleMania 37, which proved to be a massive downgrade from the opener of Night 1. I don't mean Bobby Lashley vs Drew McIntyre, I'm talking about the weather delay. Orton and Wyatt had been feuding since October 2020 and reached some truly batshit insane levels when the two faced off in a "Firefly Inferno" match at TLC 2020, where Orton would not only win by shoving Wyatt into a burner and catching his back on fire but would douse Wyatt in gasoline and set him completely on fire. Also, he hit an RKO while Wyatt was on fire.

2020 was a weird year for WWE.

Despite besting the Fiend and violating the Geneva Conventions in the process, Orton couldn't escape the Fiend, as his sidekick Alexa Bliss continued to torment him. Over the course of a few months, Bliss would throw a fireball in Orton's face, make him vomit up black goo, and create an evil copy of Orton on backstage monitors. 2021 has been just as weird for WWE, honestly. This culminated at Fastlane this year in a "match" between Orton and Bliss, which ended with an extra toasty Fiend emerging from the ring and taking out Orton, allowing Bliss to pick up the win.

The two were set for one last match at WrestleMania 37. Despite not having a great track record of matches in the past, their Firefly Inferno match was delightfully wacky, so you could hope for something good at the Showcase of the Immortals. And they blew it. The match earned not only a negative one-star rating from Dave Meltzer, but pulled in a 1.47/10 rating on Cagematch.net, which is the lowest-rated pay-per-view match since Seth Rollins vs The Fiend at Hell in a Cell 2019. That's the territory we're in right now. Let's get into this.

Orton's out first in some special WrestleMania white trunks.

I know some people weren't a fan of the gear, but I personally liked it. After a video package recapping the feud, we see the Fiend standing in a hallway of LED boards with flames behind him. As he steps towards the camera, he reforms into the classic Fiend. Back in the arena, the lights go out as drones spell out "LET ME IN" in red. As they come back on, Alexa Bliss makes her entrance as a giant Jack in the Box with pentagrams on it appears at ringside.

Or, as they repeatedly called it on commentary...a "box-like structure." Jesus...I might as well just get it out of the way now..."box-like structure." IT'S A BOX. YOU CAN CALL IT A BOX. Why does WWE always do stuff like this? This is just like when they say someone went to a "local medical facility" instead of a hospital. YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET SUED BY THE CONCEPTS OF BOXES OR HOSPITALS, YOU CAN JUST CALL THINGS "BOXES" AND "HOSPITALS."

Bliss turns the handle on the Jack in the Box-Like Structure (credit to Emily Pratt for that phrase), opening the lid-like top as the lights turn a red-like crimson. The Fiend rises out of the box and, after playing up to the crowd, dives off the box and hits a clothesline before the bell rings. And then the lights don't change back, which means FUCK ME, VIRTUAL BOY VISION IS BACK!

Because that was definitely the thing people like about the Fiend, the grating red lighting. Wyatt follows up with an Uranage before laughing maniacally and twisting Orton's neck. Wyatt then pays tribute to Brodie Lee, doing his signature taunt and yelling "YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!" That was nice.

Wyatt calls for Sister Abigail, only to instead set up for a Punt Kick. That's a nice little callback. Orton rolls out of the ring to avoid the kick, catching Fiend with a back suplex onto the announce table when Wyatt follows him out. However, Wyatt no-sells it and locks in the Mandible Claw, which Orton breaks by rolling back into the ring. Orton is able to catch Wyatt with the draping DDT, but Wyatt pops right back up. Wyatt blocks the follow-up RKO attempt, but Orton tosses Wyatt into the box (which gives us our first "box-like structure drop of the match) before hitting a second draping DDT. Wyatt quickly recovers and no-sells Orton's strikes and stomps before catching him with a clothesline and a crossbody block. Wyatt goes for a senton, but Orton dodges it and tosses Wyatt out of the ring, Orton hits a third draping DDT and calls for the RKO, but Wyatt blocks it and locks in the Mandible Claw. Wyatt goes for Sister Abigail, only for fire to shoot out of the ring posts. Suddenly, we see Alexa Bliss sitting on top of the box, with black liquid pouring out of her forehead.

And just like that, we have Character Assassination attempt #3 for the Fiend.

This distraction allows Orton to recover and hit the RKO for the three and the win. One RKO. And that was it. The crowd boos as Wyatt and Bliss stare each other down. The lights go out and when they come back on, Wyatt and Bliss are both gone as the crowd boos some more. But hey, at least their box-like structure was still there.

The Verdict-Like Decision

Why? Why did it have to be like this? Everything was going so well. The Fiend was still over despite all the terrible booking he's endured...and then they pulled this. Just like their match at WrestleMania 33, there was no reason Orton should've won this. The Fiend should've gotten the dominant win. Everything leading up to the end was perfectly fine, but the finish is so bad. It's crazy to think how far the Fiend has actually fallen since Hell in a Cell. He went from someone who was booked to be an unkillable monster, to someone you can beat with just one finisher. And I know the Fiend has recovered from a lot (like, A LOT) of bad booking decisions, but I don't know how he can recover from this one. I genuinely don't know how anything good can come from whatever they have planned for The Fiend and Alexa Bliss. It's amazing how WWE had one of the most interesting, unique characters they've had in a long time, and in less than two years, they killed any interest in the character. What a stupid company.

The Ranking-Like List (Best to Worst)

1. Rick Rude vs Jake Roberts-WrestleMania IV
2. Too Much vs Al Snow & Head-King of the Ring 1998
3. Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns-Greatest Royal Rumble
4. Ernest Miller vs Norman Smiley-Fall Brawl 1998
5. Shane McMahon vs Eric Bischoff-SummerSlam 2003
6. The Tag Team Gauntlet-Extreme Rules 2010
7. Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 33
8. Vampiro vs Sting-Great American Bash 2000
9. T&A vs Head Cheese-WrestleMania 2000
10. Triple H vs Sgt. Slaughter-D-Generation X: In Your House
11. Konnan vs One Man Gang-SuperBrawl VI
12. Ultimate Warrior vs Hercules-WrestleMania IV
13. Rick Rude vs Hawk-Clash of the Champions XXV
14. Shelton Benjamin vs Viscera-New Year's Revolution 2006
15. Steve McMichael vs Reggie White-Slamboree 1997
16. Lars Sullivan vs Lucha House Party-Super Showdown 2019
17. Alexa Bliss vs Bayley-Extreme Rules 2017
18. The Tag Team Fatal 4-Way Match-WrestleMania 13
19. Tag Team Battle Royal-WrestleMania XIV
20. The Chamber of Horrors-Halloween Havoc 1991
21. The Natural Disasters vs Money Inc.-WrestleMania VIII
22. Ivan Koloff vs Paul Jones-Clash of the Champions IV
23. ODB, Taylor Wilde, and Roxxi vs The Kongtourage-Genesis 2009
24. Ivory vs Tori-SummerSlam 1999
25. Giant Baba vs Bulldog Bob Brown-WrestleRock
26. The Reverse Battle Royal-Impact! (10/26/2006)
27. Jerry Blackwell vs Boris Zhukov-SuperClash II
28. Nikita Koloff vs Bobby Eaton-Bunkhouse Stampede
29. Alex Wright vs Steve McMichael-Halloween Havoc 1997
30. The Great Khali vs Kane-WrestleMania 23
31. Savio Vega vs Crush vs Faarooq-Ground Zero: In Your House
32. The Shockmaster vs Awesome/King Kong-Starrcade 1993
33. Total Divas vs Other Divas-Survivor Series 2013
34. The Oddities vs Kaientai-SummerSlam 1998
35. Hulk Hogan vs Sid Justice-WrestleMania VIII
36. Paul Ellering vs Teddy Long-Capital Combat
37. Dusty Rhodes vs Big Boss Man-Saturday Night's Main Event (10/31/1989)
38. Konnan vs Scott Hall-Fall Brawl 1998
39. Tyson Tomko vs Stevie Richards-Unforgiven 2004
40. Kane vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2009
41. Rick Steiner vs Scott Steiner-Fall Brawl 1998
42. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Hog Wild
43. Hollywood Hogan vs The Giant-Souled Out 1997
44. Dustin Rhodes & King Kong vs Awesome Kong & The Equalizer-Battlebowl
45. Finlay & Little Bastard vs The Boogeyman & Little Boogeyman-No Way Out 2007
46. Jake Roberts vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania V
47. El Gigante vs Nailz-G1 Climax 1994 (Day 1)
48. Yokozuna vs King Mabel-In Your House 4
49. Dusty Rhodes vs The Honky Tonk Man-SummerSlam 1989
50. Sting & Hawk vs Meng & Kurasawa-Clash of the Champions XXXI
51. Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage-Uncensored 1998
52. Al Snow vs Big Boss Man-Unforgiven 1999
53. Mickie James vs Ashley-Royal Rumble 2006
54. Antonio Inoki vs The Great Antonio-NJPW Sumo Hall Show (12/8/1977)
55. Christy Hemme vs Big Fat Oily Guy-Against All Odds 2007
56. British Bulldog & Jim Neidhart vs The Dancing Fools-Fall Brawl 1998
57. Stevie Ray vs Konnan-World War 3 1998
58. Vampiro vs The KISS Demon-Bash at the Beach 2000
59. Team WCW vs nWo Wolfpac vs nWo Hollywood-Fall Brawl 1998
60. Vampiro vs Oklahoma-Starrcade 1999
61. Big Swole vs Penelope Ford, Rebel, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.-AEW Dynamite (8/27/2020)
62. Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant-WrestleMania III
63. Jinder Mahal vs Randy Orton-Battleground 2017
64. Van Hammer vs Terrance Taylor-Clash of the Champions XVI
65. Junkyard Dog vs Moondog Spot-Wrestling Classic
66. Chris Jericho vs "Goldberg"-Fall Brawl 1998
67. Roman Reigns vs The Undertaker-WrestleMania 33
68. The Undertaker vs Goldberg-Super ShowDown 2019
69. Hiroshi Wajima vs Tom Magee-All Japan Pro Wrestling 1988
70. Jim Duggan vs Big Boss Man-Royal Rumble 1990
71. Meng vs Jim Duggan-Uncensored 1995
72. Jim Steele vs The Equalizer-SuperBrawl IV
73. The Undertaker vs Giant González-WrestleMania IX
74. Sting vs Tony Palmore-Battle 7
75. D-Generation X vs Brothers of Destruction-Crown Jewel
76. Wendi Richter vs Leilani Kai-WrestleMania
77. Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar-WrestleMania XX
78. Edge vs Triple H vs Vladimir Kozlov-Survivor Series 2008
79. Kevin Sullivan vs Dave Sullivan-SuperBrawl V
80. Steve McMichael vs Brian Adams-Road Wild 1998
81. Scott Hall vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl IX
82. Boris Zhukov vs Paul Samson-Beach Brawl
83. Roddy Piper vs Hollywood Hogan-Halloween Havoc 1997
84. Kane vs The Great Khali-Breaking Point
85. Hollywood Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Diamond Dallas Page & Karl Malone-Bash at the Beach 1998
86. PN News & Bobby Eaton vs Steve Austin & Terrance Taylor-Great American Bash 1991
87. Scott Steiner vs Sid Vicious vs Jeff Jarrett vs Road Warrior Animal-Sin
88. Hollywood Hogan vs Roddy Piper-SuperBrawl 1997
89. Batista vs The Great Khali-SummerSlam 2007
90.  Sable vs Tori-WrestleMania XV
91. Super Invader vs Todd Champion-WrestleWar 1992
92. Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez-Crown Jewel 2019
93. King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart vs Yokozuna & Jake Roberts-Heroes of Wrestling
94. Sid Vicious vs The Nightstalker-Clash of the Champions XIII
95. The 8-Divas Tag Match-Survivor Series 1999
96. The Fabulous Freebirds vs The Renegade Warriors-Halloween Havoc 1990
97. The Knockouts Gauntlet-One Night Only: Live! 2016
98. AJ Styles vs Frank Trigg-No Surrender 2008
99. Rick Rude vs Masahiro Chono-Halloween Havoc 1992
100. Mike Awesome vs Vampiro-Halloween Havoc 2000
101. Bray Wyatt vs John Cena-Extreme Rules 2014
102. Brothers of Destruction vs KroniK-Unforgiven 2001
103. Mabel vs The Undertaker-King of the Ring 1995
104. Wendi Richter vs The Fabulous Moolah-The Brawl to End it All
105. David Flair vs Kimberly Page-Mayhem 1999
106. The Truth Commission vs The Disciples of Apocolypse-Survivor Series 1997
107. Daffney vs Miss Hancock-Bash at the Beach 2000
108. The Bushwhacker vs The Fabulous Rougeaus-WrestleMania V
109. Randy Orton vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-WrestleMania 37
110. The Beverly Brothers vs The Bushwhackers-Royal Rumble 1992
111. Teddy Long vs Eric Bischoff-Survivor Series 2005
112. Greg Valentine vs George Steele-Heroes of Wrestling
113. Abdullah the Butcher vs One Man Gang-Heroes of Wrestling
114. Major Gunns vs Miss Hancock-New Blood Rising
115. Bradshaw & Trish Stratus vs Christopher Nowinski & Jackie Gayda-RAW (7/8/2002)
116. Triple H vs Scott Steiner-Royal Rumble 2003
117. Goldberg vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-Super ShowDown 2020
118. Santina Marella vs Vickie & Chavo Guerrero-Extreme Rules 2009
119. Kevin Nash vs Scott Steiner vs Goldberg-New Blood Rising
120. Hollywood Hogan vs The Warrior-Halloween Havoc 1998
121. Mr. T vs Roddy Piper-WrestleMania 2
122. The Royal Family vs Clowns R' Us-Survivor Series 1994
123. The House of Horrors Match-Payback 2017
124. The Blacktop Bully vs Dustin Rhodes-Uncensored 1995
125. Team Dos Caras vs Team El Canek-Leyendas Mexicanas 2017
126. Pat Patterson vs Gerald Brisco-King of the Ring 2000
127. The Wyatt Swamp Fight-The Horror Show at Extreme Rules
128. The Four Doinks vs Team Bigelow-Survivor Series 1993
129. Sting vs Jeff Hardy-Victory Road 2011
130. Bret Hart vs Mr. McMahon-WrestleMania XVI
131. Oz vs Tim Parker-SuperBrawl
132. Brock Lesnar vs Braun Strowman-Crown Jewel 2018
133. Brock Lesnar vs Ricochet-Super ShowDown 2020
134. The Mighty Maccabee vs The Iron Sheik-Maccabiah Mania II: Shekel Slam
135. Van Hammer vs Doug Somers-Halloween Havoc 1991
136. Ultimate Warrior vs Andre the Giant-Saturday Night's Main Event (11/25/1989)
137. Jeff Jarrett vs Sting-Halloween Havoc 2000
138. The Doomsday Cage Match-Uncensored 1996
139. Kane vs The Undertaker-Judgement Day 1998
140. Rebel vs Shelly Martinez-One Night Only: Knockouts Knockdown
141. Kaitlyn vs Maxine-NXT (10/19/2010)
142. Sabu vs The Sandman-November to Remember 1997
143. Seth Rollins vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt-Hell in a Cell 2019
144. Michael Cole vs Jerry Lawler-WrestleMania XXVII
145. The Bushwhackers vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff-Heroes of Wrestling
146. James Storm vs Chris Harris-Lockdown 2007
147. John Laurinaitis vs John Cena-Over the Limit 2012
148. Hulk Hogan vs The Giant-Halloween Havoc 1995
149. Ultimate Warrior vs Goldust-In Your House 7
150. Los Villanos vs Los Psycho Circus-Triplemania XXIII
151. Jenna Morasca vs Sharmell-Victory Road 2009

Thanks for reading! Be sure to share if you enjoy and leave any suggestions for matches you'd like to see covered in the Worst in the World in the comments. Next time, I'll take a look at another WrestleMania stinker, this time with a little feminine touch. Also, Kid Rock is there. Until then...