WWE’s Fatal 4 Way gimmick pay-per-view debuts Sunday, and it, on the surface, enters the market as what critics are calling one of WWE’s worst-hyped events in a while.
The promotion and buzz has largely been lacking ahead of Sunday’s show, with nothing outside of the two main-events receiving much attention in the pre-show build.
Another dilemma has come from the fact that WWE recently introduced a “NXT Invasion” storyline on RAW. While the storyline produced a minor RAW ratings bump and has made WWE’s product hotter than it has been since the WrestleMania build (which, interestingly, produced a disappointing buyrate for the big event), it has also taken attention away from the Fatal 4 Way matches.
The situation is thus interesting–in bringing more buzz to WWE’s television product, WWE has effectively overshadowed the key elements of its pay-per-view. Although the NXT storyline will continue Sunday by virtue of the seven ‘graduates’ demanding Bret Hart give an answer to their demand for contracts (and possibly by virtue of an involvement in the RAW main-event), it is not clear that the angle can sell the show as well as emphasis on the matches would have.
Nonetheless, given how little attention has been on those matches, if the show does something decent financially, credit would have to be provided to the NXT crew.
— The card:
WWE Championship Fatal 4 Way
John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge vs. Sheamus
World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4 Way
Jack Swagger vs. Big Show vs. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk
IC Championship
Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
US Championship
The Miz (c) vs. R-Truth
Divas Championship Fatal 4 Way
Eve (c) vs. Maryse vs. Alicia vs. Gail
— As noted Friday, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE officials gave creative a directive to get the World Heavyweight Championship belt off Jack Swagger. The title change was not necessarily scheduled for Sunday, but one should keep an eye out for a near-term Swagger title loss–he is no longer expected to carry the belt all summer.
— Jim Ross teased surprises for the show in a Twitter post, although his wording did not necessarily guarantee anything major will happen.