WWE has developed a reputation for leaning on part-time performers to draw viewers into the program in limited appearances. Veterans, bigger names and those who also work in other fields utilize the part-time schedule to their advantage. WWE has loosened their stances on part-timers throughout the years, with Roman Reigns even reportedly getting that perk soon.
Major names like Goldberg, Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker appeared in part-time roles for years with mixed results. The most memorable matches make it all worth it with fans talking about those performances for years to come. However, there are plenty of matches to get lost in the shuffle with minimal relevance. The following matches with part-timers are barely remembered today after weak results.
10 Drew McIntyre Vs Goldberg
WWE signed Goldberg to a part-time contract with two matches per year over the past few years. The problem with such limitations is having to force a storyline in fast time with minimal excitement. Goldberg returned in early 2021 to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship.
The challenge came out of nowhere with Goldberg falsely accusing McIntyre of disrespecting legends ahead of the Royal Rumble event. This match was surprising to see Goldberg putting over McIntyre, but it was an afterthought to most fans who rarely reference it these days.
9 Triple H Vs Randy Orton
Most fans had no idea that Triple H’s final televised match was coming when he faced off with Randy Orton at Super Showdown 2019. Triple H was making the occasional return for WrestleMania or Saudi Arabia shows, with the latter fitting his match with Orton.
WWE had a relatively weak build of Triple H and Orton discussing their past rivalry in a few promos. The match itself was lackluster, but it ended up being Triple H’s final televised matches. WWE booked him in a few tag matches on a Japanese show with no matches taking place in between then and his health issues forcing a retirement.
8 The Rock & John Cena Vs R-Truth & The Miz
The Rock coming back to WWE for a two-year program with John Cena was an obvious success on paper for WWE. One of the biggest celebrities in the world coming back to the ring on the part-time scheduled set up his massive attraction matches for WrestleMania season.
However, WWE went a risky route of having Rock’s first match back in almost seven years was a forgettable tag match. Rock and Cena teamed as rivals having to get along against The Miz and R-Truth at Survivor Series 2011. The show surprisingly drew low buy rates, and most fans think of Rock’s first match back coming in the future singles bout with Cena.
7 Hulk Hogan & Shawn Michaels Vs Daivari & Muhammad Hassan
Hulk Hogan leaving WWE in 2003 ended his final stint as a full-time performer due to wanting to have the biggest talent contract in the company. WWE did business with Hogan again in 2005, but the part-time schedule only saw him wrestling occasionally.
Another attraction tag match featured Hogan teaming up here with Shawn Michaels to defeat heels Daivari and Muhammad Hassan at Backlash 2005. The match felt more suited for a house show or TV show than PPV, but it was worth it to set up the future dream match between Hogan and Michaels.
6 Batista Vs Alberto Del Rio
WWE made a mistake pushing Batista too hard for his 2014 return as the top face during WrestleMania season. Batista winning the Royal Rumble match should have been a fun moment, but it led to fans booing him out of the building due to WWE rejecting Daniel Bryan in the same role.
The weak face run for Batista in his return stint continued to fail more when he had a short-term program with Alberto Del Rio. WWE dropped the ball trying to fix fan reaction for Batista as the Del Rio match at Elimination Chamber 2014 just hurt it more. Batista’s booking caused the fans to turn on him until WWE finally turned him heel to adjust.
5 Brock Lesnar Vs Cain Velasquez
One of the biggest overlooked recent failures in WWE was the signing of former MMA star Cain Velasquez. The debut came in a huge spot taking down Brock Lesnar minutes after he won the WWE Championship from Kofi Kingston.
WWE playing into Brock’s UFC history by having one of his former enemies coming to challenge him in wrestling was meant to create a new star. Lesnar even had one of his part-time title defenses against Velasquez at Crown Jewel 2019, but the match was a huge disappointment. WWE never Cain in a storyline again and released him faster than expected.
4 Shane McMahon Vs Roman Reigns
WWE turning Shane McMahon heel for his recent stint as a part-time character led to most of his opponents suffering from it. Shane moved scoring victories over The Miz to having a personal rivalry with Roman Reigns over a few months.
Super Showdown 2019 was the Saudi Arabia show where they faced off in a singles match. Shane getting outside interference to win was a disaster and lackluster match that wasted Roman’s time. Most fans remember the tag match more from that feud with Reigns and The Undertaker defeating Shane and Drew McIntyre.
3 John Cena Vs Baron Corbin
John Cena ending his full-time stint to chase the acting dream led to him filming movies throughout most of the year. WWE bringing back Cena for a few stints per year should have led to the matches meaning more with fewer appearances.
However, SummerSlam 2017 featured a huge waste of Cena’s time when feuding with Baron Corbin. WWE booked a glorified squash match with Cena dominating Corbin for a pointless and forgotten match. Corbin dropped the Money in the Bank briefcase days earlier and was getting punished with his booking, but we all suffered here.
2 Sting Vs Big Show
WWE signing Sting to a part-time deal gave him one run with the promotion after fans wondered how it would work out for years. Everyone remembers the Sting PPV matches against Triple H and Seth Rollins, but he had one forgotten match on Raw.
Sting’s old WCW co-worker Big Show faced him during an episode of Raw to build his feud with Rollins. The match ended after a minute for the Sting DQ victory, and it turned into an impromptu tag match. Sting and Cena defeated Rollins and Big Show on the only night Sting scored victories in WWE.
1 The Undertaker Vs Rusev
The Undertaker one of the fixtures on Saudi Arabia shows since they paid huge money for the legendary acts. WWE had some controversy for the Greatest Royal Rumble when a casket match between Undertaker and Rusev was changed around.
The original plan was eventually the end game as Undertaker had one more casket match against Rusev in Saudi Arabia. Fans rarely talked about this since Undertaker was having too many lackluster matches like this on the part-time schedule for years. Undertaker luckily had a few better matches before his eventual retirement.