10 Worst WWE Storyline Payoffs

6. The Anonymous Raw General Manager

This one only kinda sorta counts, since it was basically used as a throwaway joke ages after the fact, but it's something that still rankles with fans. 

Full disclosure here, but I kind of hated the Anonymous Raw General Manager. I know that was sort of the point, but the trope outlived its welcome and was an irritating aspect of WWE television when the quality of the product was already full of regressive comedy and dumb storylines. 

For over a year, the Anonymous Raw General Manager reigned over WWE's flagship, with emails read out by spokesperson Michael Cole. 

It was eventually phased out without the identity being revealed, after much speculation as to who it could be (fuelled by many red herrings contained within the emails). 

It returned for one night on July 9, 2012, where Santino Marella stumbled upon the fact that it was Hornswoggle who had been running the show all that time. 

Per former WWE writer Kevin Eck, the company had no plans when it came to the identity of the Anonymous Raw GM and the Hornswoggle reveal came about after someone had suggested it as a joke during a production meeting, referencing the poor reception of the Vince's illegitimate son payoff from years earlier. 

There's something almost commendable about them making a decision they know is stupid and will annoy fans. Almost.