Wrestling's Top 10 Worst Set Designs

Throughout the decades we have seen many fantastic set designs in wrestling. We have also witnessed quite a few that missed the mark for one reason or another. In this video we take a look at the top 10 worst set designs in wrestling. Do you agree with this list?

[@jonbourgoin182]

TWO NEW Nika videos in less than a month? It's like Christmas in the Summer! Thanks for all you do, man.

[@Dick_Valparaiso]

Well, some people celebrate "Halfway Christmas" on June 25th. NikateeN knows what he's doing😎🎄

[@i_used_adblock_to_watch_this]

I'm at number 10 and I already disagree! I loved WrestleMania X8 as an event and the stage design! I absolutely loved how the three separated trons look like one big Tron if you looked at it from straight on but from a different angle you could tell that it was three separate pieces. I had so much fun with that as a kid!

[@kennethgreggs5903]

If you really pay close attention to the detail, it looks like a giant W in the middle of it

[@CeemPlay]

Wrestlemania 2000's set was significant because it featured as the PPV arena in Smackdown Just Bring It. For that reason I always had a soft spot for it.

[@britneyspearsvillarosa]

The PPV arena was in WWF SmackDown 2 first

[@kamiloalvarez5800]

@@britneyspearsvillarosa that was a different one, the just bring it one was based on wrestlemania 2000

[@n64glennplant]

Glad to see this pop up in my feed, feels like ages since I heard you

[@jonbourgoin182]

It would be just as awesome to see a new video from you appear in my feed soon! Even if it's just a few wrestling game Let's Plays. I'm glad you commented here because it might just be time for me to go back and rewatch your stuff. It's been a while. Miss you, dude!

[@NikateeN]

Thanks man, I hope all is well with you! I hope to see some new stuff from you sometime soon. 😎

[@Cesars_asmr_]

I couldn't agree more with the HD sets & not to mention the ECW one cause it's a reminder of guys like Jack Swagger & Ezekiel Jackson holding the ECW championship...😬

[@razormc954]

WrestleMania 35 had the laziest WrestleMania set design since WWE moved Mania to stadiums permanently

[@kazallroberts]

Yeah, all it is a big video screen.

[@yasin_GD]

I really love the 1st thunder set

[@Machete87]

yea it wasn't too bad

[@teriakichicken06524]

When the world needed him the most he returned 🎉

[@juegofuego6715]

Missed you man. Literally checked twice this week to see if you uploaded

[@alec2000]

I miss the days when every wrestling stage, whether it be weekly shows or PPVs, was unique. Yeah, not all of them were home runs, but in all honesty, I’d rather have a unique stage design, rather than none at all, with the same exact lazy stage design that we have nowadays, in literally EVERY show. So dumb. I’m glad to see you back, bro, and better than ever😊. Although I personally like the scaffolding stages of WrestleMania 2000 and X8, Judgment Day 2003, and Armageddon 2005, I’ll respect your opinion.🙂👍

[@kazallroberts]

Facts

[@jonbourgoin182]

It got to the point where they knew they didn't have to try anymore and it became blatantly obvious.

[@mikeb620]

When NikateeN uploads, I hit LIKE before I even watch the vid

[@joseaguilera6355]

I’d like to think the wrestlemania 18 looked more like a concert stage

[@laguitarradealvaro]

Oh yeah! that Power Rangers Fighting, NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime bgm. Too sweet!

[@laguitarradealvaro]

Now you should do the best (or your favourites, at least) set designs of all time, if you didn't already. Every video you upload gets an instant like by me :D

[@NikateeN]

Thanks!

[@phenomenal_jorge235]

THE 👏 WORLD 👏 NEEDS 👏 MORE👏 NIKATEEN

[@Taranchula]

Surprised WCW Halloween Havoc 1991 wasn't on the list as the set literally looked like an elementary school haunted house attraction.

[@sinfulbehaviors2004]

the PPV tunnel kicked all sorts of ass when it was actually stylized. Like, the King of the Ring one with the sun like aesthetic is SUPER cool looking, but the rest ended up just being the same thing over and over. Plus, the lack of a screen hurt it. I think AEW has really taken the idea and improved it.

[@pippin3430]

The worst stages in wrestling is always the HD sets. I cannot imagine if WWE stayed in SD. It feels like they waste money with the unnessasary CGI then unique stage designs sadly.

[@mouse40oz]

Also when are we getting arena showcase for 1999 👀

[@pippin3430]

4:00 I always hate how most of the Attitude Eras in WWE 13 was mostly the tunnel stage

[@TheLifeisaParade]

I'm glad you mentioned that dX design. I remember cringing at that one live., and it's still hideous.

[@jaxonedwardson458]

i actually like the judgement day 2003 stage but i can see why people would not like it

[@cumexolaf3276]

I still don't understand how people hate against the first WCW Thunder look. I think it was awesome and the best stage design for a weekly show ever!! I always thought they dropped it because it was too much effort to build it up.

[@Machete87]

yea i guess Eric wasn't feelin it n said u know wat scrap it. the rooftop design set for Thunder i didn't mind either, but yea at least the mtn set design was a bit more creative than the shit u see now.

[@cumexolaf3276]

@@Machete87 Eric's excuses are always the best.

[@TPRES_74]

It was a little to reminisce of WCW Saturday night stage to me. Except with more effort.

[@VictorEduardo23]

Bro glad to see a new video! Cool content as always

[@mouse40oz]

Man I thought I was going to agree with this list but I couldn’t disagree more. I loved the wwf ppv tunnel, wcw stage from 2000-2001, and the nitro stage from 1999-2000. Sure some were basic ass hell but I found them clean and simple

[@CynicMichael]

man i always loved the tunnel that was seen in 1998 and 1999. plus its always great to see someone appreciate the production of the shows. I always been obsessed with the production myself

[@Jose-dk4re]

Do a Just Bring It Let’s Play, Nikateen

[@jonbourgoin182]

I'm still hoping he will do Raw 2 season mode for OG Xbox. He's done a lot of the Smackdown games already and I've always been interested to see what Raw 2's season mode was like.

[@superstarartemisprime5133]

WWE makes billions compared to the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras, & apparently can't use those investments for different stage designs. Meanwhile, AEW seems to be doing different designs for their PPVs and just recently with their new show Collision.

[@NikateeN]

Collision looks pretty cool.

[@lanceschutte7903]

this channel is my fav hidden gem

[@NikateeN]

Thanks a lot!

[@WrestlingFace]

I've missed these set design videos, keep them coming please :D

[@Yoooits98]

The HD stage at number 1????? Lol this one hit because it’s in my top 10 favorites

[@NikateeN]

😳

[@timbartschwolfman]

Always good to see a good video from an awesome KZbinr

[@pippin3430]

6:38 This is how I sum up Twitters new name "X"

[@yourboyken7871]

I kinda grown to like the 99-early 2000 Nitro set had the bottom of ramp wasn't slippery.

[@NikateeN]

I remember watching wrestlers purposely avoiding the ramp decals so they wouldn’t slip. 😂

[@yourboyken7871]

@@NikateeN Me too. 5 year old me was wondering why they avoid that? Now I seen why but I do agree once they got rid of the old NITRO set, it was downhill from there.

[@TheBigWrestleMan]

Couldn't agree more on the HD era sets, that was my breaking point as a kid to stop watching ... pretty ridiculous reason I know They've grown on me a little over the years, but I will always perfer a set made of pratical parts than a big screen

[@Machete87]

the 2000 set design along wit the new adrenaline theme was pure a$$💩

[@Metlhd313]

You should do a video on best/worst PPV logos.

[@NikateeN]

Great idea!

[@Ryan-ko4fz]

Definitely would like to see more Top 10 lists from you 👏🏻🤟🏻

[@scotlandr]

No Mercy 2001: was just bizarre if anything, it looked like lots of bedsheets been hung out to dry WCW "sets" through 2000-01: They were the same god damn set they used for EVERYTHING! Was purely a cost cutting measure but it was so drab, dull and uninspiring...I guess a ironic metaphor for the product back then! Judgement Day 2001: I always didn't like that set design, the hourglass looking titantrons on the sides just felt weird Unforgiven 2001: That CGI Austin head on the middle titantron freaked me the f**k out! Never understood that whole theme that year either just felt so out of place Also i always felt that HCTP missed a trick in not making the Judgement Day set climbable with all that scaffolding, that wouldve been fun as hell!

[@steelcurtain187]

I totally forgot about those initial Thunder sets. They are pretty cheesy, but I gotta admit, they are right up my alley 😆

[@pippin3430]

I always thought the WcW 2000 Stages were worst than the WWE HD stages. I know budget reason and to copy WWF, but it felt like we were seeing the same stage but with a new code of paint.

[@i_used_adblock_to_watch_this]

Judgment Day 2003 and Armageddon 2005 both shared the same set design. No one seems to ever mention that.

[@NikateeN]

Very similar, slight differences. One of them being that at Armageddon the titantron was not obscured.

[@kennethgreggs5903]

​@@NikateeNif you happen to do a best designs, can you put the Vengeance 2005 set in it? One of the greatest designs to never even make it into a video game!

[@sonicthehedgehog7144]

you made some solid points there

[@mattc060793]

I've always liked the 1999-2000 WCW stage. The logo is weird and of course it was the stage that replaces the iconic Nitro stage. I still think it's pretty unique in its own right. It's much more aestheticly pleasing than the PPV tunnel that was mentioned, the modern LED screens, and even the design WCW used after they got rid of the bird poop logo 😂

[@MikeHickey]

Yeah I thought some of the WCW set designs were kinda lame but then again WCW was at the end of its life at the time and also will u do a review on AEW Fight Forever I would love to see a review of it as well as the WWF games from SNES and SEGA Genesis/Saturn reviews would love to see those

[@kennethgreggs5903]

I think it sucks that we have to wait until a Wrestlemania to see a unique set design. They're not always the best either though...

[@kazallroberts]

Hell even the WCW logo that was use in 2001 was far better than the one that used from 1999-2001.

[@seangarver]

Thanks for great content sir!!!!

[@NikateeN]

Thanks for watching!

[@acceptable1609]

The HD stages were so bad but I'd take them over what we have now. It's just lazy a giant LED screen with LED posts, aprons, barricades and the bland white ropes. It's too much WWE is already overproduced as it is but everything being LED makes it worse. I wish we would see unique stage designs for ppvs at least. AEW's production is much easier on the eyes and doesn't feel overproduced like WWE.

[@CeemPlay]

Russo's WCW & MOST WWE set post Jan 2008

[@cumexolaf3276]

plus all TNA/IMPACT set designs. plus all AEW designs post Revolution 2020. Those aren't even designs!!! It's just nothing!! NOTHING!!!

[@Machete87]

do some of the best set designs next.😁

[@Machete87]

yea i agree wit this list except for WM18 although yeah the scaffold design does take away from the design. the 1st Thunder design wasn't bad so...i'd put that at #10. Nitro 2000 i think i'd put at 4 along with the later designs of thunder jus...bad

[@KennyPowersUrOut]

Can't stand these new school sets at all. I miss the good ole days.

[@NikateeN]

Same!

[@freezhollywood]

I still scratch my head at the WM18 design. What even is tht?

[@britneyspearsvillarosa]

All The PG era 2011-Now Stage Designs I really hate

[@KegOfMeat]

Can also throw Unforgiven 2002 in there with Judgment Day 2003

[@TroubleZxHCT]

Hes back!! By gawd he's back!!

[@kazallroberts]

Even tho I'm not the biggest fan of the HD stages, I admit, they are far more creative than the current stages today.

[@jonbourgoin182]

Sadly they just don't have any incentive to go that creative extra mile with set design ever since they monopolized the business. They have never once considered AEW as competition, so to them it's like if they don't have to then they won't. Mid to late 90s WCW forced WWF to be creative and stand out.

[@kazallroberts]

@@jonbourgoin182 Yup, WCW was a big threat to them during that period as they were offering what fans wanted in 90s wrestling, the cartoony style of wrestling fine for the 80s and maybe the early 90s but by the mid 90s, that style grew stale

[@Machete87]

WM18 designs was ok, but 17 was a lil better

[@pac8827]

The HD 2008 sets were amazing

[@NikateeN]

😳

[@michaelburke7978]

I just miss having unique stage sets. Plus I hate the "waxed floor" look they have for entrance aisles too, I despise the LED screens being abused.

[@kazallroberts]

I also hate those LED ring-posts, they looked stupid and cheesy, I would prefer either regular ring-posts or ring-posts decorated with a show's broadcast graphics (kinda like Wrestlemania 35)

[@michaelburke7978]

@@kazallroberts It's honestly too much. I also hate those stupid LED ring posts; so now we got LEDs around ring posts, on ring aprons, and now they're on barricades. On top of that, now we got these God awful CGI graphics during entrances now, the whole thing is just an eyesore. Love or hate AEW, their overall atmosphere and presentation is much better. Sure, I wish their stage sets would actually have some metal structures around their LED screens, but at least those LED screens are only seen on entrance stages, where they belong. Even an LED screen on the announce stable looks sharp, it isn't over kill. It may be nitpicky, but I despise the white ring ropes WWE uses too in every show. I miss the red ropes for Raw, the blue for Smackdown, and the black for joint brand events.

[@kazallroberts]

@@michaelburke7978 Well said, also AEW proves that you can still have unique stages regardless if the presentation is SD or HD.

[@kazallroberts]

@@michaelburke7978 Me too, I don't understand why they bring back red and blue ropes for Raw & Smackdown!, also I miss the black ropes for PPVs, I don't mind the white ropes if they were use in small doses but since they overuse them, they got old very quickly.

[@michaelburke7978]

@@kazallroberts Right? Like the white I wouldn't mind if it matches a PPV's color scheme once in a while like how Orange ropes were used for WM 24, but the white being used for every single show make them looks so... bland and boring. I just miss the "gritty" feel shows used to have. It's really hard to take WWE's presentation seriously when they're trying to pass themselves as a sport, when in reality they look like a circus. IMO the Ruthless Aggression era had the best Smackdown and Raw sets. Like when John Cena got drafted to Raw in 2005, it was so cool and fresh seeing him perform in a different atmosphere then what we were used to seeing; now we saw his entrance video on a huge slanted titantron instead of 2 smaller titantrons on each side of the Smackdown fist, now we saw him running off the red ropes instead of the blue ropes, it was the little things that added up. It's one of the reasons why I always looked forward to the drafts, because each show *felt* different, and seeing people perform in a new environment was a cool novelty. Now that element of the draft is gone; oh look, Finn Balor got drafted to Raw, now he gets to perform in the exact same environment, except the only difference are the show's graphics on the LED screens.

[@colechung7806]

Would love to see a video on the AEW sets especially the 2023 ones, I myself am not too fond of it as I feel AEW is trying to slowly imitate WWE presentation and that just not a good look for them especially from a company promising to be better than WWE ( competition ) anyways awesome video as always I am a big sucker for Wrestling show sets etc 🔥💯

[@ChloeArgo]

I loved this! :D

[@NikateeN]

Thanks a lot!

[@Brutal-Bear-64]

Damn some of those set are trash! Good vid though bro

[@hussain_alghanim]

Great video man next video idea pc engine wrestling games review anyway keep the great work coming much love man

[@seanstein5863]

Most of the list I can agree with but for me WM X8 was a good set IMO. I didn't mind the 98 99 tunnel. The current HD stuff WWE does is bad. I hate the same set for both shows and most PPVs. Last year. this year been different but its simple and weird for a lot of the shows. Like Backlash was small side in the tunnel like video walls. While WM this year was a great set. A lot of the HD stuff been just bland. WM 35 was very dissappointing. Just one GIANT as screen. No thought at all it looked like.

[@namemcnamerton4249]

6:32 Bill Apter spotted

[@etoxedge8736]

Not sure where I'd place the pg era stages, but they aren't deserving of the number 1 spot. Judgement day 03 and Mania X8 are much more offensive due to it just being visual noise

[@Mxyz]

hell to the yeah, new nikateen!!

[@DropBombsInOctagons]

man I love the 2003 judgement day set lol but bias nostalgia doing it.

[@kazallroberts]

Here's my list 10. SummerSlam 2009-2011 9. 1999-2000 WCW Nitro Set 8. Wrestlemania x8 7. Wrestlemania 2000 6. No Mercy 2000 5. Wrestlemania 35 4. Backlash 2016-2018 3. The 2000s WCW Stages 2. The 2nd Bland Split Stages 1. The Large Video Screen Stages Dishonorable Mentions 1. Judgement Day 2003 2. Armageddon 2003 3. Wrestlemania 32 4. No Mercy 2008 5. Breaking Point 2009

[@rizeorfall]

Glad to see you uploading! These videos are so good. I’m curious as to what kind of sets you would come up with. Set design is such a fun aspect of wrestling. Missing WCW sets 😢 they were fn wild.

[@NikateeN]

Thanks! I really would love to see more themed sets and PPV events like WCW had. I liked to see lots of props being used on the stages.

[@ReinEngel]

Just give me the silver curtain and purple WCW logo and I'm happy.

[@NikateeN]

👏

[@kterb4371]

gonna do a top opening pyro

[@user-mm7kt9hp9y]

Are you going to do more wwe game reviews

[@lanceschutte7903]

me and my buddy came to the conclusion that wwe 2005 ppv sets where the best not a stinker in the bunch

[@NikateeN]

It’s crazy how they started getting really good around 1999, then hit all time highs in the early to mid 2000s, and by 2008 they completely changed course.

[@lanceschutte7903]

@@NikateeN I would at least give 08 props for still trying when they went HD they still had some really nice sets summerslam 08 armageddon 08 i think is underrated it was basically the 06 set with a few hd modifactions to it... I think we need a 2008 ppv video from ya please

[@Machete87]

agreed WWF in your house DX was a missed opportunity. bring back the house only like said have it vandalized with DX green spray paint on the walls $*k It! spray painted to the opposite way maybe have the door yankd off its hinges or broken off its lock..oh well.🤷🏼‍♂️

[@mrvincentjackson]

SummerSlam 1999's set.......made no sense, TERRIBLE concept with a one-match show with a TERRIBLE ending.

[@wholewomeninprogress2700]

Can you do survivor series arena showcase please

[@NikateeN]

I hope to do some more AS episodes soon, including Survivor Series.

[@wholewomeninprogress2700]

Ok when

[@Caolan114]

LED screens are lazy and that's all I have to say

[@laguitarradealvaro]

By the way... Can you tell us your sources to make this video?

[@NikateeN]

I should have made note of them for reference but I didn’t. 😅

[@britneyspearsvillarosa]

I hate D-Generation X In Your House (Oct 1997) Stage design

[@vyper-1212]

Planning on reviewing the aew game? It looks fun but idk anything about aew lol

[@NikateeN]

I do, it’ll probably take a bit for me to produce though. I picked it up yesterday and hope to start playing it today.

[@e93sports80]

Hey!

[@NotAGarage]

Worst Set Designs WWE 2010-present lol

[@NikateeN]

Yes!

[@mrvincentjackson]

Oh boy, the DX: IYH show.......suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked.

[@DasNordlicht91]

DX In Your House & nWo Souled Out were basically proof that having shows themed around your big heel stables weren't exactly the best idea.

[@camandreas6376]

Disagree with wrestlemania x8!!

[@BrokenInside365]

Kinda surprised the Raw skate ramp set isn't on the list.

[@NikateeN]

The entirety of the HD stages made the list, that one included. 😂

[@BrokenInside365]

@@NikateeN Ah ok, gotcha lol.

[@kevb3047]

💪💪

[@nbrewer4617]

'promosm'

[@LuchadorMasque]

I liked og thunder

[@pippin3430]

Reasons why the LED HD stages were to get with the times and takes less effort compared to a speific stage. WWE is the future and sadly the LED stages are the future of the product. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ-zdGWmqsiKn6M Christian Miracle does have a video about it

[@cumexolaf3276]

get with the times? Like "The product got worse and worse, so the stages have to get worse also"?