With 8 matches booked, Payback seemed liked it would succeed or be a total flop. Personally, the show did not deliver with matches that were thrilling. Still, some moments were better than others; so let’s take a look at what worked and what didn’t.
I have been unable to find anyone who liked House of Horrors. The only positive words have been about Jinder Mahal getting involved. Not only was the match lame, but the feud has been a joke. Even earlier programs between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt haven’t work. They’re two of the most talented wrestlers on the roster, but they don’t mesh well together.
Finn Balor made an appearance on the pre-show and got a little physical with The Miz. Within a few minutes, WWE had started a new storyline and could have easily added a match to the card. The fans are really into Balor, so they should have booked him to pin The Miz.
I’m a fan of Bayley and Alexa Bliss, but the timing for the title change didn’t work. Bayley entered her hometown by pinning Charlotte twice on pay per view. Instead of giving Bayley her moment, WWE snatched it away and ruined another homecoming.
4. What Worked: How The Main Event Unfolded
Fans might not like Braun Strowman or Roman Reigns, but they got huge reactions on Sunday. It is refreshing to see Strowman finally get the better of Reigns, who looked for a moment to have ended any push. Strowman was the right choice to win and his post-match beating helped sell his status. I do think Reigns leaving under his own power was a bit much after getting his insides crushed.
5. What Worked: Sudden Finish To Seth Rollins – Samoa Joe
There was lots of excitement for Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins and there match was alright. I thought it would have been better, but there’s no need to rush as this storyline will likely last into SummerSlam. The win by Rollins came out of nowhere as the crowd wasn’t expecting it. It was a good way to hand Joe his first loss without taking away his momentum.
