WWE Payback 2017: 5 Must-See Matches from PPV’s History

2. Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn (2016)

This rivalry is why “fight forever” became a shirt. Before their classic match at Battleground (2016) the former Kevin Steen and the former El Generico brought their rivalry to the WWE. This can already be considered a classic wrestling rivalry. These men have fought in Ring of Honor and across the Indies, headlined NXT and now on the first pay per view of the “New Era” in WWE.

Before the match, Enzo and Cass were facing the Vaudvillains and during the match, Enzo suffered a pretty nasty concussion. The match was cut short. The injury looked very bad and the constant replays did little but cause concern. The air was sucked out of the building.

Cut to the hype package highlighting the past between the two, from their brother-like friendship to growing up together on the independents, from NXT to the Royal Rumble. Giving both men’s unique perspectives on how they went from brothers to enemies. This really gave the match a big fight feel despite essentially kicking off a non-Big Four pay per view.

When the bell sounded, Michael Cole made sure the world knew it was officially the “New Era” and quite honestly there is not a better singles match to kick off the new era than the Prizefighter vs the Underdog from the Underground. Words cannot truly describe how great the chemistry is between these two superstars.

This match is another great chapter between the two who are destined to fight forever. KO would get the pinfall victory this time. Zayn attempted a helluva kick, Owens countered with a superkick followed by his pop-up powerbomb and that’s all they wrote.

Interestingly enough, after the match, KO is interviewed in-ring by Byron Saxton and proclaimed he is the better man and that he would focus on getting back “his” Intercontinental Championship that he lost at WrestleMania.