A look at some of the best matches from WWE Payback’s history.
Payback replaced No Way Out as the June pay per view back in 2013. Since then, Payback has provided the WWE Universe with some must-see matches.
Though Payback has only been around since 2013. The pay per view has already provided plenty of memorable moments and more than its fair share of must-see matches. When taking a look at Payback’s the three previous main events, they are all headlined by one or members of the Shield, if not the entire trio
There are matches with replay value that did not make the cut for this list. Some honorable mentions include:
- The New Day vs Tyson Kidd and Cesaro in a 2-out-of-3 falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championships. (2015)
- Alberto Del Rio vs Dolph Ziggler for World Heavyweight Championship (2013)
- John Cena vs Rusev in an “I Quit” Match (2015)
Let’s hope history repeats itself on Apr. 30 with some of these past matches.
5. CM Punk vs Chris Jericho (2013)
This match was CM Punk’s return to action. After a historic reign, Punk dropped the WWE Championship to the Rock at the Royal Rumble before falling victim to the Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania.
Chris Jericho would challenge the Chicago-Made straight-edge to a match in Punk’s hometown. This contest wasn’t overbooked and did not have a stipulation. This was simply a grudge match between two wrestlers who both believed they were “the best in the world.”
The announce team really played up Punk’s ring rust throughout the singles bout. This match was not the best match between the men who claim best in the world but it does not disappoint. However, if a superstar is returning from a sabbatical is there an opponent better than the gift of Jericho?
The lead singer of Fozzy and the voice of the voiceless would grapple, chain wrestle, counter each others’ submission and repeat. This match is not a gaudy over-the-top extreme rules grudge match. This match is the “I’m better than you at professional wrestling” kind of grudge match.
However, this was definitely the beginning of the end for Punk. Hindsight is 20-20, the announce team in 2013 could disguise it as ring rust but viewing it in 2017 it was obvious that the longest reigning WWE champion in a quarter-century was burnt-out from the business.
This match definitely has some replay value and could be considered a hidden gem on the inaugural Payback pay per view.
4. AJ Styles vs Roman Reigns (2016)
Payback 2016 was the first pay per view of WWE’s “New Era.” The main event of last year’s Payback was AJ Styles going one-on-one with Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The Big Dog defeated Triple H for the title at WrestleMania 32, this was his first title defense.
AJ Styles became the number one contender following an awesome Raw After ‘Mania main event where he defeated Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho and a returning Cesaro. Only three months into his WWE run, the phenomenal one was challenging for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship headlining the first post-WrestleMania pay per view.
WWE was very aware what kind of reception Reigns was going to get from the Chicago fans, so throughout this match not only was the Big Dog booed like the top heel but he did, in fact, react to the crowd like a monster heel. Styles felt like the company’s top babyface since he debuted at the Royal Rumble. Needless to say, the fans at the Allstate Arena that night were soundly behind the phenomenal one.
Fans that are critical of Roman Reigns will dismiss this match because when it was all said and done, he won. However, this match was not simply “Roman Wins LOL.” The former Mr. TNA was booked incredibly strong against Vince McMahon’s chosen one, that cannot be ignored.
When Styles decided to come to the WWE, fans were worried that he would be booked similar to Diamond Dallas Page or Sting. He was another talent that made his name elsewhere and came to WWE just to get buried by Vince’s homegrown talent. Instead, we saw Styles deliver a phenomenal forearm to Reigns that put him through the announcer’s table.
In fact, the former leader of Bullet Club beat the former Shield member twice in one night. The first time via count-out after the aforementioned phenomenal forearm through the table and the second time via disqualification after Roman accidently delivered a low-blow.
First, Shane McMahon came out and proclaimed that’s not how main events ended in the new era. Then after the DQ, Stephanie McMahon came out to outdo her brother and add the No-DQ stipulation. After interference from Gallows and Anderson, and then the Usos; the champion would retain after hitting the spear and getting the decisive pinfall victory.
This match should not be dismissed as them pushing Roman “down our throats.” This was a good match. AJ Styles impressed those backstage who matter most, so much that a year later he is a former WWE World Champion and is considered “the face that runs the place” on SmackDown.
3. Seth Rollins vs Roman Reigns vs Dean Ambrose vs Randy Orton (2015)
This fatal four-way match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was the main event of Payback 2015, live from the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. Seth Rollins defeated Randy Orton one month prior in a steel cage match to retain the title. Following that match, a fan vote was held to determine Rollin’s next title defense. The fans voted for a triple threat and after Dean Ambrose defeated the champion on Raw, he was added to the match.
This match is probably best known for the “reunion” of the Shield. The trio gave the Viper their signature triple powerbomb through the announce table. This was the first time since the Shield broke up that all three members “reunited” in any form. Though it seems to be much more common now, when it happened at Payback 2015, it felt special and the Baltimore crowd went crazy.
The chemistry between the superstars is what makes this match great. Following the triple-powerbomb, the Big Dog and the Lunatic Fringe quickly remembered why they aren’t the Shield anymore and took their frustrations out on the Architect.
What followed was a brutal spot. After Ambrose and Reigns laid Rollins out on an announce table. The two double-powerbombed Kane onto the champion and the table did not break. Thankfully, they did not give up and following a second double-powerbomb, both Kane and Rollins went through the table.
The finish, much like the match as a whole, saw interference from the Authority (Kane and J&J Security). It looked like Orton was about to add another title reign to his already impressive resume after delivering an elevated DDT to Rollins. Kane runs in and gets an RKO outta nowhere. This distraction led to Rollins giving Orton the pedigree for the win.
This is one of, if not the best, main events in Payback history. It is one of the most re-watchable Payback matches and definitely a match for any fan of the Shield to enjoy.
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.
1. The Shield vs Evolution (2014)
The Shield vs Evolution from Payback 2014, is the most must-see match in Payback’s young history. The Shield defeated Evolution at Extreme Rules so a rematch was set for Payback, a no-holds-barred six-man elimination tag match.
Simply put, this match is great. It starts off with both teams brawling all over the place. The Game clashed with the Architect, the Animal was fighting the Big Dog and the Lunatic Fringe was taking on the Viper, just to kick things off.
Eventually, the referee got both teams under control and for a short time, there actually is a six-man tag team match that takes place. Then all hell breaks loose again. Evolution would gain the upper hand using their strength in numbers to beat down the Shield one by one.
At one point, Evolution beats down Reigns (the only Shield member left in the ring), rips off his vest, they drape him over the steel steps (which are now in the middle of the ring) and proceed to Singapore cane him. Roman would attempt to fight back, eventually fighting to the top of the entrance way.
Ambrose would attempt to fight off Evolution but the three beat him down just to hold him up so Orton could deliver his signature elevated-DDT on the concrete. Just when it couldn’t look any worse for the Shield, Seth Freakin’ Rollins appeared on the titantron. Not on the video, physically on the titantron and then jumped off the freakin’ titantron to take out Evolution.
The Shield would go on to win in historic fashion, sweeping Evolution. The combination of Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista that dominated Raw in the mid-2000s. The era of Evolution included the King of Kings’ infamous and often criticized “reign of terror” and those future hall-of-famers got swept!
However, this match is a lot more than that and deserves to be enjoyed more than once. This was the final match for the Shield as a unit before the stable’s implosion. (This is also Dave Batista’s last match in WWE, full Bootista complete with “Blue-tista” attire).
A classic match between two of the most dominating forces in WWE history.