WWE Payback (2016 TV Special) User Reviews

This wrestling event barely payoff. It got a lukewarm reception

[ironhorse_iv · 6/10 · 3 May 2016]

2016's 'Payback' was a WWE Network PPV event that took place on May 1, 2016 at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, instead of the original choice of Newark, New Jersey. Without spoiling too much of the card, I have to say, I'm digging the new cast of wrestlers that join the WWE roster, post 'WrestleMania 32'. It was the right move by WWE to build new stars. After all, most of the season wrestlers are getting up-there in years, injury, retiring or becoming very tiresome. However, I don't get why the WWE felt like hyping this professional wrestling pay-per-view 'the dawn of a new era', with a vague titled like, 'Payback'. It doesn't make sense to me. I ask this, because most of the matches on the card, are first-time fight encounters and not continuing the feuds coming from the last month's 'WrestleMania 32'. Second off, 'Payback' with the words, 'New Era' doesn't really match well with each other, nor have a good ring to it. Another problem with marketing and advertising, is that they said that the Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Braun Strowman and Erick Rowan) will appeared on the show. I do understand, that most of the Wyatt Family are semi-injury, yet again, but gees, couldn't you, at least, have Bray Wyatt, do a promo or a cameo than wrestle, since he's on the event poster? If you can't, at least, put the money up and change the event poster! Despite that, I do understand, why they didn't use the original themed PPV, 'Extreme Rules'. After all, most of the season wrestlers do need some rest from the highly gimmick hardcore wrestling matches of 'WrestleMania 32', before going all extreme, again. However, couldn't they used a different PPV titled, than 'Payback' like the old school, 'Judgement Day' motif? Judgement Day makes more sense, seeing how it's the WWE PPV debut for many of the new stars. Anyways, the card starts up with pre-show matches. The first one is a single match between Dolph Ziggler and new superstar, Baron Corbin. First off, it's sucks to see Baron Corbin's match, being moved to the pre-show. After all, he had one of the best debuts ever, in the last PPV. I really don't get it. Anyways, the match was alright, but the wrong guy won. The next match on the card is for the WWE United States Championship, between the Champion Kallisto & his opponent, Ryback. Being one of the few feuds to live outside of "WrestleMania', this match makes sense for the 'Payback' motif. On the other hand, nearly nobody wanted to see it. This match is as forgettable as the last one. No wonder, why it was in the pre-show. The opening match is next, with Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs The Vaudevillians (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) to determine the #1 contender for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Without spoiling too much of the results, this match got really scary near the end. It sucks, that the match was cut short, and Enzo Amore got seriously hurt; but I hope, he's alright. Concussion is no laughing matter. Still, great mic and ring work from both of the men within their limited time. The next match is probably the best match of the night with Kevin Owens fighting Sami Zayn. I love, how well, both work with each other, and how the match ended with somebody winning clean. The WWE Intercontinental Championship between Champion, the Miz (with Maryse) Vs Challenger, Cesaro is up next. Unlike other critics, I didn't mind, the match. I found it, very entertaining. The controversial ending to this match was alright in my eyes. I love how WWE adds Miz's wife, Maryse to the character's gimmick. It enhances the heel Moviestar gimmick, very well, giving Miz, a new light. The only thing, I didn't like about the build up to this match, is how they used Zack Ryder as a Transitional champion. I thought, they would have used him, even longer. I was really hoping for a Maryse VS Zack's father feud. Oh well. It's time to move to the next match, which was between Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho. I really didn't like the built up to match that much. I found the reason, why, they were feuding, kinda silly. Although, the feud isn't the best, the match was surprising, very good, even with Jericho's now limited set moves. Hope to see it, continue to the next show. Anyways, the next match on the card is just horrible with Charlotte (with Ric Flair) defending her Woman Championship against Natalya (with Bret Hart). Not only, is a rehash of their match at 2014's 'NXT Takeover' show; but the match was so sloppy, with each one of them, messing up moves. The ending to the match is even worse with the lame Montreal Screwjob attempt. I hate the lame excuse of trying to reignite old WCW & WWF Attitude Era feuds. Let it die, already! The main event is next with Roman Reigns defending his World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles. For the most part, I really don't mind, the story, WWE is trying to pull here. However, it didn't delivered with what most of the fans wanted; which was Finn Balor's debut. My beef about this match, is the lame interruptions throughout it. I really don't like the idea that the match, had to be restarted 3 times. It made for a very infuriating watch. Overall: While this PPV does had some very quality matches, the idea of interrupting matches with story lines purposes to have more shock value is the wrong mind-set. It will not drive PPV sells. In the end, the mixer of Vince McMahon's old school ideas with WWE's writers, new school ideas, just doesn't mesh well, yet. Let's hope the next PPV could do better. Maybe, then, these things would give better results.