WWE Payback PPV Reax

-- Mike Omansky, PWTorch correspondent (7.0): Payback was surprisingly good for a secondary show. The four-way delivered, although the outcome was no surprise. All four were good (plus Kane in his role), but Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins were particularly strong. Bray Wyatt-Ryback was also a very solid match, with the right finish for a PPV. That being said, both Ryback and Orton don't end up looking so smart, being "outmaneuvered" by the heel opponents.

New Day's tag match was also first-rate and fun to watch. The 2/3 falls format worked - these guys kept the pace up throughout. Also, Cena-Rusev was good for what it was, but I have had enough of that match on PPV and house shows. Time to move on.

-- Keith Sterling of Albuquerque, N.M.: This was about a B-minus PPV. For me, the three best matches were the Tag Team Title match, the WWE World Hvt. Title match, and the I Quit match for the U.S. Title PPV. The PPV had two big spots that we all knew were coming - Lana saying I Quit for Rusev and The Shield doing the triple powerbomb.

-- Jeremy Quist of Ripplemead, Va. (10.0): Best Match: Cena vs Rusev. Worst Match: Divas. My hometown crowd of Baltimore added to this PPV in a major way. We need a new arena and have for many years now, but Vince McMahon would be wise to remember how hot the PPV crowd was tonight, especially when thinking about a future WrestleMania. You cannot deny that our crowd elevated the performance of the talent, so consider M&T Bank Stadium.

The wrestlers gave their all and John Cena led the charge. I have been very critical of Cena, but this was his best match since Extreme Rules 2012. He may show light on a few punches, but I cannot question John Cena as the undisputed locker room leader for a long time after tonight. And, the biggest winner of the night had to be Rusev for receiving peak Cena rub. Rusev held his own and I completely agree with Caldwell on a potential face Lesnar versus a heel Rusev drawing major dollar bills.

Dolph Ziggler's headbutt that busted him open was gruesome, and Sheamus gained an insane amount of heat heading into what could be an IC Title win in two weeks... Bray Wyatt was devastating with the force he hits with and Ryback sold well... Barrett vs. Neville was not given very much time, but it effectively protected both men... The main event has to be one of my Top Ten fatal four-ways. Rollins hugging The Shield members that he turned his back on after the triple powerbomb was the type of heel brilliance that makes legends. Meanwhile, Reigns is much stronger with The Shield rub than he is on his own. Then, Randy Orton had the crowd on their feet prior to the predictable conclusion to the match and PPV.

Finally, New Day's interaction with Adam Jones was brilliant. The crowd had witnessed Seth Rollins and Adam Jones in a stare-down at Camden Yards just hours earlier and Jones believably seemed ready to jump the guardrail.

***

Did you watch Payback? Send in your Reax, 0-10 Score, and Best/Worst Match to pwtorch@gmail.com.

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

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