5 things you need to know about WWE Payback

Its time for Payback. Yes Ladies and gentlemen, WWE brings to you its decorated set of post wrestlemania PPVs and Payback is the newest member to join the list. Let us have a look at what the PPV has had in store for us since its inception in 2013.

#1 Replaced No Way Out

Ever since its inception in the year 1998, No Way Out has been one of WWE’s most signature events. The Pay per view has played host to some of the most legendary matches.

Stone Cold vs Triple in a three stages of hell match, Triple H vs Cactus Jack in a ‘title vs career’ Hell in a cell match , Kurt Angle vs Rock for the WWE title etc are just some of the legendary matches that we have witnessed.

The WWE planned to replace the event with a new moniker and named it ‘Payback’ in the 2013. The event took place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois last year and will be held at the same location this year as well.

#2 Ryback rose to fame

From being the ‘eating machine’ that he was during his time at WWE tough enough to becoming one of the most promising talents in reecent historry, Ryback has made an amazing transition.

This time last year, he rose to prominence when he challenged John Cena for a ‘three stages of hell’ match at Payback.The stipulations for the same included an ambulance match, a tables match and a lumberjack match.Ryback managed to draw first blood, but Cena proved to be too good for his opposition on the night.

All in all, the PPV proved to be a stepping stone for Ryback.

#3 Paul Heyman was on double duty

Paul Heyman has been one of the most influential figures in WWE history. His ‘clients’ as he likes to call them have been largely successful thanks to the latter’s expertise and wilyness.

The WWE planned to put the experienced CM Punk and the new comer Curtis Axel under Heyman’s guidance and it proved to be a wise decision at the end of the day.

Both of Heyman’s clients emerged victorious in the PPV. Axel defeated Miz and Barrett to win the intercontinental title whereas CM Punk was invloved in probably the match of the night, where he defeated veteran Chris Jericho in an wgo driven clash.

All in all, it was a Double Bonanza for Heyman at Payback. Cesaro is next in line for glory.

#4 AJ Lee began her record title hold

AJ Lee held the WWE Divas title for a record 295 days.The mammoth reign started at the 2013 WWE Payback PPV.

The WWE toyed around with a lot of ideas when it came to poor AJ. They made her the GM and then put her into alliances with a hella lotta superstars before finally giving her an opportunity to gun for the divas title.

She challenged Kaitlyn for the title after winning a battle royal and went on to beat the champion and win the crown. She succesfully defended the title for almost a year, eliminating all her competetion before she eventually dropped the title to Paige recently on RAW.

Nostalgia might see her return this year at Payback?

#5 Rare double turns occuring

A double turn is typically described as ‘The occurrence when both the face and the heel switch roles during an angle or a match’.

Dolph Ziggler cashing in his money in the bank contract and beating an already worn out Alberto Del Rio is a story that all of us know.

WIth a rematch clause in hand, Del Rio, Ziggler and Jack Swagger were set to compete in a ladder match to decide the champion at Extreme rules. Ziggler legitimately suffered a concussion and hence had to withdraw from the match, which was won later on by Del Rio.

Hence, another match was made at Payback for the heavyweight title between Ziggler and Del Rio. During the course of the match, Del Rio kicked Ziggler repeatedly on the head to elevate the concussion angle which did not go down well with the WWE universe. Post match, Del Rio turned heel and Ziggler turned kayfabe.

This is one of those rare occurences that you see in the WWE with respect to character switches.