10 Things We Learned From The Payback Go-Home WWE Raw (April 24)

Dumpster fire.

Bray Wyatt The Miz
WWE.com

Sunday's Payback pay-per-view has felt little more than an inconvenience in recent weeks, with the 'Superstar Shake-up' creating a host of a new pairings but a WrestleMania follow-up show still stuck on the calendar attempting to tie up the loosest of ends from the 'Ultimate Thrill Ride'.

It's actually been quite refreshing that the last month has been relatively low on WrestleMania re-dos, but for the rosters of both Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live!, it as though everybody will rest a little easier when the mixed brand B-show is finally out of the way.

With only one edition of each broadcast left before the card itself, it was curious to see how Monday's crew would make their final preparations for the event, with the bulk of the talent working Sunday night housed on the 'A show'.

With a card virtually finalised last week, the last acts of the featured talent normally give an indication of what direction some of Sunday's contests may head in, but did that ring true on this week's show?

Six days out from the latest Network special, here are 10 things we learned from the Payback Go-Home edition of WWE Monday Night Raw.

10. Brooke Side

Bray Wyatt The Miz
WWE.com

Dana Brooke remains the least effective woman on the Raw roster by some margin, but if her ill-advised babyface turn affords her more time on screen with Emma, things can only get better.

After a nothing segment between the pair on last week's show, Dana's victory over Alicia Fox brought the two together mid-ring with an unreciprocated hug from the Australian to the former bodybuilding superstar.

Emma and Dana had excellent chemistry on NXT as partners, ineffectively attempting to bully babyfaces with an obnoxious charm that permeated through their act.

Despite Emma's feigned delight for Brooke's victory, all signs are pointing to a programme between the former allies, which will hopefully bring Brooke along to a level in which she can at least hold par with the likes of Fox, who took the brunt of her clumsy offence on this week's show.

Emma is an underrated asset to the division, having contested one of NXT's best ever women's matches with Asuka as well as giving the likes of Paige and Charlotte some of their earliest stellar matches in the primal days of the developmental brand. It's likely she'll bring Dana along with the same aplomb.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett