For a PPV with very little build-up due to the McMahon family soap opera slowly taking over the RAW broadcasts, WWE Payback really impressed myself and fans across the world for its compelling action and storytelling. A PPV in Chicago is always going to be able to drag everything out of the matches that could possibly gotten out of them, with the crowd red-hot for every single match, which is to their immense credit. The show could have only been better if the WWE had bothered to promote the rivalries even further instead of using RAW as a vehicle for a possible match between Triple H and Curtis Axel on free television. But, with three title changes and the return of CM Punk to the company, Payback had a great deal of important talking points that will carry over into the weekly shows in the build up to the often great PPV Money in the Bank in July. And this article will look to analyse these discussion points and look to put into perspective on the very best that Payback had to offer to encourage the WWE Universe of the future.
5. Divas Can Have A Good Match?
In an era where the WWE Divas could get an audience to become invested in their storyline, matches such as Kaitlyn vs. AJ Lee for the Divas Championship would be a good match. In the current environment of WWE, this match was the greatest Divas contest for at least two years. The storyline had been built up reasonably well by WWE, who decided to give the match about a six-week build-up from before Extreme to make sure fans had at least some knowledge it was going to happen with a series of brief matches and confrontations. Then, last week, their story was given a few more minutes of exposure, as it emerged that Kaitlyn's long-term secret admirer was in fact Big E. Langston, who proceeded to toss her aside and allow AJ to berate the devastated girl. This added a spark to Kaitlyn's wrestling, an aggression that made her brawl assertively during the match, while AJ would pick up any slack in the technical department with her submission holds and grappling expertise. Together these two were able to put together an interesting match that was both physical and technically sound, and Kaitlyn was able to look strong with her ability to break free of the Black Widow submission hold and toss her opponent around like a rag doll. Towards the conclusion of the match, Kaitlyn hit a vicious looking spear on AJ, which demonstrated she is just as good as her boyfriend Dolph Ziggler for selling moves better than the rest. But, instead of pinning her, Kaitlyn taunted her foe, and wasted valuable time which allowed AJ to reapply the Black Widow and eventually force the champion to submit. The result was a very good clash which left AJ the new Divas Champion after a long wait, and still kept Kaitlyn looking competitive and in good shape for the future. The only problem is, with Kaitlyn ever-improving in the ring, how long before she goes the way of all other divas in the PG Era and jumps ship into a new career?