10 Awesome WWE Payback Moments

By Jamie Kennedy /

4. Lana Throws In Towel For Her Man

Seeking to protect one of their top heels currently, WWE's creative team lived up to their name with the finish to the John Cena vs. Rusev match at Payback. Instead of simply having the big Bulgarian menace utter the words, 'I quit' at the top of his lungs, surely popping the crowd, the promotion's writing boffins elected to further the intrigue between both he and Lana. After snapping off the top rope and looking to use the corner turnbuckle as a weapon, Rusev found himself locked in the STF, with the top rope pulling against his nose violently. In wrestling, this would normally be enough to have the heel screaming like a baby, but there was more to take from the match than simply a straightforward babyface victory. Entering the ring and grabbing the microphone, Lana's decision to quit on behalf of Rusev - assuring referee Mike Chioda that the foreign words he was muttering were him giving up - was simple, effective story telling. A few fans had guessed this kind of finish beforehand, but that didn't stop it being a cool moment - the involvement of Lana directly overshadows the result of the match, which is good.