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.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
