8 New Directions For WWE After Payback 2016
1. Gang Warfare In The Main Event
Going into the main event of Payback, the biggest questions surrounded the challenger AJ Styles and his former Bullet Club companions, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. Finn Balor also dropped the NXT Championship in the lead up to the show, fuelling further whispers that WWE was about to become Too Sweet, so to speak.
As it transpired, Balor was nowhere to be seen and Anderson and Gallows were countered in their attempts to interfere by Jimmy and Jey Uso. It doesn't take a genius to see that this story is now evolving into gang warfare, with Styles, Gallows and Anderson on one side up against the Anoa'i family.
If it leads to Reigns taking on more heel characteristics and the Usos finally getting a much-needed character evolution, this can only be a positive sign. The rumours about Balor arriving on the main roster will continue, and with Dean Ambrose doing not too much and Seth Rollins soon to return from injury there is every chance that the big story over the summer will see the WWE-version of Bullet Club up against a reformed Shield.
This removes a lot of the main event focus from the shoulders of Roman Reigns, which may allow him to continue to grow into the role of champion. It keeps Styles in the main event, makes Gallows and Anderson look like a big deal and freshens up the Usos, something that is long overdue.
It is the most exciting direction that WWE seems to be taking coming out of Payback 2016.