WWE Payback 2016: 10 Reasons It Was Better Than WrestleMania 32
4. Kevin Owens And Sami Zayn Met One-On-One
It would have been a dream come true for real-life friends to meet at WrestleMania for the WWE Intercontinental Title, but it wasn't destined to be. WWE were always going to push other names into the title hunt for the Ladder Match.
It's untrue to say that didn't end up being a good match, but Owens vs. Zayn could have been something special too.
At Payback, they proved why. Pairs who have natural chemistry aren't too commonplace in WWE nowadays, but Zayn and Owens have grown up in the wrestling business together.
They know exactly what to do out there with one another, and Payback was better for having a singles clash between them.
Much like Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar, the 'Mania Ladder Match was there to give fans immediate satisfaction from big bumps and weapon shots. In a singles situation, Owens and Zayn could tell a story without killing themselves, and it worked superbly.
There's the suggestion that the best is yet to come from both these guys in WWE, providing they are given the chance to tell more stories like this one and not simply placed in multi-man spotfests.