What we learned from WWE Payback 2015

Baltimore hosted WWE Payback on Sunday night. The pay-per-view didn’t feature many surprises but it was a solid card from top to bottom. With only a few days before NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable blows this show out of the water, let’s recap what happened and find out where we go from here!

In a hastily added match that appeared on the Kickoff Show, R-Truth hit whatever his finisher is currently called and pinned Stardust, to seemingly end their mini-feud that was based on R-Truth’s fear of spiders.

What we learned: WWE cared enough about this feud to give it a beginning, middle and end, which is nice. Based on Stardust’s post-match reaction, we may also be approaching the endgame of the Stardust character, or possibly a change in direction. I could be reading too much into that, but if there’s going to be a next stage in Cody Rhodes’ evolution, the time is now.

The WWE graphics department and announcers appear to think Sandow and Axel’s team is now called “The Mega Powers,” but it’s been established that they’re the Meta Powers, because they’re paying tribute to the ACTUAL Mega Powers. It’s likely WWE thinks “Meta Powers” is too meta a joke and that no one will get it. If so, that’s sad. In a bit of a shock, the Ascension defeated the newly minted comedy tag team with The Fall of Man followed by the pin on Sandow.

What we learned: Curtis Axel is now doing a full-blown Hulk Hogan cosplay, including long red-and-yellow tights, bleached mustache and a WIG. The match began with him “Hulking up” and hitting the leg drop, which surprisingly didn’t get the pin.

Pretty much everyone expected the Ascension to lose this match. If they did, it would have essentially been the end of them as a viable entity in any way and they probably wouldn’t have been long for this world. With the win, they could possibly re-enter the tag team title picture, or at least remind people that they exist.

As for Sandow and Axel, it may be on to the next thing for both of them. Or else this tag team will continue as the Santino Marella for a new generation.

Ziggler got revenge for their ass-based feud in the middle of his match, by putting his bottom on Sheamus’ face. Sheamus ultimately won, finally dispatching Ziggler with the Brogue Kick.

What we learned: Ziggler continues to be the WWE’s in-ring MVP. He really worked overtime in this match and it was fantastic, butt stuff aside. At the end of the match, Ziggler hit Sheamus with a vicious headbutt and completely busted his own head open, bleeding buckets before getting hit with the Brogue Kick for the pin. The injury was grotesque but really added to the story of him being tough as nails and Sheamus really having to do everything short of killing Ziggler to put him away. This was the rare match that elevated both men.

The New Day came out and ran down the crowd for a while before the match, which eventually went to a tiebreaker fall, as anticipated. The New Day broke out a new trick in their newly discovered underhanded tactics playbook when Xavier Woods, who was not a legal participant in the match, snuck into the ring to roll up Tyson Kidd for the pin.

What we learned: The New Day continues to find their way, being compelling and terrific as hapless heels. The inclusion of Woods as a surprise participant for opponents is a nice tease for the Elimination Chamber tag title match in two weeks, where the New Day will find it easier to be brutal, but more difficult to cheat in order to level the playing field.

The New Day got another chance to shine later in the show, when they had a lengthy backstage segment that included drinking celebratory milk out of champagne flutes.

Bray Wyatt picked up a much-needed win after shoving Ryback into an exposed turnbuckle and hitting Sister Abigail for the pin.

What we learned: No reformation of the Wyatt Family, sadly. Wyatt may be starting a new winning streak en route to a bigger feud at SummerSlam, or he may continue on with Ryback for another month or two. Either way, Ryback and Wyatt are both treading water right now, in a big way.

Rusev looked like a complete badass, refusing to quit and making Cena pass out, but not winning the match on a technicality because an unconscious Cena was unable to say “I Quit,” by virtue of his unconsciousness. Cena used a rope-assisted STF on Rusev in a callback to his classic match against Umaga, but Rusev still refused to quit. Lana, terrified for Rusev, yelled “I Quit” on his behalf, giving Cena the win and probably driving an irreparable rift between her and Rusev.

What we learned: The endgame is nigh for the breakup of Lana and Rusev and the feud between Rusev and Cena is finally over. Sadly, Rusev looked like a massive hero in this entire feud and Cena looked like a spoiled, poophead bully, but at least this means the John Cena U.S. Open Challenge will continue, which is a wonderful thing. Let’s have Rusev move on to more winnable things, because he’s terrific.

Naomi got the win for her team after slamming Nikki from the top rope.

What we learned: That Naomi will continue to challenge for Nikki’s Divas Championship? No idea.

When Barrett got into trouble, he opted to take a count-out loss, then jumped Neville after the match. Neville got even by hitting the Red Arrow on Barrett.

What we learned: Looks like this feud isn’t over, which is good, because these two have great chemistry. They’re also both solid candidates to participate in the upcoming Elimination Chamber match for the vacant Intercontinental Championship.

After a wonderful, wild match that included the briefest of Shield reunions and re-breakups, Seth Rollins retained after hitting Randy Orton with the Pedigree, of all things.

What we learned: Rollins truly is the chosen one, handpicked by Triple H not only to be the face of his company, but to use his finisher. Either that, or Rollins is just stealing everyone else’s finisher and that’s his new thing now. This match was truly incredible and the three former members of the Shield continue to have undeniable chemistry together. When the Shield finally gets back together one day, it’s going to be transcendent.

★★★

Chuck Norris explains the finer points of hand-to-hand combat and remembers the time Bruce Lee wanted to kill him.