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If you’ve read my review about Payback, you’d know that I liked the show a lot. Unlike the other PPVs, it wasn’t below average or average, but was one of the better PPVs since the beginning of 2012. I gave it a 4 star rating out of a possible 5, but I did have my qualms about some of the matches and how they were booked. Although I would never imagine a Cena–Ryback match to be perfect, it was decent, and they performed to best the best of their limited abilities. The other matches, however, could’ve been booked better. In this article, I take a look at five instances that could’ve been avoided/booked in a better way that would have improved the quality of PPV just a bit better.
5) Heyman didn’t turn on Punk
What was the whole point in Jericho challenging Punk? Don’t get me wrong, they put on arguably the best match of the year, and I absolutely love both the performers. But we’ve seen a program between them before as well, and there was nothing new to it that would’ve made me jump and take notice. I prophesied a Jericho heel turn, or at the very least, Heyman turning on Punk, and WWE had a good chance to do that. When Punk left the WWE couple of months ago, he left Heyman stranded in the ring, and Heyman, being a brilliant businessman that he is, could’ve come up with a point saying Punk left him in high waters, and that’s why he wanted retribution. The feud/match could’ve been booked in a better way. Instead, we get Punk telling Heyman that they should ‘just be friends’, and he’s not his client on wwe.com video! Call me old fashioned, but I’d like to see a turn in the ring, and in a sensible storyline. Not on an app or a video that 80% of the fans wouldn’t even watch. Where will Punk go from here? I’m pretty sure Heyman will turn on Punk anyway and bring Lesnar back to feud with him. Why didn’t they do that at a place where Heyman would’ve been the most hated man alive? I honestly don’t know.
4) Dean Ambrose cannot win clean
Dean with other members of The Shield
I don’t understand the fascination WWE has with count outs or Dusty finishes. Ambrose could’ve used a clean win over Kane. He is after all the WWE United States champion! But no, like the other mid card title holders, Ambrose might never win another match clean. Is it a coincidence that The Shield has become vulnerable after winning titles? No, that’s just how WWE books its champions. Almost all of the title holders (Except of course, John Cena) lose almost all their matches or never get a clean win. Sadly, that is happening to The Shield as well. Ambrose needs to be elevated, not pulled back to the abyss that he once was in. Although it can happen if a feud has to be carried for long, I hope that doesn’t happen, and Ambrose feuds with someone else, someone who’s young and needs the feud more than Kane.
3) Ziggler loses the World Heavyweight title
When Ziggler won the World Heavyweight championship the night after WrestleMania, I wrote about how he needs to have a long, successful run as the champion. Well, not only did he manage to lose whatever matches he was a part of, but he was put on the shelf for a while because of the concussion and he lost the title when he came back. Although the double turn indicates an interesting phase in the WWE, Ziggler deserved a long run as the World champion. I’ve never seen anything impressive in ADR, and he’s boring and stale, the same act other heels have been doing for the past 3 decades in the business. Ziggler should’ve won the match by DQ, thus still leaving the door open for a double turn. One can only hope that WWE has a long term plan in mind and Ziggler wins the title back soon, and doesn’t turn out to be like Christian.
2. No Orton heel turn yet
Has anyone been impressed, or been remotely interested with what Orton has been doing for the past 2 years? Sadly, not many are, and he has been a regular part of storylines and air time. Orton is a natural heel, and that’s what he is supposed to be. Although the internet wrestling community and the wrestling fans have been asking for an Orton heel turn for the past year, that still doesn’t seem to have any effect on the WWE management. Everyone was hoping he’d turn on Bryan after Bryan and Orton lost the match, but that didn’t happen. Where is Orton going from here? No one knows!
1) Curtis Axel gets another fluke victory
When someone is introduced as the future of the company, and that someone is the son of a legendary performer, someone who is regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, people would think he’d go through the talent, put on good matches and win over them clean. Sadly, Axel doesn’t seem to fit that criteria. Having Heyman by your side is a bona fide ticket to super stardom, but when even that doesn’t make you look like a legit threat, then you know there’s something wrong with the way he’s being built. Axel won the WWE Intercontinental title, but once again, it came off as a fluke victory. There is a reason you say ‘building’ a star, and that doesn’t include being manhandled and claiming a win when the boss throws a hissy fit about his son – in – law. It’ll be interesting to see how Axel will do as a champion, although sadly, I think I know the answer.
