Best and Worst of WWE Payback 2017

How did WWE fare in its first pay-per-view since Wrestlemania? WWE Payback 2017 was a pretty good show, and it does excite us for Raw the following night. It was not perfect, but considering the fact that it is a B pay-per-view, Payback had its moments.

At this moment, we can say with certainty that we have more positives than negatives to report from the action that transpired at the SAP Center in San Jose, California (and the House of Horrors). Here is our post-event analysis of this Raw exclusive pay-per-view featuring many SmackDown superstars.

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#1 Best: Braun Strowman’s dominance continues

Thankfully, our worst fears were not realised at Payback

There was no way Braun Strowman was going to lose this match, we thought to ourselves, considering how strongly he’s been booked thus far. However, knowing that his match was against a man that the company sees as their prized possession- Mr. ‘Ooooaaaa’ Roman Reigns, we were afraid that WWE was building a monster to feed him to The Big Dog at Payback.

Ultimately, Braun Strowman won the match quite effortlessly, and Roman Reigns, selling his injuries, was also protected as he was not at 100% in this match. Strowman’s reign of terror continued after the match when Reigns was laid out on the mat, establishing him as a vicious heel.

WWE does not do everything right, but it’s been amazing how well they've built up Braun Strowman since the draft happened last year.

#1 Worst: The absence of the top belts

Payback really felt like a B-show because of this reason

With Brock Lesnar, a part-timer, holding the top title belt on Raw, Payback felt like an underwhelming affair. The US Championship match should become the main event of the show, as a consequence, but it was the match that kickstarted the show.

Randy Orton did not defend the WWE Championship either, which meant that a grudge match between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman closed the night at the pay-per-view. While the match in itself was fine, this just undervalues the pay-per-view for what it could have been if the Universal Championship was on a full-time WWE performer.

With Brock Lesnar working limited dates, we fear that this is a trend that will run through the course of the year.

Why did poor Naomi have to surrender her title, as per the nonsensical 30-day clause then?

#2 Best: Genuine surprises

This was a feel good moment, every fan really desperately wanted

While we had reported that Chris Jericho is likely to win The United States Championship at Payback (despite the fact that he’s going on tour with his band, this month) it was still a really genuine surprise when it happened. However, Y2J is genuinely going on tour, and he’s likely to lose his belt at SmackDown Live.

Nobody predicted the heel turn from Cesaro and Sheamus though, and it was heartening to see WWE take chances and mixing things up at Payback. While Alexa Bliss’ win may have come as a surprise to some (we reported that one too), WWE takes an abnormal amount of joy in making champions lose their belts at home.

#2 Worst: The House of Horrors

Everything about this segment screamed outright- ‘Cheesy!’

Horror-themed storylines don't belong in wrestling, at least in the PG era. This wasn't Kane making his debut and destroying the Hell in a Cell Door, during the match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker.

This wasn’t even The Undertaker and Mankind from their Boiler Room Brawl from Summerslam 1996. This was a watered down segment in a not-so-strange looking house, where dolls were hanging from the ceiling.

From a topless Randy Orton arriving in a limo to the actual brawl (starring the fridge) and Bray Wyatt hobbling back to the limousine, this match was a disaster in every sense.

According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, fans were chanting ‘boring’ during the match. We certainly do not blame them for the same. Bray Wyatt may have won this match, but he certainly deserves better than this embarrassment.

#3 Best: Michael Cole was awesome

Cole really stepped up his game this week

Michael Cole was on fire for a change at the commentary desk. Maybe WWE has given him a lot more freedom than usual lately, but he wasn’t your typical company man.

Instead, he called moves beautifully and even offered some fantastic insights for a change. Corey Graves was great as always, and Booker T was...well...Booker T. Cole stole the show, and we hope he continues this form, over the coming weeks too.

#3: Worst: 1, 2 Sweet

Perhaps the worst crowd chant there is, at the moment

If ‘What?’ and ‘You deserve it' weren't bad enough, WWE fans now chant ‘Sweet’ after every 2-count. It is amusing at first but gets annoying soon enough. Calm your you know what, WWE Universe. It's not as amusing for those not in the arena, you stupid idiots!

#4 Best: A very vocal local crowd!

Credit where credit is due, though

Yes, some of the chants were annoying but WWE made the event feel special with their energy and their enthusiasm. Can every show happen at San Jose henceforth, please?

We end with a picture of Alexa Bliss looking like the cutest Iron Man ever.

<3

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