Review: Payback 2016: It’s No Backlash

Welcome to KB’s Old School (and New School) Reviews. I’ve been reviewing wrestling shows for over twelve years now and have reviewed over 6,000 shows. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a new review here on Wrestlingrumors.net. It could be anything from modern WWE to old school to indies to anything in between. Note that I rate using letters instead of stars and I don’t rate matches under three minutes as really, how good or bad can something that short be?

Payback 2016 took place on May 1, 2016, at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The event featured a number of high-profile matches, including Roman Reigns defending the WWE World Title against AJ Styles and a Tag Team Tournament Finals match between Enzo Amore/Colin Cassady and The Vaudevillains. Let’s dive into the action.

Pre-Show: Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler

The pre-show match featured Baron Corbin taking on Dolph Ziggler. Corbin dominated the match early on, but Ziggler made a comeback and rolled Corbin up for the surprise victory. The match was a nicely done big man beatdown, but the ending was questionable. It’s unclear why WWE continues to give Ziggler wins like this when he isn’t going anywhere. Corbin, on the other hand, could have been built up as a strong newcomer, but instead, he’s losing his first major match less than a month after debuting.

Pre-Show: US Title: Kalisto vs. Ryback

The pre-show also featured a United States Championship match between Kalisto and Ryback. The match was fast-paced and hard-hitting, with both competitors giving it their all. Kalisto retained the title after hitting the Salida Del Sol. However, the match suffered from the same problem as many other title matches in WWE – Kalisto is another lame duck champion who never gets to do anything with the title. Meanwhile, Ryback continues to flounder in his latest heel run. Despite these issues, the match itself was awesome and one of the best pre-show matches WWE has ever done.

Tag Team Tournament Finals: Enzo Amore/Colin Cassady vs. Vaudevillains

The Tag Team Tournament Finals match between Enzo Amore/Colin Cassady and The Vaudevillains was unfortunately cut short due to Enzo Amore suffering a concussion. The match was fine while it lasted, with both teams showcasing their unique styles. However, the match was called off after Enzo’s injury, and the focus shifted to his well-being. It’s a shame that the match couldn’t reach its full potential, but the safety of the wrestlers is always the top priority.

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

Sami Zayn took on Kevin Owens in a highly anticipated match. The two former friends turned bitter rivals put on a fantastic display of athleticism and storytelling. Both Zayn and Owens beat each other relentlessly, with neither man willing to give an inch. In the end, Owens hit the powerbomb for the win. The match was a solid A- and showcased the chemistry and history between Zayn and Owens.

Intercontinental Title: Cesaro vs. The Miz

The Intercontinental Championship match between Cesaro and The Miz was marred by poor booking decisions. The match itself was good, with both wrestlers giving it their all. Cesaro’s athleticism and Miz’s sneaky tactics made for an entertaining bout. However, the decision to have Miz retain the title was a mistake. Ces