The scripted drama of professional wrestling's first 'New Era' event
In short: In 2016, WWE marketed Payback as a revolutionary turning point for the industry. Yet, beneath the high-production spectacle lay a complex web of predetermined outcomes and vintage storylines that blurred the line between modern innovation and nostalgic recreation.
The May 1, 2016, edition of Payback was officially branded by WWE as the first pay-per-view and livestreaming event of "The New Era." This branding aimed to signal a fresh direction for the company. However, critics noted a paradox: while the marketing promised novelty, many of the featured storylines were actually recycled from the Attitude Era, creating a tension between the desire for progress and the comfort of established tropes.
The event was defined by high-stakes narrative payoffs derived from weekly television shows like Raw and SmackDown. For instance, the main event featured Roman Reigns defending his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles. The match was notable for its chaotic structure, involving multiple restarts—first a no-count-out stipulation initiated by Shane McMahon, followed by a no-disqualification rule under Stephanie McMahon. This culminated in an intervention by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to prevent a conclusion.
A significant point of contention for fans was the inclusion of "vintage" storylines. The WWE Women's Championship match between Natalya and Charlotte featured a deliberate re-enactment of the 1994 Montreal Screwjob, involving referee Charles Robinson acting as a "personal referee" for Ric Flair. This move connected modern characters to historical wrestling lore, even as it drew mixed reactions from those seeking purely original content.
The event also served as a logistical pivot point. Originally scheduled for May 22 in Newark, New Jersey, WWE swapped dates and venues with Extreme Rules to return Payback to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. This venue had hosted the first two annual events in 2013 and 2014, marking it as a significant homecoming before the brand extension of July.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Payback (2016)
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