WWE's decision to run the Payback PPV event one week after SummerSlam was bold. The company did very well to build hype for back-to-back shows, but with Roman Reigns returning seven days ago, this Sunday's main event was set. It saw 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt put his Universal Championship on the line against Braun Strowman and The Big Dog. Talk about a heavyweight clash. The first 10 minutes of the match saw The Fiend and Strowman go to war, with no sign of Reigns. The pair wore themselves down, battling around the ThunderDome, before a Superplex from the top rope COLLAPSED THE RING. Check out the footage below:
Absolute madness! At this point, Reigns appeared from the back with Paul Heyman in tow and entered himself into the match.
He tried to secure multiple pinfalls on both Wyatt and Strowman but was unsuccessful.
After pulling out a chair - which was legal in the no holds barred match - The Big Dog went to town beating down both his opponents, before catching The Fiend with a low blow.
(Photo credit: WWE)
With Wyatt out of the ring, Reigns hit a spear on Strowman to win the Universal title.
He celebrated on the ramp with Heyman, leaving no doubt that he's turned heel upon his return to WWE.
(Photo credit: WWE)
The Payback main event was absolutely brilliant and this is expected to be a new era, with heel Reigns sitting at the top of the tree.
Fans have been desperate to see The Big Dog turn for years and now it's finally happened, so we can't wait to see where this goes.
At Payback, Reigns did exactly what was written on his shirt. He came to 'wreck everyone and leave'.
(Photo credit: WWE)
So what's next for The Big Dog and SmackDown? We'll find out on Friday night.