Voodoo's Reflections: The 15 Best Storyline Payoffs in History (15-11)

So a week or so ago, I put together a list of the worst storyline payoffs in pro wrestling's history—angles that had the potential to be great but the end result was less than satisfying. Infamous payoffs like The Gobbledy Gooker, The Invasion, The Nexus, and Sting-Hogan and Starrcade '97 were featured prominently.

But for my next series, I want to focus on something more positive and upbeat: this time, I'm going to look at the best storyline payoffs in wrestling history.

These were storylines that had depth and a finish that left us satisfied; some made us cheer, some stunned us, some made us angry, but regardless they were all results that made everyone say: "now that's how you should finish an angle!"

Some of the entries on the list might be controversial (yes, I will be talking about Chris Benoit at one point), and some may seem like more guilty pleasures. But please, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

As always, (thoughtful) comments and suggestions/recommendations are appreciated!

15: JR Smashes Tazz with a Candy Jar, Gets Revenge (Summerslam 2000)

Back in 2000, Tazz was still relatively new to WWE; after suffering an arm injury, he came back as a heel and kept costing Rikishi the Intercontinental Title, leading to Jim Ross calling Tazz a "piece of garbage."

A little while afterwards, Tazz confronted JR about this statement, leading to Jerry Lawler taking up for his long-time co-worker (this was essentially Jerry Lawler's face turn after years of supporting heels on commentary) and begin a feud with Tazz.

As part of this feud-and the build-up to Summerslam, Tazz smashed a car window while Jim Ross was inside, essentially "blinding" him.

It would only make sense, then, that this action be brought back in the Summerslam match; while Tazz had Lawler locked in the Tazzmission (and with the referee knocked out) Jim Ross would return the favor and smash Tazz over the head with a glass candy jar, leading to a huge pop from the crowd and a win for Lawler.

In the end, this angle and its payoff did not change the landscape of WWE (aside from the fact that it turned Jerry Lawler into the babyface character he is today), but it was a simple, excellently executed instance of the good guy getting his revenge on the bully; not only that, but it used a plot device from earlier in the feud (the broken glass) into the payoff.

14: Zack Gowen Beats Big Show (With a Little Help from His Friends)

On the surface, this looks like more of a guilty pleasure, feel-good moment; in reality, this was one of the best jobs WWE had done of tying in multiple angles and creating a singular, satisfying payoff.

Back in 2003, one of the long-running angles on Smackdown was that of Zach Gowen (the one-legged wrestler than John Laurinaitis initially botched signing) trying to get a contract with WWE and fulfill his lifelong dream.

He had tried and failed to get a contract, in part due to the fact that his mentor, Mr. America (Hulk Hogan in disguise), was feuding with Vince McMahon; Hogan would leave WWE during this time due to his frustration with WWE's creative direction, leaving Gowen without someone to defend him.

Everything came to a head on the July 3 edition of Smackdown, where McMahon gave Gowen one last chance to win a contract, but he had to do it in a handicap match: Gowen and Stephanie McMahon (who was feuding with her father at the time) vs. The Big Show.

It looked impossible at first, but since this episode of Smackdown was playing up the Independence Day, never-give-up-your-dream storylines, we all knew Zach was going to get his due.

Of course, it was painfully obvious how the match was going to end: Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle—who were both babyfaces at this time and were in a "friendly" competition over Brock's WWE title—both had longstanding issues with Big Show, who had just been added into the WWE title match at the upcoming Vengeance PPV.

Everyone pretty much knew Lesnar and Angle would do a run-in and cost Big Show the match, giving Gowen the contract he wanted (which is what happened).

But you know what? It was fun. It was a great feel-good moment that tied in a number of different storylines (Gowen wanting a contract, Stephanie-Vince, Angle-Lesnar-Big Show) and gave people the satisfying conclusion that they wanted.

13: HBK Sends Ric Flair into WWE Retirement

It was one of the most dramatic moments in wrestling history, an emotional finale that ended the in-ring career of Ric Flair.

Over the course of late 2007 and early 2008, Flair was in a storyline where the next time he lost a match, he would be forced to retire.

Time and again, Flair would come out on top against younger performers (including an underrated feud with MVP) before running into the man who would challenge him at WrestleMania: Shawn Michaels.

The match with Michaels was more about respect than anything; Michaels made it clear that he loved and looked up to Flair, so it made sense that, after an awesome match (that won PWI's Match of the Year Award), Michaels superkicked Flair into retirement. It was emotional, it was bittersweet, and it was a fitting end to the Nature Boy's career.

Well...his WWE career.

It is because of what happened afterwards that places this particular moment so low on the list of all-time great payoffs; Flair's career has gone on to mimic Randy "The Ram" Robinson (from The Wrestler, in case you never saw it), coming out of retirement to wrestle again (badly) for TNA.

Despite getting one of the best sendoffs that anyone has ever gotten in WWE, he never really quit, nor I doubt will he ever. His finances are in the toilet, as is his personal life, and the rumor has it that he may return to WWE soon, making his retirement sendoff a bit...well, cheapened.

If Flair had hung it up, this would rank in the top five. But he didn't. So it doesn't. 

12: Whatcha Gonna Do When the Great One Layeth the Smacketh Down on You?

At WrestleMania X8, two of the greatest performers in the history of professional wrestling squared off to see who really was the best of all time: The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan.

Yes, it was originally supposed to be Austin vs. Hogan, but politics got in the way and The Rock served as a more than capable substitute.

The feud itself, while a bit fractured at times, still had an excellent build-up: we would finally see who, exactly, was the most iconic performer in the history of WWE.

Did it deliver? Well, it depends on how you look at it. The actual match, the wrestling and the holds and the action, was pretty much awful; Hogan was never a great technician, and his age had sapped him of a lot of his in-ring abilities. However, as far as drama and crowd reaction, this was one of the greatest matches in WWE history.

The Toronto crowd infamously booed The Rock (who was the babyface) and cheered wildly for Hogan (who was the heel, one who tried to kayfabe kill Rock by ramming his ambulance with a truck, among other sides).

Seeing as how these two are arguably the best ever at playing to the crowd, they went with what the crowd was giving them; Rock heeled it up big time, and Hogan hit all the old-time Hulk spots.

The crowd went ballistic the entire time, and after The Rock finally (pun intended) beat Hogan with three Rock Bottoms and a People's Elbow, the two shook hands and even teamed up against the nWo.

This match allowed Hogan one more run as the red-and-yellow superhero, and cemented The Rock's legacy as the supreme entertainer in professional wrestling; not only that, but it was a tremendous payoff to a dream scenario.

Only two reasons why it wasn't ranked higher: 1) Say what you will, but Austin really was the one who should've had this match (he was far more revolutionary than The Rock ever was); 2) the actual match itself was pretty awful, in-ring wise.

11: The Ultimate Opportunist Is Born

The concept of the Money in the Bank contract winner cashing in on an unsuspecting opponent is nothing new these days; of all of the contract wins, only Rob Van Dam (and soon John Cena) have cashed in the briefcase by giving advanced warning.

However, you can't deny that the first time it happened at New Year's Revolution 2006, it wasn't one of the most shocking moments in WWE history.

After Edge won the initial Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 21, everyone knew he could cash the briefcase in for a title match whenever he wanted, but it wasn't clear how literally Edge was going to take the "whenever" piece of the equation.

Unlike more recent winners who have teased the surprise cash-in (The Miz, CM Punk, and Dolph Ziggler come to mind), Edge just held onto the briefcase for what seemed like forever.

He eventually wound up in a feud with Ric Flair over the Intercontinental Title (and Flair's recent road rage incident) in early 2006, leading to a hotly contested, emotional match at New Year's Revolution.

After Edge got himself DQ'ed against Flair, it seemed like this feud was far from over. Except that, by the end of the night, it pretty much was: Edge cashed in his briefcase on a wounded John Cena (who had just defended his title in the Elimination Chamber) and won his first-ever WWE title.

It took Edge a while to truly establish himself as a top guy—he lost the title back to Cena quickly, then didn't win it again for a few months, and only then briefly—but as we know, Edge would go on to become one of the most decorated world champs in WWE history.

And it all started with one of the biggest surprises ever. Now that's how you pay off an original angle (being able to get a title match whenever you want).

Conclusion to Part I/Preview

Hope you enjoyed the first installment of this series. Stay tuned for the next section, moments No. 10-6.

Leave comments and suggestions (what are some of your favorite payoffs?)!