WWE has played host to some of the most memorable storylines in professional wrestling history, and whether they be good, bad or completely bizarre, they have stuck with fans forever. One of the hardest parts of telling a story, particularly a long-term one, can be the eventual pay-off. Nailing the final moment of a story is tough, but over the years WWE have managed to accomplish it successfully on numerous occasions.
Dozens of wrestlers have laid claim to the WWE Championship. Here is the complete history of the most prestigious title in pro wrestling.
The following are some of those most notorious moments and perfect payoffs that really made the fans feel joyous, loving the way the storyline ended up unfolding and playing out.
10 Becky Lynch Stood Tall In The First Women’s WrestleMania Main Event
Lynch Won Both RAW & SmackDown Women’s Championships In 2019
Becky Lynch became the most over woman in WWE history between 2018 and 2019, and this led to her reaching the pinnacle of her career in the main event of WrestleMania 35 when she defeated both Ronda Rousey & Charlotte Flair to win the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Titles.
The match wasn’t ideal and the journey had ups and downs, but the moment of Lynch standing tall is timeless, and it was a pay-off that fans loved.
9 Bianca Belair Redeemed Herself Against Becky Lynch
A Controversial Storyline Had A Brilliant Pay-Off
Fans were furious when Becky Lynch sqaushed Bianca Belair, taking the world title from her at SummerSlam 2021. However, this fury into complete love and adoration many months later, as Belair embarked on a redemption arc and defeated Lynch at WrestleMania 38.
Belair’s title win came after a phenomenal match, and it was a strong pay-off to this story.
8 Batista Was The One To Finally End Triple H’s Reign Of Terror
Batista Had Triple H’s Number, And Fans Couldn’t Have Been Happier
After he realized that he was being used by Triple H in Evolution, Batista began standing on his own two feet, breaking out the group in one of the best babyface turns ever. He went on to defeat Triple H in a brilliant moment at WrestleMania to become World Champion – but that wasn’t the end.
Like all Triple H’s world titles feuds at the time, he sought to win the title back. He’d done this to the likes of Shawn Michaels, Goldberg, and Randy Orton, always clawing his way back to the top. However, he could not do this against Batista, who finally ended Triple H’s “reign of terror” in a great pay-off inside Hell In A Cell.
7 Ric Flair’s Retirement Storyline Was Handled Perfectly By WWE
Flair’s Final WWE Run Was Given The Best Possible Pay-Off
At the back end of 2007, Vince McMahon announced that the next time Ric Flair lost a match, he would be forced into retirement. This added tension and drama to every match he had, making all his feuds and bouts special. Eventually, this retirement tour was handed its toughest test – Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24.
Their match was a wonderfully wrestled spectacle, ending with a stirring moment as Michaels hesitantly ended the career of Flair. His farewell was fantastic, and it served as the perfect pay-off to his retirement storyline.
6 The KofiMania Storyline Treated Fans To A Beloved WrestleMania Moment
Kingston Received A Long-Awaited Main Event Push
On the road to WrestleMania 35, Kofi Kingston received a huge burst of support from fans who wanted to see him in the title picture. WWE listened, and the KofiMania craze began. He went on a great underdog journey, jumping through hoops and over hurdles, earning a shot despite what Vince McMahon threw at him. However, he needed to win the WWE Championship to make it all worth it, and that is exactly what he did.
In a perfect match with Daniel Bryan, Kingston defeated him to become the new champion, celebrating with his teammates and family in a beautiful pay-off.
5 The Four-Year Saga Between The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels & Triple H Ended With A Classic
The “End Of An Era” Match Was A Spectacle
The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels in back to back all-time WrestleMania classics, ending his career in the process. Michaels’ best friend Triple H inherited the task of ending Undertaker’s undefeated streak, also battling him two years in a row in thrilling matches.
The culmination was slated as the “End Of An Era”, which was an emotional spectacle that saw Michaels guest referee an iconic Hell In A Cell clash. Everything about this was dramatic and “cinema”, featuring the best nearfall in history. In the end, Undertaker won, but the three men embraced on the stage after their four year saga in a wonderful ending and pay-off.
Hulk Hogan Overcame His Former Ally Randy Savage
The explosion of the Mega Powers is one of the best told stories in WWE history, and the reason why it worked so well was due to the pay-off. After their friendship broke apart and Savage’s jealousy pushed him to becoming a villain, Hogan sought to overcome this new version of Savage.
He did just that at WrestleMania 5 as Hogan defeated Savage, standing tall with the WWE Championship in front of fans who loved seeing their hero reign supreme.
3 Cody Rhodes “Finishing The Story” Is One Of The Greatest Modern Pay-Offs
Rhodes’ Redemption Was A Whole Year In The Making
The phrase “finish the story” was thrown around a lot as Cody Rhodes pursued the Undisputed WWE Championship, and he finally did just that at WrestleMania 40 in a wonderful pay-off to his year-long redemption arc.
After being cheated out of a win the year prior, Rhodes built himself back up to title contention. He overcame WWE’s very real alternate plans to not have him in the main event, forcing himself back into contention. Rhodes was the man who ended Roman Reigns’ record-breaking title reign in a surreal moment and one which fans absolutely went wild for.
2 Randy Savage’s Reunion With Miss Elizabeth Is One Of WWE’s Most Emotional Pay-Offs
Savage & Elizabeth Had Been Apart For A While
Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth were wrestling’s most beloved couple, but they split apart when Savage turned heel and went his own way, aligning with Sensational Sherri and becoming one of the most detestable men in the promotion. His plight eventually led to him losing a career threatening match against The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 7.
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After the match, Sherri turned against Savage, attacking him in the ring. This led to Elziabeth jumping the barricade and saving Savage, prompting an emotional reunion and a great pay-off to their entire journey in WWE.
1 Daniel Bryan’s WWE World Title Victory At WrestleMania Was Universally Popular
One Of WrestleMania’s Greatest Title Wins
There might not be a more satisfying pay-off in WWE history than Daniel Bryan defeating Triple H in the opening match at WrestleMania, going on to then win the main event against Batista & Randy Orton to stand tall as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
It was the perfect underdog story, ramped up by WWE’s real life rejection of Bryan by wanting him out of the main event scene to focus on others. WWE’s fanbase gave the company no choice but to listen, putting Bryan in the top storyline and pushing him to the world title in one of WrestleMania’s greatest endings ever.
