WWE Payback 2015: Overlooked Superstars Who Will Make Big Impacts at PPV

That said, if there's a time to stake your claim as one of the company's brightest stars, the best opportunity to do so is on a pay-per-view. Great television performances will only get you so far; it's the big shows that count in the long run.

Payback 2015 could be the opportunity that one of these overlooked Superstars needs to reaffirm his climb to the top. Here are the names you'll need to look out for come May 17.

Ryback

 

Injury woes and a premature push to the top of the card have stuntedRyback's progress over the past few years, but 2015 has seen the Big Guy re-energized and ready to make his mark.

Over the past few weeks, Sin City's Silverback has been targeted by Bray Wyatt. There's no confirmation of a match between the two for Payback, but it seems likely given recent events. The pairing might just be what Ryback needs to thrive.

We haven't seen all too much from Ryback in terms of singles feuds in recent months. His work on the microphone is better than it ever has been, so it would be great to see if his wrestling can follow suit—but he needs a decent rivalry to show what he can do.

Wyatt seems like the perfect target for him at present. He's big enough to make Ryback's strength look superhuman but nimble enough to match his power with some agility. There's plenty of reason to be excited about the in-ring element of this rivalry.

Story-wise, there's plenty of opportunities on hand, too. Both men's promo styles are different enough to make their interactions engaging—and there's always the possibility that Wyatt might restart his family with a Human Wrecking Ball.

Naomi

 

Considering that the Divas division is infamous for its lack of exposure, it's always impressive to see how committed some of WWE's female wrestlers are to honing their crafts.

Naomi is something of a poster child for that dedication to development. Her debut as a Funkadactyl might have flagged her up as a flash in the pan, but three years later she seems a cornerstone of the Divas division going forward.

We watched her ring work improve week by week as she transitioned from a valet to a competitor. Now, she's added an edge to her character that should take her into more serious contention for the Divas Championship—which is thoroughly well-deserved.

Although a title match hasn't been set for Payback, Naomi vs. Nikki Bella seems likely to be added to the card over the coming weeks. WithTamina Snuka returning to Raw this week as Naomi's enforcer, the odds certainly seem to be in Naomi's favour.

Naomi's vicious conduct in recent weeks reveals a character type we don't often see in the Divas division. She certainly has some momentum behind her at present—expect great things if she does get a shot at Nikki Bella at Payback.

Dean Ambrose

 

For months, The Lunatic Fringe has been adrift. Now, from out of nowhere, he's set to challenge for the WWE Championship after earning his shot via an excellent match with the champion on this week's Raw.

There was a time in 2014 when Ambrose looked set to become the biggest star in wrestling. His feud with Seth Rollins was the most engaging part of WWE programming, and crowds came to life as soon as his music hit.

Ambrose was a victim of a stacked roster. His Shield stablemates were headed for WrestleMania's main event while he engaged in an ongoing conflict with Bray Wyatt—one that would only serve to establish the New Face of Fear as a believable opponent for The Undertaker.

That said, Dean Ambrose isn't a man fans follow because he notches up wins. Crowds love him because he's unpredictable and charismatic. He's an oddball, and in wrestling that can count for a lot more than wins and losses.

Roman Reigns and Randy Orton both have plenty of admirers, but expect a very vocal contingent to cheer Ambrose on at Payback. Few will expect him to claim the title—but the response he gets will likely gauge how far off the main event he is at present.

A warm response from the crowd might raise Ambrose's stock rapidly over the coming months. Either way, we're bound to see a memorable performance from The Lunatic Fringe as he attempts to gain some measure of payback on his longstanding foe, Seth Rollins.