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Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to WWE Payback! We’re live from the All State Arena in Rosemont, Illinois and we’re set for a wild ride tonight, as CM Punk chants have already begun inside the arena!
Pre – show:
El Torito vs. Hornswoggle in a Mask vs. Hair match
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The pre – show match was once again exciting, but I have no idea why WWE would rather put Hornswoggle in a match rather than putting someone like Drew McIntyre who is in dire need to resurrect his career. Good back and forth action with a lot of spots, as the crowd got involved. El Torito got the victory after a springboard moonsault.
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Winner: El Torito
Rating: ** ½
Analysis: I’m not very big on these kinds of matches, as I’d rather see someone like Drew on the card. Anyway, I won’t argue with WWE’s logic of “entertainment”. Good back and forth action once again, and Hornswoggle lost, which isn’t a big surprise.
Post – match, Torito shaved Hornswoggle bald as per the stipulations.
Main – show:
Sheamus vs. Cesaro for the WWE United States championship
Sheamus came out first to kick off the show and got a mixed reaction. Heyman came out next to a loud cheer, and CM Punk chants started again. Heyman spoke about Punk being at a hockey game, and not in the arena. Heyman plugged the Hawks losing their winning streak, similar to Lesnar breaking Taker’s streak. Cesaro came out next to start the bout.
The match started with both the guys going at each other, and Cesaro caught Seamus with an upper cut. Cesaro followed it up with the power suplex from the outside for a nearfall. Cesaro went on the offense with an underhook powerbomb for yet another nearfall! Cesaro was in complete control, but Sheamus caught Cesaro with the Irish curse backbreaker as the crowd booed. Sheamus kept on the attack with clubby blows and came down with a huge knee from the top rope as the crowd started a dueling “Let’s go Sheamus/Cesaro” chant, as Sheamus repeated the knee drop two more time for a nearfall.
Cesaro stopped Sheamus with a big right and a turning elbow for a nearfall. Sheamus got his legs up twice as Cesaro charged, but Cesaro tossed Sheamus up and delivered a huge European uppercut for a nearfall! Cesaro came back with slaps and rights, but Sheamus scooped him for a nearfall. Sheamus missed the Brogue kick as Cesaro dropped him with a German with a bridge for a nearfall. Cesaro went for the Neutralizer but Sheamus blocked it and nailed him with a White Noise for a 2 count! Sheamus caught Cesaro with a spinebuster and locked him in the cloverleaf. Cesaro picked Sheamus up in an inverted Fireman’s carry and dropped him for a nearfall again. Cesaro caught Sheamus in the Cesaro swing. Cesaro went for the Neutralizer but Sheamus rolled him in a small package for the three count.
Winner and still the WWE US champion: Sheamus
Rating: *** ½
Analysis: That was a great way to kick – off the PPV, and just as I predicted, Heyman came out to negate the hostility of the Chicago crowd. I wanted Cesaro to win, but it was a smart way to book him, as he didn’t lose badly, and it came off as a fluke win for Sheamus. Cesaro can now focus on winning the MiTB ladder match rather than going for a title that he held for a long time previously.
Goldust and Cody Rhodes vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel
Goldust and Axel started things off as Goldust went on the offensive early on, but Axel came back with some rights of his own, but Goldust stopped Axel with an inverted Atomic drop and tagged Cody in, who worked on Axel’s shoulder. Axel tagged Ryback in, but Cody dropped him with a dropkick and tagged Goldust in, as the crowd chanted “Goldberg” at Ryback. Ryback got the control back and tagged Axel in, as he dropped a knee on Goldust. Axel worked on Goldust in the corner as the crowd got behind Goldust. Axel tagged Ryback in as he scooped Goldust and came down with a splash.
Axel tagged back in as RybAxel worked in tandem. Ryback dropped Goldust with a suplex for a nearfall. Ryback worked on Goldust’s shoulder. Ryback scooped Goldust again, but Goldust rolled Ryback up for a nearfall! Goldust came back with a springboard back elbow. Axel stopped Goldust from making a tag, but Goldust dropped Axel with a sunset flip powerbomb combination and tagged Cody in! Cody and Ryback came into the ring as Cody dropped Ryback with a couple of clotheslines and a missile dropkick. Cody worked on both his opponents and botched a moonsault on the two, but managed to get a nearfall. Cody went for a Disaster kick, but Ryback caught him and threw him into Goldust and caught Cody with a meathook clothesline for a nearfall. More back and forth action led to Ryback catching Cody again and dropping him with the shell shocked to pick up the victory.
Winner (s): RybAxel
Rating: ** ¾
Post match, Cody took the mic and told Goldust that he deserved a better tag team partner.
Analysis: That was a good back and forth bout, and the ending will lead to a match between both the brothers likely at SummerSlam. RybAxel were impressive, and they keep getting better and better with time. Cody’s words might lead to the team breaking up before one of the brothers attacking the other.
Lana came out next and once again picked on United States, and put over Russia and Vladimir Putin.
Rusev (With Lana) vs. Big E
Apparently Rusev is now from Moscow, Russia. Anyway, both men collided in the ring and went at each other, with both of them drilling each other with rights. Rusev got the better of the two and dropped Big E with a huge German suplex. Rusev connected with a crossbody in the corner but missed with the next, as the crowd chanted “We want Ziggler”. Big E then speared Rusev through the ropes onto the outside as both men went down.
Back in the ring, Big E covered Rusev for a nearfall. Rusev connected with a big superkickLana then ordered Rusev to end it, as Rusev locked Big E in the camel clutch and Big E tapped out.
Winner by submission: Rusev
Rating: * ¾
Analysis: That was a decent collision of the behemoth, but were given very less time, and wisely so as Rusev might not be able to go for more than 5 minutes. It ended as a squash, as Rusev picked up his first major victory.
Kofi Kingston vs. Bo Dallas
Bo Dallas cut a promo before the match about the Hawks losing their game, and asked the fans to Bolieve.
Before the bout began, the pyros went off as Kane came out. Bo Dallas escaped as Kane dropped Kofi with a boot and threw him out of the ring. Kane dropped Kofi with another big boot on the outside and brought him back into the ring, delivering a big chokeslam. Kane picked Kofi up once again and dropped him on his head with the tombstone piledriver.
Winner: No contest
Analysis: So in Chicago, the only way to get ‘heat’ is by putting down the local hockey team every time. I don’t know what the point of the whole thing was, as it didn’t make any sense.
Post the attack, Bo Dallas asked Kofi not to worry, and asked him to Bolieve. The crowd then started chanting “We Bolieve”.
RVD vs. Wade Barrett for the WWE Intercontinental championship
RVD made his way out first, following by Barrett who got a big ovation. Barrett said that he won’t let RVD win the match, and that he will put RVD down permanently.
Both men locked up as the crowd chanted for RVD. Both men exchanged rights as RVD dropped BNB with a spinning heel kick, and the crowd started a dueling “RVD/Bad News Barrett” chant, as RVD delivered another thrust kick for a nearfall. Barrett stopped RVD with a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. RVD caught Barrett with a baseball slide and threw him into the barricade. RVD then went for the high – risk spinning leg drop on the barricade and connected with it. The crowd started a “E – C – dub” chant as RVD brought Barrett back inside the ring.
RVD came down with a springboard leg drop for a nearfall. BNB came back with a huge kick to the gut and connected with a big boot, sending RVD flying outside the ring. Barrett then dropped an elbow on the outside. Barrett then delivered a running kick in the corner for yet another nearfall. Barrett dictated the pace of the match by locking RVD in a chinlock, but RVD came back with a spinning heel kick.
RVD dropped Barrett with a couple of clotheslines and connected with a kick. RVD then followed it up with a rolling thunder and went for the five star frogsplash but missed it. Barrett dropped RVD with the Winds of Change for a nearfall. Back at ringside, Barrett missed the bull hammer and hit the ringpost, and RVD took advantage with a DDT for a nearfall. Barrett got his knees to RVD’s gut and followed it up with the bull hammer to pick up the victory.
Winner and still the WWE IC champion: Bad News Barrett
Rating: ***
Analysis: That was a decent match that had the crowd involved. They were split between the two, and BNB retained the IC title as expected, which is the right move. It will be interesting to see where BNB goes from here.
WWE then showed a video highlighting Bryan’s journey to the top of the mountain, and then the injury. Bryan’s decision is up next.
Stephanie made her way out to a lukewarm reaction. The crowd then booed Stephanie as she cut a promo, and called out Daniel Bryan. Bryan and Brie made their way out to a massive reception from the Chicago crowd. Stephanie then blamed Bryan for putting Brie in the predicament she was in, and made fun of him. Bryan then made fun of Stephanie and asked her to do the right thing. The crowd started a huge “CM Punk” chant, and Stephanie asked Bryan if he would quit like CM Punk. Bryan then called Stephanie a narcissistic, self centered b*tch.
Stephanie then talked to Brie and said she made a poor choice in choosing a husband. Bryan then contemplated giving back the WWE World Heavyweight championship. Brie then stood up for herself, and said Stephanie didn’t have the power to fire her. Brie then said she quit, and slapped Stephanie! Stephanie walked to the back in disbelief as Bryan and Brie celebrating in the ring, as the crowd chanted “Yes!”
Analysis: That was a great segment, and Bryan is still your WWE World Heavyweight champion. Where does this leave Brie and the champ? We’ll have to wait and find out tomorrow night on RAW.
WWE aired a promo for the Cena – Bray Wyatt match, looking back at their rivalry which started earlier this year.
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt in a Last Man Standing match
The Wyatts made their way out first to a good reception, and the fans started the dueling “Let’s go Cena/Cena sucks” chants even before he came out. Cena finally made his way out to a very mixed reaction. Rowan and Harper teased attacking Cena, but The Usos came out to even the odds.
Both men finally went at it, loading on each other. Cena dropped Bray with a bulldog, but Bray came back with a huge uppercut, and drilled Cena once again. Wyatt dropped cena with a back elbow as the referee started to count. Cena got up but Wyatt crushed Cena in the corner with a running clothesline. Bray then danced with Cena, but Cena dropped Bray with his usual body checks, spinning back drop and the five knuckle shuffle, but Bray stopped him with a huge knee to Cena’s gut. Bray missed with a running splash, as Cena went for the STF, but Bray countered with a huge slam. Wyatt then went for Sister Abigail, but Cena managed to avoid it, but Wyatt dropped him with a running crossbody. Bray then planted Cena on the edge of the apron as the referee started counting again.
The crowd was electric, chanting for and against Cena as Wyatt for a superplex, but Cena blocked the attempt and came down with a leg drop from the top rope. Cena went for the AA, but Wyatt dropped him with Sister Abigail and waited in the corner as the referee started counting again. Cena got up at 8 and dropped Wyatt with the AA, and both men went down as the referee started counting again. Wyatt got up and did the inverted spider walk leaving Cena stunned. Harper and Rowan fought with The Usos and all of them went down on the outside as Bray hit Cena multiple times with a chair. Wyatt missed a chair shot as Cena drilled Wyatt with the chair. Cena unloaded on Wyatt with the chair as the referee started the count once again.
Cena brought out a table but Wyatt drilled Cena with some kicks. Cena tried to put Bray through the table, but Bray countered with a suplex through the table! Cena beat the count as Bray brought in the steel steps. Wyatt drilled Cena with the steel steps and led the fans in singing his song. Wyatt missed with a chair shot as Cena brought Wyatt down with the steel steps, returning the favor. Wyatt tried to escape, but Cena threw the steel steps onto Wyatt on the outside! Bray managed to get out before the 10 count and dropped Cena with a Sister Abigail on the outsie! The crowd started a “This is awesome” chant as both men fought at ringside.
Cena wanted to powerbomb Bray on the steel steps, but Bray back dropped Cena inturn! Bray controlled the pace of the match on the outside, but Cena countered with an AA on the outside. Rowan and Harper attacked Cena in the ring but The Usos came down to make the save. The four men started brawling, and one of The Usos took Rowan out through a table as Harper took the other Uso out with a superplex on the outside through another table! Cena went for another AA, but Bray speared him through the barricades! The crowd started yet another “This is awesome” chant as both the men brawled through the crowd. Cena and Wyatt fought near the electrical equipment, and Cena AA’d Bray through one, and pushed another on top of it. The referee counted to 10 as Cena stood tall over Bray Wyatt.
Winner: John Cena
Rating: **** ¼
Analysis: That was an outstanding match, but I disagree with the ending. Although it was predictable, Bray should’ve won the rubber match, but the WWE management once again decided to go ahead with Cena. That took away the surprise element in the bout, resulting in the same old “Cena wins” situation.
Alicia Fox vs. Paige for the WWE Divas’ championship
Alicia made her way out first, followed by the Divas champion, Paige. Both women locked up and Paige dropped Alicia with an armdrag. Paige started off aggressively, taking it to Alicia. Paige worked on Alicia’s back for a nearfall. Alicia played possum and swept Paige’s leg, landing her on her back on the apron. Paige drove Fox back first to the barricade but Fox dropped Paige on the floor, throwing her against the barricade.
Fox brought Paige inside the ring for a nearfall. Alicia followed it up with a suplex for another nearfall. Fox locked in a submission working on Paige’s back. Alicia then drilled Paige with a tilt – a – whirl backbreaker and extender her back. Alicia dropped Paige with another backbreaker for another nearfall. Fox then tossed Paige out of the ring. Paige countered with a dropkick and clotheslines inside the ring, and dropped Fox from the top rope and locked Fox in the PTL to pick up the victory.
Winner and still the WWE Divas champion: Paige
Rating: ** ½
Analysis: That was a pretty good divas match, considering the abysmal matches we normally have to endure. Paige retained the title, and it’ll be interesting to see when AJ Lee returns to the WWE to challenge Paige for the title.
Post match, Fox threw a tantrum and ran to the back like a lunatic.
WWE aired a promo hyping the main event match between The Shield and Evolution.
The Shield vs. Evolution in a No Holds Barred elimination match
This was the main event that everyone was looking for. Since this was one of those very rare pay per views without a WWE World Heavy Weight Championship in it, this particular match kept everyone glued to their seats.
All men start brawling in the ring, and it is finally down to Triple H and Rollins in the ring as the other brawl at ringside and through the crowd. Rollins took Triple H with a leap in the crowd section as Batista was drilled through the steel steps by Reigns. Reigns and Batista go against each other inside the ring as Reigns tagged in Rollins. Rollins worked on Batista as the action was finally under control. Batista turned the tables and drilled Rollins in the corner.
Batista tagged in Orton who worked on Rollins. Rollins dropped Orton with a dropkick for a 1 count. Ambrose then tagged himself in as they double teamed Orton. Batista and Reigns came back inside the ring as Reigns dropped Batista with a huge clothesline and tagged in Dean. Batista dropped Ambrose with a spinebuster for a nearfall. Triple H came in as Ambrose tagged in Reigns. Reigns and Triple H stared each other as Reigns brought Triple H down with a shoulder tackle. Triple H tried to make a comeback but Reigns dropped him with a back body drop and a clothesline. Ambrose came back in and worked on Triple H, and then tagged in Rollins.
Rollins hit the triple vertical suplex, a tribute to the late great Eddie Guerrero. Ambrose came back in and taunted Hunter. Ambrose connected with a running cannon in the corner for a nearfall. Triple H finally countered Ambrose’s offense and tagged in Batista. Batista worked on Ambrose as the crowd started the “Bootista” chant. Hunter and Batista double teamed Ambrose as Evolution picked Ambrose apart. Orton came in and worked on Ambrose, and tagged in Hunter. Triple H dropped some knees on Ambrose for another nearfall. Ambrose finally found a way to get himself away from Evolution and tagged in Reigns, who took on all members of Evolution. Reigns with the running boot and Superman punch on Batista but Orton saved his teammate. The action spilled outside the ring once again as Reigns and Batista were left in the ring.
Triple H drilled Rollins with something metallic, as Rollins was knocked out. Evolution then shifted focus to Reigns and powerbombed Reigns through the announcer’s table! Ambrose and Rollins came out of nowhere and took Evolution down. The numbers game caught up as Batista, Hunter and Orton pounded on Ambrose and Rollins. Hunter unloaded on Ambrose and Rollins with a steel chair at the entrance area, and dropped Ambrose back first through a chair and pedigreed Rollins on the chair!
Back in the ring, Batista dropped Reigns with a spinebuster, and the trio put Reigns on the steel steps and drilled him with kendo stick shots! Reigns drilled Orton with the Superman punch out of nowhere, but Triple H and Batista cut him short, drilling him with chair shots. The three men take Reigns on top of the ramp, as Ambrose tried to make the save, but Evolution cut him off once again. Hunter tried to pedigree Reigns on the chair, but Rollins came down out of nowhere with a crossbody! In the ring, Batista speared Rollins as he came down from the top rope! Reigns speared Batista and Rollins covered him to eliminate him!
First Elimination: Batista
Orton RKO’d Rollins, but Reigns broke up the pin! Ambrose drilled Orton with a chair and planted him face first on it to eliminate Orton!
Second Elimination: Randy Orton
Triple H low blow’d Ambrose and went for the pedigree, but Reigns connected with the Superman punch, and Batista took Reigns down with a spear! Orton slid Triple H the sledgehammer as he decked Ambrose with it. Rollins connected with a high knee out of nowhere and Reigns took Hunter down with a spear to pick up the victory!
Third Elimination: Triple H
Winner(s): The Shield
Rating: **** ¼
Analysis: That was yet another incredible match, and the fact that The Shield won without even a single member being eliminated puts them over big time, which was the right call. This will set up the rumored match between Triple H and Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. However, what happens to Batista remains to be seen.
Over – all rating of the show: *** ¾ (Out of 5 stars)
That was a decent PPV, but it could’ve been booked better. Cena and Sheamus winning their bouts didn’t make much sense, as a DQ loss to Cesaro would’ve been better. Anyway, that does it for the live review. Hope you’ve enjoyed the show, as we now see the fall out of Payback on Monday Night RAW.
