WWE: Payback was LIVE from The SAP Center in San Jose, CA on 4/30/17!
Enzo Amore and Big Cass defeated Gallows and Anderson via pinfall via an inside cradle by Enzo on Gallows. Crowd was very supportive of the face team to start off the kickoff show. Gallows and Anderson continue to impress as they look to move back into contention for the tag titles. They have always worked well as a well oiled machine, but watching their teamwork, which they refined during their stay in Japan really shined through again in this match. Cass make the hot tag and went to work with his offensive staples and in the process, he further excited the crowd. The heels went back to work, but they got the crowd excited again early as the faces come away with the victory after Enzo secured some retribution with an inside cradle. The heels looked good and the faces got a sorely needed win to keep the tag division hot on Raw.
We get further teasing of the eventual debut of “Broken” Matt after a fun backstage segment with members of The Golden Truth. Jeff is staring down Matt and it looks like he’s aware of what will be the eventual change once the legal tomfoolery in ironed out with the Owl. Excited to see the arrival of the unique personality, it will be DELIGHTFUL. No dilapidated boats will be able to sail those fan-supported storms.
We don’t get an IC Title match on a Raw brand PPV, but we do get MizTV with one of the hottest talkers in the company at the moment. The Miz heads out with his lovely wife Maryse, and he hypes up his guest tonight, the first ever Universal Champion, Finn Balor. Finn is out in street clothes, with the trademark leather jacket that befits a true Rock N Rolla, and he looks ready to go. Corey Graves call him James Dean cool and John Wayne tough. I dig that. Classic Miz! He mocks the five minute length of the entrance! It’s why The legendary Undertaker was never a guest on his show. The crowd is red hot for Balor and the Balor Club is out for the talented superstar. Miz puts over his credentials and then asks if he considers himself a failure? Balor fires back and says only if you consider working through a labrum tear and shoulder injury to finish a title match a failure. Touche Finn, touche. Miz asks what his plans are now that he’s back. Finn wants his title back. Miz says the current champ, Brock Lesnar, would break him in half. Miz says he would break Finn in half. Finn says he obviously didn’t get into the Balor Club, but he can get his rear end kicked club. Miz places Maryse in front of him. Finn says every episode of MizTV ends the same way, it ends with Miz getting his butt kicked. Finn says he’ll change the rules, Miz isn’t worth it. They play his music and Miz gets frantic, Balor comes back and nails a sling blade, which Miz sold beautifully and we have the classic ending to MizTV. Balor makes a statement as we head into the main show. I’d pay to watch a Miz/Balor feud. It would surely give us some quality matches. Good segment. Balor needs to continue to develop his character, the fans love him, as do I. This worked well towards that end game.
Chris Jericho defeats Kevin Owens via submission with the Walls of Jericho to win the US Title. Some mind games early, as the veteran Jericho has great fan support to help him work through them. He dazzles during his entrance with a brilliant scarf and KO comes out with a cool new entrance, and more importantly, the US Title. Jericho isn’t hip to playing the mind games and he goes in on KO early with high impact offense, taking to the skies with top turnbuckle maneuvers on several occasions. The heel takes charge and slows the pace down, a great opener for the San Jose fans. A great exchange of finishers lead to some better escapes. KO uses the same Wrestlemania tactic to break an early Walls with a finger on the rope. Jericho goes ballistic and he attacks the hand, using the ring steps to further injure the wrist. KO can’t get the Popup Powerbomb, and Jericho applies the Walls for the victory. That’s great news as it means we’ll have Jericho on Smackdown. He’ll probably lose the title Tuesday as he heads off to tour with Fozzy, but we keep Kevin Owens on RAW! That’s huge for me as the Monday writer as he’s easily one of my favorite guys and we finally have both he and Sami Zayn on separate shows. A great victory for the veteran Jericho as he’ll head to Tuesday nights for the immediate future and perhaps upon his return. Good call here.
Austin Aries defeats Neville via DQ, allowing Neville to keep the Cruiserweight Title. The King Of The Cruiserweights and The Greatest Man That Ever Lived put on another stellar match here. Neville actually had the advantage early and he really worked Aries over. Aries made the roaring comeback, the two men keeping the crowd’s attention, which has been pleasing as it relates to the Cruiserweight division. Neville really trolled the crowd early on before the comeback, which was hilarious, because you can tell he’s really having fun being a heel. He’s also incredibly good at it, just as Charlotte, the former Raw women’s champion is. Aries posts Neville and continues taking it to the champ with hard strikes as the crowd “woos” along. Aries hits an awesome reverse neckbreaker across the second rope before executing a beautiful topei suicida before dragging the champ back in for a two count. A spinning heel kick from Neville counters an attempted discus fivearm, but Aries is quickly back on offense. Aries is up top and Neville eats a head clap and then a sunset flip powerbomb. Aries get the Last Chancery on Neville, but in one of the greatest heel displays in recent memory, Neville reaches up, grabs the official and tosses him. The ref disqualifies Neville and we look to keep this red hot feud going. I’m perfectly okay with that. Great match with a solid finish. The fans hated it, but keep this going, it’s working.
The Hardy Boyz defeat Sheamus and Cesaro via pinfall to retain the tag titles after a Swanton by Jeff on Sheamus. This was everything you’d expect with two great veterans going up against two powerhouses. Sheamus and Cesaro looked like a million bucks with their power offense and both Matt and Jeff looked as fresh as daisies in the spring. These two teams have really good chemistry and that continues to develop as they work against each other. I am really enjoying the San Jose crowd as they have been fantastic tonight. Their reactions really added to an already entertaining contest. They teased a hot tag from Jeff to Matt as Sheamus delivered a staggering kick. Graves referred to Sheamus as the alabaster gladiator and that was awesome. Cesaro picked up where Sheamus left off, keeping Jeff away from his “broken” brother. They referenced Jeff losing a tooth and it wasn’t a joke. That kick from Sheamus actually took one of his teeth out. Wow. The “delete” chants rang out as the tag was made after Jeff hit a beautiful twisting senton and a reverse inzaguri. Matt hits a side effect as Jeff removes Sheamus from the equation after an apron splash. Cesaro dodges a moonsault attempt and he nails a corkscrew European uppercut. That is so amazing to see each and every time he does that. The Cesaro swing follows and somehow Matt has been opened up. Jeff pushes the rope towards him after a Sharpshooter attempt and Matt gets the break and Jeff gets broken as Sheamus crushes him. Cesaro catches Jeff and tries a powerslam on the floor, but Jeff slides out and pushes him over the barricade. Sheamus escapes two attempted twist of fates and he nails a powerslam on Matt as Jeff gets the blind tag, nails the Swanton and the three count. Exceptional contest. As I said earlier, the chemistry continues to develop as these two teams compete against each other. We get another display of sportsmanship between the two teams as the Hardyz celebrate and then there it comes! Cesaro and Sheamus go full heel with a vicious assault and we keep this red hot feud going. Yes! This pay per view has been very surprising so far as I was barely interested in it but now I’m glued to it. A great heel turn by two very talented individuals in Sheamus and Cesaro. This will be great going forward. Thumbs up!
Alexa Bliss defeats Bayley via pinfall with a DDT to become the new Raw Women’s Champion. It’s so incredibly awesome to see Alexa Bliss on Raw. She had been one of my favorite NXT wrestlers and she quickly became the MVP of the Smackdown women’s division. She and Bayley put in work at the beginning of this one, capitalizing on the reactions from the still hot crowd, supporting the efforts of both women. San Jose is Bayley’s hometown and they are really behind her and they should be, this match really picked up steam and came together nicely. Bliss almost got counted out after she taunted fans on the outside and Bayley nailed her on the apron coming back in the ring. Bayley roared back with a fighting comeback, hitting many of her signature moves and fanning the flames of the hot crowd. Bliss hit the knees to the gut and then the reverse double knee spot, but Bayley came back with a knee strike of her own. She headed up top and paid homage to the Randy “Macho Man” Savage with a sky elbow. She only got the two count, but it looked great. Unique spot where Bayley countered a sunset flip spot and when Bliss escaped, Bayley went head first into the bottom of the ring post. The referee checked on Bayley, who wanted to continue, but Alexa countered an attempt from Bayley with a sickening DDT that dropped Bayley onto her already injured head. Three count and we’ve got a new champ! I’m okay with it! The hometown crowd was obviously disappointed, but we’ve got one heck of a talker as the champ now and Bayley is always exciting to watch in the chase and not so much as the champ. Intrigued to see where they go now and what happens with Bayley and Sasha.
So here we go. Are we going full Hardy compound with this? A shirtless world champion Randy Orton arrives to the “House Of Horrors” in a limo. The lights flicker and the Viper remains coiled and alert. Bray is waiting inside and it’s literally a converted home. Oh boy. Images of all things macabre and not even a grizzly elemnent in the home design. The brawl begins and the two athletes get after it, exchanging anything but pleasantries as Bray says he’ll take everything from Randy as Orton took it from him. Orton sent through glass paneling and then hit with a right as he collapses on a couch covered with a white sheet. Wyatt grabs Orton through a wall as Randy gives chase into a room with creepy baby dolls hanging from the ceiling. Orton pulls down a doll and eats a clubbing blow from Wyatt. Nice! Orton is sent backwards through a wall. That looked cool! Flickering lights and mold plates follow as Randy gives chase. There is a room with some sort of shrine similar to something from the first season of “True Detective”. Into the kichen and Randy dodges Bray, sending him headfirst into the kitchen cupboard. Repeated right hands are issued to the “Eater Of Worlds” on the kitchen floor. The two men gather themselves and Randy grabs a frying pan and prepares to deliver an ECW-esque shot, but a mule kick to the lower anatomy from Wyatt puts a stop to that. The fridge is toppled over onto the champ as Wyatt gathers himself, Randy out of commision for the time being. Bray leaves the house via the front door, and he sinks to his knees, proclaiming that we “follow the buzzards”. The house lights go red and ominous music plays. I’m waiting for Uwe Boll to run in with frenzied right hands, but it’s to no avail. Bray climbs into the limo singing the “in his hands” song as he tells the driver to take him to the arena. We jump cut to the arena and they’ve turned the crowd. The “boos” are incredibly loud. The match will apparently continue ala the Hollywood Backlot Brawl between Roddy Pipper and Goldust at Wrestlemania 12, so when the match continues, we’ll give you the result. For now, we head back to reality and a promising contest between Seth Rollins and “The Destroyer” Samoa Joe.
Seth Rollins defeats Samoa Joe via pinfall with a three quarters roll. This was a hard hitting affair. Both of these incredible talents brought the crowd back into the show with hard work and furious offense. Joe showcased his power, working over Seth’s bad knee. He was cold and calculating in his efforts and the crowd was on the edge of their seats as he methodically worked over the Kingslayer. Rollins fought back valiantly, but was cut off at the pass by Joe several times throughout the match as the crowd willed his comeback on. Rollins finally gained some momentum as he sold the damage to the knee, but Joe hits the knee capper and he applies a kneebar, looking for the submission victory. Seth writhes in pain and Joe continues the relentless assault with a stacked powerbomb that he transitions quickly to a half crab and then into a cloverleaf. It’s so quick and looks so impressive. Samoa Joe is something truly fantastic. Joe keeps rolling, but Rollins comes back with some good counters and he impresses as he actually hoists Joe up and hits a falcon arrow. Wow! What a display of strength! A frogsplash from the top nets him a two count, and then a slugfest ensues. Inzaguri to the ear by Rollins and Rollins makes a mistake as Joe applies a sleeper, but Seth counters and then gets rocked by Joey Headrocker with a ridiculous clothesline. Joe tries to lock in the Coquina Clutch, but Seth counters with a three quarters roll and he gets the three count! The Kingslayer continues his winning ways by besting the Destroyer. Joe dominated this match and one mistake cost him. It doesn’t hurt Joe as some will say as Seth is riding a wave of momentum to the top of the mountain and a future title opportunity I’m sure. Joe will rebound and hopefully regroup with Kevin Owens and perhaps another top hand as we have the makings for a potential Shield reunion with all three men on the same show now.
Bray Wyatt defeats Randy Orton via pinfall after a Sister Abigail following interference from Jinder Mahal. Bray’s limo is back and thus we continue with the “House Of Horrors” match. Bray staggers towards the ringside area as they reference Randy Orton being buried beneath the fridge. The fireflies fill the arena as Bray’s music plays and he heads to the ring for the second part of this contest. The lights dim and upon their return, Randy Orton is standing the ring, bruised, but clutching a steel chair. He assaults Bray with the steel chair and then sends him over the announce table. He clears the table as Bray is grabbed and drilled with a draping DDT onto the floor. A random “We Want Tables” chant from the crowd, who they’ve brought back after the earlier part of the bout. The steel chair is reintroduced and he assaults Wyatt with it. Wyatt poised to strike with an RKO but he is attacked by the Singh Brothers, formerly known as the Bollywood Boyz. Randy strikes with an RKO and he is attacked from behind with a shot from the title by the number one contender to it, Jinder Mahal. Bray is up, Sister Abigail and then a three count. They need to time the drafts better so we don’t introduce multiple stories into one that didn’t need it. Glad to see Bray get the victory because that’s huge for him on Raw, but leave the Mahal story to Smackdown. I don’t really know how to rate this one because it was so different. I don’t necessarily mean different good or bad. Look at how the Hardyz story worked out. Having said that, this wasn’t that, but either way, glad to see Bray get the victory.
Braun Strowman defeats Roman Reigns via pinfall with a running powerslam. Reigns comes out with the shoulder fully taped but he goes right to rope, showing that fighter’s heart. He is quickly cut down by the redwood tree that goes by the name of Braun Strowman. Strowman decimates Roman early open, slinging him into the barricade on the outside like a rag doll. He hits the reverse chokeslam back in the ring and he continues to deliver the punishment to the battered Roman Reigns. Strowman surges towards Reigns on the outside, driving him into the ring steps as the crowd is torn between supporting Roman and showering him with boos. Roman has barely gotten in a single lick of offense thus far tonight as the Kodiak bear, Strowman, continues to dish out the punishment. A grounded bear hug by Strowman works the broken ribs of Reigns, who is frantically trying to get his breath and make the fighting comeback. Roman sidesteps two attempted charges, and to be honest, he is doing a masterful job of selling the injuries thus far. His facial expressions are really good here. He fights through the pain, hitting a samoan drop for a near fall. Clubbing blows by Roman are following by a clothesline to the back that brings both men over the top and down onto the rignside floor. Roman in a bad way as he hurt himself as well. Strowman gets in some brief offense, but he eats a drive-by as Roman is in survival mode at this point. Strowman is posted by Reigns and then a second time. Strowman beats then ten count back inside as Roman hits a spear, but he only gets a two count. Strowman hits a boot on Roman as he charges in, and Roman is able to escape a side-out powerbomb. Two superman punches and as he goes a third, Strowman catches him with the standing triangle. Strowman hits a running powerslam, but it only gets a two count. Braun isn’t done yet. He scoops Roman up and for the second time, he drives him down with a running powerslam and he gets the three count. Strowman wins and he darn sure deserves it for his efforts over the pst few months. Is he next in line for a title shot against “The Beast” Brock Lesnar? Strowman grabs the steel ring steps and he throws them into the ring. He hoists Reigns up and drops him across the steps with snake eyes. Strowman hoists the steps high in the air and he brings them crashing down into the ribs of Reigns, injuring them further. Roman begins coughing up blood as officials flood the ring. Adam Pearce, Fit Finlay and an array of officials help the former champ as we get a “Thank You Strowman” chant from the crowd. Savage. A “You Deserve It” chant follows. Cold blooded. I believe the day Roman finally turns heel is the day I become his biggest fan because he is going to fire off some of the best promos ever, but that’s if that day ever comes. Roman wants to leave without medical attention and that’s what he does as the broadcast ends. Good show tonight.
