The kickoff to WWE Payback featured a bonus match, R-Truth getting the win over Star Dust. Good match, interesting focus on Star Dust post-match, showing him in a more human state, rather than reveling in his crazy persona. Sadly, the main attraction of the pre-show turned out to be a rushed, short flop between the Ascension and the New Mega Powers. I guess someone realized how silly “The Meta Powers” sounded. AxelMania and Damien Mandow came out to their respective vintage 80’s themes, sending the live crowd into a frenzy. Unfortunately their antics were no-sold by Konnor and Victor who picked up the quick victory. Insert sad face here.
Pre-show also focused on Daniel Bryan and his sincere thanks to the crowd as he relinquished the Intercontinental Championship, which will find a new home in two weeks at the Elimination Chamber event.
First up on the Payback show, we have an outstanding match between Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior starts off beating down Ziggler, until he gains the upper hand, even administering his own version of the stinkface. Sheamus and Ziggler traded big moves, first Ziggy hitting the Famouser, then Sheamus retaliating with a powerbomb. I was even stunned as Sheamus crushed Ziggler with a British Bulldog-style running powerslam. Sadly, Ziggler may have mis-timed a headbutt, or just say something went horribly wrong, and Ziggler busted himself wide open. Blood everywhere, he eats a Brough Kick to end the match.
Winner: Sheamus
Backstage: Seth Rollins and Kane have some choice words for each other. Good segment.
The next major NXT event is this Wednesday night.
The New Day comes to the ring, taunting their new catchphrase of “Think Positive!” They also taunt Baltimore Orioles very own Adam Jones, who has his own replica WWE Championship. Thankfully, they are interrupted by Cesaro and Kidd putting a stop to this awkward taunt-fest. Love Natalya embracing her inner Luna Vachon. The live Baltimore crowd loves Cesaro. He is not dressed as the Hamburglar. It must be British Bulldog tribute night as Cesaro holds Kingston with a vertical Suplex for a good 20 seconds. Cesaro and Kidd win the first fall with the Swing/Dropkick combo. Xavier Woods tries to switch it using the “Freebird Rule” but the ref denies him. We get a great exchange with Kidd, Langston, and Kingston. Langston falls to the outside, Kidd then clotheslines Kofi into next week, but then Kidd leaps onto Langston but is thrown with an overhead Suplex. After another rapid exchange, Langston scores the second pinfall following a double-team with Kofi. The third fall starts right away as Langston launches Kidd with another belly-to-back overhead Suplex. Cesaro gets a hot tag, and delivers the same Suplex, then uppercuts everyone in sight. Something goes wrong, Cesaro has Langston up with a double-underhook, but then either loses his grip or perhaps something was supposed to happen. Kidd is tagged back in, locking the sharpshooter on Kofi. Cesaro has Kofi, but Langston distracts the ref as Woods switches with Kofi, rolls up Cesaro with a small package, and the ref counts three!
Wait a seconds, so Kofi and Xavier are identical. They are in Baltimore. How was that a good idea? WWE is going to get crap for this one. I get the twin magic thing works for The Bellas, but now to use that for Kingston and Woods? Seriously? Favorite moment, crowd chanting “this is awesome” and Woods shouts back, “Yes, we are well aware!” genius.
Winners by… Uh… Tomfoolery… and still the WWE Tag Team Champions: The New Day
Bray Wyatt vs. Ryback
There really was no rhyme or reason for this match, other than to give two floundering should be-main eventers some air-time on a PPV. The good thing, we have two big guys who can also move well around the ring, surprisingly can complement each other very well. They did the “injury spot” having Wyatt leap off the apron with his senton, “crushing” the ribs of Ryback. The Big Guy gets back in at the nine count, as the commentary team then use that as the focus of the rest of the match. Bray Wyatt inevitably earns the victory via Sister Abigail, using an exposed turnbuckle to his advantage. Before that happened, we did see Ryback fly off the top rope with a frog splash. This turned out to be a really good match. I was surprised as to how smoothly they worked together.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Promo for Money in the Bank, taking place on June 14th. Wow, they are just cranking out the major events. Elimination Chamber in two weeks, then two weeks after that is the annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Wow.
Before our next match, the ring announcer says “Your opponent literally must say the words, I Quit…” Did she say the word “literally?” Did she? Oh lord.
United States Championship “Let’s Ask Cena After Every Damn Move If He Quits” Match – Rusev vs. John Cena
Seriously. Bodyslam, “do you quit?” Hard punch, “do you quit?” Rusev asks Cena if he wants to quit before the bell rings, and obviously that went nowhere. The early Lana chants sent Rusev into a frenzy, sending her to the timekeeper’s area to sit still. Good grief, after every goddamn move the ref asks Cena if he quits. Rusev spends a lot of time admonishing Lana for doing nothing. Both become annoying very quickly. Match breaks down into a brawl into the arena, Cena putting Rusev through some weird table, then beating him with a busted laptop. Rusev then plows Cena through a table or something looking like it. Entertaining moment when Rusev activates the pyro, and looks like a caveman who has discovered fire. Cena then counters, and throws Rusev into the pyro booth, which sets off the sparks, except Rusev looks completely unscathed. Guess what, no one quits. Nice spot with Rusev suplexing Cena into a guardrail, bending it in half. Rusev locks in the Accolade, except Cena appears to pass out. Rusev thinks he has won, but the ref informs him otherwise. Rusev loses it, and starts dismantling the ring. Rusev douses a bottle of water on Cena to wake him up. Smelling salt would have worked too. Suddenly, Cena snaps awake and uses the rope which Rusev took off to wrap him in the STF. Rusev starts blathering in Bulgarian, to which Lana jumps into the ring and shouts “he says he quits!” Well, that was odd.
Winner and still United States Champion: John Cena
That was a weird finish. Cena was out cold, so he couldn’t say “I quit” but then Lana “translates” and says Rusev quit. I see ramifications this week.
Backstage: The New Day toast with glasses of milk. Amazing. Byron Saxton informs the New Day will defend the titles in the first-ever tag team Elimination Chamber match.
The Bellas vs. Tamina & Naomi
To be honest, I went upstairs, took out the recycling, got my dinner, came back down and it was over.
Winners: Tamina & Naomi
“King” Wade Barrett vs. Adrian Neville
Now, maybe my ears are playing tricks on me, but I think I heard chants of “you can’t wrestle” directed towards Barrett, unless those chants were really “let’s go Neville!” JBL might be drunk at this point, as he sounds like a broken record putting over King Barrett calling everything a “royal” move, or shouting how Barrett calls his opponents “peasants.” In any case, we get a short and sweet match, ending by way of count out, as Barrett seemed to allow himself to lose the match. The post-match was better than the match itself, with Barrett running back into the ring, hitting the Bull Hammer. He gloats, putting on his crown and cape, only to be grabbed, hoisted, carried around by Neville who then PLANTS Barrett with a gorgeous standing German Suplex, breaking the scepter, denting the crowd, and damaging Barrett’s pride with a picture-perfect Red Arrow.
So, Barrett looks like a wuss, and Neville looks like a million bucks.
Winner: Adrian Neville by Count Out
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Fatal Four Way Match:
Seth Rollins defends against Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and Randy Orton, with the added stipulation, if Rollins does not retain the title, Kane will be fired.
JBL is scared Dean Ambrose will win the belt. JBL needs to be cut off. Am I the only one who notices by the 10pm hour of every PPV event, JBL sounds wasted? I used to be happy about Cena being away for the world title picture, until JBL sputters out how Orton could become a 13-time champion, also inching closer to the record held by Ric Flair.
Ambrose and Orton enjoy a nice exchange early on, with Rollins, as the typical heel champ, hangs out on the outside as Reigns takes a turn on Orton, until an opportunity presenting itself allows Rollins to capitalize. As expected, Reigns and Ambrose unite for a time, teeing off on Rollins until Kane pulls Reigns out of the ring and assaults Ambrose. Things get better for the champ as Kane, with J&J Security keep Orton from returning into the ring. Ambrose manages to rally back, turning Rollins inside out with his rebound lariat, however before he can hit Dirty Deeds, Kane enters the ring and chokeslams Ambrose. Suddenly, Orton returns and throws Rollins with a massive T-Bone Suplex. Chaos erupts, and suddenly, THE SHIELD REUNITES! They go for the Triple Powerbomb, plowing Orton through the announce table! Rollins rejoices, but this is short lived as Ambrose and Reigns then clobber Rollins! Kane makes the save for Team Authority, except then Reigns and Ambrose powerbomb Kane on top of Rollins, both on the second announce table, which fails to break! The crowd chants for one more, and they oblige, successfully destroying the second table!!! Ambrose and Reigns have a short and friendly chat before going into the ring and tear into each other! Reigns hits the superman punch, but Ambrose kicks out at two! The crowd is on their feet, and so am I! Ambrose goes for the rebound lariat, but eats a spear! Reigns makes the cover, but Rollins breaks it up. Reigns hits Rollins with the Punch, then Ambrose clocks Reigns with the lariat, then spiking Rollins with the Dirty Deeds, but Kane yanks him out of the ring, knocking him out with the ring stairs, doing the same to Reigns. Orton is the only one left, and he takes out Kane. Orton nails RKOs on both Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury, before catching Rollins off the top with a powerslam. Kane eats an RKO, but then Rollins catches Orton with THE PEDIGREE, and pins Randy Orton!
Winner and still WWE Champion: Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins, pins Randy Orton after using the Pedigree. Even with the ton of interference from Kane, this was a FANTASTIC main event. I am using the joke, but tonight, Roman Reigns looked strong, Ambrose was awesome, Orton remained solid, and Rollins was perfect in his role.
We conclude tonight with Triple H congratulating Seth Rollins, and the promo reminding us in two weeks, we have the Elimination Chamber.
