Last night at Payback, there were several great matches, an Enzo Amore concussion, and the decision that Shane and Stephanie McMahon are both running Monday Night Raw. With both McMahon’s in charge, how will the sibling rivalry affect the product, and what will come of the “New Era?”
Opening Segment
Stephanie McMahon comes down to the ring, and before she gets a chance to say anything, she is interrupted by her brother. Before getting to business, Stephanie gives Shane a gift: a frame photo of Shane and Vince McMahon, which is the same photo that Vince McMahon destroyed before WrestleMania.
Shane McMahon is about to announce his plan for the night, when they are interrupted by Kevin Owens, who has an idea of his own: a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship. Cesaro interrupts Kevin Owens, since he had the Miz tap out last night, but Kevin Owens prevented Cesaro from winning the title. Since both men have rightful claims for an Intercontinental title shot, Shane McMahon makes them face each other in a #1 Contender’s match.
Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro – #1 Contender’s Match (Intercontinental Championship)
This exact match happened last month, and Cesaro won on that occasion. Whether you hate Kevin Owens or not, he is contractually obligated a rematch, so this #1 Contender’s match does not need to happen.
Cesaro attacks the Miz, who is on commentary, and the Miz comes into the ring to attack Cesaro, ending the match. Because the match ended by disqualification, there is still no #1 Contender. Winner (via disqualification): Cesaro
After the match, Miz and Owens beat down Cesaro, when Sami Zayn makes the save, and lays out Owens with the Helluva Kick, while the Miz is able to retreat.
Goldust (w/Fandango) vs. Tyler Breeze (w/R-Truth)
For the last few months, R-Truth and Goldust have almost become a tag team, called “Golden Truth.” There have been a bunch of reason why they haven’t teamed yet, but now they have found different partners. Since Goldust found Fandango for a partner, R-Truth found a partner of his own in Tyler Breeze. This is all a big scheme for Truth and Goldust to get each other jealous.
Goldust is too distracted by Fandango and R-Truth having a dance-off (this actually happened) and Breeze rolls up Goldust for the win. Winner: Tyler Breeze
In-ring Segment
The New Day come down to the ring to give the crowd an update on Enzo Amore, and they are interrupted by the Vaudevillains. The Vaudevillains get some heat for bragging about Amore’s injury, and the Dudley Boyz come to the ring, saying that the tag team tournament should be restarted. Big Cass comes down to the ring to attack the Vaudevillains, and a fight breaks out as we go to commercial.
The New Day & Big Cass vs. The Dudley Boys & The Vaudevillains
The McMahon’s took a page out of Teddy Long’s playbook and took the brawl and made it into a tag team match. The Vaudevillains became the #1 Contenders to the Tag Team Championship by default after Enzo Amore’s concussion.
After Big Cass gets the hot tag, he cleans house and hits East River Crossing (swinging sidewalk slam) on D-Von Dudley to pick up the victory. Winners: The New Day & Big Cass
Becky Lynch vs. Emma
Lynch and Emma have been feuding for a while now over social media, and they finally go one-on-one tonight. Lynch has been out of action since WrestleMania when she suffered an eye injury during the Women’s Championship triple threat match.
Emma pokes Becky Lynch in the eye out of the referee’s line of sight, then hits a modified Michinoku Driver on Becky Lynch to pick up the not-so-clean victory. Winner: Emma
Ambrose Asylum feat. Stephanie McMahon
This edition of the Ambrose Asylum is an open forum, where Ambrose will be able to ask Stephanie McMahon whatever he wants. Stephanie seems unusually happy, and Dean Ambrose is skeptical that Stephanie McMahon has something up her sleeve. Ambrose tries to get under the skin of Stephanie McMahon, so she cancels the Ambrose Asylum and announces the return of the Highlight Reel.
While Jericho is on his way to the ring, he starts brawling with Ambrose and it looks like the Highlight Reel is not going to start. Jericho destroys the set of the Ambrose Asylum, and hits Dean Ambrose over the back of the head with Mitch the potted plant, laying Ambrose out at ringside.
20-man Battle Royal – #1 Contender’s Match (United States Championship)
After Kalisto has successfully defended his United States Championship on multiple occasions, this battle royal is set to determine who will challenge Kalisto next. What’s most notable about this match is that it is the on-screen return of Titus O’Neil.
Order of eliminations: Viktor, Damien Sandow, Stardust, Darren Young, Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Titus O’Neil, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas, Sin Cara, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Zack Ryder.
Rusev overcomes his former League of Nations comrades and Zack Ryder to become the new #1 Contender, and set his sights on his second United States Championship. Winner, and NEW #1 Contender: Rusev
In-ring Segment
Charlotte and Ric Flair come down to the ring to address the screwjob that transpired at the end of Charlotte’s Women’s Championship title defense against Natalya last night. Charlotte calls down referee Charles Robinson to the ring regarding his involvement in the match. Robinson says that Natalya didn’t physically tap out, but she was begging him to stop the match. Charles Robinson leaves, and Natalya angrily storms down to the ring to address the situation.
After praising the Hart family, Natalya lays out Charlotte, and locks in the Sharpshooter on Ric Flair.
Charlotte and Ric Flair are approached by Stephanie McMahon backstage, and McMahon announces a rematch between Charlotte and Natalya. They will square off at Extreme Rules in a submission match, and Ric Flair is banned from ringside.
AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, & Karl Anderson vs. Roman Reigns & The Usos
Styles became the #1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship the night after WrestleMania, and since then, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson made their WWE debut. Gallows and Anderson have been helping Styles out by attacking his opponents, including Reigns last night, whether Styles wants the help or not. This tag match is far from the end of this feud between these six men.
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows lay out Reigns outside the ring, and AJ Styles hits the Phenomenal Forearm on one to the Usos to pick up the victory. Winners: AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
After the match, Anderson and Gallows want Styles to hit Reigns with a chair, but Styles refuses, and the Usos use the chair to their advantage, taking out Gallows and Anderson. Styles lays out the Usos with a chair afterwards, and Reigns snaps after seeing his cousins get attacked, and ends up powerbombing Styles through the announcer’s table.
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