WWE Payback 2017

Snuffed Out.

The fifth annual WWE Payback was a RAW exclusive pay-per-view and it came to you, live on the WWE Network, from the SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. What started as an alliance that threatened to take over WWE has turned into a bitter, personal rivalry mixed with wild and unpredictable elements. Following their bizarre match at WrestleMania where Randy Orton defeated Bray Wyatt to bring his plan to fruition by winning the WWE Championship, Bray Wyatt deemed that he was not yet through with “The Viper” as Bray challenged the WWE Champion to the first ever House of Horrors Match at Payback. Without even knowing what a House of Horrors Match is, Randy Orton would accept the challenge as “The Viper” agreed to step into the unknown against the maniacal Bray Wyatt. While Bray has not divulged exactly what a House of Horrors Match will be, we do know that the match will start in the House of Horrors itself and will conclude in the ring. In what could very well be their final battle against each other thanks to the Superstar Shake-Up bringing Bray Wyatt to RAW, who will escape the House of Horrors as the winner? Can Randy Orton survive a match in Bray Wyatt’s twisted world or will the House of Horrors consume the WWE Champion?
In a longstanding rivalry filled with destruction and devastation, Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman have collided many times in recent months but no one can deny that Braun got the better of Reigns a few weeks ago when “The Monster Among Men” viciously assaulted Roman and even tipped an ambulance over with Reigns inside! As a result of this attack, we have not seen Roman Reigns since but “The Big Dog” would be at Payback as Roman Reigns would no doubt be looking for revenge against Braun Strowman when these two powerhouses go one-on-one. Can Roman Reigns get his revenge against Braun Strowman or will “The Monster Among Men” finish what he started a few weeks ago?
Once best friends, the animosity between Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho has reached a boiling point as of late and even their match at WrestleMania did not settle things between the two. In that match, it was Kevin Owens utilizing a powerbomb on the ring apron to Chris Jericho to beat “Y2J” and win the United States Title. Since that night, much has changed in WWE as the Superstar Shake-Up saw Kevin Owens sent to SmackDown LIVE along with the United States Championship. Despite the United States Title finding a new home, the rematch will still take place at Payback as Kevin Owens defends the United States Title against Chris Jericho with the added stipulation that, if Chris Jericho wins the United States Title, he will become a member of the SmackDown LIVE roster! Can Kevin Owens successfully retain the United States Title against his former best friend and keep Chris Jericho on RAW or will “Y2J” avenge his loss to Kevin Owens on “The Grandest Stage of Them All” and regain the United States Title?
After vanquishing Triple H in their Unsanctioned Match at WrestleMania, Seth Rollins has had to answer to Triple H’s right hand man, Samoa Joe. However, considering that Samoa Joe re-injured the knee of Seth Rollins a couple of months ago, Rollins also has a vendetta against “The Destroyer”. The animosity between these two Superstars would lead into Payback where Seth Rollins would go one-on-one with Samoa Joe. Also at Payback, after the Superstar Shake-Up a few weeks ago would provide new challenges for RAW Women’s Champion Bayley, one competitor who took full advantage of her new home was Alexa Bliss as the former two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion made an immediate impact in the RAW Women’s Division by winning a Fatal 4-Way Match to become the new #1 Contender for the RAW Women’s Title and, at Payback, Alexa Bliss would get her shot at the gold as Alexa Bliss would challenge Bayley for the RAW Women’s Championship.
Following a huge return to WWE at WrestleMania where they bested Enzo & Big Cass, Cesaro & Sheamus, and Gallows & Anderson in a Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match to become the brand new RAW Tag Team Champions, the legendary Hardy Boyz would have to prove that they still have what it takes to be champions at Payback as The Hardy Boyz would defend the RAW Tag Team Titles against Cesaro & Sheamus. The Cruiserweight Championship would also be decided at Payback as, in a rematch from the WrestleMania Kickoff, “A Double” would get another shot at the Cruiserweight Title as Austin Aries would challenge “The King of the Cruiserweights” for the title.

Match Results

• Kickoff Match: Enzo & Big Cass def. Gallows & Anderson by Enzo Amore rolling up Luke Gallows.
• United States Championship: Chris Jericho def. Kevin Owens (c) by submission to the Walls of Jericho to win the United States Title and become a member of the SmackDown LIVE roster.
• Cruiserweight Championship: Austin Aries def. Neville (c) by DQ after Neville (c) puts his hands on the referee. As a result, Neville (c) retains.
• RAW Tag Team Championship: The Hardy Boyz (c) def. Cesaro & Sheamus by Jeff Hardy (c) pinning Sheamus following the Swanton Bomb to retain.
• RAW Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss def. Bayley (c) by pin following a DDT to win the RAW Women’s Title.
• Seth Rollins def. Samoa Joe by countering the Coquina Clutch into a pinfall.
• House of Horrors Match: Non-Title: Bray Wyatt def. Randy Orton by pin following Sister Abigail after two shots with the WWE Title belt from Jinder Mahal.
• Braun Strowman def. Roman Reigns by pin following two running powerslams.
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  Detailed Results

  The fifth annual WWE Payback kicks off with a personal war for the United States Championship as Chris Jericho would challenge the self-proclaimed “Face of America” Kevin Owens for the prestigious title with the added stipulation that, if Chris Jericho wins the United States Title, he will become a member of the SmackDown LIVE roster. During the championship bout between former best friends, Kevin Owens would go for the Pop-Up Powerbomb but Chris Jericho would counter into the Walls of Jericho with the champion just barely getting a finger on the bottom rope to force the break. This would send the challenger into a rage as Chris Jericho stomps on the hand of Kevin Owens before smashing the champion’s hand with the steel steps! Back in the ring, Owens would nearly steal the match after a thumb to the eye, but when Kevin Owens is unable to hit the Pop-Up Powerbomb due to the injured hand, Jericho would take advantage, again locking in the Walls of Jericho, leaving Kevin Owens no choice but to tap out as Chris Jericho becomes the brand new United States Champion and, as a result, Chris Jericho is now a member of the SmackDown LIVE roster!
  The Cruiserweight Championship would then be decided at Payback as, in a rematch from the WrestleMania Kickoff, “A Double” would get another shot at the gold as Austin Aries would challenge “The King of the Cruiserweights” Neville for the Cruiserweight Championship. During the match, Austin Aries would lock in the Last Chancery on Neville and, with the champion in serious jeopardy, Neville would resort to putting his hands on the referee, knocking the referee down. As a result, the referee had no choice but to ring the bell for the disqualification as Austin Aries wins the match but Neville keeps the Cruiserweight Title.
  In their first pay-per-view title defense in nearly ten years, The Hardy Boyz would defend the RAW Tag Team Titles against Cesaro & Sheamus at Payback. During a hard-fought match, Sheamus would connect with White Noise from the second rope to Matt Hardy, but Jeff Hardy would break up the pinfall at the last minute. Jeff would then make a blind tag into the match and, when Sheamus tries to pin Matt, Jeff would come off of the top rope with the Swanton Bomb, pinning Sheamus to pick up the win as The Hardy Boyz successfully retain the RAW Tag Team Titles. After the match, The Hardy Boyz would show their respect for Cesaro & Sheamus, helping their opponents to their feet as Cesaro & Sheamus raise the hands of the RAW Tag Team Champions. However, as The Hardy Boyz celebrate their successful title defense, Cesaro & Sheamus show a new side of themselves as Cesaro & Sheamus attack the champions from behind, pummeling Matt & Jeff on the outside as Cesaro repeatedly slams Jeff into the ring post before Sheamus blasts Jeff with the Brogue Kick, sending Jeff into the post! Cesaro & Sheamus then bring Matt Hardy into the ring as Sheamus blasts Matt with the Brogue Kick. Cesaro & Sheamus then stand in the ring, holding the RAW Tag Team Titles high above their heads before leaving the ring, having laid waste to the RAW Tag Team Champions in a heinous attack.
  The RAW Women’s Championship would be on the line at Payback as San Jose’s own Bayley would defend the RAW Women’s Title against Alexa Bliss. During the intense match, Bayley would try to roll Alexa Bliss up, but Alexa would kick out and, in doing so, would send Bayley head-first into the ring post. Bayley would again try to surprise Alexa with a roll-up, but the damage was done and Alexa was able to kick out before planting Bayley with a DDT. Bliss then pins Bayley to become the brand new RAW Women’s Champion and making history by becoming the first Superstar in WWE history to have won both the SmackDown Women’s Title and the RAW Women’s Title!
  The unique and mysterious House of Horrors Match would then take place at Payback as WWE Champion Randy Orton would walk into the unknown to face Bray Wyatt in the first ever House of Horrors Match, which would be No Holds Barred with the match starting in the House of Horrors but ending in the ring by either pinfall, submission, or forfeiture. A visibly apprehensive Randy Orton would arrive in a limousine, exiting the vehicle and glancing at a house bathed in moonlight before a tractor drives by itself past “The Viper”. Orton then approaches the blue-hued house, looking in the window to see Bray Wyatt standing in a doorway. The WWE Champion then busts into the eerie house with the door shutting behind him. Bray then attacks Orton from behind, tossing “The Viper” into the wall before pummeling Orton and, when Orton gets a shot in on Bray, “The Eater of Worlds” disappears. Orton then wanders the house, briefly getting grabbed by Bray through the wall before the WWE Champion continues through the house, walking into a room filled with dolls hanging from the ceiling.
  As Randy Orton inspects one of the dolls, Bray Wyatt attacks again with Orton putting his thumbs in the eyes of “The Eater of Worlds” before Bray regains the advantage only to disappear again. Clutching his left arm, an angry Orton would continue through the house, flipping over a table before glancing into another creepy room. The WWE Champion would then make his way into the kitchen area, spotting Bray charging at him and getting the upper hand, sending Wyatt into the cabinets before beating Bray down. Orton then grabs a pan to use against “The Eater of Worlds”, but Bray would counter with a low blow before Wyatt grabs the refrigerator and tips the entire thing over on top of Orton! Bray then stumbles his way through the house, exiting through the front door and getting on his knees in the front yard. Wyatt then shouts “follow the buzzards” and this casts the house in a red hue before Bray manages to get to his feet, walking to the limo before laughing and getting in the vehicle. Bray then instructs the driver to take him to the arena as Bray sings “He’s got the whole world in his hands” the whole way.
  After Samoa Joe nearly ended the career of Seth Rollins a couple of months ago, “The Kingslayer” would be looking for revenge at Payback as Seth Rollins would go one-on-one with “The Destroyer” Samoa Joe. Throughout the match, Samoa Joe would relentlessly target the surgically repaired knee of Seth Rollins, wrenching and tearing at the knee. Somehow, Rollins manages to fight through the pain, even hitting Samoa Joe with the frog splash, but “The Destroyer” kicks out. Joe then goes for the Coquina Clutch with Rollins countering and nearly pinning Joe. Joe then locks in the Coquina Clutch, but Seth counters again and, this time, “The Kingslayer” is able to take Joe over, pinning Samoa Joe for the win, much to the surprise of “The Destroyer”.
  Backstage, the limo carrying Bray Wyatt arrives in the arena as “The Eater of Worlds” exits the limo, making his way through the backstage area before painfully stumbling to the ring. However, when the lights come back on in the arena, Randy Orton is somehow standing behind “The Eater of Worlds” with a steel chair in hand! The WWE Champion would deliver a chair shot to the back of Bray Wyatt before bringing Bray to the outside, delivering his suspended DDT to Bray on the floor. “The Viper” then delivers another chair shot to the back of Bray before bringing Wyatt back into the ring. However, just as Orton is about to hit the RKO, the WWE Champion is attacked by the Singh Brothers with “The Viper” managing to fight off the brothers before Orton hits Bray with the RKO. Jinder Mahal then rushes the ring with the WWE Title belt in hand, blasting the WWE Champion in the back of the head with the title belt. Jinder then sizes Orton up before delivering a second shot with the title belt, which would allow Bray Wyatt to catch Orton with Sister Abigail, pinning the WWE Champion to defeat “The Viper” in the first ever House of Horrors Match, thanks to a big assist from Jinder Mahal.
  Then it was time for the main event as, after Braun Strowman assaulted Roman Reigns and tipped an ambulance over with Reigns inside, Roman Reigns would certainly be looking for revenge as “The Big Dog” would make his first appearance since the assault as, with his shoulder and upper body bandaged up as a result of the attack, Roman Reigns would go one-on-one with “The Monster Among Men” Braun Strowman. Roman Reigns tries to take the fight to Braun Strowman early on in the match, but Strowman would catch Reigns in mid-air before slamming Roman on the German announce table. Back in the ring, Braun would target the injured shoulder and ribs of Roman Reigns, even sending Roman injured shoulder-first into the ring post. Later on in the match, Reigns would somehow manage to hoist Braun Strowman up and deliver a Samoan Drop with one arm! On the outside, Roman Reigns would manage to connect with the Drive-By to “The Monster Among Men” before Strowman collides with the ring post. Braun would manage to beat the ten-count, but “The Big Dog” was waiting as Roman blasts Strowman with the Spear, but Braun kicks out!
  Reigns is then able to catch Strowman with back-to-back Superman Punches, but when Roman goes for another Spear, Braun catches Reigns and locks Roman in a triangle choke, targeting the shoulder of Reigns. Strowman then transitions this into his signature running powerslam, but Roman just barely manages to kick out. However, when “The Monster Among Men” hits a second running powerslam, not even Roman Reigns is able to kick out as Braun Strowman pins Roman Reigns to pick up the win. After the match, Braun was not finished with Roman Reigns as Strowman brings the steel steps into the ring before picking Roman up and dropping “The Big Dog” injured shoulder and ribs first onto the steel steps! Strowman then picks up the steel steps, ramming the steps into the injured ribs of Roman Reigns.
  With Roman bleeding from the mouth from internal injuries, “The Monster Among Men” would finally leave the ring as agents and referees rush into the ring to check on Roman Reigns. Roman would insist on trying to walk to the back by himself with agents and referees doing their best to assist Reigns. The EMT’s then arrive on the scene with a stretcher, but Roman refuses medical attention, insisting on walking to the back under his own power. Spitting up blood and struggling to breath, Roman Reigns would stumble to the waiting ambulance to try and collect himself. This is when Braun Strowman would re-appear, charging full-force at Reigns, but Roman is able to move out of the way as Braun breaks the entire door off of the ambulance before crashing into some nearby boxes! “The Monster Among Men” then gets back to his feet and Roman uses the remaining ambulance door as a weapon, repeatedly slamming it on the shoulder of Braun Strowman. This was enough to get Braun Strowman to retreat as Strowman walks away clutching his shoulder as Roman props himself up against the ambulance.