WWE Bad Blood 2024 (10/5/24)

WWE Bad Blood

State Farm Arena

Atlanta, GA

October 5, 2024

Commentators: Michael Cole and Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin

Its the return of Roman Reigns to active duty as he teams with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to take on his cousins Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. The story to this one is pretty simple. After Cody Rhodes defeated Roman at Wrestlemania, Roman disappeared. In his absence, Solo Sikoa assumed the role of "tribal chief" and took out both Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman with his new squad of Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu. At Summerslam, Roman Reigns made his first appearance since Wrestlemania to help Cody defeat Solo and announce the real tribal chief was back. Now Cody and Roman battle the Bloodline tonight. Also, we got Hell in A Cell with Drew McIntyre and CM Punk. At the Royal Rumble Drew McIntyre injured CM Punk's shoulder (in real life it was an accident) and put him out for six months. McIntyre bragged about it and Punk cost him not only the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania but a failed Cash-In after Drew won Money In The Bank. McIntyre won the first match at Summerslam with Seth Rollins the guest referee, CM Punk took the rematch in a strap match at Bash in Berlin. This final battle for bragging rights should be epic. Also the big rematch from Summerslam with Bayley taking on WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax. Finally the Terror Twins/Judgment Day feud continues with two singles matches. Liv Morgan puts the Women's World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Rhea Ripley while Finn Balor goes one on one with Damian Priest. Also Triple H has a big announcement....yay.

We open the show with Samantha Irvin introducing our hosts, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi. Social media pointed out how there hadn't been a black singles winner in over a year so HHH responded by having these three as our hosts. Naturally people were upset that they weren't wrestling. The trio stand in the ring and tell us up first is Hell in a Cell. During the entrances we see a shot of Goldberg and his son Gage in the crowd. Next to him is Atlanta rapper Killer Mike....yeah.

Match 1

Drew McIntyre vs CM Punk in a Hell in a Cell Match

As mentioned in the intro, this is the rubber match. McIntyre won at Summerslam, Punk won in Berlin. Cole before the match says it was 27 years ago tonight that the first Bad Blood took place featuring Hell in A Cell. Drew McIntyre also made his debut 15 years ago the day before at 2009 Hell In A Cell. McIntyre tweeted earlier in the day that he match would be mutually assured destruction. Bell's gone and they stare at each other in the corner to start before walking slowly to the center of the ring. They slug it out before Drew punches Punk in the corner. They trade corner punches before Drew block a kick and heaves Punk in the other corner. Drew chops Punk then throws him through the ropes to the outside. Cole says that Punk has gotten to McIntyre so bad that even Drew's wife says she's not as important as revenge on Punk. Punk goes back first into the Cell but they both fail to ram heads into the Cell. They slug it out on the floor before Punk whips Drew into the cell. Punk shoulderblocks Drew twice before ramming the back of Drew's head into the cell twice as well. Punk goes under the ring for a table as the crowd cheers. He grabs a chair too but Drew takes it and hits Punk in the back with it. Cole gets a shot at Dave Meltzer by saying this won't be a 5 star wrestling classic....of course, its not in AEW or Japan. Drew throws Punk into the steel steps and stands on him to a chorus of boos. Drew grabs a toolbox and empties it in the ring. He swings and misses with a wrench and Punk punches Drew down before driving the wrench into the forehead of Drew. Cole says Shawn Michaels vs Triple H was 47 minutes long in 2004 (don't remind me). Back inside McIntyre boots Punk in the forehead and goes to set up the table but he rips the legs of it by accident. He goes to hit punk with the broken legs but gets booted in the mid-section. Punk drops Drew throat first into the table and chokes him with the broken table legs. Punk rams Drew back first into the table legs still attached twice as the crowd chants "One more time". Drew has noticeable back bruises and blocks Punk's attempt to ram the legs into his eyes. Outside the ring Punk goes for the GTS but Drew grabs the cell to block it. Drew hits a Claymore Kick on the outside and torpedoes Punk face first into the cell. Punk is busted wide open and Drew cracks an evil grin. Drew grabs the steel steps and rams Punk in the head with them then rams CM's head into them. Drew stomps on Punk's head and says he's going to end his career and his wife will leave him. McIntyre grabs a wrench and rams it into Punk's open wound. McIntyre goes outside and grabs another table from under the ring. Drew punches Punk in the head and stares at the blood on his hand as Cole says he's a psychopath. Punk hits the running knee in the corner but McIntyre dumps him on the apron. Punk goes to the top rope and hits an axehandle smash. Punk grabs a wrench and goes back to the top but McIntyre catches him on the way down. Drew hits a Taz-plex and sits in the corner just staring at Punk. He nips up and calls for the Claymore Kick but Punk rolls out of the ring. Punk waffles Drew with the toolbox itself and Drew is now bleeding like crazy. Punk cracks Drew in the face again and goes up to the top with the box. Punk smashes  Drew with the box as Drew's face is a mess. Punk hits three running knees in the corner and the bulldog. Punk calls for the GTS but Drew rolls out of it. Punk then counters a backslide with another GTS attempt, hitting this one. Unfortunately for Punk, Drew rolled out of the ring. Punk laughs as he throws Drew back in the ring. Punk rolls in and Drew hits the Claymore before covering for 1...2...nooooo. Quick strike by McIntyre almost worked. Drew calls for another Claymore but misses it. Punk goes for a modified sharpshooter but Drew grabs a wrench. Drew hits Punk with the wrench to break the hold then rams it into Punk's face. Punk and Drew slug it out in the center of the ring as Drew goes for Future Shock. Punk blocks it and goes for another GTS but Drew rolls out of it. Drew chops Punk but gets kicked in the head. McIntyre rolls to the apron and Punk hits another running knee. Drew then suplexes Punk from the apron through the table below. Drew goes for the ring steps as Graves says Punk isn't moving and he's concerned. Drew doesn't even have the strength to put the ring steps in the ring to show how brutal this match as been. Drew finally gets the steps in the ring as Punk is rolled into the ring. Punk hits the GTS out of nowhere and covers for 1..2.....noooooo. Cole "Somebody win this damn match and end this brutality." Graves "Both of them are flirting with career threatening injuries." Drew hits White Noise on the steps on Punk and covers for 1..2....noooooo. Drew counters a tilt-a-whirl with the anaconda vice as Drew grabs a wrench. Punk grabs the wrench away and pummels Drew with it. Drew begs off as Punk screams "You're gonna beg?" Drew then hits a low blow and grabs a black sack....you know what that means! Referee Shawn Bennett goes to wipe the blood off McIntyre's face with a white towel but Drew shoves it away. Drew dumps the bag.....of beads on Punk. Ahhhhhhahahaha, what a troll move. Drew finally wipes himself off with a white towel and goes for the Claymore. Punk moves and Drew lands back first on the side of the ring steps...ow. Punk wraps a metal chain around his left leg and grabs a handful of beads. Punk rams the beads in Drew's mouth and hits the GTS. Punk covers for 1....2....3 to end the war. Punk's prediction of Drew begging came true as Graves says the ring looks like a crime scene. This was never supposed to be a wrestling match, this was a a brutal war and it delivered on that. Punk wins the war as Bennett has to hold Punk up to raise his hand. Cole "Tonight the second city saint is the second city devil" as Punk symbolically slams the door on his way out, collapsing in the aisle. Great match and feud ender, hats off to both guys.

Time of match: 31:24

Winner: Punk by pinfall

Adam Pearce and Gregory Helms rush the ring to tend to McIntyre after the match as the EMT's tend to Punk sitting on the ground. McIntyre stares at Punk in agony as Punk rips the mask off his face, standing up with Pearce's help. Punk poses on the ramp victorious as we cut to commercial of the Firefly Funhouse for WWE2K24....damn I miss Bray. Back from break Cole says Kurt Angle won Gold here in the 1996 Olympics. Then we get a graphic for Nia Jax vs Bayley up next. How the hell do you top HIAC? They're going to try. 

Before the match, Samantha Irvin introduces WWE Hall of Famers Jacqueline who looks as great as ever, Lilian Garcia who hasn't aged a day in 20 years, and Booker T. Then we go over to Cathy Kelley in the VIP Suite. There's a party going on with the hosts along with WWE Intercontinental Champion Jey Uso, Diamond Dallas Paige, Tully Blanchard, X-Pac and Mickie James in the background. Jade wants to see Rhea vs Liv while Naomi wants to see Nia vs Bayley. Onto the next match.

Match 2

Bayley vs Nia Jax for the WWE Women's Championship

After Bayley defeated Iyo Sky at Wrestlemania to become the Women's Champion, Nia Jax was pushed as a monster heel. Nia won Queen of The Ring in Saudi Arabia to earn the title shot at Summerslam. Nia then beat Bayley to become the new women's champion. Since then, she's employed the MITB winner Tiffany Stratton and Pretty Deadly as stooges. With Bayley's unlikely allies up in the VIP Suite, she's kind of on her own against the monster. Bayley rushes Nia at the bell and they slug it out. Nia shoulderblocks Bayley in the corner and throws her to the otherside. Nia hits an avalanche in the corner and another splash. Nia takes Bayley's head off with a clotheslines and covers for 1...2....no. Nia locks in a chinlock then slaps at Bayley. Nia hits another corner splash then the running ass bump. Nia hits another bulldozer and slaps Bayley around. Nia locks in a bearhug before Bayley rolls out of it for a sunset flip for 1...2..no. Nia rolls on top and applies a single leg crab as Corey says this is unlike her to go for a submission. Nia splashes Bayley against the ropes then goes for a modified camel clutch. Bayley gets to her feet then goes and up and over, sliding under Nia. Nia charges but Bayley sends her through the ropes to the outside. Nia slides in only to eat a leg drop. Bayley runs off the ropes but Nia slides outside the ring. Bayley hits a baseball slide and punches away on her. Bayley rolls Nia inside and covers for 1...2...no. Bayley snaps Nia off the second rope and hits a suicide dive through the second rope. Problem is she damn near missed and Nia had to bend down to take some of it. Back inside Nia lands a headbutt and rams Bayley onto the top rope before landing another avalanche. Nia lands another ass bump and goes for the banzai drop. Bayley punches away at Nia and they totally botch a hurracarana. Nia took the powerbomb bump and Bayley took the hurracarana bump anyway....whoops! Nia hits a belly to belly suplex and covers for 1...2...no. Nia throws Bayley on the top rope and goes for another ass bump, but misses. Bayley hits a running knee and goes for the sunset flip but Nia just sits down on her. That was too close to the ropes for Bayley to try that. Bayley drops a few elbows and limps around as she sells her right leg. Bayley hits the top rope elbow and covers for 1....2..no. Both roll outside and Bayley moves, Nia crashing into the steel steps on a charge. Bayley hits an elbow drop off the ring steps but Bayley has to get back in the ring to break up the count. Nia punches Bayley down then powerbombs her onto the steel steps. Nia slings her into the barricade as we go back inside. Nia poses for the irate crowd and totally botches a samoan drop. She covers anyway for 1...2...no, this is getting ugly. Nia goes for the banzai drop but Bayley pulls her off. Nia drops Bayley with a back elbow smash but Bayley counters with a samoan drop of her own. Bayley covers for 1...2..no. Nia press slams Bayley off into referee Jessika Carr. Carr goes to get up but Bayley kicks Nia in the head, Nia landing ontop of Jessika. Bayley hits a pop up stunner and a rose plant but Carr is down. Here comes Tiffany Stratton with the Money In The Bank briefcase and she waffles Bayley with it. Tiffany pulls up Carr but Nia sits up, staring a hole in Tiffany. Tiffany says she wasn't going to cash in as Bayley from behind avalanches Nia into Tiffany in the corner. Bayley rolls up Nia for 1...2....no. Nia misses a splash in the corner and goes up to the tope rope. Tiffany tosses Bayley the briefcase as distraction and Bayley throws it back at her. This allows Nia to deliver a second rope Samoan drop. Nia pulls Bayley in the corner, hits the banzai drop and covers for 1..2....3 to win the match. Bad, bad match but at least its over. Nia wins the feud with Bayley as Tiffany still lurks in the shadows.

Time of match: 14:17

Winner: Nia Jax by pinfall (Still WWE Women's Champion)

We cut to commercial which is hype for Summerslam 2025. Its going to be two nights at Met Life Stadium with Cardi B calling Bianca. We then cut to outside the arena with Xavier Woods shilling Dragonball Sparking Zero video game. Up next is Damian Priest against Finn Balor but before that, Samantha shouts out more hall-of-famers. X-Pac, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson stand up and say hi. Onto the next match.

Match 3

Finn Balor vs Damian Priest

In case you missed it, both Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest got screwed over by Judgment Day and now its singles action. Bell's gone and they stare down in the center of the ring. Balor slaps his chest to start and Priest levels him with a forearm. Priest slams Balor in the corner and puts the boots to him. Priest hits a flapjack and hits a super kick. Balor rolls to the apron, shoulderblocks Priest and kicks at him. Balor chokes Priest on the top rope but Damian kicks Balor off the apron. Outside the ring, Finn hits a slingblade on the floor and rolls inside. Damian rolls inside and Finn stomps a mudhole in him before posing for the irate crowd. Balor locks in a sleeperhold then gouges the eyes. Balor pounds away with elbows and locks in a chin lock. Priest powers out of it as Graves says Balor never recovered mentally after relinquishing the Universal Championship. Priest charges but each boot but Finn jumps off the top right into a live round, Priest punched him for real by accident and hurt his hand. Balor counters a tilt-a-whirl with a Russian leg sweep and covers for 1....2...no. Balor kicks away at Priest then poses for the crowd again. Balor goes for the abdominal stretch before Priest hiptosses out of it. Priest unloads with right hands and a discuss punch. Priest hits a broken arrow and covers for 1...2...no. Priest misses a big forearm and Balor hits a slingblade. Priest hits two spin kicks and a clothesline before covering for 1...2...no. Priest hits a bellringer and kicks Balor in the chest twice. Finn hits a Pele Kick and chops Damian in the corner. Balor takes down Priest twice then stomps him on the chest. Priest blocks the third attempt and hits the Razor's Edge. Priest covers for 1...2...no. Outside the ring Priest sends Balor into the announce table. Priest hits a Razor's Edge on the ring apron and slides back in. Balor begs off as Priest pulls the singlet straps down. Here comes Carlito to distract the ref and JD McDonough to snap Priest off the top rope. Balor dropkicks Priest into the corner and Damian drops. Balor goes up to the top rope and hits Coup De Gras. He covers for 1...2....no. McDonough and Carlito can't believe it as the crowd chants Yeet. Carlito distracts the ref again as JD tosses Balor a chair. Priest kicks the chair into Finn's face and knocks Carlito off the apron. He backdrops McDonough on top of Carlito on the floor and goes for the South of Heaven. Balor victory rolls out of it for 1...2...no. Balor counters a powerslam with Eye of The Hurricane. Balor hits the Coup De Gras to Priest's back not once but twice. Balor jumps off the top a third time right into South of Heaven. Priest covers for 1...2....3 to win the match. Pretty good match but naturally we had to have the run ins. Priest says this won't bring back the World Heavyweight Championship but it had to feel good to win.

Time of match: 12:48

Winner: Priest by pinfall

We get a vignette for Survivor Series in British Columbia on November 30th before Cole shills some merch. We show Triple H in gorilla position as he's supposed to be up next then a graphic for Monday's Raw where Jey Uso puts the IC title on the line against Xavier Woods. Sheamus vs Pete Dunne in a "Good old fashioned Donnybrook" match and Sami Zayn challenges Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. Here comes Triple H for a conference with some kind of podium in the ring. The podium has Crown Jewel written on it so this must be related to that. HHH opens by saying 30 years ago he was Terra Ryzing WCW...ha. Our attendance is 16,092 and 60th sellout of the year. Triple H says the next history making event will be four weeks from now at Crown Jewel. The catch is neither world title will be on the line, but the world champions will face each other. The winners will be the Crown Jewel Champion. HHH unveils a Crown Jewel belt with 50 karat diamonds and then World Heavyweight Champion Gunther walks out. Gunther gets in the ring and says Bad Blood wouldn't be anything without the World Heavyweight Champion. Gunther says he won King of The Ring in Saudi Arabia and HHH handed him the trophy, now HHH will do the same with the new belt. Gunther hypes up his match against Sami Zayn this Monday on Raw and tells Triple H that Sami isn't cut out to be top guy. Gunther says he's a future legend and wants to shout out the legends today. The crowd chants for Goldberg and right on cue, Gunther points him out in the front row. Gunther says Goldberg was NOT his childhood hero, he was a one trick pony. Gunther says he's busting balls but has a message for Gage Goldberg. He hopes Bill is a better father than he is a wrestler. Goldberg stands up, rips his hat off and hops the guardrail. Cole tells Graves to get the hell out of the way. Gunther says he's got 3 minutes, let's go. Security pushes Goldberg back until the Suit Brigade of Adam Pearce, Jamie Noble and others show up. Suddenly Sami Zayn himself rushes the ring and beats down Gunther. Zayn hits a plancha as the suit brigade grab Zami allowing Gunther to hit a big boot. Zayn chases him to the back. To sum up this entire segment, Champion vs Champion at Crown Jewel for a Saudi title, Zayn vs Gunther tomorrow night. HHH raises Goldberg's hand as his old theme plays as we move on. 

The Royal Rumble will be February 1, 2025 at Lucas Oil Stadium. The first time ever the Rumble will not be in January. Up next is World Women's Champion Liv Morgan defending against Rhea Ripley with Dom Mysterio locked in a shark cage. Before the next match, Samantha Irvin shouts out DDP, Mickie James and Scott Steiner. Cathy Kelley is up in the VIP section where Metro says Cody Rhodes is an Atlanta legend and to handle his business. Chelsea Green walks in and everyone is grossed out. Piper Niven can stay but Chelsea's gotta go. This is in reference to last night's Smackdown where Mia Yim defeated Chelsea in a dumpster match. Then we get a vignette of Dom Mysterios riding around with Liv Morgan in a low rider before they make their entrance in the low rider.

Match 4

Rhea Ripley vs Liv Morgan (with Dom Mysterio) for the World Women's Championship

Cole brings up Tommy Rich and Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer in the Last Battle of Atlanta with Paul Ellering locked in a cage before the match starts. Cole mentions how Rhea never actually lost the championship as Cole brings up Triple H had to be in a cage as well. Rhea shills Dirty Dom toilet paper which is actually ingenious. Cole "I'd love to see all the ways WWE fans would use that toilet paper." Graves "Do you have any idea the pandora's box that would open? Have you SEEN our fans?" Graves then says "This is cruel and unusual. He can't hang up a poster of Rhea and dig himself out with a spoon like he did the last time he was locked up." Rhea grabs a mic before the match starts and says "One more thing, Dom. You're afraid of heights? Raise him up!" Cole is loving it as the bell finally rings. Rhea attacks at the bell and throws Liv down before hitting a dropkick. Rhea heaves Liv across the ring and stomps on her foot. Rhea drops Morgan with a clothesline and hits a fallaway slam. Liv bails to the outside and rams Rhea into the steel steps. Liv misses a chick kick and Rhea electric chair drops Liv into the ring apron. Rhea throws her back inside as Graves say this is unfair. Rhea baseball slides Liv and sends her into the barricade. Liv is thrown inside as Corey says Rhea needs to move on from Dom. Buddy Mathews is comin for you Graves. Liv snaps Rhea's leg off the second rope and goes to work on the left knee. Dom is sitting down inside the cage as he looks legit terrified. Liv kicks away at Rhea inside the ring and hits a dropkick to the knee. Liv's charge eats elbow but rolls into a half crab. Rhea grabs Liv's head and rams it into the ring to escape. Rhea rallies with clotheslines and a northern lights suplex for 1...2...no. Graves "Poor Dom, he's white as a ghost." They slug it out in the ring before Liv rams Rhea's knee into the apron. Graves "That shark cage might be worse than prison. At least Dom got 3 hots and a cot in prison." Liv continues to ram Rhea's knee against the ring post as the crowd chants "Dom you suck!" Liv heaves Rhea against the barricade twice and she spin kicks Ripley. Liv hits a sunset flip bomb into the barricade and throws Rhea inside.  Liv does a DX crotch chop and hits a codebreaker from the second rope. Liv covers for 1...2...no.  Rhea counters Ob-Liv-ion and smiles at her. Ripley hits a knee to the stomach then goes for Riptide. Liv rolls out of it and hits a crucifix bomb (!!!) for 1....2...no. Graves says that move is called the "Home Wrecker". Liv looks up at Dom as Cole says they have three things in common "Shoes, movies and nuggets". Liv slams Rhea and says "That's my man, you're nothing." Liv slaps Rhea and does the Eddie Guerrero shimmy before going for the 3 Amigos. She hits two but Rhea blocks the third. Rhea hits a Razor's Edge as somehow Dom gets the shark cage open. Cole asks if he learned that in prison with Rhea on the top rope. She taunts Dom with  YEET and hits the frogsplash. She covers for 1...2..no, Liv rolled out of it. Rhea hits the Prism Lock but Liv makes it to the outside. Cole "Yeah he got the door open but its like escaping from Alcatraz, where's he gonna go?" Chyna jumped to the floor back in 1998 so its possible he can too. Rhea outside taunts Dom and throws Liv into both sides of the barricade. Rhea stomps on the derriere of Liv and hits Riptide on the floor. Dom somehow falls out of the cage but is hanging by his foot that's chained to the cage. Two security guards show up and Graves asks "Who are these derelicts?" Rhea spanks Dom and goes back inside and tells the referee to give her one minute to handle unfinished business. Referee Dan Engler says she deserves that...ha! Even the ref doesn't like Dom. Graves "Caught on camera, you crooked fool!" Rhea goes under the ring and grabs a singapore cane as Cole is enjoying this. Rhea looks at the camera and says "Happy birthday to me" (her birthday is coming up on the 11th) before busting Dom with the cane. Rhea unloads on Dom when someone bashes Rhea from behind that's unseen due to the camera angle. We get another shot and its RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ! Liv Morgan's former partner that's been on the shelf due to MCAS is back. The bell rings and Raquel hits a powerbomb to lay out Ripley. Raquel picks up Liv and frees Dom. Corey "Ain't love grand!" Bad match but they finally threw a monkey wrench in Rhea's revenge plan. Liv can't hang with Rhea one on one, but Raquel can. Having Raquel and Dom as stooges makes Liv more tougher to beat. Not to mention these are all women that Ripley terrorized when she was a Judgment Day heel. Rhea is going to need backup of her own but who'd want to come to HER aid after all she did to people?

Time of match: 14:34

Winner: Ripley by DQ (Liv retains)

Cue a vignette for Ford Field and a music video saying "Coming soon." Oh...its the Motor City Machine Guns, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. They were known mostly for their Ring of Honor and TNA runs, now they're coming to WWE. We then get our upcoming holiday live schedule, December 26 in Jacksonville Florida. December 27 is a double shot with Raw guys in Pittsburgh, PA and Smackdown coming from Tampa, Florida. December 28 has a double shot with one crew in Baltimore and another in Orlando. December 29 one crew in Chicago and the other in Miami. December 30 is a double shot with Raw in Houston while Smackdown guys were in Detroit. That's a little too Vince for my taste to have a five day stretch with 9 shows but hey, it'll give them reps. Then we get a Crown Jewel vignette for Saturday November 2nd. Then we get our PLE schedule with Survivor Series on November 30th in Vancouver, Saturday Night's Main Event December 14 at the Nassau Coliseum, the Royal Rumble on Feb 1st at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wrestlemania 41 April 19th and 20th in Las Vegas and Summerslam 2025 August 2nd and 3rd at Metlife Stadium. Not a fan of two nights for Summerslam but oh well. After a vignette for the main event, let's get to it.

Match 5

Jacob Fatu & Solo Sikoa vs Roman Reigns and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes

Long story short...after Cody beat Roman at Wrestlemania, Roman disappeared and Solo Sikoa took over the Bloodline. He had Paul Heyman and Jimmy Uso dispatched by new members Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, the sons of Haku. Then the son of Tonga Kid, Jacob Fatu also joined Solo. At Summerslam, Reigns returned to cost Solo his title match against Cody but is now without backup. Cody told Roman this would happen but he's doing the right thing to help him out against the Bloodline.  Roman says after this is over, he's coming after the title again. Solo and Jacob enter together without the Tongans who won the Triple Threat Ladder match last night but got beat up in the process. The Arkansas Pine Bluff Marching Band plays Cody Rhodes' theme as he enters which stems from them going viral weeks earlier for doing it during a game. Roman has his own orchestra play his theme as Cole brings up Ole Anderson turning on Dusty Rhodes in the Omni in 1980 and wonders if Roman will do the same. He also says this is the first match where Roman hasn't walked into it as a champion in over four years and hasn't wrestled in six months. Solo holds up the Ulafala as Roman facepalms. Bell's gone and Roman and Cody argue who's gonna start as Cole brings up Battleground 2013 when it was Cody and Dustin Rhodes against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins of The Shield with Dusty in the corner of Cody. Cody starts with Jacob and Cody starts with a headlock. A shoulderblock goes nowhere and Jacob says to run it. Cody does an uppercut and a disaster kick but Jacob is barely fazed. Cody ducks the superkick and Solo gets in to tongue lash Jacob. Roman steps in to even the odds as the crowd chants "OTC". The crowd chants "Fuck you Solo" as Roman puts his hand to his ear. Jacob tags out to Solo and Cody says hold up. Cody slowly turns his head to Roman and Roman shrugs. Roman reaches for the tag and Cody tags him in. Roman and Solo circle and Roman unloads with right hands. Solo kicks him in the head and lands a headbutt before taunting the irate crowd. Roman gets the upperhand with 10 corner punches and an elbow smash. Roman clotheslines Solo over the top rope to the floor as Jacob gets in the ring despite no legal tag. They circle but Solo from behind clotheslines Roman down. Solo chokes Roman on the second rope as the crowd chants "You can't wrestle". What? Solo hits the ass bump in the corner to Roman before tagging out to Jacob. Fatu hits the same ass bump his uncle Umaga made famous as he taunts Roman. Jacob shoulderblocks Roman in the corner and says Solo is the tribal chief. Jacob eats ringpost on a charge and Roman throws him through the ropes to the outside. Cody gets the hot tag who punches away at Fatu before hitting a forearm. Cody hits the powerslam and Dusty Punches followed by the Cody cutter. Cody goes for Cross Rhodes but Solo distracts, allowing Jacob to hit the samoan drop. Jacob tags Solo and throws Cody outside, where Solo does a Rock Bottom onto the apron. Jacob and Solo double team Cody as Cole says if Solo pins Roman, he's the tribal chief. Graves asks if Jacob Fatu were to pin Cody, imagine HIM as champion. Solo and Jacob hit the wishbone but Cody tries to fight back with right hands. Jacob hits a spinning back elbow and tells Solo he loves him. Jacob bites the hand of Cody to prevent a tag as Cole calls him a scary man. Jacob locks in a nerve hold as the crowd chants "We want Roman". Cody fights out of it but Jacob tags out to Solo who pounds on Cody in the corner. Solo whips Fatu into Cody and Solo hits the as bump as well. Jacob tags in to cover for 1...2..no. Jacob tags in Solo but gets thrown out of the ring by Cody. Cody kicks Solo away and jumps for the tag....oh no, Roman hops down to avoid the tag. No wait! Jacob pulled him off....nevermind. Jacob rams Roman's head into the steel steps as Solo back inside clotheslines Cody. Solo covers for 1....2...no. Graves says Jacob may be a destructo in the ring but is very intelligent out of it. Jacob tags in to pummel Cody in the corner and powerslams him. Jacob goes to the top rope for the swanton but Cody gets the knees up. Roman is ready for the tag and Cody finally makes it there. Solo tags in and Roman cleans house with clotheslines to Solo. Roman hits a splash in the corner and a big boot. Roman punches him 10 times and locks in for the Superman Punch. Solo counters the punch by grabbing the arm and goes for a Samoan Spike. Reigns counters with a crucifix for 1.....2...no. Roman hits the Superman punch and covers for two as Roman caters to the crowd. Roman calls for the spear but Jacob stops him. Roman uppercuts Solo but runs into a double superkick. Fatu hits a moonsault and Solo hits a top rope splash. Solo covers for 1...2..no, Cody breaks it up. Jacob throws Cody outside and follows him out. Jacob is sent into the steel steps and Cody prepares the announce table. Jacob kicks Cody in the face but Rhodes moves, allowing Jacob to crash through the barricade. Jacob goes nuts as Cole says he's alive. Graves "Alive??? The sonovabitch is throwing chairs!" Cody rams Jacob's face first into a chair and shouts "go down!" Cody hits the Cross Rhodes on the floor and Jacob gets up almost immediately. Cody kicks Fatu twice to send him on the announce table. Cody goes to the top rope, salutes Reigns and splashes Jacob through the table. Down to Roman and Solo the crowd chants "This is awesome". Roman and Solo play "Yay boo punchathon" until Roman drops him with the Superman Punch. Roman calls for another spear but here come the Tongans. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa distract Roman allowing Solo to hit a spear of his own. Solo covers for 1..2....nooooo. The crowd chants "YEET" as Corey tries to tell Cole that his monitor went out but someone just hopped the guardrail out of the corner of his eye. Solo taunts Roman as he notices someone in a hoodie standing behind the Tongans...gee, who could THAT be? Sure enough the hoodie dude superkicks both Tongans revealing himself to be Jimmy Uso, who hadn't been seen in six months. Cole "JIMMY USO IS BACK!" Solo turns around into a spear and Reigns covers for 1..2...3 to win the match. Damn good match even if it took a while to get to the good part.

Time of match: 25:43

Winners: Reigns and Cody by pinfall

After the match Jimmy gets in to acknowledge Roman and they hug it out. Jimmy holds up Roman's hand in victory and Roman turns to Cody Rhodes holding the WWE Championship. Roman stares at the belt and Cody and says let's go to Jimmy. Roman and Jimmy go to leave as the Tongans mug Cody. Jimmy "You gave him your word, Uce." Roman and Jimmy run back in and clean house of the Bloodline. The Tongans and Solo retreat as Roman picks up the WWE Championship belt. Roman hands the belt to Cody......IF YA SMELLLLLLLLL hits and the crowd explodes. Here comes The Rock still holding the Muhammad Ali belt standing at the entrance. Well this just got interesting, who does HE go after or side with? Cody, Jimmy and Roman stand in the ring staring at him. He counts 1,2,3 with his hands and says cut before leaving. He DID pin Cody at Wrestlemania Night 1 so him going after Cody is definitely in play as we sign off. Fans have been speculating what Wargames was going to be for months and it does appear that it might just be Roman, The Rock, Cody and The Usos against Solo, The Tongans, Jacob Fatu and a possible wild card.....or The Rock himself and have Sami Zayn come back for one night as the honorary Uce on Team Roman. Either way the story continues.

Bottom line was this was a 2 match card with three others thrown in there to fill it out. Not that Priest vs Balor was bad or the women's matches didn't deserve to be there, but this was Drew/Punk and Bloodline/Roman & Cody. 5 match cards really take away the hard work the rest of the roster does, but it shows you that you have to be special to get on there. Nia Jax is starting to bully Tiffany Stratton more and Liv now has more backup against Rhea Ripley. We got some business to take care of before we set off for Saudi Arabia in four weeks. This Monday's Raw is at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. I'll see you there.

WWE Payback 2015 (5/17/15)

We've finally made it to Payback after a month of hot dogging and grandstanding as Macho Man used to say. After WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defeated Randy Orton with the help of Kane and J & J Security, Rollins got too big for his britches and continued to pester Kane. The irate Director of Operations stacked the deck against Rollins by having him defend the title in a triple threat match with him against Orton and Roman Reigns. Then through the power of vote, the fans voted for Dean Ambrose to join in and make it a Fatal Four Way. Seth Rollins bitched to Triple H and Hunter vowed that if Rollins didn't walk out the champ, Kane was fired. Other feuds included Bray Wyatt picking a fight with Ryback for reasons never explained, a King of The Ring rematch with King Barrett taking on Adrian Neville, the final blowoff to the Alexander Rusev/John Cena feud with an I Quit Match, an old school 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championships with New Day defending against Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, a Divas tag match featuring The Bella Twins against Naomi and Tamina Snuka and finally, The Meta Powers take on The Ascension.

WWE Payback

Royal Farms Arena

Baltimore, Maryland

May 17, 2015

Commentators: Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles

Speaking of the Meta Powers and Ascension, they were the pre-show match. Let's get right to it.

Match 1

The Meta Powers (Damien Sandow and Curtis Axel) vs The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor)

Took less than six months for The Ascension to go from hot new team to jobber status on the pre-show. We're shown how the Meta Powers was formed with JBL reiterating Randy Savage was spinning in his grave. Macho Mandow makes his entrance and even Cole says its too much. Axel comes out dressed exactly like Hulk Hogan to Real American. JBL brings up Nacho Man And The Huckster which definitely defeats the purpose of those early 1996 ads. Bell's gone with Axel starting out with Konnor. Axel tears his shirt off and Konnor clubs him in the back. Axel starts to Hulk Up much to JBL's delight and Axel goes "Youuuuuuu". Axel rallies with Hulka punches, the big boot and a left leg drop. He covers for 1...2..no, Viktor makes the save. Viktor tags in for the double stomp and they make frequent tags to keep Axel in the corner. Viktor hits a european uppercut in the center of the ring and covers for a one count. He locks in a chinlock and says.....seriously....this would be the biggest WWE win for The Ascension so far. JBL disagrees and brings up Fake Razor, Fake Diesel and Gillberg. JBL is bringing up every stupid thing WWE has ever done as Sandow tags in. He rams Viktor's head into two corners before doing the old Savage Slingshot off the top rope. Konnor charges but Axel pulls the rope down to send him flying. Sandow scoop slams Viktor and goes up to the top rope but Konnor pushes him off. Konnor tags in and they execute Fall Of Man. Konnor covers Sandow for 1...2...3 to win the match. JBL "thank God". Michael "Bye bye Macho Mandow and Axelmania, thanks for coming." Pretty stupid match but this is Vince in a nutshell, goofy comedy. Least the Ascension got a win for once.

Time of match: 2:51

Winners: The Ascension by pinfall

The real show starts with a vignette for Payback with Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Alexandr Rusev and John Cena. The pyro goes off and Michael Cole, Jerry "The King" Lawler and JBL welcome us to Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. We don't waste any time, we get right to the first match.

Match 2

Sheamus vs Dolph Ziggler

This all goes back to when Sheamus returned following Wrestlemania and turned heel on the "little fellas" which was Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan. With Daniel Bryan out of action, Dolph defeated Sheamus at Extreme Rules only for Sheamus to keep his heat by shoving his ass in Dolph's face much to JBL's delight. This is the big re-match that's barely been hyped. During Dolph's intro Marcelo Rodriguez and Carlos Cabrera get a shout-out at the Spanish desk. Sheamus slaps Ziggler at the bell and Ziggler bum rushes him at the bell. Sheamus sends Dolph off but walks into a dropkick. Ziggler clotheslines Sheamus over the top rope to the floor. Ziggler jumps off the apron on him and Sheamus hobbles into the ring. Ziggler goes up top and hits a flying bodypress for 1...2..no. Ziggler hits a sunset flip for 1..2..no. Sheamus slows the pace with a clothesline but Dolph's superkick is blocked. Sheamus elbows Dolph in the knee and he rolls outside to sell the knee. The referee counts but Ziggler gets in at 8. Sheamus suplexes Dolph back in the ring and kicks the right knee. He locks in a chinlock as Cole says Sheamus claims he took Ziggler too lightly at Extreme Rules and it won't happen again. Lawler gets so bored he asks Cole if he prefers "backside" or "arse". Cole says backside and JBL says that's why he's had a job here for so long. Lawler tries not to laugh but Dolph runs into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Sheamus covers for 1...2...no. JBL says a good big man beats a good little man anytime, Cole reminds him of Extreme Rules. The crowd chants "You look stupid" at Sheamus as he kicks away at Dolph. "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINEDDDD?" JBL says Dolph can double as an Everlast punching bag as the crowd tries to rally Ziggler out of another chinlock. Ziggler hits a jawbreaker and Sheamus goes shoulder first into the ringpost. Ziggler rallies with right hands but Sheamus stop him with a knee. A big forearm rocks Sheamus and it takes 3 attempts to drop him. Ziggler hits a dropkick in the corner but Dolph counters a backdrop with a jumping DDT. He covers for 1...2....no. Dolph bumrushes in the corner and nearly gets DQ'd by referee Dan Engler. Dolph randomly pulls his tights up and makes Sheamus kiss his ass with JBL making kissing noises on commentary. Should have done that after the match. Sheamus retreats outside, grabs one of Eden Stiles' water bottle and spits water all over the ringside area. Back inside Sheamus hotshots Ziggler off the top rope but misses the Brogue Kick. Ziggler hits the fame-asser and covers for 1....2....nooooooo. Ziggler rushes in the corner and pounds away but eats a sit out powerbomb. Sheamus covers for 1..2....no. Sheamus hits a running powerslam and covers for 1...2...no. Sheamus is visibly frustrated as Lawler taunts him on commentary. Sheamus hits White Noise and locks in the Texas Cloverleaf. Ziggler sells like his knee is falling off but makes it to the ropes. Sheamus uses the five count before letting go as JBL keeps harping on Ziggler pushing his ass in Sheamus' face. Dolph headbutts Sheamus to stun him then hits the superkick. He covers for 1..2....nooooo. Dolph is busted wide open as Sheamus calls for the Brogue Kick. Sheamus hits it on the bloody Ziggler and covers for 1....2....3 to win the match. Ziggler bleeds all over the ring and its clear THAT was not supposed to happen. That was a hell of a fight and a great opener. Sheamus needed a win after last month.

Time of match: 12:23

Winner: Sheamus by pinfall

Backstage Kane is on the phone and says everything is under control. Seth Rollins with J & J Security walk in and Seth says this a huge night for both of them. Seth says tonight they should just put aside their differences and work together and Kane replies that Seth's been a pain since Wrestlemania. They go back and forth about how the other's been a pain in the ass. Kane says if Seth doesn't win, he's fired and Seth says hallelujah. Kane reminds Rollins that he's not thinking of the consequences. Kane goes on to say if Rollins loses the title, it might teach him what it means to be a true champion & real man. Kane says he doesn't need the job or need Seth as champion so he might stand by and let Rollins take the fall. Kane says when he decides who's side he's on, Seth will be the first to know. Seth says he appreciates the honesty but if Kane does anything to him, losing his job will be the least of his concerns. Mercury and Noble try to step to Kane and he just laughs at them.

The New Day make their entrance for the next match with all 3 of them carrying microphones. Kofi says Baltimore can show what the power of positivity can do. Big E runs down the crowd without actually doing so then gives a shoutout to Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. King says JJ Hardy and Steve Pearce are there too. Jones stares them down as Big E says they haven't won a world series in 32 years. Xavier says they don't have to be losers forever, they can clap along and change. They try to start a New Day Rocks chant but naturally they chant New Day Sucks. Funny thing was, Steve Pearce did win a World Series and was named MVP....in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. Here comes their opponents.

Match 3

Tyson Kidd & Cesaro (with Natalya) vs The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E Langston) with Xavier Woods in a 2 out of 3 Falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championship

Its two out of three falls just like the good ol days. Kidd starts with Kofi and starts with a side headlock. Kidd tags in Cesaro and elbows Kofi. Cesaro drops him with a clothesline but a covers gets one. Kofi retreats to the corner to tag Big E for the hoss fight. Cesaro catches Big E in midair and slams him, covering for a two count. Big E counters with an overhead press slam and chokes him on the second rope. Xavier gets a cheap shot with the ref busy with Tyson. Lawler "Well that positively sucked." Cesaro slams Kofi next to Big E and uses them both to play hopscotch. Cesaro hits a delayed suplex on Kofi and tags in Kidd. They do the 123 Kid/Marty Jannetty spot and Kidd covers for 1...2..no. Cesaro dumps out Big E and Kidd tags him. Cesaro hits a spinebuster and the giant swing on Kofi with Kidd tagging himself in. After Cesaro drops him, Kidd hits a dropkick and covers for 1..2..3 to win the first fall.

Second fall starts with Xavier calling for the Freebird Rule. Natalya pulls him off and Kidd cannonballs on him. Kofi is kicked in the head and Kidd moves out of the way as Big E throws himself through the ropes to the outside. Kidd takes Kofi's head off with a buckshot lariat and goes for the suicide dive, but Big E catches him and overhead suplexes him. Cesaro grabs some kids water bottle and tries to revive Kidd as the referee is counting. Back inside Big E stomps Kidd and Kofi tags in for the heel double team in the corner. They make frequent tags stomping away at Kidd with Kofi hitting a dropkick. The kids in the crowd chant for Tyson with Kofi keeping him from making the tag. Big E tags in for the bearhug as Xavier screams at the announce team he's the mastermind. Kidd fights out of it but E throws him across the ring. Big E hits the Warrior splash and covers for 1...2...no, Cesario breaks it up. Big E spears Cesaro out of the ring to a big pop and Big E tags Kofi. Kofi covers for 1..2...no. Kofi goes up to the top but his axehandle is countered with a dropkick. Kidd goes for the tag but Cesaro is down. Kofi tags in Big E who Kidd rolls up for 1..2....no. Kidd kicks Kofi off the top rope and shoulderblocks Big E but is caught. Kofi makes the tag and they do a botched Eleventh Hour but Kofi covers Kidd anyway for 1....2...3 to win the fall.

Tied up at one fall apiece Kofi covers Kidd for 1...2..no. Big E tags in and hits the overhead suplex. Kidd drop toes Big E into the bottom turnbuckle and Cesaro finally gets the hot tag. Cesaro mops the ring with both Kofi & Big E with running uppercuts. Cesaro press slams Kofi onto Big E and damn near hits the double underarm suplex, but can't hold Big E. Cesaro hits a running uppercut on Kofi and covers for 1...2...no. Cesaro tags Kidd in and does a backbreaker while Tyson jumps off the top with an elbow. Kidd covers for 1....2....NOOOOOO. Kidd goes for the sharpshooter on Kofi and hits it as Cesaro throws Big E over the announce table. Kofi escapes the sharpshooter and tags in Cesaro for the super uppercut. Cesaro covers but Big E breaks up the count. Woods rips his jacket off and runs into the ring, hitting a small package on Cesaro. The ref turns around for 1...2...3 to win the match. Lawler and Cole cry that he wasn't in the match and Cole yells at the ref to wake up. Wowwwww what an ending, talk about nuclear heat. The heels retreat with the belts as Kidd & Cesaro are irate in the ring. That was a hell of a match and the New Day needed every dirty tactic in the book to counter the technique of Kidd and power of Cesaro. 2 for 2 so far on this show....not counting the pre-show.

Time of match: 12:44

Winners: New Day 2 falls to 1 (still WWE Tag Team Champions)

Backstage Ryback gets ready for Bray Wyatt as Byron Saxton asks what his mindset is. He says Bray is trying to play mind games with him but Ryback isn't afraid of him. He says he'll take Bray out and "Feed Me More". 

Match 4

Bray Wyatt vs Ryback

It was never fully explained why these two are feuding, Wyatt just woke up one day and decided to mess with Ryback. In terms of company status, Wyatt and Ryback have both fallen off the ladder since Wrestlemania and essentially whoever loses this match is basically done as a main attraction. Bell's gone and Ryback controls with shoulderblocks. Ryback hits about seven in a row then drops Bray with a shoulder tackle. Ryback covers for a deuce but Wyatt headbutts him. The adults and kids play "Let's go Ryback/Let's go Wyatt" as Ryback hits a Thesz press. Wyatt retreats outside and Ryback drives him spine first into the barricade. Back inside Ryback bullrushes Wyatt into the corner again but Bray counters with a shoulderblock. Bray chokes him on the second rope and forearms Bray in the side. Bray puts on a chinlock as Cole gives a half assed excuse of why they're fighting "Bray said Ryback was in my way." Ryback ducks a line and rallies with shoulderblocks and a scoop slam. He covers for one but a charge in the corner eats ring post. Bray hits a modified DDT on the ring apron and a senton from the apron to the floor. The ref starts the count and Ryback barely makes it back in time. Bray pounces with stomps and a big right hand. Bray hits a splash in the corner and decides to showboat on the second rope. Ryback grabs and powerbombs him in the center of the ring. Ryback hits a powerslam and covers for 1..2...no. Wyatt bails to the outside and suckers Ryback into charging only to clothesline Ryback down. Back inside Wyatt covers for 1...2...no. Wyatt hits a suplex throw and a running knee in the corner. Bray runs to the other corner but turns around into a splash. Wyatt ducks the Meat Hook but runs into a kick to the gut. Ryback hits a spinebuster and covers for 1...2..no. Ryback calls for the Shell Shock but Wyatt drives him into the corner. Wyatt on the second rope goes for the superplex but Ryback blocks it. Ryback headbutts him down and hits a Superfly splash. He covers for 1..2...no. JBL says if he hooked the leg it was over. Wyatt goes for Sister Abigail but Ryback counters by going for the Shell Shock. Wyatt grabs the rope and rips the turnbuckle pad off. The ref goes to pick it up and Wyatt drives Ryback into the exposed steel. Ryback staggers right into Sister Abigail. Wyatt covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. That was a pretty good hoss match and that should do it for Ryback as a main attraction. Wyatt was in a downward spiral since losing at Wrestlemania and this gave him some momentum. 

Time of match: 10:55

Winner: Wyatt by pinfall

The announcers hype up the I Quit Match for the US title coming up next. Cole says this is the final chapter in Rusev vs Cena. No backstage interviews, we get right to it. Rusev and Cena makes their entrances with Cena running in. Cole on commentary says Cena faced JBL in a I Quit match once and JBL says he couldn't make Cena say it, Rusev is going to find out he can't either.

Match 5

Alexander Rusev (with Lana) vs John Cena for the WWE United States Championship in an I Quit Match

The writing's been on the wall from day 1 but much like how The Undertaker rarely lost a casket match, there was no chance in hell John Cena would ever lose an I Quit match. Bell's gone an Rusev stares a hole in Cena. The crowd plays "Let's Go Cena/Cena Sucks" but a LOT more Cena supporters than usual. Rusev grabs a mic and says half of the people hate Cena already so just give up now so there's no pain. Cena doesn't even dignify that with a response as the crowd chants USA. Cena attacks Rusev but gets a kick to the back. Rusev splashes Cena in the corner and the crowd chants "We Want Lana" Rusev grabs a chair and makes her sit down....the hell is that supposed to accomplish? Cena hits a suplex on Rusev but misses a charge in the corner. Rusev kicks at Cena then punches him down. Rusev hits some knees to the ribs as Cole says Cena is a 15 time champion. A big right hand is followed by a dropkick and referee Mike Chioda asks Cena if he quits. Cena pushes the mic away and Rusev hits another dropkick. Once again Cena tells Chioda to get lost as the crowd chants for Lana again. Rusev hits a spinning heel kick and starts yelling at Lana for absolutely no reason. Cole says he needs to worry less about her and worry about Cena. Rusev tells Lana to get up and give him the Russian flag. He waives it in the ring as Lawler shouts he hasn't won anything yet. Cena ducks the line and hits the two shoulder tackles before the back suplex. Cena hits the 5 knuckle shuffle but Rusev powers out of the FU. Rusev hits a fallaway slam and Cena rolls outside. Chioda asks him but Cena says no. Rusev sends Cena into the steel steps and Chioda asks again, Cena says no. Chioda asks a second time and Cena says "No!" Rusev tosses Cena in the ring and sets up the steel steps in the corner. Chioda asks and Cena screams no before Rusev sends him into the steps. Chioda asks, Cena "NO!" Rusev demands Cena quits and Cena pushes him away. Rusev sets the steps up in the center of the ring and Rusev goes for a piledriver but Cena backdrops him. Cena hits some right hands but his body press is countered into a slam onto the steps. Chioda asks and Cena says no, Rusev can't believe it. Cena goes for a stomp but Cena moves. John pounces and hits the FU on the steel steps. Chioda asks Rusev and Rusev doesn't even answer. Cena grabs the steps but Rusev beats feat outside. Cena throws the steps at Rusev but he moves just in time. Outside Cena runs into a kick but counters a whip, sending Rusev into the ring post. Chioda asks and Rusev doesn't answer again. Cena threatens to put him through the barricade but Rusev refuses to quit. Cena indeed barrels Rusev through the barricade. Chioda asks Rusev and Rusev still doesn't answer. Cena grabs a storage container but Rusev superkicks him. Chioda asks and Cena pushes the mic out of his face. The problem is Cena is trying to sell the kick, Chioda asking him immediately screws over Rusev if he answers. They brawl around the arena and Cena goes for an FU on the concrete, but Rusev counters by pushing him off. Cena and Rusev brawl to the production area and Cena sets up a table against the guardrail. Cena hits Rusev with a TV monitor and Chioda asks. Rusev screams incoherently and the match continues. Roddy Piper would have called the match over. Cena hits Rusev again but Rusev doesn't answer. Cena finds somebodies laptop computer and whacks Rusev with it. Rusev hides behind the table but Cena catches him, only for Rusev to hit an Alabama Slam through the table. Cena refuses to give it up and Rusev starts grabbing some power cables. He somehow discovers how to set pyro off as Cena crawls to the entrance ramp. Rusev goes for the high kick but Cena ducks and hits the FU onto the pyro system causing fireworks to shoot. Lana runs over to check on Rusev but Rusev refuses to give it up. Cena then grabs an old metal guardrail and Chioda asks Rusev if he wants to quit. Rusev says no and Cena waffles him with the metal rail. Rusev still refuses to give it up so Cena sets the guardrail up against the ring. Cena goes for the FU but Rusev counters with a suplex through it. Chioda asks Cena and John says "hell no." JBL says he knew Cena would never give it up and Rusev throws Cena into the ring. Rusev hits the big kick and calls for the Accolade. Rusev locks it in right in the middle of the ring. JBL doesn't know if Cena can survive this and Cena immediately stands up, sending Rusev back first into the corner. Rusev doesn't let go and Cena crumples to the mat as Cole says that was Cena's last gap. Chioda asks Cena if he quits but Cena doesn't answer. Rusev lets go and celebrates thinking he's won. Rusev apparently forgot this is an I Quit Match, standard submission rules don't apply. Chioda has to tell him Cena HAS to say I Quit. Lawler is on the fence as Cena couldn't physically quit even if he wanted to. Rusev gets pissed and unhooks the top rope before grabbing a water bottle from ring side. Rusev dumps it on Cena to revive him and goes to throttle John with the top rope. Cena ducks under and locks in the STFU with the top rope. JBL "Big match John has done it again!" Chioda asks but Rusev screams in Russian. Lana runs in and screams "HE QUITS! HE QUITS!" and the ref calls for it. Rusev keeps some of his heat by not actually quitting himself but there was no way in hell Cena was losing this. The American flag is unfurled as Cena celebrates with the title. That was definitely the worst match of the night but I Quit Matches are usually cucka anyway. 

Time of match: 28:02

Winner: John Cena (still US Champion)

We cut to Renee Young at the Kickoff Table with Booker T and Corey Graves. She runs down what we've already seen with Book and Graves making predictions on the remaining matches. We go to a highlight of the pre-show match showing The Ascension winning and then we cut to Byron Saxton with The New Day holding champaign glasses of milk. Saxton congratulates them and they toast each other while Big E says they're role models who don't spit, curse or complain. Kofi says they don't care who they face next and Byron says he's here to inform them about Elimination Chamber. Woods cuts him off saying they already know that the Intercontinental Championship is up for grabs and it'll be very exciting. Saxton says he just heard that New Day will be defending the tag belts in the first ever tag team Elimination Chamber match....which causes Big E to do a forced spittake. Woods "What the HELL?" They all complain and Byron says "I guess its a....new day." Ha..ha... We'll, if nothing else we got something going for Elimination Chamber. On to the next match.

Match 6

The Bella Twins (Nikki and Brie) vs Naomi and Tamina Snuka

This stems from the fallout of Paige getting hurt and AJ Lee leaving WWE right around the same time which led to a Bella Twins face turn out of literal nowhere. Naomi needed backup since they didn't want to reunite her with Cameron so they dug up Tamina as her defacto bodyguard. The crowd hasn't given a damn at all about any of them which is the sign of the times that the Divas era is coming to an end. We start with Nikki and Naomi. Naomi kicks her into the corner but Nikki hits a springboard dropkick, covering for 1...2..no. Brie tags in for the double facebuster as Cole says we'll get more IC title info later. Naomi gets a double running knee as Brie randomly shouts "BRIEEE MODEEE" causing Brian Zane somewhere to cover his ears. Brie hits another running knee and Naomi bails to the outside. Brie throws Naomi back in but Tamina clocks Brie with a superkick. Nikki asks if Brie is okay....does she look okay? Naomi throws Brie back in and covers for 1...2..no. Naomi throws Brie down by the hair and stands on it. Naomi utilizes the 5 count then throws her down again before kicking Brie in the ribs. Tamina tags in for the snap mare and kick to the back. Tamina dumps Nikki off the apron and kicks Brie into the corner. JBL says Naomi has every right to be mad after being overlooked as Tamina backs Brie into the corner, Naomi tagging in. Naomi hits a neckbreaker and covers for 1....2..no. Naomi locks in a facelock as JBL says Fabulous Moolah started her 27 year run as champion here in Baltimore. Brie does a jawbreaker and lands on her head after botching a sunset flip, getting Nikki the hot tag. Nikki cleans house of Naomi and hits the Alabama Slam. She covers but Tamina kicks her off. Nikki dropkicks Tamina through the ropes....or not since Tamina's foot is caught. Nikki has to struggle just to push her off only to get rolled up by Naomi for 1...2...no.  Tamina distracts Nikki long enough for Naomi to hit the Rear View. Naomi hooks the legs for 1...2...no.  Brie from nowhere jumps off the steel steps onto Tamina for a mock cheer. Nikki hits a spinebuster and covers for 1..2..no. Nikki goes upstairs but Tamina throws Brie into the barricade, causing Nikki to hesitate. That allows Naomi to throw Nikki off the top. Naomi covers for 1..2....3 to win the match. What? THAT beats the Divas champ? Bad match and that's due to the "Divas". The winds of change are coming, fans just had to wait a little bit longer.

Time of match: 6:13

Winners: Naomi and Tamina by pinfall

We cut to Lana in the back sitting in a chair with Rusev pacing back and forth. Rusev shouts in Bulgarian and tells Lana to get out. She doesn't move so he tells her again to get out. Lana leaves and he throws the chair against the wall. It'll be interesting to see where he goes from here. Michael Cole takes us back to Raw where Daniel Bryan retired and relinquished the IC title. A new champion will be crowned at Elimination Chamber. On to the next match.

Match 7

Wade Barrett vs Adrian Neville

This stems from last month where Barrett pinned Neville to win the King of The Ring and has been running his mouth since. Bell's gone and Neville rolls him up quickly for a two count and Neville hits a crossbody and a head scissors. Barrett retreats outside where Neville leaps over him onto the floor and spin kicks him in the ribs. Neville is kicked by Barrett who JBL calls the royal boot. Barrett rams Neville into the side of the ring and throws him inside. Barrett throws Neville on to the top rope and pounds away on his back. JBL reels off different kings over the years as Barrett covers for a deuce. Barrett locks in a chinlock as JBL says Lawler is jealous of Barrett causing both Jerry and Michael to laugh at him. Neville's springboard is blocked by a big boot as JBL says Bret Hart, Steve Austin & Harley Race have won KOTR in the past. A knee to the back followed by a cover only gets two for Barrett and Wade chokes him on the second rope. Wade knees Neville in between the second and top rope before booting him to the floor. JBL just keeps talking nonsense as Barrett draws some heat by blowing kisses to the crowd. Wade throws Neville inside and covers for a 1. Wade locks in a chinlock but Neville rolls out of it. Neville hits spinkicks, a dropkick and a flying forearm. Neville hits the standing shooting star press and covers for 1...2..no. Neville goes for Red Arrow but Barrett blocks him. Barrett lands a kick to the rib and loads up the Bullhammer. Neville ducks it but runs into Winds of Change, covering for 1...2..no. Neville goes for a springboard but notices Barrett loading the Bullhammer. Neville counters with an arm drag pin for 1...2..no. Neville drops Barrett with a standing enziguiri and goes for Red Arrow. Barrett rolls out of the ring and Neville hits a flipping suicide dive.  The ref counts to six when Neville gets in. Barrett says screw it and walks off, earning a count out. The crowd is PISSED at Barrett taking the coward's way out. Guess Vince didn't want Barrett and Neville to have a conclusion here despite the "feud" being 1-1 since Extreme Rules. We've seen these two do better.

Time of match: 7:08

Winner: Neville by count-out.

After the match Barrett sneak attacks Neville in the ring and punches away on him. Cole "Some king.." Neville is heaved over the top rope and Barrett sends him into the steel steps. Barrett sends him into the barricade and celebrates in the ring with his robe, scepter and crown. Lawler says he didn't even win. Neville slides back in, ducks under the scepter swing and hits a German suplex to snap the scepter. Neville goes upstairs and hits Red Arrow to make the crowd happy. Still a pointless ending but whatever. We go to the highlights with Cole cracking Humpty Dumpty jokes and Neville trash talks Barrett before leaving. Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring with J & J in tow. Kane walks up to him and says he only has one thing to say....good luck. We get the pre-match highlight package showing how Kane has been making Seth's life hell by first making the main event of Payback first a triple threat between Rollins, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns then making it a Fatal Four Way by adding Dean Ambrose. During the package Triple H has to be peacemaker by saying Kane will be fired as Director of Operations if Rollins doesn't win. Kane makes his way to ringside for the main event as Cole speculates what Kane will do. As Randy Orton makes his entrance, JBL says if he hits the RKO like he did at Wrestlemania, he'll be a 13 time champion. Cole says Ambrose told him that he's got nothing to lose as Dean makes his entrance. JBL says it would be terrible if the lunatic wins the title as Cole lists Roman Reigns' accolades this year so far. Reigns won the Royal Rumble, beat Daniel Bryan, damn near had Brock Lesnar beat and knocked off Big Show at Extreme Rules. JBL says he'll be Superstar of The Year if he wins this one. Rollins enters last as Cole says Seth won Money In The Bank last year in order to pull off the Wrestlemania cash in and asks who will win the briefcase this year. Concentrate on tonight first, will ya Cole? On to the match.

Match 8

Randy Orton vs Dean Ambrose vs Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins (with J & J Security) for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

During Eden Stiles intro, Randy Orton has to be held back by referee Charles Robinson from attacking Seth. Reigns gets the John Cena treatment as he gets booed by half the crowd and cheered by the other half. Ambrose is the fan favorite judging by crowd reaction. Bell's gone and the faces all stalk Rollins but Mercury pulls out Ambrose, Noble pulls out Reigns and Orton turns his back. Rollins ambushes Orton in the ring which sends Orton to the floor. Orton punches Rollins only for Ambrose to do away with Mercury. Ambrose gets in the ring and dumps Rollins then hits a suicide dive on both Rollins & Orton. J & J Security pounce on Ambrose but here comes Roman Reigns to dive on everyone. Reigns isolates Rollins in the ring as Seth runs into a tilt-a-whirl slam. Roman covers for one then drops Rollins with an uppercut. King "There's something about Seth Rollins' face that attracts Roman Reigns' fist". Seth throws Reigns face first into the buckle and Ambrose hits a an elbow drop on Rollins who was still standing. Orton rushes in and uppercuts Ambrose in the corner. Ambrose and Orton trade punches in the corner before Dean lands a bulldog. Ambrose lands strikes on Orton but Randy uppercuts him, hitting the side backbreaker. Orton covers but Reigns breaks up the count. Reigns blocks an RKO and uppercuts Orton only to duck when Ambrose charges. Ambrose and Orton go flying together with Rollins jumping on Reigns from behind. Rollins kicks away at Reigns and splashes him in the corner. Ambrose rushes Rollins in the corner and sends him into Reigns for a lariat. Ambrose and Reigns bump fists then put the boots to Rollins. Ambrose hits a clothesline and tells Roman to load up the Superman Punch. Reigns calls for it but is pulled outside by Kane. Little early for this don't you think? Kane throws Reigns into the barricade and here comes Ambrose outside to rush Kane. Kane uppercuts Ambrose and throws him in the ring. Orton tries to get in but he's pulled down by J & J. Orton fights them off but Kane comes over to stomp away on Orton. Rollins takes down Ambrose and covers for 1...2...no. Lawler is depressed as JBL knew Kane would do the right thing. Rollins hits the slingshot knee drop and covers for 1...2...no. Kane rips his coat, tie and shirt off as Rollins hits the buckle bomb. Rollins hits the superkick and covers for 1...2...nope. Rollins puts the boots to Ambrose and goes for another buckle bomb but Dean fights out of it. Rollins dropkicks Ambrose who slingshots himself into a lariat that sends Rollins into a 360. Ambrose punches down Noble and Mercury and goes for Dirty Deeds on Rollins. Kane saves Rollins by grabbing Ambrose by the throat and chokeslams him. Lawler says Kane should just make the 3 count himself. Rollins covers for 1...2...NOOOO. Orton pulls Kane off the apron and Reigns hits a dropkick on him. Orton clotheslines Reigns down and gets back in. Orton clotheslines Rollins down and Ambrose over the top to the floor. Orton goes for the powerslam but Rollins catches himself on the ropes. Orton hits a t-bone Taz plex and covers for 1..2....no. Rollins snaps Orton off the top rope but gets caught himself up there. Orton hits the superplex and covers for 1..2...no. Rollins rolls outside and Orton stalks him. Orton on the outside drops Seth and back suplexes him on the barricade. Orton tears apart the announce table as JBL says the Spanish announce table is right over there (hahahaha!). All four men brawl on the outside but Orton gets dropped. Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns look at each other and Rollins calls for the Shield Bomb. The crowd springs to life as the Shield briefly reunite to put the boots to Orton. They hit the Shield Bomb on Orton and the crowd explodes. Reigns fist bumps Ambrose and Shields puts his arms around both men screaming "yeahh" only for Dean & Roman to slowly turn their heads to him. Rollins puts his fist out but the other two don't return it and glare at him. Ambrose and Reigns double team Rollins and tear apart the Spanish announce table. Cole tells JBL to get out of the way and JBL says he's trying. The crowd chants "This is awesome" but Kane interrupts. Ambrose and Reigns turn their attention to Kane and ram him against the post. Roman plants Rollins on the table and they do a double powerbomb on Kane on Rollins....but the table doesn't break. The crowd chants "one more time" as Ambrose & Reigns cater to the crowd. They try it one more time and this time the table breaks as the crowd explodes. Orton, Rollins and Kane are sprawled out as Ambrose looks at Reigns. Reigns "Not much else to do." Ambrose "No there's not." Roman "Loser buys the beers?" Ambrose nods and slides into the ring. Reigns jumps in as the crowd plays Let's go Ambrose/Let's go Roman. They play yay boo with Dean getting the yays until he hits a flying bodypress. Reigns recovers to roll him up for 1...2..no.  Reigns pulls him up for a powerbomb getting 1...2...no. Reigns playfully taunts Ambrose and calls for the Superman Punch. Ambrose moves and rolls up Roman for a deuce but Roman hits the punch anyway. Roman covers for 1...2...no. Roman is all smiles and calls for the spear. Roman but runs into a knee. Dirty Deeds is countered, Roman ducks under a line and hits the spear. Reigns covers for 1....2...nooo, Rollins dives in at the last second to break up the count. JBL says Reigns was a fraction of a second away. Reigns chases Rollins outside but here comes J & J Security again. Too bad they're out of tables to put them through. Reigns throws them around anyway and continues to stalk Rollins who slides inside the ring...into a right hand from Ambrose. Rollins hits an enziguiri on Ambrose but is hit with a Superman Punch from Reigns. Ambrose hits a lariat on Reigns and hits Dirty Deeds on Rollins. Ambrose covers for 1....2..no, Kane pulls out Dean. Kane lays out Ambrose with the steel steps and waffles Reigns with them as well. Kane chokeslams Reigns on the stairs but a revived Orton shoves Kane into the ring post. Rollins goes for the Orton DDT but Orton backdrops him to the apron. Mercury pulls Rollins off but Noble catches an RKO in the ring. Mercury runs in and gets an RKO as well. Rollins comes off the top and Orton catches him with a powerslam. Randy hits the Vintage DDT and calls for a final RKO.  Rollins blocks it as Kane slides in. Randy turns around and hits Kane with the RKO but Rollins hits a lousy looking pedigree. Rollins covers for 1..2....3 to win the match. Damn good match with some fun moments but Kane assisting Rollins early kind of ruined the suspense. Essentially it was Orton, Ambrose and Reigns against J&J, Kane and Rollins. Still, it was a great match and Rollins walks out the champ.

Time of match: 21:00

Winner: Rollins by (still WWE Champion)

After the match is over, Triple H himself comes out and pulls Rollins to his feet. Hunter celebrates with Rollins at the entrance as the defeated opponents can't believe it. King sarcastically says "best for business as we sign off. Overall the show started out very strong but Rusev/Cena dragged, the Divas match was worthless and even Neville/Barrett disappointed. The the main event got back on track and it turned into a real free for all. The Shield reuniting for two minutes was fun and Cena sending Rusev to mid-card hell was pretty funny. Now the fallout will be the questions. If Rollins just beat his top 3 contenders, now what? Will one of them get a singles match at EC or MITB? Who will be in the Elimination Chamber tag match in a few weeks? Who will Bray Wyatt randomly attack next? Now we have to go search for clues. We all knew Kane wasn't going to turn face so now let's see where the main event scene goes from here. The next show after this is tomorrow night's Raw. I'll see you there.

WWE Smackdown (5/14/15)

We're just days away from Payback and now we finally have a card. The main event will be Seth Rollins defending his WWE Championship against Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose in a Fatal Four Way. Bray Wyatt takes on Ryback, Curtis Axel & Damien Sandow take on The Ascension, The New Day faces Tyson Kidd & Cesaro in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championship, John Cena defends the US title against Alexander Rusev in an I Quit Match and The Bella Twins take on Naomi and Tamina. Let's get to the go home show.

WWE Smackdown

Ford Center

Evansville, Indiana

May 14, 2015

Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton & Jerry "The King" Lawler

Ring Announcer: JoJo Offerman

After the intro we waste no time with a backstage Bray Wyatt soliloquy. Bray says he knows Ryback is scared and he doesn't blame him. He stood toe to toe with fate and won, but Bray knows his achillies heel. He's going to make an example of him and says the garden of eden doesn't exist. Tonight he's going to scratch an itch and turn his dreams to nightmares. Wyatt says to resist the itch and run. 

Here comes Dean Ambrose for a conference. We get a highlight of him standing tall on Raw as he gets a huge ovation from the crowd. He says he works best alone, fights alone and drinks alone (YEAHHHHHH WITH NOBODY ELSEEEEEE) and it felt good to stand alone on Monday. He says Sunday its every man for himself. He says Rollins is a chicken weasel troll with a lolipop guild goon squad, Randy Orton who just got speared by Roman Reigns. Speaking of Reigns, Dean says that's his only friend and he hit Dirty Deeds on him in the heat of the moment. He says he's got one thing to say to Roman and right on cue, here comes Reigns to join the fun. Tom Phillips says tonight's main event will be Reigns vs Kane, for real this time. Dean says he's not going to apologize and Reigns wasn't expecting one. Reigns says he hit him with Dirty Deeds with one time but not again because its payback at Payback. Reigns says they're cool tonight but Sunday he's bringing the big guns, and hopes he does the same. They go to shake hands but here comes Kane to wreck everything.

Kane in full coat and tie says he's sorry to break up their bro-ment but they should be less concerned for winning the Slammy Award for romance of the year and more concerned about this Sunday. He says Payback will be every man for themself but Ambrose cuts him off and says Kane should be concerned after Triple H said he'd be out of a job if Rollins doesn't walk out the champion. Ambrose says this could be the last time we ever see Corporate Kane. Kane says he's not concerned and he'll still be employed this coming Monday. He says he'll see Reigns later but right now he wants Ambrose. Kane says Dean has a match because that's best for business....against Sheamus....RIGHT <Ambrose cuts him off> NOW! Ambrose says the only way Kane knows how to make a match is right now and tells Sheamus to stop braiding his beard and to come on out. Here comes Sheamus and we're not going to waste any time....after the break

Match 1

Sheamus vs Dean Ambrose

Bells gone and they circle to start. Ambrose backs Sheamus into the corner but Sheamus shoves him away. They lock up and Sheamus is arm barred into the ropes forcing a break. Sheamus gets a headlock takeover then shoulderblocks Dean down. Dean tries the drop toe hold but Sheamus doesn't go down. Amrbose eventually catches him in a modified STF and grabs the mohawk for leverage. Ambrose kicks the hand of Sheamus but they start stiffing each other in the corner. Sheamus hits a European uppercut and a scoop slam before kicking him in the back. Ambrose rallies with right hands but another European uppercut backs Dean into the corner. Dean drops Sheamus and punches away at him but a charge in the corner eats boot. Sheamus misses a charge of his own but Ambrose hits a running clothesline and bulldog out of the corner. Dean chops Sheamus against the ropes but is thrown over the top to the apron. Dean holds Sheamus off on 10 Beats but Sheamus knees him in the head to send Ambrose spiraling to the floor. Sheamus throws Ambrose into the barricade and taunts him as we go to break. Back from commercial Sheamus locks in a Texas Cloverleaf in the center of the ring. Ambrose makes it to the ropes to force a break but is kicked in the head for his trouble. Dean counters White Noise with a sunset flip for a deuce but Sheamus catches him with it on a second attempt. Sheamus calls for the Brogue Kick but Ambrose rolls out of the ring. Sheamus goes to throw him back in but Dean does a 180 and clotheslines Sheamus down. Dean kicks him into the barricade, goes inside but runs into a forearm. Back inside Dean counters the Brogue Kick by clotheslining Sheamus to the floor. Dean hits the suicide dive outside and throws Sheamus back inside. Up to the top rope, Dean jumps off but Sheamus moves. Dean charges right into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and cover for 1...2...no. Sheamus stiffs Dean with a few right hands but Dean rallies with some of his own. Dean hits a devastating lariat on Sheamus and goes up to the top. Sheamus catches him and goes for a top rope powerslam but Dean jumps down and trips up Sheamus. Sheamus catches himself head first on the ring post and Dean rolls him up for 1...2....3 to win the match. Damn good opener and it serves its purpose of giving Ambrose some momentum going into Payback.

Time of match: 12:42

Winner: Ambrose by pinfall

Ambrose taunts Sheamus in the aisle as Phillips says he might walk out of Payback the champion. Backstage Kane doesn't look happy when Seth Rollins, Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble walk in. Seth reminds Kane that if Rollins loses Sunday, he's fired. He says he heard a rumor Kane won't help him this Sunday and asks if that's true. Seth reminds Kane that he's paid to be Director of Operations and Kane says he's saved his money and that's no concern of his. Seth says Kane needs to do the right thing and Kane says he's struggling with that. He doesn't know what the right thing will be until he's standing at ringside this Sunday. He tells Seth he has to prepare for Roman Reigns and Rollins laughs at him saying "good luck with that." Kane says "Good luck in your match too....against Ryback." Well that was a curveball, there's your double main event tonight. Lawler laughs at Rollins' face but then says Daniel Bryan's retirement was no joke and we'll be seeing highlights of his speech from Raw later.

Back from break, Phillips shouts out the band doing the Payback theme and here comes Rusev and Lana. They have Rusev come out first for the boo with Lana coming out moments later for the pop....brilliant. We get a highlight of two weeks ago where Fandango gets Lana to do the Fandango only for an irate Rusev to clobber him from behind like a bolt of lightning....very very frightening. Back to real time, Rusev in the ring hands a mic to Lana as the crowd chants USA. Lana reads a prepared statement by saying she betrayed her country by "indulging in perverse western customs." She begs forgiveness from her family, mother Russia and Rusev. Lawler isn't buying that this was legit as Rusev grabs the mic and says last Monday shows why John Cena would lose this Sunday. He's unfocused and unprepared as we go to a clip of Cena vs Adrian Neville last Monday where Rusev lays Cena out. Rusev says Cena was saying "I quit" before he passed out. He goes to a doctored clip of Cena simply saying "I quit" over and over again which gets annoying after a while. Finally Rusev cuts the clip and yells at the crowd as Lawler hates everything that's going on. Lawler says Cena never gives up as Phillips says Rusev's name and legacy are on the line.

Back to Renee Young in the back with Ryback. She asks if he can focus on Seth Rollins tonight with Bray Wyatt lurking. Ryback says winning tonight will be a big opportunity for a title shot and despite what anyone thinks, he's not a meathead nor a dummy. Ryback says he saw the fear in Bray's eyes when he hit him with the Meat Hook. He says "the big guy is hungry" and Feed Me More. The match is next...after commercial.

After break we're sent to more Tough Enough submissions with one of them being future TNA Champion Tessa Blanchard, a badass marine who lost his leg in Iraq that's not gonna let it stop him from trying to wrestle, a legitimate leukemia survivor, "Hollywood" Mike Verna, a bunch of idiots and comedian Gabriel Iglesias....no I'm not kidding. The announcers guffaw over Iglesias as Seth Rollins makes his entrance with J & J Security in tow. He grabs the mic and shows a clip of Monday's Raw where Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Randy Orton spam finishers on him. Rollins says he hopes the crowd loves that because that's the last time he'll ever be humiliated again. Press X to doubt. He says the others are just as cut-throat as he is and he'll pick up the pieces after the others cut each others throats. Rollins says his talent, his bodyguards and Kane, he'll be victorious. He goes to say something about Ryback but here comes Ryback anyway. Out of nowhere Bray Wyatt ambushes him with a shoulderblock into the barricade. Wyatt crawls toward Ryback and laughs at what he's done. Lawler says this is the lowest he can sink. Wyatt disappears as Rollins in the ring just laughs at Ryback. The referee tends to him as the crowd goes hush. Some kids in the crowd chants "Let's go Ryback" as we get a highlight of Wyatt's ambush. We go to commercial with the announcers speculating if Ryback can continue. Back from break Ryback is in the ring telling the ref to ring the bell. The ref calls for it and we're on.

Match 2

Ryback vs WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins (with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)

Non title here as Rollins throws his shirt at him at the bell. There's a sign in the crowd that says Feed Me Smores, ha!  Rollins kicks away at Ryback and headlock punches him. Rollins gets in a front facelock but the suplex attempt is blocked. Ryback goes for his own suplex but Rollins counters with a knee to the head. Rollins ram Ryback face first into the buckle and a knee to the back sends Ryback through the ropes to the outside. Noble and Mercury put the loafers to him for some heat as Phillips says its like being attacked by a shark. The ref goes to count out Ryback but he makes it back just in time. Rollins stomps away at him as Lawler says Ryback isn't thinking straight. Rollins hits a DDT and covers for 1....2..no. Rollins chokes Ryback on the second rope and punches away at him. Ryback rallies with right hands and a Thez press. Rollins hits a rude awakening neckbreaker and covers for 1...2..no. Rollins hooks the leg a second time for a deuce. Rollins gets a front facelock as Lawler says Wyatt cowardly attacked Ryback as Ryback heaves Rollins much to Jerry's delight. Jerry says Iron Sheik tweeted Jabroni & Jabroni Security (it wasn't actually Sheik behind the account) earlier as Ryback hits a backdrop on Rollins. Rollins misses a charge but Ryback's charge eats boot. Rollins jumps into a bearhug and a tilt-a-whirl slam. The kids in the crowd chant Feed Me More as Ryback rallies with shoulderblocks and a spine buster. Ryback covers for 1...2....no. Ryback calls for the Meat Hook but gets distracted by Mercury on the apron. Mercury retreats and Rollins goes for the O'Connor Roll, but it gets blocked. Ryback hits the Meat Hook clothesline and goes for the Shell Shock. Rollins rakes the eyes and goes to the apron. Rollins kicks Ryback in the head and goes up to the top rope. Rollins hits a one legged dropkick which leads to a superkick. Rollins "Come onnn big guyyyy". Rollins hits another superkick and covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Lawler says that's a tainted victory. Interesting to see Ryback take the pin without taking the Curb Stomp but it was mostly to show Ryback was essentially out on his feet. Its funny how Ryback can be hit with chairs and chainsaws but one shoulderblock from Bray Wyatt knocked him goofy? Either way the match told a story of Ryback trying to beat the champ while seeing double, give credit for that.

Time of match: 8:23

Winner: Rollins by pinfall

After the match Phillips asks if Seth needs Kane if he can beat Ryback. Lawler counters that this match would have gone different if Wyatt didn't attack. We get a graphic for Reigns/Kane saying pinfall for submission only....so its a Street Fight without actually calling it that. Back from commercial we get a graphic for The Meta Powers (Damien Sandow and Curtis Axel) vs The Ascension for this Sunday's pre-show match. I said this on my Raw writeup but its a sign of the times when you have to steal other people's gimmicks to get over. We get a graphic saying The Bella Twins take on Naomi and Tamina. So much for the one on one match between Naomi and Nikki. Guess Naomi needs just a little more heat before their inevitable clash.  

We go to Renee Young with Naomi and Tamina Snuka. Renee immediately goes to Naomi and Tamina attacking the Bellas two weeks ago and says she's shown a different side of herself. Renee asks what caused the attitude change and Naomi answers she and Tamina are tired of being overlooked. Naomi says she's the best athlete and Tamina is a powerhouse but WWE gave them nothing. They're sick of walking around empty handed and they're taking what's theirs. Tamina says they run the Divas now and Naomi laughs at Nikki calling her fake. Naomi says Brie is a pathetic quitter just like her husband Daniel Bryan. Naomi says sometimes a good girl gotta be bad in order to get things done. She's got a point how the ex-Funkadactyls and Tamina accomplished nothing so far and this is their chance. Hell why don't they reunite her with Cameron at this point? 

Before we get to the next match, here comes New Day to annoy everyone. Xavier says Tyson Kidd and Cesaro are CHEATERS. Out of the kindness of their souls they're giving them a second chance this Sunday. Big E Langston says Kidd and Cesaro are bad people because they don't recycle (HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!), when they go to the movies, they buy one ticket and see two! Kofi "Oh no no!" Kofi says there's good news that they don't have to be like Kidd and Cesaro, they can choose to be like New Day. Kofi are the change the fans need to see in this world, so sing with them. Xavier goes for New Day Rocks and naturally the crowd chants New Day Sucks. Here's the siren and out come Kidd and Cesaro with Natalya in tow. Apparently we got singles action with Cesaro in street clothes but they haven't said who he'd be facing. Woods and Big E leave so now its going to be Kidd and Kofi.

Match 3

Tyson Kidd (with Cesaro and Natalya) vs Kofi Kingston (with Big E Langston and Xavier Woods)

Singles action as Kofi takes on Kidd here. Bell's gone and Kidd gets a waistlock but Kofi kicks his way out of it. Kidd rallies with right hands but Kofi hits a reverse suplex and rolls through it for the chinlock. Kofi turns it into an armbar as Xavier screams "we're the champions, we're so good" Kidd powers out of it and Kofi slides out of the ring. Kidd kicks him away from the ring and hits a running cannonball to the floor on top of Kofi. Kidd throws Kofi in the ring and covers for 1...2.no. Lawler says the match this Sunday favors Cesaro as Kidd goes for the sharpshooter. Big E hops on the apron but Cesaro snatches him off, dropping him with a clothesline. Xavier hops up on the apron and Natalya grabs him allowing Kidd to kick him off. Kofi rolls him up for 1..2...no. Kidd blocks Trouble In Paradise and goes for the sharpshooter and locks it in. Kidd drags him into the center of the ring but Kofi taps to end the match. Short and sweet, gave Kidd & Cesaro some momentum going into Sunday's showdown. Having Natalya there does counter whoever of the New Day won't be wrestling.

Time of match: 2:08

Winner: Kidd by submission

Kidd caters to the crowd after the match as Phillips says that could be the result of one of the falls. Saxton says they don't know which of the New Day will be wrestling as Lawler says Cesaro can beat any of them. Phillips hypes up Elimination Chamber on May 31st just 17 days from now. Want to know how you ruin big matches? That's how. No matches have been signed or advertised two weeks out and its not like this is an international effort like Insurrextion or Rebellion. Its a WWE Network exclusive just like King of The Ring last month. Good luck finding it now.

Up next after the break is the highlight of Daniel Bryan's speech on Raw. Back from commercial we get the highlight of Daniel Bryan saying he's stepping away due to injuries and vacating the Intercontinental Championship. After that, the announcers give a eulogy of Daniel Bryan....but here comes Bo Dallas for absolutely no reason. Dallas says it sucks to lose Daniel Bryan and life isn't about yes or no. Dallas says Bryan being gone will be difficult but this is Bo's chance to be there for all of you. He says there's the five stages of grief, denial that DB let them all down. The second is anger, and being angry at Bryan letting them down is healthy. The third is bargaining and they're going to get a heck of a bargain on DB t-shirts now that he's gone. The fourth is depression and Bryan will be completely engulfed in it when everyone forgets about him. Last is acceptance and he can help the fans accept Bryan is never coming back, all they have to do is Bo-Lieve. His high pitched voice made that heel promo perfect but here comes Adrian Neville for a match. Neville makes his entrance with JoJo Offerman calling him the man that gravity forgot. Saxton puts over his former NXT brethren as we go to commercial.

Match 4

Adrian Neville vs Bo Dallas

Joined in progress after the break, Wade Barrett sits in on commentary to say some not so nice things about Neville. Neville backflips over Dallas and hits a bodypress for 1...2..no. Dallas screams at the top of his lungs as Barrett and Lawler have a back and forth King-off. Neville is hurled over the top to the apron but pulls it down to send Dallas flying. Neville is pulled off by Bo and thrown back in the ring. Bo chokes Adrian with the ring apron and clotheslines him down. He covers for 1...2..no. Phillips asks if he's impressed with Neville and Barrett says he's impressed and not doubting his talent. Neville dropkicks Dallas as Barrett says when he's in the ring, gravity always wins. Neville hits a running enziguiri as Barrett says he'll ground him like at the King of The Ring. Neville goes upstairs and hits a delayed Red Arrow for 1....2...3 to win the match. Phillips says that could be Barrett taking the fall this Sunday. Squash match to give Neville some momentum going into Sunday.

Time of match: 2:17

Winner: Neville by pinfall

After the match, King Barrett in full robe and crown says "How dare you try and pass yourself off as a challenge to the king's throne. I don't have the time to deal with the frivolities of a mere peasant like you." Barrett says Neville comes out week after week in a ridiculous costume....as Barrett is waiving a goofy scepter at him. Barrett says Neville needs some corporal punishment and he's going to get that this Sunday courtesy of a royal bullhammer. Barrett says all hail King Barrett as we get a replay of Neville's Red Arrow. Neville and Barrett point at each other before we cut.

Adam Rose is giving butterfly kisses to Rosa Mendez as the Rosebuds led by Hot Dog ask when they're going to be paid. You can see the future Alexa Bliss in the background as Hot Dog is actually named Carl. Adam says they're not being paid to talk. Rose says they're creating a revolution and Carl replies "So we're not getting paid?" Rose grabs the poor guy and says he doesn't get it, he's just like Bunny. Rosa Mendez says they don't get him like she does as Rose pushes Carl to the ground. Rose says the party is officially over but Rosa says the party is about to begin as they kiss. Suddenly Kane shows up, steps over the fallen Carl, scoffs at the lovebirds and makes his way to the ring. It was about time to get rid of the Rosebuds since he had long turned heel at that point, but it was funny to look back and see just how many huge stars were in the Rosebuds that totally eclipsed Rose himself by the end of their careers (and still going in some cases).

Back from commercial we get another Tough Enough plug with a highlight on Mike Tarverna (aka Hollywood Mike Verna from the New York and New England independents). Here comes Kane for the final match followed by Roman Reigns. No pre-match promos, just fight time.

Match 5

Roman Reigns vs Kane in a glorified Street Fight

Roman headbutts Kane as he makes his entrance and they brawl before the bell just like Monday. Kane slugs away at Reigns before Roman rallies with right hands. Kane throws Reigns into his old mentor Jerry Lawler but Reigns fights back. Kane sends Reigns into the steel steps before sliding into the ring. Kane tells the ref to ring the bell but he waits till Reigns gets in. Reigns slides in and the ref makes it official now. Kane rallies with right hands and heaves Reigns back outside. Lawler "Here the come again, guys." Kane grabs the steel steps but Reigns moves before he can be hit with them. Reigns sends Kane head first into the ring post as Lawler says Kane's mission is to take out Roman before Sunday. Roman grabs a singapore cane from under the ring and waffles Kane with it as Phillips says there's no disqualification in the match. Back inside Kane grabs the cane, no pun intended, and goes to town on Roman as Kevin Dunn's camera zooms are making me sick. Rollins, Mercury and Noble are watching in the back as Kane covers Roman for 1..2..no. Back from commercial break Kane's charge in the corner eats boot as Roman rallies with right hands. Kane counters with a big boot and covers for 1...2..no. Kane picks Reigns up and throws him through the ropes to the outside. Kane then clears off the announce table and calls for the chokeslam. Reigns lands feet first on the table and superkicks Kane then hits a jumping clothesline. Roman rams Kane headfirst into the table and hits a dropkick with Reigns landing ass first onto the table. Roman grabs the steps and bashes Kane with them. He grabs a table from under the ring...make that two. Roman sets one of them into the corner but Kane counters with a boot and a DDT. Kane covers for 1...2...no. Kane sets the other table up in the center of the ring and calls for the chokeslam. Reigns elbows out of it then hammers Kane with strikes. He goes for the Superman punch but runs right into a chokeslam through the table. Kane covers for 1..2...no. Kane can't believe it and he pounds around the ring. Kane calls for the tombstone but Reigns slides out of it and hits the Superman Punch. Kane staggers and Reigns spears him through the other table. Reigns covers for 1...2....3 to win the match. Reigns wins a hell of a fight and has momentum going into Sunday. Power brawls are always entertaining and that one delivered.

Time of match: 11:16

Winner: Reigns by pinfall

Reigns celebrates on the entrance ramp as Lawler says Rollins won't like that. Speaking of which, we cut to Renee Young with Seth and J & J Security for a final interview. Renee asks Seth what Roman's victory does to his confidence and Seth says that was a hell of a performance but it'll take more than that to beat him. He says that goes for Dean Ambrose and Randy Orton as well but Renee starts to back up. Ambrose sneaks up on the trio as they ask where Renee is going. Seth asks what he's doing as Dean has a plate of cookies in his hand. Dean "Anyone want a cookie?" as he throws the cookies at Rollins and the cookie pan at Mercury. Ambrose beats down Rollins until J & J seize Ambrose. Rollins punches Dean but from out of nowhere Roman Reigns heaves a luggage crate into Noble. Roman grabs Rollins as Ambrose snatches Mercury. Reigns and Ambrose clean house before turning to face each other. Ambrose and Reigns look down to see the pile of cookies and the World Heavyweight Championship. Roman offers a hand shake and Dean teases taking it but grabs the belt instead. Dean puts it on Roman's shoulder and says "Don't worry, I'll take it on Sunday". Roman ends the show holding the title....get used to that, folks.

That show went by quick with some of the matches being really short but thankfully everything got to the point. The only ones truly missing on this show was Randy Orton and John Cena as everyone else involved in Payback....well important anyway, was here. The stage is set, will Rollins walk out as champ facing Orton and his Shield mates or will one of the others win and Kane goes bye bye? The next show is Payback itself, I'll see you there.