WWE Payback Recap #WWEPayback

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

What's up wrestling fans, welcome to the WWE Payback recap from last night's show on the WWE Network. WWE Payback was live at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

** WWE Payback Card **

- "House of Horrors Match": Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
- "WWE United States Championship Match": Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho
- "WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship Match": The Hardy Boys (c) vs. Sheamus and Cesaro
- "WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match": Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries
- "WWE RAW Women's Championship Match": Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
- Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
- Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe
- Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Enzo and Big Cass

- Miz TV with The Miz and Maryse, with Special Guest Finn Balor

** WWE Payback Pre-Show **

- Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson: The match closes out with Gallows and Anderson in control of the match and take turns working over Enzo. Cass hot tags in finally and unloads on The Club. Cass plants the Empire Elbow on Gallows and follows that up with a couple splashes. Both teams battle on the floor until Anderson tosses Enzo back into the ring. The Club set Enzo up for the Magic Killer, but Cass makes the save by delivering a big boot. Cass sends Anderson to the floor as Enzo sneaks a roll up pinfall on Gallows.
Winners: Enzo and Big Cass, by pinfall.

- Backstage, The Hardy Boys and Golden Truth talk about old times. Golden Truth state that they're going to ask Kurt Angle if they can be the next #1 Contenders to the tag team titles. Matt thinks that's a tremendous idea.

- Backstage, Sheamus and Cesaro are in the Social Media Lounge, hype tonight's tag team title match against The Hardy's. Renee Young then talks about the House of Horrors Match.

- Miz TV with The Miz and Maryse, with Special Guest Finn Balor: The Miz introduces Finn Balor after taking in the boos from the fans. Miz can't believe the fans cheer Balor's five minute entrance and then mocks it. Miz asks Balor what exactly is The Balor Club and if he and Maryse can be apart of it. Balor says it's not up to him, it's up to The Club. The fans boo so Balor says the answer is no. Miz asks Balor if he felt like a failure last year, considering he was injured and only held the WWE Universal Championship for 24 hours. Miz takes credit for Smackdown Live being the must see show while Balor was gone, mocks Balor more and asks Balor what is next for him. Balor states that he's getting the title back and Miz says Brock Lesnar would break Balor in two. Miz says he could even mop the floor with him, which gets Balor ready to fight. Balor says every Miz TV ends the same with Miz getting his ass beat, but Balor is going to be the bigger man today. Miz says Balor is afraid he'll get injured again. Balor changes his mind, hits a Sling Blade and a drop kick on Miz, chasing him out of the ring.

** WWE Payback **

- "WWE United States Championship Match": Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho: The match closes out with Owens attempting the Pop Up Power Bomb, but Jericho blocks it. Owens counters the Code Breaker, but eats an elbow from Jericho. Owens counters the Lionsault, hits the corner cannonball and gets a near fall. Jericho counters another Pop Up Power Bomb and applies the Walls of Jericho submission, but Owens reaches the ropes. Jericho attacks Owens' hand, slamming it into the steel steps. Jericho shoves Owens's hand in between the steps and apron and kicks it hard.

Owens is in pain clutching his hand as Jericho smiles. Owens pokes Jericho in the eye and gets a near fall rollup. Owens lands a super kick, but can't hit the Pop Up Power Bomb as his injured hand won't allow it. Jericho traps Owens in the Walls of Jericho and Owens surprisingly taps out, making Jericho the new champion.
Winner: Chris Jericho, by submission, to win the WWE United States Championship.

- "WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match": Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries: The match closes out with Aries applying the Last Chancery submission, but Neville escapes it. Aries hits an elbow on Neville, but misses the Discus Five Arm, as Neville counters it. Aries counters a Neville kick, hits a chin breaker and then lands a charging shot into the corner on Neville. Aries goes for the 450 Splash, but Neville meets Aries up top. Aries smacks Neville, sunset flips him off the ropes and into the Last Chancery submission. Neville grabs the referee and pulls him into Aries, breaking the submission and catching a DQ.
Winner: Austin Aries, by DQ. Neville still retains the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

- "WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship Match": The Hardy Boys (c) vs. Sheamus and Cesaro: The match closes out with Matt landing a boot on Cesaro, but Cesaro comes back with an uppercut. Sheamus tags in, hits White Noise on Matt, but Jeff stops the pinfall. Cesaro gets sent to the floor, catches Jeff on a dive, but gets sent over the barricade by Jeff. Matt dodges a Brogue Kick and Sheamus blocks a Twist of Fate into a near fall DDT. Sheamus blocks another Twist of Fate, slams Matt, but misses that he tagged in Jeff. Jeff hits a Swanton Bomb on Sheamus and scores the pinfall. After the match, both teams shake hands, but then suddenly Sheamus and Cesaro turn on The Hardy's and beat them down. Sheamus tosses Matt into the barricade. Cesaro tosses Jeff into the ring post twice. Sheamus tosses Matt into the ring post and then hits a Brogue Kick into the ring post on Jeff. Sheamus and Cesaro talk trash before Sheamus hits another Brogue Kick on Matt.
Winners: The Hardy Boys, by pinfall, to retain the WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship.

- Backstage, Braun Strowman says he's going to hurt Roman Reigns permanently tonight.

- "WWE RAW Women's Championship Match": Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss: The match closes out with Bayley sending Alexa into the turnbuckle, hitting a suplex and then plants an elbow to the back. Bayley hits a clothesline  unloads shoulder thrusts on Alexa and gets a near fall side suplex. Bayley hits a second rope elbow, but can't hit Bayley To Belly. Alexa sends Bayley into the turnbuckle and goes to the top rope. Bayley hits a forearm and attempts a Super Bayley To Belly. Alexa blocks it and gets a near fall sunset flip power bomb on Bayley. Alexa talks trash and delivers some knees until Bayley hits a running knee of her own. Bayley hits the flying elbow drop off the top rope on Alexa and gets a near fall. Alexa sends Bayley into the turnbuckle, hits a DDT, scores the pinfall and wins the title.
Winner: Alexa Bliss, by pinfall, to win the WWE RAW Women's Championship.

- "House of Horrors Match": Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton: Orton arrives to Bray's house and gets jumped in the living room. Orton chases after Bray into a room with baby dolls hanging from the ceiling, before getting jumped by Bray again. Both men brawl into the kitchen where Bray shoves a refrigerator over on Orton. Bray heads outside, jumps into the limo Orton came in and tells the driver to take him to the arena.
TO BE CONTINUED............

- Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins: The match closes out with Rollins attempting a power bomb on Joe, but his knee gives out that Joe worked on throughout the match. Rollins hits a Falcon Arrow instead for a near fall. Rollins hits a frog splash for another near fall, but clutches his bad knee on the landing, buying Joe some time. Rollins and Joe trade shots until Joe unloads open hand slaps on Rollins. Rollins hits a kick on Joe putting him down, but Joe comes back with a sleeper hold. Joe takes Rollins down to the mat and gets a near fall. Joe hits a clothesline on Rollins and then reapplies the sleeper hold. Rollins counters out of it and gets a surprise roll up pinfall on Joe.
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall.

- "House of Horrors Match Part 2": Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton: Bray makes it to the ring as the lights pop back on from his ring entrance and Orton is standing behind him. Orton with steel chair shots, tosses Bray over the announcers table and then hits the draping DDT onto the floor. Orton goes for the RKO, but suddenly gets jumped by the Singh Brothers. Orton fights them off and then hits an RKO on Bray. Jinder Mahal suddenly appears and hits Orton with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Mahal beats Orton down and then allows Bray to hit Sister Abigail to score the pinfall.
Winner: Bray Wyatt, by pinfall.

- Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman: Reigns comes out taped up from Strowman's attack two weeks ago. The match closes out with both men out on the floor where they trade shots. Back in the ring, Strowman blocks a Superman Punch, but Reigns gets a near fall Samoan Drop. Reigns hits a Drive By and goes for a Spear, but Strowman catches him. Reigns counters out and tosses Strowman into the ring post. Strowman eats the ring post again as he misses a charge at Reigns. Back in the ring, Reigns gets a near fall Spear on Strowman. Reigns attempts a second one, but eats a Strowman boot. Reigns counters out of the power slam and hits the Superman Punch. Reigns tries for a second one, but Strowman catches Reigns and locks Reigns in a Triangle Choke submission.

Strowman releases, hits the running power slam on Reigns and gets a near fall. Strowman scoops Reigns up, hits a second running power slam and finally scores the pinfall. After the match, Strowman scoops Reigns up and hits the running power slam on top of the steel steps. Strowman picks up the steel steps and then slams them on top of Reigns. Fit Finlay and Adam Pearce force Strowman to finally back off of Reigns. WWE Medical and Officials try to help Reigns who appears to be busted open. Reigns refuses to go out on a stretcher and tries to walk on his own to end the show.
Winner: Braun Strowman, by pinfall.