WWE Payback Results – Apr. 30, 2017 – Reigns vs. Strowman

Apr 30, 2017

April 30, 2017
San Jose, CA – SAP Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Booker T

Kickoff Show

Renee Young, Jerry Lawler and Sam Roberts hosted the Kickoff Show. Sam Roberts said they have the best seat in the house. Lawler said that Sam Roberts certainly doesn’t have the best hair in the house. They interviewed Sasha Banks and gave predictions and did other stuff.

Kickoff Show
Enzo and Big Cass vs. Gallows and Anderson

Enzo and Cass came out and Enzo said that last week, Gallows and Anderson tried to take Enzo out like he was Chinese food. Big Cass then said they weren’t “wonton soup” and went through a list of different Chinese foods that they were not while the crowd chanted “How you doin’.” Enzo said he would leave them laying in the ring like a couple of dumplings, with a pu pu platter in their pants. Cass then said their fortune cookie would say that they were sawft.

This was a basic ass Enzo and Cass match, with Enzo being dominated throughout most of the match, then finally making the tag to Cass, who “cleaned house.” Cass missed a splash in the corner and hit his head on the post, then Enzo tagged himself in. Gallows and Anderson dominated him again and went for the Magic Killer, but Cass came in and hit a big boot on Anderson while Enzo rolled up Gallows for the win.

Winners: Enzo and Big Cass

Backstage: The Hardy Boyz and The Golden Truth

The Hardys were backstage talking about strategies for their match tonight. Matt used his regular voice. Goldust and R-Truth came in and said they’re glad the Hardys are back in the tag division. Goldust said they talked to Kurt Angle and want to challenge the winner of tonight’s match. Matt accepted and said “absolutely, tremendous” in his “broken” voice.

Backstage Q&A: Cesaro and Sheamus

There's NO dissension between @WWESheamus and @WWECesaro as they are FOCUSED heading into their #RAW #TagTeamTitles Match at #WWEPayback! pic.twitter.com/zlx6nBTe8O

— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2017

Cesaro and Sheamus were backstage with Charly Caruso and answered fan questions from Twitter.

Kickoff Show
Miz TV with Finn Balor

The Miz and Maryse were in the ring and Miz introduced Finn Balor. The camera kept cutting away whenever Balor did his entrance pose thing… Annoying camera work… Miz said that was a five minute entrance and the crowd cheered. Miz was annoyed that they cheered a five minute entrance. Miz went through all of Balor’s previous accolades, then asked him if he feels like a failure after his first year in WWE. Balor said he was injured, but he was the first Universal champion. Miz said that he had the title for 24 hours and that is a failure. Balor said he would get his title back. Miz asked if he knew who the Universal champion is. Miz said that he doesn’t stand a chance against Lesnar. He said Balor is too small. Balor said that there are two clubs he can be a part of… the Balor Club (which he can’t be part of) and the “Finn Balor just kicked my ass club.” He got in Miz’s face, but Miz put Maryse in front of him. Balor said that he’s going to be the bigger man and Miz wasn’t worth it, then started to walk away, then Miz asked him where does he think he’s going. Balor then came back and took out Miz with a couple of moves.

WWE Payback

What goes around, comes around….
Tonight's #RAW-exclusive PPV all comes down to ONE word… PAYBACK! #WWEPayback @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/ifB1yBhkpS

— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2017

United States Championship
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho

Kevin Owens controlled the match early. Lots of rest holds… Jericho’s face kept turning red and purple every time Owens locked in a sleeper hold. Owens eventually went for a popup powerbomb, but Jericho reversed it and locked on the Walls of Jericho, but Owens grabbed the rope with one finger. Jericho then started stomping on Owens’ finger. He then lodged Owens’ hand on the steel steps and kicked them into his hand. Back in the ring, Owens poked Jericho’s eyes and went for a popup powerbomb again, but couldn’t do it because his hand was in pain. Jericho locked on the Walls of Jericho again. Owens tried to grab the ropes with his hurt hand again, but couldn’t reach. Jericho dragged him back to the middle of the ring and Owens tapped out. Jericho is the new champ and is moving to SmackDown… Pretty surprising.

Winner: Chris Jericho – New United States Champion

Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries

Neville controlled most of the match, but started gloating and Aries dropkicked him out of the ring. Aries then hit a flurry of offense. Aries removed his elbow pad and went for the discus five arm but Neville blocked it. Austin went to the top rope for a 450 splash, but Neville got up and met Aries on the ropes, but Aries hit a sunset flip powerbomb. Aries then locked on the Last Chancery submission but Neville grabbed the referee and he called a disqualification. This was a pretty good match and both guys were going at it pretty hard.

Winner by DQ: Austin Aries

Raw Tag Team Championship
The Hardy Boyz (c) vs. Cesaro and Sheamus

Brief “delete” chants at the start of the match and Matt reacted with his huge grin. Jeff was tagged in and the crowd chanted “Brother Nero.” Cesaro and Sheamus beat down Jeff Hardy for a while. Jeff Hardy may have literally lost a tooth in this match after a kick to the face by Sheamus… Matt was eventually tagged in and came in and took control of Cesaro, then nailed him with a Side Effect. Did a few “delete” motions. Matt went for a moonsault, but missed. Cesaro hit him with an uppercut and did the Cesaro swing on Matt. Spun him around about 20 times. Graves: “Matt Hardy’s gonna think he’s in a different universe when this is over.” Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick on Matt but missed. Jeff tagged in without Sheamus realizing it. Sheamus hit a powerslam on Matt and went for the pin, but Jeff was the legal man. Jeff hit a swanton on Sheamus as he was pinning Matt. 1, 2, 3.

Winners: The Hardy Boyz

After the match, there was a show of respect, with all four men shaking hands and holding up each other’s arms. The Hardys went to the corners to celebrate, but Sheamus and Cesaro attacked them, seemingly turning heel. Cesaro held Matt Hardy and Sheamus nailed him with a Brogue Kick. Matt was bleeding from his head. Cesaro and Sheamus held up the tag titles as the crowd booed. Seems like a possible start to Matt becoming “Broken” after getting a big kick to the head…

Backstage: Braun Strowman

Backstage, Braun Strowman said that Roman Reigns was a wounded animal and he will be hoping for Strowman to put him out of his misery tonight.

Raw Women’s Championship
Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss

Big hometown pop for Bayley from the San Jose crowd. Alexa controlled the match early, using heel tactics like pulling on Bayley’s hair. Alexa kept taunting Bayley, turning her back on her, allowing Bayley to regain control with a flurry of offense. Bayley hit a middle rope elbow then went for a Bayley to Belly, but Alexa countered and threw her into the turnbuckle. Alexa went to the top rope, but Bayley met her and went for a Bayley to Belly, but Alexa hit a middle rope sunset flip powerbomb. Alexa went for her backflip knee move but missed and Bayley hit her with a running knee to the head. Top rope elbow drop by Bayley but Alexa kicked out. Bayley went for a pin later but Alexa kicked out and sent Bayley’s head into the ring post. Alexa then hit a DDT for the win and Bayley lost in her hometown, of course. lol…

Winner: Alexa Bliss – New Raw Women’s Champion

House of Horrors Match Part 1
Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

This match is not for the WWE Championship. They cut away to a limo driving down a dark road. Randy Orton was in the back seat, wearing pants and no shirt. The limo pulled up to a “scary” looking house and Orton got out, stared at the house and said “what the hell…?” A tractor rolled by with no one driving it. Orton looked through the window of the house and saw Wyatt inside, staring at him. Orton kicked down the spider web laced door and entered. A voice over said “run.” Wyatt came from behind and attacked Orton and they fought in the living room of a dimly-lit house. They then went to a room with a bunch of “creepy” dolls hanging from the ceiling. Bray then disappeared and Orton went looking for him. There was some “scary” room lit with red lights… then they went to the kitchen, which was just a regular kitchen. There were some pots and stuff in the sink. Bray re-appeared and hit Orton with a low blow kick. He then pushed the refrigerator down on top of Orton. Wyatt then walked out of the house and screamed, “Follow the buzzards.” The house was then illuminated with a red light. Wyatt got into the limo and said, “Driver, take me to the arena” and it drove off as he sang, “He’s got the whole world in his hands”… They then cut away to the commentator table and Cole said they could only win the match in the arena and they would keep us updated. OK…

Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe

House of Horrors segment seems to have killed the crowd… Samoa Joe controlled the match early, focusing on Rollins’ knee. Rollins finally gained control, hitting a Falcon Arrow on Joe, then a frog splash, but Rollins’ knee was still hurt. Joe eventually locked in the Coquina Clutch, but Rollins reversed and rolled up Joe for the pin.

Winner: Seth Rollins

House of Horrors Match Part 2
Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

Even #TheViper can be snuck up on, as @RandyOrton's adversary @JinderMahal makes his presence known at #WWEPayback! @WWEBrayWyatt pic.twitter.com/dAkRhc6kMx

— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2017

Bray Wyatt’s limo pulled up into the arena and he hobbled out. His music hit and he made his way to the ring. As soon as the lights turned back on, Randy Orton appeared in the ring from behind Wyatt… No explanation was given for how he got there. They wrestled on the outside, with Orton hitting Wyatt with a DDT onto the floor. Orton rolled him into the ring and prepared for the RKO when the Singh Brothers (Bollywood Boyz) ran in and attacked Orton. Orton took care of them then hit Wyatt with an RKO. Jinder Mahal then ran out and nailed Orton with the stolen WWE Championship. Bray Wyatt then hit the Sister Abigail for the win.

Winner: Bray Wyatt

Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman

Roman Reigns had his shoulder and chest bandaged up. Reigns attacked Strowman before the bell rang to get an early advantage, but Strowman grabbed him by the throat on the outside and threw him into the ringside barricade, then chokeslammed him onto the announce table (didn’t break). Crowd was heavily behind Strowman. Strowman pretty much dominated the match early but Roman eventually fought back, going for a superman punch, but Strowman grabbed him by the throat for a chokeslam. Reigns blocked it and hit Strowman with a Samoan drop, but Strowman kicked out. Strowman looked really tan tonight… Reigns hit a spear out of nowhere but Strowman kicked out. He went for another but Strowman hit him with a big boot, then picked him up for a powerslam but Reigns escaped and hit a Superman Punch. And another. He went for a third but Strowman locked a head and arm submission move on Reigns, then hit him with a powerslam. Very near fall. Strowman picked him up again like a ragdoll and hit another running powerslam. 1-2-3. Strowman with a clean win, but they kept playing up that Reigns was banged up and not 100%. Pretty good booking, giving Strowman the win but not making Reigns look weak.

Winner: Braun Strowman

After the match, Strowman grabbed the steel steps and set them up in the middle of the ring, then picked up Reigns and dropped him face first onto the steps. Crowd chanted “Thank you, Strowman.” Strowman then picked the steps up over his head and slammed them down onto Reigns’ ribs. Reigns was bleeding from his mouth and Cole said that Reigns may have suffered “internal injuries.” Strowman walked down the aisle and raised his arms victoriously. Officials helped Reigns down the aisle. A stretcher was brought out, but Reigns refused to get on, instead wanting to walk out under his own power as the show ended.

Technically after the show, on “Raw Talk,” they showed Roman Reigns walking backstage and officials trying to get him to get into an ambulance. Strowman then came running, screaming “I’m not finished with you,” but Reigns moved and Strowman crashed into a giant pile of boxes… Reigns then slammed the ambulance door into Strowman and Strowman disappeared and that was it.

Quick Match Results

– Kickoff Show: Enzo and Big Cass defeated Gallows and Anderson
– United States Championship: Chris Jericho defeated Kevin Owens (c)
– Cruiserweight Championship: Neville (c) defeated Austin Aries
– Raw Tag Team Championship: The Hardy Boyz (c) defeated Cesaro and Sheamus
– Raw Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss defeated Bayley (c)
– House of Horrors Match: Bray Wyatt defeated Randy Orton
– Seth Rollins defeated Samoa Joe
– Braun Strowman defeated Roman Reigns