Payback 2017: Thank You Strowman! And Reigns. Rollins Too. Throw in Joe. Maybe Jericho?
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2017
Date: April 30, 2017
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Booker T., Corey Graves
Kickoff Show: Enzo Amore/Big Cass vs. Anderson and Gallows
Back with Anderson breaking up a hot tag attempt at the last minute, only to have the second attempt work a few seconds later. Cass starts cleaning house with the corner splashes, only to have Enzo make a blind tag. Gallows pulls him off the apron a second later for a big crash but Cass breaks up the Magic Killer. A small package finishes Gallows at 6:39.
US Title: Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens
Cruiserweight Title: Neville vs. Austin Aries
Tag Team Titles: Sheamus/Cesaro vs. Hardys
Braun Strowman promises to hurt Roman Reigns.
Bayley is defending in her hometown. Bliss gets slammed to start and a knee drop gets two, followed by a long series of rams into the buckle. Alexa comes right back with a HARD shot to the head and the slow beating begins. As is normally the case, Alexa beats on Bayley and looks extra annoyed while doing so. She gets so much mileage out of her facial expressions. The chinlock is quickly broken so Bliss clotheslines her back down. Bliss spends a bit too much time trash talking though and gets caught in a Stunner over the ropes.
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe
A backsplash onto the knee has Rollins screaming and his comeback is cut off almost immediately. The Knee Capper sets up the kneebar until Seth scrambles to the ropes. Joe grabs a powerbomb into a half crab into the Texas Cloverleaf but Joe is at the ropes again. Seth comes back with a Sling Blade, followed by a superkick to the neck for two of his own.
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Post match Strowman throws in some steps (Fans: “THANK YOU STROWMAN!”) and drops Reigns ribs first onto the steel in a big crash. Braun lifts the steps over his head and brings them crashing down onto his ribs in a cringe inducing landing. Strowman is as over as free beer in a frat house and Reigns is bleeding from the mouth (Fans: “YOU DESERVE IT!”) to end the show.
Overall Rating: B-. The really low expectations helped this a lot, as did having Jericho win and not having the House of Horrors match be a disaster. The ending was really good and Joe vs. Rollins was quite the match as well. Raw is looking strong, or at least it would if there was anything for these guys to be fighting over. Good show here, though I still wonder how long they can stretch things out with Lesnar not likely wrestling until July.
Results
Chris Jericho b. Kevin Owens – Walls of Jericho
Austin Aries b. Neville via DQ when Neville grabbed the referee
Hardys b. Sheamus/Cesaro – Swanton Bomb to Sheamus
Alexa Bliss b. Bayley – DDT
Seth Rollins b. Samoa Joe – Cradle
Bray Wyatt b. Randy Orton – Sister Abigail
Braun Strowman b. Roman Reigns – Powerslam
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