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We are in Knoxville, Tennessee and your announcers are John ‘Happy Memorial Day’ Layfield, Michael ‘Volunteer’ Cole, and Jerry ‘Rocky Top’ Lawler.
Stephanie McMahon and Triple H make their way to the ring.
Stephanie start things off by welcoming everyone to a historic edition of Raw. She says that she feels good about tonight. Tonight is all about choices. First, Daniel Bryan has a choice. He can do the right thing and surrender the WWE World Championship. Daniel Bryan knows that it is the right thing to do. Daniel knows that he is the people’s champion. You cheer and chant for him. You want to see the WWE World Champion compete in the ring, night in and night out. Daniel Bryan cannot physically do it.
Stephanie says that they did not want to be right about this. Daniel’s heart and mind wants to be there, but his body is a B+. She knows that despite wanting to do the right thing. Daniel will do the right thing and he will personally surrender the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Hunter says that he doesn’t want to, but he cannot compete for you. Hopefully, Daniel will make the right choice.
It is an interesting thing. Every generation has performers who rise to the top and become superstars. Some burn out and become a flash in the pan like Daniel Bryan. There are those who become legends. They become legends because they stand the test of time. Year after year and generation after generation, they remain dominant because of their ability to adapt. Those who cannot, like Daniel Bryan, perish. Those who adapt, live in your hearts forever. That is Evolution.
On Sunday, at Payback, the Shield will find out in a No Holds Barred Elimination Match, that you cannot stop Evolution. There will be a contract signing in the ring. The Shield can adapt and not show up at Payback. They can go on to become legends some day. Or they can sign the contract and they can perish.
Stephanie says that there is an issue with Brad Maddox, so Stephanie asks for Brad to make his way to the ring.
Brad makes his way to the ring and Hunter points out the dilemma. During the Seth Rollins versus Batista match, no one was allowed at ringside unless they are there for an official capacity. Hunter points out that he was the ring announcer and Randy Orton was the time keeper.
Brad made a choice that was not best for business. Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns were ‘official’ guest commentators. Why did you do that Brad?
Brad says that he did not want them to do it. They forced him and he had no choice.
Stephanie says that she heard what happened and she heard that Brad felt like he did not have a choice. Stephanie says that they don’t have a choice.
Kane’s pyro goes off and he makes his way to the ring.
Brad goes down when he is hit by Triple H. Kane makes his way into the ring. Kane circles Brad while Stephanie tells Kane to teach him a lesson. Kane grabs Brad by the throat and then he gives Brad a choke slam. Kane gives Brad a tombstone piledriver for the cherry on top.
Stephanie says that she has something else to say to Brad. Brad is fired.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Bo Dallas gives us some words to live by in a video package. You have to BOLIEVE.
Before the match starts, Wade Barrett makes his way to the stage. He says that today is officially the first day of Summer. He is afraid he’s got some bad news. Summer is the time when you are going to dig out your swimsuits, but your stomachs will sag over the waistband. At Payback, Rob Van Dam will realize that his Indian Summer is over and Wade will still be the Intercontinental Champion.
Match Number One: Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) versus Rob Van Dam
Cesaro with a kick and punch followed by a belly-to-back suplex. Van Dam with a kick and body scissors roll up for a near fall. Cesaro has a kick blocked and Van Dam with a step over spin kick and Van Dam punches Cesaro. Cesaro with a dead lift side salto. Cesaro with a running European uppercut into the corner.
Cesaro with another European uppercut in the corner and Cesaro chokes Van Dam. Cesaro with an Irish whip but Van Dam with an elbow and springboard thurst kick. Van Dam clotheslines Cesaro over the top rope to the floor.
Van Dam goes to the apron and then he goes for a moonsault but Cesaro catches Van Dam and he drops Van Dam on the ringside barrier as we go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro gets a near fall. Cesaro gets another near fall. Cesaro with more near falls. Cesaro presses Van Dam over his head and he slams Rob before getting another near fall. Cesaro with a reverse chin lock. Cesaro with forearms and Rob fires back. Van Dam with a twisting drop kick and both men are down.
Van Dam gets a near fall. Van Dam with a clothesline followed by a thrust kick. Van Dam with Rolling Thunder for a near fall. Van Dam with a shoulder in the corner but Cesaro with an Irish whip. Van Dam with an elbow and then he connects with a senton for a near fall. Cesaro goes to the floor and Van Dam with a pescado onto Cesaro. Barrett gets up and Van Dam with a super kick to Barrett.
Van Dam does his thumbs deal before sending Cesaro back into the ring. Cesaro sends Van Dam into the turnbuckles but Rob blocks it and he kicks Cesaro in the head. Van Dam with a split legged moonsault for a near fall.
Cesaro misses a clothesline and Van Dam blocks a kick. Van Dam with a step over round kick and then Barrett distracts Van Dam to allow Cesaro to hit a German Suplex and get the three count.
Winner: Cesaro
After the match, Sheamus’ music plays and he comes to the ring and he gives Cesaro a Brogue Kick.
Sheamus shakes Cesaro’s hand and he leaves the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at Summer’s return to Raw last week.
Match Number Two: Eva Marie versus Summer Rae
Eva with a forearm to Summer followed by kicks. Summer sends Eva into the turnbuckles and then Summer kicks Eva. Summer gets a near fall. Summer slams Eva’s head into the mat a few times.
Fandango’s music plays and he comes out to the stage with Layla. Layla kisses Fandango and Fandango does not stop her.
Summer watches the action on the stage and Eva with a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Eva Marie
Randy Orton and Batista are in the office and Cody Rhodes and Goldust enter. He says that they are making an open challenge to anyone on the roster to a tag match.
Randy reminds Cody that he was the one who got Cody fired.
Cody reminds Orton that they beat the Shield to get their jobs back, while Evolution lost to The Shield. Cody calls Orton Triple H’s glorified lapdog from ten years ago.
Hunter enters and he says that if Cody and Goldust want a match, they can face Orton and Batista. Hunter asks Randy and Batista want a workout tonight.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Drew McIntyre (with Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Hornswoggle) versus El Torito (with Fernando and Diego)
Drew pushes Torito in the back. Tortio draws a metaphorical line in the center of the ring. Torito leaps across the line and shakes. Torito with a kick and then he goes for a springboard move but Drew catches him. Torito with an arm drag. Torito goes off the turnbuckles again and Drew catches him and Drew slams Torito.
Drew picks up Torito and he lands on his feet. Drew pushes Torito down and then he tosses Torito around the ring. Drew with a delayed vertical suplex and then Drew climbs onto the turnbuckles for a superplex but Fernando and Diego get on the apron and Torito gets to the mat. There is a skirmish on the apron and floor and then Torito bites Drew and Drew falls to the mat and Torito gets the three count.
Winner: El Torito
After the match, Hornswoggle attacks Torito and he tries to take off his mask. Hornswoggle goes for the other side and he pulls of Torito’s tail and whips him with it.
We go to commercial.
We are back . . . do you remember where you were when the most dastardly thing ever in the history of WWE happened? Torito lost his tail.
Torito is in the medical room and they are trying to put his tail back on.
Bray Wyatt’s blipvert plays and they make their way to the ring.
Bray start off by singing. Bray says never have those words been more true than they are now. He has the whole world in his hands. The world has come to lean on him because they know deep down, they know that he only wants the best for you. Sometimes what is best is not the easiest.
We all must make sacrifices. We do it every day. We go to work and break our backs so our children can be fed. We sulk while someone tells us who to be and how to act. All of that is pointless. The poison has already set in. The only way to cure the snakebite is with the anti-venom.
Bray asks if he is the snake or is he the cure. Bray says that he knows the role he must play in this world. He is the necessary evil. In the end, if you are his brother or sister, you will stand beside him. If you are his enemy, you will fall at his feet.
John Cena is enemy to us all. Don’t worry because at Payback, he will be the last man standing. Why should Cena be the only one punished in all of this corruption. To get to the king, you have to go through the pawns. Cena is the king . . . speaking of kings . . . Jerry Lawler. He wants to have a word with Jerry.
He tells Jerry he does not bite. Jerry refuses to enter the ring. Bray says that it is unfortunate. Bray sends Luke and Erick to get Jerry. Bray says that this can be easy or it can be difficult. He just wants to talk. Bray tells Michael and JBL not to move or try to be the hero.
John get up from the announce table and Harper hits John from behind. Rowan sends John to Harper who gives John a clothesline.
Erick and Luke escort Jerry into the ring and Erick sets up a chair for Jerry.
Bray asks if Jerry and John Cena are friends. He asks Jerry if he has helped John achieve many of his goals by feeding the people the nonsense about how great a man John Cena is. Never once did you question his morality. You have fed this poison and it has grown until it has grown out of control. He asks Jerry if he feels guilty.
Do you feel remorse for destroying millions of lives? How does it feel to be a liar? He asks Jerry if he thought he would get away with this. Bray says that he is sorry that it had to be him. This is the necessary evil that they have talked about. Luke and Erick hold Jerry while Bray looks at Jerry.
John Cena makes his way to the ring and he goes after Harper and Rowan with clotheslines. Harper attacks Cena from behind and then Rowan joins in with kicks and forearms. Bray holds Lawler while Rowan and Harper hold Cena. Bray says that he is going to hurt Cena and he will end him at Payback. He wants John to see his friend fall and he wants John to know that this is all his fault.
Bray sets up for Sister Abigail, but the Usos make their way to the ring and they take care of Harper and Rowan. Bray leaves as well.
Cena says that enough is enough. You have just crossed some serious lines. When you first got here, everyone was excited because he was different. He was intriguing and charismatic. When you speak, the people listen. Do you listen to yourself? You said that you were a God. Abraham Lincoln said that if you want to test a man, you give him power. Bray has been given power and he is sick. Because an innocent man doesn’t agree with you, you try to hurt him? That is evil.
Cena says that he believes in himself and in what he does. The family has to be stopped. Payback is not about winning or losing. It is about being the last man standing.
Bray has accused him of living a lie and he is now going after innocent people? He will bring Bray to justice at Payback. Justice may be blind, but Payback will be a bitch.
The medical staff checks on John Layfield while the Wyatts go to the back.
We go to commercial.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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