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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing WWE Payback PPV coverage!
WWE Payback Kickoff Show
We opened up Renee Young welcoming everyone to the show. The panel is Corey Graves, Byron Saxton and Booker T. Booker plugged he has a "G.I. Bro" comic book coming out soon.
They ran down the card for the show. They discussed what Kane might do tonight. Booker and Corey predicted Kane would be on Rollins' side while Byron Saxton was non-commital.
Eden interviewed Dolph Ziggler backstage regarding his match against Sheamus. Ziggler promised he would end things against him tonight.
They invited fans to Tweet questions for Sheamus to answer.
They aired a video feature on John Cena vs. Rusev, followed by discussion on the panel.
They then discussed the Daniel Bryan situation and how he had relinquished the Intecontinental championship. They officially announced The Elimination Chamber main event will be for the vacant IC title.
Eden interviewed The Bellas. Brie Bella said that the Daniel Bryan has been really tough to deal with but he's a warrior and has more heart than anyone she knows. She thanked the fans for their support. She acted as if she was going to lose it. Nikki said they were real family and after tonight, Naomi will be out of excuses.
Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and JBL at ringside welcomed everyone and we went to an extra match.
R-Truth vs. Stardust
The Baltimore crowd chanted "Cody" to mock Stardust. Stardust slapped Truth, who responded in kind. Truth unloaded with a series of armdrags. Stardust went to the apron, where Truth tried to suplex him back into the ring. Stardust reversed it and dropped him across the buckles, sending him to the floor.
Stardust regained control in the ring and beat Truth into the buckles several times. Truth held onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick and scored a two count. Truth cinched in a cravate, but Truth escaped and nailed a face-foward suplex (747, shades of the One Man Gang.)
Stardust continued the assault, using the cravate to work over Truth. Truth battled out and slammed him into the buckles. Stardust nailed a side slam for a two count. Stardust removed his glove and slapped Truth several times. Wouldn't that be a DQ? Truth made a comeback and nailed a leaping DDT variation for the pin.
Your winner, R-Truth!
The live crowd seemed into it, but it was just there for me and probably a little too long. OK, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The live crowd seemed into it, but it was just there for me and probably a little too long. OK, but nothing out of the ordinary.
They aired a feature on Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt.
They went to the Sheamus Twitter questions. He was asked why he did what he did to his hair. He was pissed about the question and said it's a representation of who he is now. He as asked about his dream tag team partner. He said tag teams are great but he only needs one person, himself. If he wasn't in WWE, what would his job be? He said that was garbage and demanded another question. It was whether he was afraid he would lose to Dolph Ziggler again. Sheamus sort of menaced Tom Phillips and asked whether he looked afraid. He said last time, he had a little too much fun and Ziggler capitalized.
The Ascension vs. Damien Sandow & Curtis Axel as The Mega-Powers
The Mega-Powers came out to "Real American." Axel ripped off his shirt and was attacked by Konnor. He immediately hulked up and hit the big boot and elbow for a two count but Viktor broke it up.
The Ascension worked over Axel. Sandow made the hot tag and did all the Savage trademark spots. Konnor went over the top after Axel pulled the ropes down. Sandow teased the elbow after slamming Viktor but Konnor knocked him off the top. The Ascension hit the Fall of Man and scored the pin on Sandow.
Your winners, The Ascension.
It was what it was.
They aired a video feature on the WWE World Heavyweight championship bout. The panel discussed the title bout as they went off the air.
Really, nothing to see on the Kickoff show this time around.
WWE Payback PPV
Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler went right after Sheamus with a lot of fire early, nailing a big dropkick and a clothesline that sent Sheamus over the top to the floor. Sheamus teased that he hurt his knee as Ziggler hit a clothesline off the apron. Ziggler tossed him back into the ring and nailed a crossbody off the top for a two count. Ziggler got a bunch of near falls until Sheamus drilled him in the face. Nice opening sequence.
Sheamus began working on Ziggler, focusing on his knee. Ziggler was sent to the floor. Sheamus stomped the heck out of him. Sheamus worked over Ziggler, including a tilt-o-whirl backbreaker .
Ziggler finally mounted some offense after ducking a charge in the corner, causing Sheamus to nail his shoulder on the ringpost. Ziggler nailed a series of forearms, taking him down. Ziggler followed up with a dropkick to the mid-section in the corner and unloaded with a series of rights. Zigger scored with a DDT for a two count.
Ziggler unloaded on Sheamus, who was down in the corner. Ziggler shoved his bare ass in Sheamus' face as revenge. That enraged Sheamus who snapped him on the ropes. He went for the Brogue Kick but Ziggler ducked and nailed the Famouser for a CLOSE two count. I thought it was the finish, it was that good.
Ziggler worked over Sheamus with a series of rights in the corner but was caught with a sit down slam for a two count. Sheamus nailed a running powerslam for a two count. Sheamus nailed White Noise and locked on the Texas Cloverleaf. Ziggler fought his way to the ropes to escape.
Sheamus nailed several rights but Ziggler caught him with a big headbutt and a superkick for another two count. There was blood immediately after the headbutt, so Ziggler busted himself open hardway. The cameras tried to avoid it and the announcers never called it. Sheamus nailed Dolph and scored with the Brogue Kick, gaining the three count.
Your winner, Sheamus!
Very good opener. Really good stuff here. This pretty much sets the stage for Sheamus as IC champion if WWE does indeed go in that direction.
Kane was speaking to someone on the phone when Seth Rollins showed up trying to clear the air and agree to get along. They each reviewed what the other has done to the other since Wrestlemania. Kane said he doesn't need his job so he doesn't need to make sure Rollins retains tonight. Kane said he doesn't know what he's going to do tonight but promises Rollins he will be the first to know when he makes a decision. Rollins warned Kane that if he does anything to Rollins, losing his job will be the least of his concerns. J&J Security tried to menace Kane which looked completely ridiculous. Kane laughed at that.
Coverage continues on Page 2!
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