Welcome to San Jose, Let’s Find Out Whose Yard It Is – Payback Recap and Reactions

Live from San Jose, California, Payback is the first PPV event from the city in a decade.

Payback Kick-Off Show

• Sam Roberts was indeed on hand for the kick-off panel.  I love that little guy.
• Enzo and Cass def. Gallows and Anderson via pinfall.
• Miz did not get hit with a finishing move, but Balor did get him with the running double leg drop kick into the corner.
• Renee Young looked like Beetlejuice.  Seriously.

Payback 2017 – Raw Exclusive* PPV

*Being the first PPV post the Superstar Shake-up, they’ve got to clear some things up so it isn’t entirely exclusive.

• Chris Jericho def. Kevin Owens via submission to become the new United States Champion.
• Austin Aries def. Neville via DQ.  Neville retains.  Aries had the Last Chancery locked in and was about to get the tap out, but Neville being the opportunist that he is, grabbed ahold of the referee and threw him to the ground, drawing the disqualification.
• Matt and Jeff Hardy def. Sheamus and Cesaro via pinfall to retain the Tag Team Championship.  Jeff Hardy lost a tooth during the match, but won the match when Sheamus didn’t see a blind tag and went for the cover on Matt, eating a two person Swanton Bomb and the pin.  After the usual show of respect between the teams, Cesaro and Sheamus proceeded to come back and beat the Hardyz down during their celebration.  I hope Sheamus knows what he’s done, as that Brogue Kick just broke the recently repaired Matt Hardy.  He must now be deleted.
• Alexa Bliss def. Bayley via pinfall to become the new Raw Women’s Champion.  Bayley took what looked like a bad shot to the head on the ringpost and may have been out, the pinfall came pretty quickly after that, following it up after a DDT.  Alexa Bliss is so freaking good at the character she plays during a match.  I’m so glad that the company recognized that and have pushed her like crazy.  She’s just fantastic.
• House of Horrors match……yeah.  It was what it was.  It was some sort of hybrid between a horrible understanding of both season one of True Detective and Resident Evil 7.  Randy Orton is left to die underneath a Kenmore refrigerator, Bray Wyatt steals his limo and heads to the arena.
• Seth Rollins def. Samoa Joe via pinfall on a roll-up.  The “injured knee” of Rollins bit is getting old as hell.  He’s fine.  Just let the man wrestle without your only go to idea being for his opponent to focus on his “injury” when it doesn’t exist.
• House of Horrors continues….Well, Wyatt made his way to the arena, to a roar of boos because that match was awful.  As the lights came back on from his entrance, Orton was behind him in the ring with a steel chair.  Jinder Mahal and the Bollywood Boyz show up to demolish Randy Orton though, leading to a Sister Abigail from Wyatt for the victory.  The entirety of this was absolutely awful.
• Braun Strowman def. Roman Reigns via pinfall following a pair of powerslams.  At Great Balls of Fire, I will most definitely be chanting “Strowman City”.  F- Lesnar.  Post match, Strowman mauled Roman with the ring steps, Roman was spitting up massive amounts of blood.  I’d imagine he’s going to take a little time off.  Not only did the “Thank you Strowman” chants start up as Roman was spitting up the blood, he also hobbled out to the “You Deserve It” chant.  That one is just a little too much for me.  I’m not ok with that.  You’re on the shit list, San Jose.  That’s not even ok.