Power, glory, fame and fortune. These are many of the causes, many of the desires of those who fight. Plenty of people fight for others, selfless in their virtue and humble in defeat. Plenty fight for themselves, hoping only for the immeasurable riches at the end of the journey. Tonight, these men and women fight for something different. You can call it revenge, vengeance, retribution. Here on Raw, we call it....Payback.
And now, Raw presents.......................................Payback!!!
Universe Mode
Payback
April 30th, 2017
Location: San Jose, CA
Official Payback Theme Song- "Enemies"- Shinedown
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Rusev
This was a big match to start off Payback, as the King of Strong Style looked for revenge. The power of Rusev was crucial to the match, as was the presence of Lana at ringside. Multiple times, Nakamura built momentum, and the Ravishing Russian interfered to help her husband. A miss on the Kinshasa gave Rusev an opening, and the Bulgarian Brute connected with a Machka Kick. Shinsuke was out, but Rusev wasn't finished, delivering an earth-shattering powerbomb, right to the injured back, to get the pinfall.
Winner: Rusev
American Alpha(c) vs New Day- Raw Tag Team Championship Match
You could tell that this was more than a normal tag team encounter, as these fan favorites went at each other. There was plenty of near falls, as both champions and challengers desperately wanted this win. The major story throughout the match was Gable and Jordan's willingness to break the rules to stay in control. Although Big E and Kofi fought their heart out, they didn't have that winning edge, and it showed. It was Gable who delivered a cheap shot to Big E on the apron, before planting Kingston with a back suplex to retain the titles, which this San Jose crowd was not in favor of.
Winners and still Raw Tag Team Champions: American Alpha
Asuka(c) vs Becky Lynch- Raw Women's Championship Match
As the Lass-Kicker made her way to the ring for this championship match, she was ambushed by Paige. The Anti-Diva, upset that Becky defeated her on Raw to earn this opportunity, laid out Lynch with a steel chair. Officials tended to the injured challenger, the match called off.
Asuka Promo
The Empress of Tomorrow made her way to the stage, clearly unhappy with this turn of events. She called out Paige for interfering in her business, before challenging her to a match right now, even putting her championship on the line!
Asuka(c) vs Paige- Raw Women's Championship Match
Paige did have the element of surprise in this impromptu championship match, as Asuka hadn't planned for her style. Quickly, though, the champion took back control, and Paige was in trouble. The Anti-Diva resorted to her cheap tactics, using an eye rake to set up a RamPaige. It might've been over then and there, but Becky Lynch, with officials trying to restrain her, made her way onto the stage. This distraction was the difference, as Paige walked right into the Asuka Lock and tapped out.
Winner and still Raw Women's Champion: Asuka
Chris Jericho(c) vs Kevin Owens- United States Championship Match
After a vicious brawl on Raw, you could tell that these two men were holding back a little early, resulting in a cagey start. It didn't take long for things to break down, as Kevin Owens used an exposed turnbuckle to take the advantage. For most of the rest of the match, it was the challenger who asked the questions, but Chris Jericho showed us the fight that we knew he had. He kicked out of a Pop-Up Powerbomb, then another, as he hung around like only he can. Owens was frustrated, having seen Y2J kick out time and time again, and began to get desperate. Desperate men make mistakes, and KO made a huge one, missing on a moonsault from the top. From the championship reserves, Jericho found a Codebreaker, and turned Owens' lights out.
Once more, it would be Chris Jericho who retained the United States Championship, but Owens wasn't going to let him walk out. He jumped Jericho after the bell, unleashing on the champion, before delivering a powerbomb to the ring apron. Chris Jericho may have retained, but he certainly didn't look like a winner.
Winner and still United States Champion: Chris Jericho
Samoa Joe(c) vs Seth Rollins- Universal Championship Match
This had all the feel of a big fight, and a fight is certainly what we got. Seth Rollins had that strength of character, refusing to back down and refusing to give up, forcing Samoa Joe onto his back foot. It was the challenger who had the champion on the ropes, as Rollins used his incredible offense to take Joe to depths we've never seen before. Seth delivered his new maneuver, the Gourdbuster GTS, early in the match, but the intelligence of the champion came into play as he found the bottom rope. The Samoan Submission Machine had plenty of offense of his own, as it was Rollins that was soon on the ropes. A crucial counter of the Coquina Clutch set up the Architect once more, as Seth connected again with the knee to the skull. This time, Joe powered out at two, and rallied in unbelievable fashion. Multiple strikes downed the challenger, who was then knocked senseless with a Muscle Buster. It seemed to be all over, until Braun Strowman arrived. The Monster Among Men didn't play favorites, taking out both men, forcing the official to call the match. Strowman wasn't finished, striking terror with a brutal double chokeslam, standing tall as Payback came to a close.
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