We go back to RAW this past Monday, starting with Gallows and Anderson beating up the Usos after their match before Roman Reigns gets involved. Later, they explain to AJ that they’re not here to jeopardize his title opportunity, they just wanna make it a fair fight. Then, after Reigns’ match with Del Rio, Gallows and Anderson get involved only for AJ to try to stop them. He takes a Superman Punch from Reigns for his troubles, but responds with a Phenomenal Forearm! With that, the Smackdown intro takes us to a packed crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire for another exciting episode of Smackdown! Roman Reigns’ music hits, and the crowd erupts in a mixture of boos and cheers as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring. Commentary hypes the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at Payback, when Roman Reigns defends the title against AJ Styles, and Reigns has a mic in hand saying this past Monday night on RAW, he Superman Punched AJ Styles right in the mouth and he’s gonna do it again at Payback. I’ll tell you why I did it: the past couple of weeks AJ has been saying his friends aren’t trying to help him out, and I don’t believe it. I know he’s been all around the world, I know those are his friends, and I know about their history and y’all do too. So AJ, come on out here and tell the truth!
The Intercontinental Champion known as The Miz and his wife Maryse make their way to the ring, as Roman looks on unenthused. Miz has a mic in hand as well, saying Roman couldn’t have thought AJ was coming out here. Miz introduces his wonderful wife Maryse before continuing, saying he was the first to expose the truth about Gallows and Anderson. He compares the situation to the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, calling Reigns the Warden saying he’ll be staring at a hole in the wall, his life falling apart while AJ Styles becomes the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and Miz deserves a little credit for the truth! Maryse gives Miz a kiss, but Reigns responds with a right hand that sends Miz rolling out of the ring! Maryse leaves the ring to check on his man as Reigns hands her the Intercontinental Championship, saying it was nice to meet you. Reigns lifts his title to a slightly more cheer-heavy response from the crowd as commentary hypes the return of the Ambrose Asylum later tonight with Charlotte and Natalya, as well as a six man tag match between League of Nations and three mystery opponents…and that match is up next!
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Back from commercial, commentary hypes a match between Roman Reigns and The Miz for later tonight. Backstage, Renee Young is with the League of Nations, saying they seem stronger than ever after excommunicating Wade Barrett. Sheamus agrees, saying at Wrestlemania they proved no three men could beat them…just ask the New Day. Del Rio says that with the weak link out, all the links are strong and better than ever. Rusev says they’re the League of Nations, but you’d might as well call them the United Nations! They walk off as we go back to ringside, where the League of Nations make their way to the ring for the opening match of the night. We wait to see who answers the challenge…first out is the United States Champion, Kalisto! Next out is Sami Zayn, followed by Cesaro! The crowd is hyped as this match gets underway!
Six Man Tag Team MatchLeague of Nations vs. Kalisto, Sami Zayn and Cesaro
Match starts with Kalisto and Sheamus, as the Lucha Dragon hits some hard kicks early on only to be taken down hard by Sheamus, as ADR and Rusev reach for the blind tag. Rusev gets it, kicking Kalisto hard as ADR tags himself in. ADR with a snap suplex and a kick to the leg of Kalisto as Sheamus tags in now, getting a few punches in before Rusev tags in. Rusev lays into Kalisto with a kick, a body slam, and a big elbow to the face for a nearfall. Rusev drags Kalisto by the arm before locking him into a bearhug, looking to squeeze the life out of the United States Champion. Kalisto fights out of it, but Rusev hits him with a knee. Kalisto evades further attack to tag in Zayn, who unloads on Rusev with some forearms before getting distracted by Sheamus, allowing Rusev to hit a superkick for a nearfall as we go to commercial.
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Back from commercial, Sheamus is in control with a legdrop for a nearfall as ADR tags in. ADR with a hard kick to the midsection and mounted punches followed by a DDT for a nearfall. ADR locks in a sleeper hold, but Zayn powers out quickly only to take a Backstabber by ADR! ADR poses before Rusev tags himself in, causing a bit of shoving between Rusev and ADR as Sheamus runs the other opponents off the apron. ADR and Rusev are still arguing as Sheamus gets involved, before ADR leaves the ring and walks up the ramp to the back. Rusev is shouting at Sheamus before making the tag, as Sheamus looks to drop a fist on Zayn…who evades, and Rusev gets dropped instead! Zayn rolls out of the ring as Rusev and Sheamus begin arguing now, and Rusev is now leaving the ring and heading to the back. Sheamus is now all alone as Zayn gets the tag to Kalisto, who unleashes a flurry of offense on the Celtic Warrior before tagging in Cesaro. Cesaro gets a European Uppercut on Sheamus on the outside before bringing him back in. He hits a big crossbody for a nearfall, and proceeds to unload a series of European Uppercuts before landing a beautiful dropkick! Cesaro looking for the giant swing, but Sheamus gets out of the ring before it happens and proceeds to walk up the ramp as the ref counts the League out!
Winners via count-out: Kalisto, Sami Zayn and Cesaro
The three men celebrate in the ring as commentary hypes the Ambrose Asylum with Charlotte and Natalya set for later tonight before we go to commercial.
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Back from commercial, the League of Nations is arguing backstage before it turns into a fight. Sheamus has the final word, saying the League is finished! Commentary hypes the rivalry between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, leading into a video package highlighting the feud that comes to a head at Payback. Commentary hypes the big match between them at Payback, before Baron Corbin makes his way to the ring, looking over his shoulder as he does after the attack by Dolph Ziggler on RAW as we go to commercial.
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Back from commercial, Damien Sandow is already in the ring as we go back to RAW when Ziggler attacked Corbin before his match against Sandow. Back at ringside, this match is underway!
Baron Corbin vs. Damien Sandow
Baron starts things off by brutally beating up Sandow, bringing him out of the ring to continue the attack as the ref is making the count. Corbin brings Sandow back into the ring, continuing the assault by grinding his boot into the head of Sandow. Sandow makes a brief comeback, but Corbin hangs him up on the top rope before catapulting him into the bottom rope! He follows up with the End of Days for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Baron Corbin
The ref raises Corbin’s hand in victory as we get a replay of the match including the finish. Baron stands tall, looking down at Sandow before we head backstage, where Renee Young talks to AJ Styles who says he doesn’t care what Roman thinks. I think I’ll take the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from him at Payback, and he won’t call me a liar…he’ll call me champion! Renee points out that Roman called him out earlier, but AJ says he’ll step on his cape when he wants to…which will be later, because he’ll be out there for his match! AJ walks off as commentary hypes the Ambrose Asylum with Charlotte and Natalya, up next!
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Ambrose Asylum w/ Special Guests: Charlotte and Natalya
Dean Ambrose makes his way out to the ring as we go back to Monday night, where Jericho and Ambrose came to blows before Jericho locked Ambrose into the Walls of Jericho on the announce table. Ambrose says before we get to my part-time job as host of the Ambrose Asylum, let’s talk about my full-time job. He talks about what happened at RAW, and that Jericho made a mistake by letting go of the hold, because he doesn’t let go. Ambrose promises that Jericho is gonna look at the guy that will turn Bon Jovi into Meatloaf. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to change hats because I’m a multi-faceted individual. After a brief moment, he welcomes us to the Ambrose Asylum before introducing his first guest, Natalya! Commentary hypes the Women’s Championship match at Payback as Natalya makes her way to the ring. Ambrose welcomes Natalya to the Ambrose Asylum, talking about what happened on RAW three weeks ago when Ric Flair drew a disqualification for Charlotte to retain the title. Ambrose says that we all saw what happened, Charlotte was tapping out like there was no tomorrow but her father Ric Flair was lurking around ringside to run the interference. Ambrose asks how things will be different at Payback, to which Natalya responds that someone will be in her corner, too: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, The Best There Ever Will Be…Bret “The Hitman” Hart! Charlotte’s music hits as the Women’s Champion makes her way to the ring accompanied by Ric Flair. Ambrose says things are heating up, before introducing his other guest Charlotte, and as always, flanked by her father…sixteen time world champion and the Dirtiest Player in the Game, Ric Flair! Ambrose repeats what Natalya said about having Bret Hart in her corner. Charlotte says she can’t believe Natalya would parade her uncle around after everything he’s been through, but Natalya says she needs to look in the mirror and see who’s standing behind her. Charlotte says that’s different, because her father is a two time Hall of Famer, a sixteen time world champion, and her coach. Natalya says he is also a lying, screaming, creepy old man who knows that he has to cheat to help her daughter win because she’s not good enough to do it on her own. And if her father tries to do anything underhanded at Payback, Bret will be there to stop him, and Charlotte will tap again. Ric Flair laughs at the idea, reminding us all that he beat Bret in WWE and in WCW, and if Vince could send them to the moon he’d beat him on the moon! Natalya tells Ric to settle his tea kettle, before telling Charlotte that it’s time for a new era and to give the WWE Universe a Women’s Champion they deserve! The two women stare each other down as commentary hypes up the Champion VS Champion match as Roman Reigns takes on The Miz later tonight!
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The New Day makes their way to the ring, forcing the commentary out of the way as they apparently are taking over the headsets for this next match as Social Outcasts are already in the ring when Enzo and Cass make their way to the ring. Mic in hand, Enzo reminds us that he is Enzo Amore, a certified G and a bonafide stud, and you can’t teach that! This right here is Big Cass, and he’s seven feet tall, and you can’t teach that! Bada boom, realest guys in the room! How you doin’? We hear New Day dispute that as Enzo and Cass enter the ring, Enzo promising the Social Outcasts that Big Cass and Muscles Marinara are about to go upside your heads with the sauce! You’re looking at the next number one contenders, how you doin’? With that, the match is underway!
Tag Team MatchSocial Outcasts (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel) vs. Enzo Azmore and Colin Cassady
Bo and Enzo start things off as they lock up, and Bo hits an arm drag that he is particularly proud of as we see Byron at ringside sitting on the floor beside the announce table. Enzo responds with a crossbody and a running…tag to Cass, who lays into Bo before tagging Enzo back in. Heath Slater with a distraction on the apron, but it’s not enough for Bo Dallas not to take a dropkick from Enzo as Curtis tags in. Axel taunts the crowd as the Vaudevillains come out to the stage. Tag to Bo, who charges at Enzo who gets out of the way as Bo runs into the steel post! Enzo gets the hot tag to Cass as Bo tags in Curtis, and Cass unloads on Bo and Curtis before hitting a big elbow drop. Splash in the corner now before he drops Slater off the apron and hits a big side slam on Axel. Cass tags Enzo in, and they hit the Rocket Launcher for the win!
Winners via pinfall: Enzo Amozre and Colin Cassady
We get highlights of the match, before Cass gets a mic to let the Vaudevillains that on Sunday at Payback, there is only ONE WORD to describe them and he’s gonna spell it out for ya: S-A-W-F-T…SAWWWWWWFT! The New Day approves from commentary, before we go backstage where Goldust wants to talk to R-Truth (holding a tree branch with a phone on it) about the Golden Truth. He realizes that when they danced last week, it felt so right…righter the Righteous Brothers, taking a right hand turn right! Truth says he was right, and he wants nothing more than for him to be happy…so he got himself a tag team partner, T-Breeze! They even have a team name: The Gorgeous Truth! We’re better off as friends, Goldust. He and “T-Breeze” walk off before Fandango approaches, looking for another dance but Goldust has a headache as we go back to ringside, where Apollo Crews makes his way to the ring for a rematch against Stardust up next!
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Back from commercial, we get a look at the nightlife of Puerto Rico before the Colons tell us to come to Puerto Rico, the shining star of the Caribbean! Speaking of stars, Stardust is in the ring now before this match is underway!
Apollo Crews vs. Stardust
Crews takes Stardust down immediately, but Stardust brings him outside to get some attack in. Crews stops him and they get back in the ring, where Stardust is laying into Crews with some stomps to wear the NXT standout down. Stardust with a single leg takedown on Crews, before locking a leglock that Crews counters. They exchange forearms, before Crews brings Stardust down hard. Crews hits the pumphandle slam for a nearfall, favoring the knee before Stardust hits a dropkick to the leg. Crews blocks another single leg to hit an enziguri, before hitting the spinning sitout powerbomb for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Apollo Crews
Crews is still favoring his knee as the ref raises his hand in victory, and we get a replay of the finish. Up next, we’re going to look at the power struggle between Shane and Stephanie McMahon from RAW!
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Back from commercial, we thank Andy Black for “We Don’t Have To Dance,” the theme song for WWE Payback! Commentary takes us back to RAW, where Stephanie announces that at Payback, Vince McMahon will decide once and for all who is running Monday Night RAW! However, Shane says that on this night, it’s still my show! He has security escort Steph out of the arena. Commentary hypes the announcement planned for Payback, but back at ringside AJ Styles makes his way to the announce table for the main event up next!
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Back from commercial, AJ is sat by the announce table as The Miz is accompanied by Maryse for this huge main event! Commentary hypes the Intercontinental Championship match between The Miz and Cesaro at Payback before Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring. Reigns stares down AJ at ringside before this match gets underway!
Main Event – Champion VS. ChampionWWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Both men lock up and Reigns takes Miz to the corner, before Miz gets out of the ring. Miz teases coming back in, before hanging Reigns up on the second rope. Reigns hits Miz with a shoulder tackle, but Miz drops Reigns into the turnbuckle. Reigns sends Miz back out of the ring before hitting a drive-by dropkick on Miz on the apron! Reigns confronts AJ before Miz drives him into the announce table and then the steel post, bringing Reigns back into the ring for a nearfall as we go to commercial.
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Back from commercial, Miz is firmly in control with a sleeper hold as the Wold Heavyweight Champion begins to power out, hitting Miz hard before being brought into the corner by the Intercontinental Champion, who hits a hard clothesline and a double axe handle for the nearfall. Miz has Reigns up against the ropes before driving a boot to the head for another nearfall. Miz pulls Reigns into the middle of the ring by his hair, driving a knee into the back twice over and a boot to the face for a nearfall. Miz with some punches on Reigns now, locking a chinlock that Reigns quickly powers out of before Miz hits a knee and goes for a neckbreaker…but Reigns responds with a Samoan drop! Both men are down before slowly getting back up, and Reigns starts to get some momentum with a flurry of offense before hitting some clotheslines in the corner and a right hand that brings Miz down hard. Reigns looking for the Superman Punch, but Maryse pulls Miz out of the ring. Reigns comes out of the ring, and Miz dropkicks the steel steps into Reigns’ legs. Back in the ring, Miz gets a nearfall and looks for the Figure Four but Reigns kicks him off. Miz hits a DDT for a nearfall, and he’s looking frustrated as he goes for the Skull Crushing Finale…but Reigns hits a back elbow and the spear for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Roman Reigns
Reigns stares down AJ at ringside as the ref raises his hand, and AJ comes into the ring now to stare down the champion. Roman turns around to see Gallows and Anderson coming down the ramp, and the champ leaves the ring to deal with them but to no avail as Gallows and Anderson beat him down outside the ring with AJ looking on. Anderson brings Reigns into the ring when the Usos run in to even the odds. AJ looking to stay out of it, but takes a superkick from Jey before Gallows takes him out of the ring. AJ confronts Gallows, who pushes AJ out of the way to take a spear from Roman Reigns! AJ looking for the Styles Clash on the champ, but Roman gets out of it. AJ looks for a Phenomenal Forearm, but narrowly avoids a Superman Punch to head to the outside. AJ talks down the champ, promising he’s going to win the belt come Sunday as the show comes to a close.
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