411’s WWE Payback 2015 Report 05.17.15

Welcome to 411’s WWE Payback 2015 Report. For even more coverage, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @ScottSlimmer.

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Kickoff Show Match
R-Truth vs. Stardust

Truth slaps Stardust across the face to start. Truth ducks a punch and lands another slap to the face. Truth hits an arm drag takedown, but Stardust fights back with a back elbow shot. Stardust whips Truth to the ropes, but Truth connects with a back elbow shot of his own on the rebound. Stardust front suplexes Truth onto the top turnbuckle and then punts him down to the floor. Stardust drags Truth back into the ring and slams his face into the second turnbuckle. Truth fights back to his feet and lands a volley of punches to Stardust’s gut, but Stardust fights back with a volley of punches of his own. Stardust whips Truth to the ropes, but Truth gets a jackknife pin on the rebound for a two count. Truth follows up with a sit-out front suplex, but Stardust regains control with the Beautiful Disaster for a two count of his own. Stardust clotheslines Truth and locks in a seated European head lock. Truth fights back to his feet and slams Stardust’s face into the top turnbuckle. Stardust hits a side slam and gets another two count. Stardust removes his right glove and slaps Truth across the back. Stardust goes for a glove slap to the face, but Truth ducks and hits a spinning back heel kick. R-Truth follows up with the Lie Detector and gets the three count.

Match Result: R-Truth defeats Stardust with the Lie Detector.
Match Length: 6:40
Slimmer’s Rating: **

Kickoff Show Match
Curtis Axel & Macho Mandow vs. The Ascension

Axel and Konnor start the match. Axel tears the shirt, but Konnor answers with a kick to the gut. Axel hulks up and pounds on Konnor’s face. Axel whips Konnor to the ropes, lands the big boot, and hits the leg drop. Axel goes for the cover, but Viktor makes the save. Viktor gets the tag and locks in a rear chin lock. Axel fights back to his feet and hits a back suplex to break the hold. Axel dives to the corner and makes the hot tag to Mandow. Mandow hits the ropes and levels Viktor with a double ax handle to the face. Konnor rushes into the ring, but Mandow ducks a clothesline, and Axel low-bridges the top rope to send Konnor tumbling to the outside. Mandow scoop slams Viktor and heads up top, but Konnor pushes him off the top turnbuckle. Konnor gets the tag, and the Ascension hit the Fall of Man for the three count.

Match Result: Konnor defeats Macho Mandow after the Fall of Man.
Match Length: 2:57
Slimmer’s Rating: *½

Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus

Sheamus pie-faces Ziggler to start, but Ziggler muscles Sheamus to the corner and hits a back elbow shot. Ziggler shoves Sheamus to the outside and flies of the ring apron with an elbow shot to the head. Sheamus flees back into the ring, but Ziggler heads up top and connects with a flying crossbody. Sheamus finally slows the pace with a clothesline. Sheamus goes for a scoop slam, but Ziggler floats over and tries to counter into a super kick, but Sheamus catches the boot and drives his elbow into the top of Ziggler’s knee to hyper extend the knee. Ziggler rolls out of the ring in pain but eventually heads back in to beat the referee’s count. Ziggler immediately tries to roll back out of the ring, but Sheamus catches him and suplexes him over the top rope and back into the ring. Sheamus drags Ziggler down to the mat and locks in a rear chin lock. Sheamus rag dolls Ziggler, but Ziggler fights back to his feet and breaks the hold by stomping on Sheamus’ foot. Ziggler hits the ropes and charges at Sheamus, but Sheamus catches him in the Irish Curse backbreaker for a two count. Sheamus stomps on Ziggler’s back and drags him back down into a rear chin lock. Ziggler again fights back to his feet, and this time he breaks the hold with a jaw breaker. Sheamus charges Ziggler in the corner, but Ziggler side steps him, sending Sheamus shoulder-first into the ring post. Ziggler lands a right and goes to work with body shots. Ziggler hits three forearm shots and a running drop kick in the corner. Sheamus goes for a back suplex, but Ziggler flips over and counters into a leaping DDT for a two count. Ziggler hits a clothesline in the corner and follows up with knee shots to the face. Sheamus is down in the corner, so Ziggler hikes up his trunks and makes Sheamus kiss his arse. Sheamus tumbles to the outside and tries not to hurl. Sheamus charges back into the ring and goes for the Brogue Kick, but Ziggler ducks and hits the Fameasser for another two count. Ziggler hits a clothesline in the corner and goes to work with mounted punches, but Sheamus lifts Ziggler into a sit-out powerbomb for a two count of his own. Sheamus drags Ziggler to his feet and hits a running power slam for another two count. Sheamus again drags Ziggler to his feet and hits White Noise. Sheamus locks in the cloverleaf, but Ziggler muscles up and makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Sheamus slaps Ziggler across the face, but Ziggler counters with a head butt and hits a super kick for a looong two count. Ziggler busted himself wide open with the head butt, and he’s quickly wearing the crimson mask. Sheamus hits a low Brogue Kick and gets the three count. They may have gone to the finish early due to Ziggler’s injury.

Match Result: Sheamus defeats Dolph Ziggler with the Brogue Kick.
Match Length: 12:47
Slimmer’s Rating: **¾

2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship
The New Day (Champions) w/ Xavier Woods vs. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya

Kidd and Kingston start the match and Kidd quickly catches Kingston in a side head lock. Cesaro and Big E get the tags, and Cesaro scoop slams Big E to demonstrate his strength. Big E guerilla presses Cesaro and drops him face-first down to the mat. Big E holds Cesaro across the second rope, giving Woods the chance to cheap shot him from the outside. Kingston gets the tag, but Kingston chest stomps both Big E and Kingston. Cesaro lifts Kingston into a suplex, makes the tag to Kidd, waits for Kidd to head up top, and hits an assisted delayed vertical suplex. Kidd hits a low drop kick to Kingston during the Cesaro Swing, and that’s enough for the first three count at 3:00. Kidd dives to the outside to take out Big E, but Big E catches him in mid-air and hits a fallaway slam on the floor. Cesaro heads outside to check on Kidd, but Kidd eventually heads back into the ring. Kingston stomps on Kidd on the corner and makes the tag to Big E. Big E and Kingston trade rapid-fire tags while continually stomping on Kidd in the corner. Kingston gets the tag and chops Kidd’s chest. Kingston locks in a modified arm bar and makes the tag to Big E. Big E lifts Kidd into a big bear hug, but Kidd breaks the hold and kicks Big E in the chest. Kidd dives toward the corner to make the tag, but Big E catches him in mid-air and dumps him face-first to the mat. Cesaro tries to make the save, but Big E spears him out of the ring. Big E heads back into the ring and makes the tag to Kingston. Kingston heads up top and goes for a double ax-handle, but Kidd connects with a drop kick in mid-air. Kidd makes it to the corner, but Cesaro is still down and out on the outside. Big E gets the tag, lifts Kidd, tags Kingston, waits for Kingston to heads up top, and hits the Midnight Hour for a three count of their own at 9:30. The match is now ties 1-1. Kidd FINALLY gets the hot tag to Cesaro, and Cesaro goes crazy with European uppercuts to Kingston. Cesaro guerilla presses Kingston onto Big E and follows up with a running European uppercut for a two count. Kidd gets the blind tag and hits a springboard elbow drop off a backbreaker for a looong two count. Kidd locks in the Sharpshooter, but Kingston makes it to the ropes. Cesaro whips Big E over the announce table to prevent interference. Cesaro gets the tag, and Kidd launches Kingston into another European uppercut. Cesaro goes for the cover, but Big E makes the save. The referee gets distracted while trying to get Big E out of the ring, and that gives Xavier Woods the chance to sneak into the ring and roll up Cesaro for a three count. The referee didn’t see Woods sneak into the ring and clearly thought that he was the legal man, Kingston.

Match Result: The New Day defeat Cesaro & Kidd 2-1.
Match Length: 13:10
Slimmer’s Rating: ***¾

Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt

Ryback starts the match quickly and lands a volley of punches. Ryback ducks a clothesline and hits a Thesz press. Wyatt scampers out of the ring, but Ryback follows and whips him into the barrier. Ryback rolls Wyatt back into the ring and drives him into the corner. Wyatt hits the ropes and connects with a running back elbow shot to finally take control. Wyatt chokes Ryback across the second rope, drags him to the middle of the ring, and locks in a rear chin lock. Ryback breaks the hold and charges at Wyatt, but Wyatt side steps him, causing Ryback to slam shoulder-first into the ring post. Wyatt drags Ryback onto the ring apron and DDTs him right on the apron. Wyatt hits a senton off the ring apron onto Ryback on the floor. Ryback is really selling the rib damage from the senton. Wyatt rolls back into the ring, and Ryback just barely makes it back in before the count of ten. Wyatt splashes Ryback in the corner and goes for mounted punches, but Ryback lifts Wyatt into a powerbomb. Wyatt charges Ryback but eats a power slam. Wyatt rolls out of the ring, but Ryback gives chase. Ryback charges Wyatt, but Wyatt catches him with a stiff clothesline. Wyatt rolls Ryback back into the ring and suplexes him halfway across the ring. Ryback catches Wyatt with a splash in the corner and follows up with a spinebuster for a two count. Ryback sets up for Shell Shocked, but Wyatt muscles him to the corner and takes him up top. Ryback head butts Wyatt back down to the mat, and RYBACK HITS A TOP ROPE SPLASH for a two count. Ryback is still selling the rib damage from the senton on the outside earlier in the match, so that top rope splash may not have been the best tactical decision. Wyatt tries to sneak in a Sister Abigail, but Ryback tries to counter into Shell Shocked, but Wyatt grabs the top rope to counter. Wyatt drives Ryback into the corner to continue the rib damage and follows up with Sister Abigail for the three count.

Match Result: Bray Wyatt defeats Ryback with Sister Abigail.
Match Length: 10:54
Slimmer’s Rating: ***½

I Quit Match for the United States Championship
John Cena (Champion) vs. Rusev w/ Lana

Rusev glares at Cena from across the ring. “Let’s go Cena! Cena sucks! Let’s go Cena! Cena sucks!” Rusev grabs the microphone from the referee. “John Cena, half of these people already hate you. Do yourself a favor, swallow your American pride, and say the words, ‘I quit’ now. I will spare you the pain.” The referee asks Cena if he wants to quit, but Cena simply charges at Rusev. Rusev lands a side kick to the back and drops Cena. Rusev splashes Cena in the corner two times. The crowd chants for Lana, so Rusev makes her sit in a chair next to the announce table. Rusev heads back into the ring but walks right into a suplex from Cena. Cena charges Rusev in the corner, but Rusev side steps him. Rusev head butts Cena and stomps on his back. Rusev drags Cena back to his feet only to drop him with a single punch. Rusev heads butts Cena and delivers a double ax handle to the back. Rusev drags Cena back to his feet, punches him to the ropes, and catches him with a big drop kick on the rebound. The referee asks Cena if he wants to quit, but Cena says no. Cena gets back to his feet and levels Rusev with a clothesline. Rusev returns the favor with a spinning back heel kick before heading out of the ring to glare at Lana. Rusev heads back into the ring and orders Lana to hand him the Russian flag. Rusev waves the flag in the ring before returning it to Lana on the outside. Rusev’s showmanship gives Cena the time he needs to recover and hits a running shoulder tackle. Cena follows up with the Protobomb and the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Rusev counters the Attitude Adjustment into a fallaway slam and sends Cena tumbling out of the ring. Rusev follows Cena to the outside and whips Cena into the ring steps. Rusev rolls Cena back into the ring and slides the lower half of the ring steps in behind him. Rusev sets up the steps in the corner and whips Cena into them. The referee keeps asking Cena if he wants to quit, and Cena keeps refusing. Rusev again whips Cena into the steps, but Cena isn’t ready to quit just yet. Rusev sets the steps in the middle of the ring and climbs up onto them, but Cena back drops Rusev off the steps. Cena rallies with a volley of punches, but Rusev catches Cena with a spinning side slam right onto the steps. Rusev goes for a stomp on Rusev’s back, but Cena rolls off an hits an Attitude Adjustment right onto the steps. Rusev rolls out of the ring, but Cena lifts the steps and launches them over the top rope toward Rusev. Rusev ducks out of the way, just avoiding being decapitated. Cena charges out of the ring and slams Rusev’s head into the ring post. Cena props up Rusev on the barrier, gives him one more chance to quit, and then drives him straight through the barrier. Cena heads out into the crowd and retrieves an equipment case from the technical area. Cena tries to roll the equipment case into Rusev, but Rusev hits a super kick of the equipment case. Rusev beats Cena across the technical area. Cena goes for an Attitude Adjustment through a table, but Rusev counters into an Alabama Slamma onto the table (but not quite through it). Cena props up a table next to the guard rail and drops a monitor onto Rusev’s back. Cena drives a laptop onto Rusev’s back, and Rusev is writhing in pain. Cena goes for an Attitude Adjustment through the propped up table, but again Rusev counters into an Alabama Slamma through it (and it does break more cleanly this time). Rusev grabs a pyro cable and realizes he can use the pyros as a weapon. Cena ducks a side kick and hits an Attitude Adjustment right onto the pyros. The pyros go off, and Rusev limply falls to the floor. Lana rushes up the ramp to see if Rusev is still alive, but Rusev still refuses to quit. Cena grabs a metal guard rail and drives it right into Rusev’s face. Cena beats Rusev back down the ramp to ringside, but Rusev still refuses to quit. Cena props up the metal guard rail on the ring apron and goes for an Attitude Adjustment, but Rusev counters into a suplex on the guard rail. Cena’s body damn near fold the guard rail in half. Rusev rolls Cena into the ring, hits a side kick, stomps on the back, and locks in the Accolade in the middle of the ring. Cena gets his legs under him, lifts Rusev, and drives him into the corner, but Rusev refuses to break the hold. Cena again drive Rusev into the corner, but Rusev still maintains the hold. Cena falls back to the mat, and Rusev has the Accolade locked in deep. Cena is unconscious and unable to indicate whether or not he wants to quit, so Rusev breaks the hold in celebration. The referee explains that the match is not over, because Cena did not actually quit. Rusev removes the top turnbuckle in one of the corners and frees the top ring rope. Rusev tries to drive the ring rope into Cena, but Cena ducks and locks in the STF using the ring rope. Rusev starts screaming in Bulgarian but refuses to quit. Lana can’t take any more, so she jumps into the ring, grabs the mic, and screams that Rusev quits.

Match Result: John Cena defeats Rusev with a rope-assisted STF.
Match Length: 28:49
Slimmer’s Rating: ****¼

Naomi & Tamina vs. The Bella Twins

Nikki and Naomi start the match. Nikki hits a drop kick out of the corner for a two count. Brie gets the tag and hits a double team suplex for another two count. Brie hits a running knee, but Naomi rolls out of the ring. Brie retrieves Naomi, but Tamina catches Brie with a cheap shot on the ring apron. Naomi rolls Brie back into the ring and gets a two count. Naomi slams Brie’s face into the mat and then pulls her arms while standing on her hair. Naomi punts Brie in the ribs and stands on her chest for another two count. Tamina gets the tag and knocks Nikki off the ring apron. Tamina traps Brie in the corner and stomps her down to the mat. Tamina makes the tag to Naomi, and Naomi hits a swinging neck breaker for a two count. Brie fights back with a jaw breaker and finally makes the hot tag to Nikki. Nikki hits a drop kick and follows up with a back body drop. Nikki hits an Alabama Slamma and goes for the cover, but Tamina makes the save. Nikki kicks Tamina out of the ring, and Brie flies off the ring apron to take out Tamina with a crossbody. Nikki heads up top, but she gets distracted when Tamina slams Brie into the barrier. That gives Naomi the chance to pull Nikki off the top and get the three count.

Match Result: Naomi defeats Nikki after pulling her off the top turnbuckle.
Match Length: 6:03
Slimmer’s Rating: *¼

We head back to the locker room to find Rusev berating Lana. He orders her to get out, and she reluctantly leaves.

King Barrett vs. Neville

Neville ducks a clothesline and gets a quick rollup for a two count. Neville catches Barrett with a hurricanrana that sends Barrett to the outside. Barrett punts Neville in the ribs and drives him back-fist into the ring apron. Barrett drags Neville back up onto the ring apron and drives him gut-first into the top turnbuckle. Barrett sets Neville up top, punts him in the ribs again, and covers him for a two count. Barrett locks in a rear chin lock, but Neville fights back to his feet and breaks the hold. Neville goes for some sort of slingshot move from the ring apron, but Barrett catches him with a big boot in mid-air. Barrett follows up with a slingshot backbreaker for another two count. Barrett wraps Neville around the ropes, connects with a volley of knee shots to the rib, and kicks Neville to the outside. Barrett retrieves Neville and makes the cover, but Neville kicks out at one. Barrett goes back to the rear chin lock, but Neville fights out and hits a low big boot followed by a spinning back elbow shot. Neville hits a standing shooting star press but only gets a two count. Neville flips over Barrett, but Barrett catches him with a stiff mule kick to the gut. Barrett goes for the Bull Hammer, but Neville ducks, but Barrett catches him with a huge Winds of Change for a two count. Barrett sets up for Wasteland, but Neville sneaks out the back. Neville heads up top and flies at Barrett, but Barrett goes for the Bull Hammer in mid-air, but Neville counters into an arm drag takedown. Neville hits an enzuigiri and heads up top for the Red Arrow, but Barrett rolls out of the ring. Neville hits the ropes and hits a corkscrew Tope con Hilo. Neville heads back into the ring, but Barrett opts to get counted out.

Match Result: Neville defeats King Barrett by count-out.
Match Length: 7:25
Slimmer’s Rating: **¾

Barrett returns to the ring to attack Neville after the match, but Neville levels Barrett with Barrett’s scepter and follows up with the Red Arrow.

Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Seth Rollins (Champion) w/ J&J Security vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton

Kane is at ringside for the match. J&J Security pulls Reigns and Ambrose out of the ring to start, but Ambrose slides back in and clotheslines Rollins to the outside. Ambrose hits a suicide dive onto Rollins, Orton, and J&J Security, and Reigns follows up with a dive onto all five men. Reigns drags Rollins back into the ring and drives a forearm into his face. Reigns charges Rollins in the corner, but Rollins drives Reigns face-first into the second turnbuckle. Ambrose and Orton head back into the ring, and Ambrose goes to work with mounted punches in the corner. Ambrose hits a running bulldog out of the corner, but Orton fights back with a kick to the gut and his patented backbreaker. Orton goes for an RKO on Reigns, but Reigns counters and lands a punch to Orton. Ambrose tackles Orton out of the ring as Rollins traps Reigns in the corner. Rollins splashed Reigns in the corner, but Ambrose returns and whips Rollins toward Reigns. Reigns levels Rollins and fist bumps Ambrose. Reigns and Ambrose double team Rollins. Reigns sets up for the Superman punch, but Kane pulls reigns out of the ring. Ambrose attacks Kane on the outside, but Kane gets the better of him and rolls him back into the ring. Orton tries to climb back into the ring, but Kane teams up with J&J Security to keep Orton on the outside. Rollins goes for the buckle bomb, but Ambrose fights out. Ambrose bounces off the ropes and levels Rollins with a clothesline. Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds, but Kane rushes the ring and choke slams Ambrose. Rollins covers Ambrose but only gets a two count. Orton pulls Kane off the ring apron, and Reigns hits his patented ring apron drop kick. Orton goes for a power slam on Rollins, but Rollins grabs the ropes to counter. Orton hits a t-bone suplex on Rollins but only gets a two count. Rollins drops Orton neck-first onto the top rope and heads up top, but Orton kicks the ropes and hits a gorgeous superplex for a two count. Orton takes Rollins to the outside and drops him onto the barrier. Orton sets up the announce table, but Ambrose and Reigns attack him. Reigns bounces Orton off the ring post, and the Shield briefly reunite to beat Orton down to the floor. Rollins and Ambrose lift Orton, and Reigns delivers the Shield triple-team powerbomb to Orton through the table. The Shield reunion comes undone when Ambrose and Reigns double team powerbomb Rollins onto the Spanish announce table and then double team powerbomb Kane through both Rollins and the Spanish announce table. Reigns and Ambrose head back into the ring, smile at each other, and decided to settle this one-on-one. The slug it out in the middle of the ring and Reigns goes for the Superman punch, but Ambrose ducks and rolls him up for a two count. Reigns gets back to his feet and successfully hit the Superman punch for a two count of his own. Reigns goes for the spear, but Ambrose connects with a knee to the face. Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds, but Reigns counters into a spear. Reigns makes the cover, but Rollins rushes into the ring to make the save. Reigns chases Rollins out of the ring, but J&J Security cut him off. Reigns levels J&J Security and chases Rollins back into the ring. Ambrose hits Rollins with Dirty Deeds, but Kane pulls Ambrose out of the ring. Kane picks up the ring steps and drives them into Ambrose’ skull. Reigns goes for a Superman punch on Kane, but Kane hits him with the stairs in mid-air. Kane choke slams Reigns onto the stairs, but Orton levels Kane from behind. Rollins tries to drag Orton back into the ring, but Orton tries to reverse into his patented rope-assisted DDT, but J&J drag Rollins out of the ring. J&J eat a pair of RKOs, and Rollins flies off the top into a mid-air power slam from Orton. Orton sets up for the RKO, but Rollins pushes Orton into Kane. Orton RKOs Kane, but he turns around to eat a Pedigree from Rollins for the three count.

Match Result: Seth Rollins defeats Randy Orton with the Pedigree
Match Length: 21:46
Slimmer’s Rating: ***¾