Payback

* Poll results: Best match at WWE Payback
* Poll results: Poll results: Grade WWE’s Payback

Sandow gets Sheamus in a headlock, but Sheamus sends him off the ropes and takes him down with a shoulder block. Sandow and Sheamus exchange right hands and Sandow backs Sheamus into the corner, but Sheamus fights out and slams him down for a two count. Sandow comes back and stomps away on Sheamus in the corner. Sandow tosses Sheamus into the opposite corner and charges, but Sheamus moves and goes up top. Sheamus dives off and connects with a shoulder block for another two count. Sheamus gets Sandow on the apron, but Sandow escapes to the floor. Sheamus goes out after him, but Sandow takes control. Sandow beats down Sheamus and tosses him back into the ring. Sandow goes for the cover, but Sheamus kicks out at one. Sheamus pushes Sandow into the corner, but Sandow delivers an elbow and goes to the middle rope. Sheamus chops Sandow’s leg and then tosses him down to the mat. Sandow comes back with a side-Russian leg sweep. Sandow hits the Cobito Acquiet for a two count as we take a break and see a promo for Payback.

We’re back and Sheamus is fighting out of a headlock, but Sandow powers him back down to the mat. Sheamus catches Sandow and delivers a back drop and both men are down. Sheamus takes Sandow down with a few clubbing shots, but Sandow comes back and tosses Sheamus to the outside. Sandow takes Sheamus down with a high knee and a spinning neck-breaker. Sandow goes for the cover, but Sheamus kicks out at two. Sheamus comes back and catches Sandow on the apron, and delivers his vintage ten clubbing shots to Sandow’s chest. Sheamus takes Sandow down with the rolling senton and goes for the cover, but Sandow kicks out at two. Sandow comes back and delivers a reverse neck-breaker to Sheamus in the corner. Sandow goes for the cover, but Sheamus kicks out at two. Sandow drives his knees into Sheamus’ face and goes for the neck-breaker, but Sheamus fights out briefly. Sandow catches Sheamus and drops him for another two count. Sandow takes Sheamus to the corner and tosses him to the mat. Sheamus comes back and delivers three Irish Curse back-breakers to Sandow. Sheamus connects with the Brogue Kick and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Sheamus.

After the match, the show goes back to the Payback Kickoff crew of Josh Mathews, The Big Show, R-Truth, and Cody Rhodes.

We take a look at the preview video for the John Cena/Ryback feud. We go back to Mathews, Show, Truth, and Rhodes. Truth says he has goosebumps and says Ryback will win the Lumberjack Match. Rhodes says Ryback will win the Tables Match. Show says he knows Ryback feels cheated, but he also knows Cena has what it takes to stay at the top. Show says Ryback leaves in the ambulance and Cena leaves as the Champion.

Show says he doesn’t feel confident in Dolph Ziggler retaining the World Heavyweight Championship, and feels that Alberto Del Rio will win the title. R-Truth agrees, while Rhodes says Ziggler did the right thing by taking so much time off and he feels Ziggler will retain. We see the video hype package for the Chris Jericho/CM Punk match.

Mathews tosses the show back to Cole, JBL, and Lawler. They hype the crowd and tell us to order the PPV as Payback Kickoff comes to a close.

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We see an opening video for Payback, which focuses on 1930’s Chicago, and gangsters getting payback. It transitions into highlighting the main fwuds heading into tonight’s show: John Cena vs. Ryback, Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio, and Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk.

We go live into the All-State Arena in Chicago, Illinois, where Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat Match: Wade Barrett (c) vs. Curtis Axel (w/Paul Heyman) vs. The Miz

Axel goes after Miz, but he ducks and Miz decks Barrett. Miz delivers right hands to Barrett and then one to Axel. Miz takes Barrett down and goes for the cover, but Barrett kicks out at one. Barrett sends Miz off the ropes, but Miz goes for a dropkick on Axel, but Axel moves. Miz slams Axel’s head into the apron, but all three men get back into the ring. Barrett gains control and stomps away on Miz as Heyman holds Axel on the outside. Miz and Barrett slug it out in the ring and Axel gets on the apron. Barrett goes after Axel and Miz gets to his feet. Barrett quickly drops Miz with a clothesline. Axel gets into the ring and Barrett gets sent to the outside as Axel and Miz battle it out. Axel takes Miz down and goes for a cover, but Miz kicks out at two. Axel delivers a right hand to keep Miz floored, but Miz comes back and delivers a series of right hands. Axel counters and tosses Miz across the ring and goes for the cover, but Barrett breaks it up. Miz tosses Barrett into the corner and then tosses Axel onto Barrett. Miz charges across the ring for a splash, but Axel moves and Barrett gets the full force. Miz gets Axel and slams him to the mat and goes for the cover, but Axel kicks out. Miz goes for the Figure Four on Barrett, but Barrett counters and delivers the Winds of Change to Miz. Barrett goes for the cover, but Axel breaks it up. Barrett goes for Wasteland on Axel, but Axel reverses and nails the Perfect Plex. Axel gets the cover, but Miz breaks it up at two. Miz drops Axel with the Skull Crushing Finale, but Barrett tosses Miz out of the ring and goes for the cover. Miz breaks it up. Miz gets Barrett in the Figure Four, but Axel pins Barrett’s shoulders to the mat before Barrett taps and Axel gets the pin fall.
Winner and new Intercontinental Champion: Curtis Axel.

After the match, we see a vignette for Mark Henry, who will return tomorrow night on Raw.

Axel and Heyman run into Triple H backstage, who gets in Axel’s face. Vince McMahon walks in and congratulates Axel. Vince says Axel vs. Triple H on Raw, and Triple H says he’s not feeling it.

WWE Divas Championship Match: Kaitlyn vs. AJ Lee (w/Big E Langston)
AJ blows a kiss at Kaitlyn, but Kaitlyn snaps and slams AJ down to the mat. Kaitlyn sends AJ to the outside and tosses AJ over the Spanish announce table. Back into the ring, AJ takes control and sends Kaitlyn to the outside. AJ delivers a dropkick to Kaitlyn on the outside. Back in the ring, AJ gets Kaitlyn in a headlock. AJ slams Kaitlyn down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Kaitlyn kicks out at two. AJ gets Kaitlyn in another headlock and sends her down to the mat. AJ goes for the cover, but Kaitlyn kicks out at two. Kaitlyn comes back and slams AJ down on the mat, and then delivers a couple clotheslines. Kaitlyn goes for the cover, but AJ kicks out at two. AJ comes back and kicks Kaitlyn in the face. AJ goes for the cover, but Kaitlyn kicks out at two. AJ goes to the top and goes for a cross-body, but AJ catches her. AJ reverses into the Black Widow submission, but Kaitlyn fights out and delivers a Spear. Kaitlyn blows a kiss at AJ and slams her head into the mat and goes for the cover, but AJ kicks out at two. AJ shoves Kaitlyn away, but Kaitlyn charges back in the corner. Kaitlyn goes head-first into the turnbuckle and AJ locks in the Black Widow again and Kaitlyn taps.
Winner and new Divas Champion: AJ Lee.
After the match, Kaitlyn cries on the entrance ramp as Layla comes to check on her.

Backstage, Layla and Kaitlyn are backstage and then Natalya, Alicia Fox, and Layla try to console her, but Kaitlyn walks away crying.

We see a vignette for the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, which is on July 14th in Philadelphia.

Cole tosses it up to Josh Mathews, The Big Show, R-Truth, and Cody Rhodes. They talk about the title matches so far and then we see a vignette for The Wyatt Family.

WWE United States Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kane
Ambrose shoves Kane, but Kane comes right back and takes down Ambrose. Kane drops Ambrose with a suplex and goes for the cover, but Ambrose kicks out at one. Ambrose comes off the ropes, but Kane catches him and delivers a side slam. Kane delivers an uppercut and tosses Ambrose into the corner. Kane drives his shoulder into Ambrose’s midsection. Kane tosses Ambrose into the opposite corner. Kane sends Ambrose to the mat and goes for a dropkick, but Ambrose takes out Kane’s knee. Ambrose takes Kane into the corner and delivers some rights and lefts before taking Kane down. Ambrose chokes Kane over the middle rope. Ambrose continues to work over Kane’s knee. Ambrose drops a few elbows and then wrenches Kane’s neck. Kane fights out and sends Ambrose off the ropes and delivers a power slam. Kane goes up top, but Ambrose cuts him off. Kane shoves Ambrose off and dives, but Ambrose ducks underneath and delivers a flying elbow to Kane’s chin, which sends Kane to the mat. Ambrose goes for the cover, but Kane kicks out at two. Ambrose applies a Sleeper Hold, but Kane backs him into the corner. Ambrose comes off the top, but Kane catches him with an uppercut. Kane goes for a chokeslam, but Ambrose delivers an elbow and fights out. Kane comes back with a dropkick and goes for the cover, but Ambrose kicks out at two. Ambrose follows Kane to the ropes and slaps him across the face and delivers a dropkick. Ambrose goes for a cover, but Kane kicks out at two. Ambrose goes for Old School, but Kane reverses and smashes Ambrose in the corner. Kane delivers a side slam and goes for the pin, but Ambrose kicks out at two. Kane sends Ambrose to the outside. Ambrose slaps Kane across the face, but Kane delivers an uppercut. Ambrose DDTs Kane on the outside, and Kane gets counted out.
Winner by count-out and still United States Champion: Dean Ambrose.

We see a vignette for Rob Van Dam, who will return at Money in the Bank!

We take a look back at Sheamus’ victory over Damien Sandow on Payback Kickoff.

World Heavyweight Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler (c) (w/AJ Lee and Big E Langston) vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez)

Del Rio sends Ziggler off the ropes, but Ziggler drops to the outside. Ziggler comes back and beats down Del Rio in the corner. Del Rio fights out and delivers a back-breaker to Ziggler, who goes to the outside. Ziggler comes back and goes on the offensive, but Del Rio turns the tide quickly and kicks Ziggler in the head. The referee checks on Ziggler on the outside, but Ziggler continues on and gets back into the ring. Ziggler delivers a dropkick to Del Rio, but Del Rio comes back and and slams Ziggler’s head into the announce table. Langston gets in between Del Rio and Ziggler, and the referee ejects Langston. Back in the ring, Del Rio gains control for a bit before Ziggler reverses and locks in the Sleeper Hold down on the mat. Del Rio reverses and slams Ziggler’s head into the turnbuckle. Del Rio kicks Ziggler in the head and then delivers a series of right hands to Ziggler’s kidneys and then one to Ziggler’s head. Del Rio connects with the backstabber for a two count. Del Rio grabs Ziggler, but Ziggler counters and takes Del Rio down and grabs his head. Ziggler grabs Del Rio and partially connects with the Zigzag and goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Ziggler goes to the top, but Del Rio catches him. Del Rio tosses Ziggler down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Del Rio tosses Ziggler to the outside. Del Rio kicks Ziggler in the head and the trainer is checking on Ziggler. Ziggler says he is fine and Del Rio kicks him in the back of the head. Del Rio tosses Ziggler back into the ring and kicks him in the head again, but Ziggler kicks out again. The crowd begins to boo Del Rio heavily. Ziggler counters and goes for the Zigzag, but Del Rio shoves him off. Del Rio kicks Ziggler in the head again, and gets the pin fall.
Winner and new World Heavyweight Champion: Alberto Del Rio.
After the match, the crowd boos Del Rio and Rodriguez on the ramp and cheer Ziggler as he walks up the ramp.

Del Rio comes back out and tells the crowd to cheer for him. He said he proved to everyone why he is deserved to be the champion. He asks everyone for their support, and he gets booed. He says he is one of the best and he deserves to be the Champion and the crowd boos more.

Cris Jericho vs. CM Punk (w/Paul Heyman)

Jericho backs Punk into the corner, but the referee separates them. Punk slaps Jericho across the face and goes behind and takes Jericho down. Punk flips Jericho over his shoulder and takes him down again as the crowd is definitely pro-Punk. Jericho gets Punk in a headlock, but Punk sends him off the ropes. Jericho takes Punk down with a shoulder block, but Punk comes right back with a dropkick. Punk goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at one. Punk works over Jericho’s arm and drives his shoulder into his midsection in the corner. Jericho counters and tosses Punk into the corner, but Punk counters. Punk goes for a DDT out of the corner, but Jericho tosses him out of the ring. Jericho delivers a dropkick that sends Punk into the barricade. Punk drapes Jericho over the top rope and goes up top. Punk dives onto Jericho and goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two.Jericho delivers some chops and comes off the ropes, but Punk connects with a knee shot that takes Jericho down. Punk applies a submission down on the mat. Jericho fights out and sends Punk into the corner. Jericho charges, but Punk gets his boot up. Jericho takes Punk down with a couple shoulder blocks and a sledge from the middle rope. Jericho takes Punk down with a bulldog and goes for the Lionsault, but Punk moves. Punk delivers a neck-breaker to Jericho and goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Punk hits the knee in the corner and goes for the bulldog, but Jericho slams him to the mat. Jericho connects with the Lionsault and goes for the cover, but Punk kicks out at two. Punk comes back and goes for the Go to Sleep, but Jericho reverses and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Punk counters out and locks in a modified Anaconda Vice, and then drops down and locks it in for real. Jericho gets to the ropes to force the break. Punk goes for the GTS, but Jericho counters. Heyman gets on the apron and Jericho looks at him. Punk takes advantage, but Heyman is on the apron again. Jericho tries to take control, but Punk delivers a roundhouse kickand both men are down. Jericho takes Punk down and goes for the cover, but Punk kicks out at two. Jericho beats down Punk, and then they exchange right hands. Punk takes Jericho down with a heel kick and then a running knee. Punk goes up top, and delivers the Macho Man elbow drop. Punk delivers the GTS and goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Punk goes for GTS again, but Jericho counters. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker, but Punk counters. Punk takes Jericho down with a suicide dive on the outside. Punk tosses Jericho back into the ring and goes up top, but Jericho counters. Jericho delivers a series of elbows and goes for the Walls, but Punk rolls him up for a two count. They exchange right hands again, but Jericho catches Punk in the Walls. Punk fights out and delivers two GTS’s and gets the pin fall.
Winner: CM Punk.

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins (c) vs. Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton

Reigns and Bryan start the match. Bryan takes Reigns to the corner and delivers a series of kicks. Reigns shoves Bryan away and takes him down to the mat for a two count. Reigns controls Bryan and takes in Rollins. Rollins beats down Bryan for a bit and tags Reigns back in. Reigns applies a headlock on Bryan down on the mat. Bryan counters and tags in Orton and Reigns tags in Rollins. Orton goes for the DDT on Rollins, but tosses him aside and hits it on Reigns instead. Orton takes Rollins down with a power slam and goes for the cover, but Rollins kicks out at two. Orton sets up for the RKO, but Rollins rolls out of the ring. Reigns takes Orton down with a huge right hands. Rollins rolls Orton back into the ring and goes for the cover, but Orton kicks out at two. Rollins tags in Reigns, who chokes Orton down on the mat and gets a two count. Reigns continues the beat down of Orton and tags in Rollins. Rollins delivers a few right hands and tags Reigns back in. Reigns powers Orton down again and goes for a cover, but Orton kicks out at two. Reigns applies a headlock and then slams him again, but Orton kicks out at two once more. Reigns tags in Rollins, who stomps away on Orton. Rollins applies a headlock to Orton, but Orton makes his way to his feet, but Rollins takes him right back down. Orton comes back and drops Rollins right on his head and tags in Bryan. Bryan takes Rollins and Reigns out with a dropkick and then hits Reigns with another dropkick before getting a two count. Bryan kicks Reigns in the chest repeatedly and then kicks him in the head and goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out at two. Reigns charges at Bryan, but Bryan pulls down the ropes. Bryan sends Rollins onto Orton. Bryan launches over the top rope, but Rollins pulls Orton in front of Bryan and Orton is down on the outside. Bryan dropkicks Reigns in the ring and superplexes Rollins from the top, but only gets a two count. Bryan goes for the No Lock on Rollins, but Reigns interferes. Rollins rolls up Bryan, but Bryan rolls him up for two. Orton gets back in and RKOs Reigns after Reigns Spears Bryan, but Rollins sends Orton to the outside and stomps Bryan’s head into the mat and gets the pin fall.
Winners and still WWE Tag Team Champions: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns

WWE Championship Three Stages of Hell Match (Lumberjack Match, Tables Match, Ambulance Match): John Cena (c) vs. Ryback

Stage 1: Lumberjack Match
Ryback beats down and stomps away on Cena in the corner. Cena comes back and comes off the ropes and goes for a bulldog, but Ryback catches him and delivers a power slam. Ryback goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Ryback tosses Cena to the corner and charges, but Cena moves and delivers a back-body drop to Ryback. Ryback comes right back and takes Cena down with a clothesline. Ryback goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at one. Cena goes for the AA, but Ryback reverses and drops Cena with a jaw-breaker, but Cena kicks out at two. Ryback tosses Cena into some of the heel lumberjacks, and they beat Cena down before tossing him back into the ring. Ryback delivers a suplex to Cena. Cena tosses Ryback into the heel lumberjacks, but they let him get back into the ring with no incident. Cena takes Ryback down with a shoulder block, but Ryback sends him into the other half of the heel lumberjacks. They toss Cena back into the ring and he sends Ryback into the face lumberjacks and everybody begins to brawl. Cena comes off the top and takes down everyone from the top rope. Cena and Ryback get back into the ring and Ryback drops Cena with Shell Shocked and gets the pin fall.
Winner of Stage One: Ryback.

Stage 2: Tables Match
With a table set up in the middle of the ring, Ryback spears Cena and the crowd chants “Goldberg.” Cena comes back and tries to put Ryback through the table, but Ryback flips it over. Cena sends Ryback to the outside. Cena goes out after Ryback, but Ryback sends him into the steel steps. Ryback tosses the steel steps into the ring, followed by Cena. Ryback hits Cena in the head with the steel steps and then tosses the steps at Cena on the table in the corner, but Cena ducks and the steps crash through the table. Cena grabs the steps and nails Ryback in the head with them. Cena goes to the outside and grabs another table. Ryback grabs the steps and throws them at Cena, but he ducks and the steps bounce around on the floor. Ryback takes Cena down with a spine-buster. Ryback sets up the table in the ring and tries to deliver Shell Shocked to Cena through the table, but Cena reverses and AA’s Ryback through the table.
Winner of Stage Two: John Cena.

Stage 3: Ambulance Match
On the outside, Ryback slams Cena through the announce table and Cena’s head smack hard against the legs of one of the chairs. Ryback tosses Cena back into the ring and beats him down as the referee calls for the bell to start the match. Ryback picks Cena up and starts carrying him toward the ambulance, but Cena escapes. Cena opens the side door of the ambulance and tosses some things to the floor, but Ryback stops him. Ryback goes to punch Cena against the ambulance, but Cena ducks and Ryback punches the ambulance. Cena hits Ryback in the midsection with a crutch and then Cena drives Ryback against the ambulance. Cena tosses Ryback into the door of the ambulance and the door comes off of its hinges. Cena picks up the door and slams it into Ryback. Ryback comes back with a headbutt and tears the front fender off the ambulance. Ryback hits cena with the fender a few times, but Cena slams Ryback down on the hood of the ambulance. Cena climbs on top of the ambulance and rips the lights off and hits Ryback with the,. Ryback gets up and grabs a crutch and climbs on top of the ambulance. Cena grabs the crutch and nails Ryback with it. Cena hits the AA on the ambulance and Ryback goes through the roof and the referee calls for the ball.
Winner of Stage Three and still WWE Champion: John Cena.
After the match, Cena celebrates in the ring as the ambulance leaves with Ryback inside it.

Payback comes to a close with Cena celebrating his title retention and walking around high-fiving fans. Cena walks to the back as the camera fades to black.