Payback

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

The WWE Payback Preshow kicks off from the Allstate Arena in the Chicago-area suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, and Renee Young, Booker T, Corey Graves, and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show. Graves says today is like no other, because it feels like we are on the verge of something special. Booker says Payback 2015 was the beginning of the rise of Roman Reigns. Lawler finishes it up and give a shoutout to the people at his restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee. We head backstage to the Social Media Lounge and Greg Hamilton. Hamilton says to use the hashtag #WWEPayback because they want to hear from the WWE Universe, and informs us that Sami Zayn will be his guest later on tonight.

Back to the panel, Graves says he can’t wait for Tom Phillips to return to the Social Media Lounge, and then we take a look back at what happened between Shane McMahon and his sister Stephanie on this past Monday’s Raw. We are reminded that Vince McMahon will be here tonight to decide who will run Raw: Shane or Stephanie. Graves says only Stephanie is qualified to run Raw. Lawler says he agrees with Graves and says Shane has only been waiting for Vince to die. Booker says Shane is here to make a difference and he is the right choice to run Monday Night Raw. Booker brings up the guys from NXT who have debuted since Shane was in charge, and Graves uses the opportunity to make fun of Enzo Amore. We now take a look at the highlight package for the feud between Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose.

We go back to the panel and Graves says he doesn’t blame Jericho for anything that he will do to Ambrose tonight and praises the Highlight Reel. Lawler agrees with Graves and makes fun of the Ambrose Asylum show. Lawler says, “I would rather drink water from Flint, Michigan than watch the Ambrose Asylum.” Booker says you have to respect Ambrose, and Jericho did not do that. Renee picks Jericho to win, as do Graves and Lawler, while Booker picks Ambrose. The panel runs down the preshow matches and then bring up the feud between Roman Reigns and AJ Styles as we head to a break.

We see the video highlight package for the feud between Roman Reigns and AJ Styles. We go back to the panel and Booker says he is looking forward to seeing what AJ Styles can do, because we know Roman will be able to go. Renee asks if it will be a one-on-one fight. Graves says no, because AJ has Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Graves says it is brilliant on Styles’ behalf. Lawler says the match will be fun because it is fun to boo Roman Reigns. Graves says the crowd will completely be behind AJ, but it won’t be enough to overcome Reigns, while Booker picks AJ to win as we head to a break.

Returning from the break, the panel talks about the match between Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady and The Vaudevillains. Graves picks the Vaudevillains to win, because they’ve been able to be the champions in NXT, while Enzo and Cass weren’t able to do it. Booker says it’s great to see the tag team revolution picking up steam, and Lawler picks the Vaudevillains.

We go to ringside, where Mauro Ranallo and Byron Saxton are ready to call the action.

Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler

Corbin and Ziggler mouth at each other and then begin to brawl. Corbin pushes Ziggler away, but Ziggler gets Corbin in the corner and delivers some quick right hands. Corbin gets free and slams Ziggler shoulder-first into the turnbuckle. Corbin stomps away on Ziggler in the corner before the referee pulls him back. Corbin chokes Ziggler on the bottom rope and then delivers a big right hand. Corbin goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Corbin picks Ziggler up and delivers another right hand that sends Ziggler to the mat. Corbin steps on Ziggler’s throat and then picks him up again. Ziggler fights back and comes off the ropes, but Corbin catches him. Corbin drops Ziggler throat-first onto the top rope and then drops him with another right hand. Corbin takes Ziggler to the corner and delivers an elbow to the back of Ziggler’s head. Corbin goes for another right, but Ziggler counters with some elbows. Corbin comes back back and slams Ziggler into the corner again. Corbin drives an elbow down onto Ziggler and locks in a half-nelson chin lock. Ziggler fights to his feet and gets free with a headbutt. Ziggler connects with a right hand and locks in the sleeper hold. Corbin drops to a knee, but then backs Ziggler into the corner. Corbin tosses Ziggler to the mat, but Ziggler comes back and goes for the superkick. Corbin blocks it, but Ziggler takes him down with the Fameasser. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Corbin kicks out at two. Corbin rolls to th eoutside and Ziggles goes out after him. Ziggler jumps off the steps, but Corbin counters with a big boot. Corbin tosses Ziggler into the ring post and then back into the ring. Corbin stays on the outside for a little bit, but then gets back into the ring and stands on Ziggler’s neck. Ziggler gets a quick rollup for the pin fall.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler.

We see Greg Hamlilton and Sami Zayn getting set up for the Social Media Lounge segment as we head to a break.

We take a look back at the video highlight package for the feud between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, and then go into the Social Media Lounge with Sami and Greg Hamilton. Someone asks who was Sami’s inspiration growing up, and Sami says Bret Hart. The next question asks if Sami would ever trust Kevin Owens again. Sami says it’s tough to answer, but the answer right now is no. He says they have fought before and they have mended fences before, but right now it’s no. The next question asks if Sami has any regrets on his friendship with Kevin Owens. Sami says he doesn’t because if they changed anything they might not be in WWE right now. Greg sends it back to ringside.

WWE United States Championship Match: Kalisto (c) vs. Ryback

Ryback decks Kalisto with a right hand and then slams him repeatedly on the mat. Ryback gets Kalisto in a headlock and then drops him with a shoulder block. Kalisto takes Ryback down with a monkey flip and then takes him down on the outside with a suicide dive. Kalisto gets back into the ring and then takes Ryback down on the outside with a corkscrew plancha. Back in the ring, Ryback grabs Kalisto and slams him into the turnbuckle. Ryback charges at Kalisto in the corner, but Kalisto moves. Ryback grabs Kalisto and slams him down with a vertical suplex. Ryback goes for the cover, but Kalisto kicks out at two as we head to a break.

We’re back and Ryback is still in control. Ryback takes Kalisto down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Kalisto kicks out at two. Ryback slams Kalisto into the ring post and then the opposite turnbuckle. Ryback kicks Kalisto around the ring, but Kalisto comes back with kicks of his own. Kalisto comes off the ropes, but Ryback catches him. Kalisto reverses into a DDT. Ryback gets to the apron and Kalisto goes after him, but Ryback takes him down again. Ryback goes for a suplex to the floor, but Kalisto lands on the apron. Kalisto delivers an enzuigiri and then drops Ryback with a DDT on the apron. Kalisto takes Rybakc down with a cross-body and goes for the cover, but Ryback kicks out at one. Kalisto takes him down with a corkscrew, but Ryback kicks out at two. Kalisto kicks Ryback in the face and then slams him down and goes for the cover, but Ryback kicks out at two. Kalisot goes for Salida del Sol, but Ryback catches him. Ryback goes for Shell Shocked, but Kalisto fights out. Ryback drops Kalisto with a spine buster and goes for the cover, but Kalisto kicks out at two. Ryback goes up top, but Kalisto cuts him off with a kick. Kalisto kicks Ryback again and goes up top with him. Ryback grabs Kalisto and delivers a military press aslam from the top rope. Ryback goes for the splash from the top, but Kalisto moves and connects with the Salida del Sol for the pin fall.
Winner and still WWE United States Champion: Kalisto.

We take a look backstage and see Mr. McMahon’s locker room and then go back to the panel for some last-minute words as the preshow comes to a close.

Payback opens with The New Day entering the arena. The WWE Tag Team Champions get into the ring and Xavier Woods welcomes everyone to the show. He says one team will have the opportunity to become the number one contenders for their WWE Tag Team Championship and Kofi Kingston says they want a front row sheet. They mention Beyonce and some other pop culture things and Big E says it’s a new era and times are changing because New…. Day Rocks!

We see the opening video for the Payback event, which focuses on the different matches for the evening. It ends with the billing of Payback as “The First PPV of a New Era.”

The New Day are still at ringside as Enzo and Cass’ theme hits.

#1 Contender’s (WWE Tag Team Championship) Tournament Final Match: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady vs. The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch)

Gotch and Enzo start the match. Enzo monkey flips Gotch down and goes for a quick pin, but Gotch gets out and tags in English. Enzo also tags in Cass. Cass takes English to the corner and delivers a few right hands. Cass takes English to the other corner and tags in Enzo. Enzo tags back in and he and Cass double-team Gotch and then English. Cass tosses Enzo onto English and Enzo goes for the cover, but English kicks out at two. Enzo sends English to the corner and charges, but English gets his knees up to counter. English charges at Enzo and sends him out to the floor. Enzo hits the bottom rope and floor and doesn’t move, so the referee throws up the “X” and calls for the medical team. They bring the stretcher out and the referee calls for the bell.
Match Result: No Contest.

We take a look at the video package that highlights the feud between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn

Owens and Zayn brawl immediately and Zayn sends Owens to the outside. Zayn dives out onto Owens and then tosses him into the barricade. Back in the ring, Zayn stays in control, but Owens quickly takes control and slams Zayn to the floor and into the steel steps.

Michael Cole gives an update on Enzo Amore: he is able to move his arms and legs and is talking. Great news!

Owens gets on the steel steps on the outside and kicks Zayn in the face. Owens tosses Zayn back into the ring and goes for the cover, but Zayn kicks out at two. Owens kicks Zayn repeatedly and keeps the attack going on Zayn. Owens delivers a series of right hands to Zayn, but Zayn comes back with right hands of his own. Zayn comes off the ropes, but Owens drops him with an elbow drop. Zayn comes right back with a clothesline. Zayn is in control now and he takes Owens down with another clothesline. In the corner, Zayn connects with a series of right hands, and then changes it up and connects with both hands. Zayn charges again, but Owens catches him with a boot. Zayn comes back and drops Owens with the Blue Thunderbomb and goes for the cover, but Owens kicks out at two. Zayn picks Owns up and connects with another Blue Thunderbomb and goes for the cover, but Owens kicks out at two again. Zayn gets frustrated and Owens takes control. Owens slams Zayn down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Zayn kicks out at two. Owens goes up top and connects with the frog slash and goes for the cover, but Zayn kicks out again. Owens smashes Zayn in the corner and then hits the Cannonball. He hits another Cannonball and then goes for the Pop-up Powerbomb, but Zayn counters with a dropkick. Zayn takes control, but Owens counters with a big clothesline. Both men run into right hands from each other and Owens gets a knee to the midsection. Owens goes for the powerbomb, but Zayn counters with a roll-up, but Owens kicks out at two. Owens takes Zayn down with a back-breaker. Both men are battling on the apron and they slug it out and Zayn drops Owens with a torpedo DDT on the floor.

Back in the ring, Zayn goes for the Helluva Kick, but Owens counters with a superkick of his own and then hits the Pop-up Powerbomb for the pin fall.
Winner: Kevin Owens.

After the match, Owens slaps Zayn and then tosses him over the top rope. Owens yells at Byron Saxton to bring him a microphone in the ring. Saxton gets into the ring and Owens tells him to ask him about beating Sami. Saxton asks him if the rivalry is finally over. Owens says that’s not what he told Saxton to ask, but he beat Sami Zayn. Owens says he is the better man. He says he is going to refocus and get back his Intercontinental Championship. Saxton says the Intercontinental Championship Match is next and he would love to do commentary for the match.

We see a commercial for the various shows on the WWE Network.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz (c) (w/Maryse) vs. Cesaro

They tie up and Miz works over Cesaro’s shoulder. Cesaro counters with an arm drag and goes for a quick pin, but Miz kicks out at two. Cesaro grabs Miz and tosses him down to the mat. Cesaro goes for the cover, but Miz kicks out at one. Cesaro drops Miz with a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker and then places him on the top rope. Cesaro kicks Miz in the face and Miz falls to the apron. Cesaro grabs Miz and goes for a suplex, but Maryse holds onto Miz’s leg. Miz gets back into the ring and kicks Cesaro in the face. Miz works over Cesaro’s shoulder and drops him with a neck-breaker. Miz goes for the cover, but Cesaro kicks out at two. Miz chokes Cesaro over the middle rope, but Cesaro comes back and drives his shoulder into Miz’s midsection. Miz applies a headlock and then gets on Cesaro’s back. Cesaro falls to the mat and Miz keeps the headlock applied. Cesaro gets to his feet and powers out of the move and slams Miz down to the mat. Cesaro hits Miz with some uppercuts and takes him to the corner. Cesaro begins the running uppercuts in the corners and then ends it with a dropkick. Cesaro gets Miz on the ropes and then suplexes him down to the mat. Cesaro grabs Miz and goes for the Swing, but Miz counters. Miz goes for the DDT, but Cesaro counters with an uppercut. Cesaro goes for the cover, but Miz gets his foot on the rope at the two count. Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer, but Miz lands on his feet. Miz sends Cesaro into the ring post shoulder-first and hits the Skull Crushing Finale and goes for the cover, but Cesaro kicks out at two.

Sami Zayn dives over the announce table and takes out Kevin Owens.

Back in the ring, Cesaro drops Miz and does the Cesaro Swing for somewhere around 20 rotations. Cesaro locks in the crossface and Miz taps, but Owens and Zayn fight on the apron and the referee gets distracted by it. Cesaro knocks Owens and Zayn off the apron and Miz rolls Cesaro up from behind for the pin fall.
Winner and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: The Miz.

After the match, Cesaro takes Miz out with the Neutralizer and then Owens takes out Cesaro and Zayn. Owens goes after Miz, but Maryse pulls him out of the ring.

We see Stephanie McMahon talking with Apollo Crews backstage and then see that Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose will go one-on-one next.

We see the video highlight package for the feud between Jericho and Ambrose.

Michael Cole updates Enzo Amore’s condition: He is still moving and communication and he is undergoing testing at a hospital in Chicago.

Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose

Ambrose takes control from the start and takes Jericho to the corner. Ambrose delivers a few chops and sends Jericho off the ropes, but Jericho puts on the breaks and goes to the outside. Ambrose goes after Jericho and chases him around the ring. Jericho gets back in the ring and goes for a clothesline, but Ambrose ducks and takes Jericho down to the mat. Jericho comes back and sends Ambrose to the outside and then baseball slides into Ambrose. Jericho tries to toss Ambrose back into the ring, but Ambrose spins on the apron and clotheslines Jericho down to the floor. Ambrose tosses Jericho back into the ring, but Jericho grabs the referee. Ambrose grabs Jericho, but Jericho delivers an elbow shot. Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds, but Jericho counters and tosses Ambrose onto the top rope. Jericho delivers a dropkick that sends Ambrose to the floor. Ambrose gets back into the ring, but Jericho applies a headlock down on the mat. Ambrose gets free and comes off the ropes, but Jericho counters with a dropkick. Jericho goes for the cover, but Ambrose kicks out at two. Jericho kicks Ambrose in the back and then applies a submission down on the mat. Ambrose fights to his feet, but Jericho delivers a series of chops. Jericho goes for the running bulldog, but Ambrose shoves Jericho into the corner. Jericho and Ambrose exchange chops and punches and Jericho sends Ambrose to the corner. Jericho charges, but Ambrose counters with a tornado DDT. Ambrose goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Ambrose sends Jericho to the corner, but Jericho climbs up and delivers an axe handle to Ambrose. Ambrose comes back and drops Jericho with neck-breaker. Ambrose goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Ambrose goes up top and goes for an elbow shot, but Jericho counters and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Ambrose gets to the ropes, but Jericho charges and stomps away on Ambrose. Jericho backs away and charges again, but Ambrose sends Jericho to the outside. Ambrose dives to the outside onto Jericho. Ambrose and Jericho get on the announce table and Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds, but Jericho counters and goes for the Walls. Jericho changes his mind and sends Ambrose into the timekeepers’ area. Ambrose gets back into the ring at the nine count. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker, but Ambrose counters with a lariat. Ambrose goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Ambrose and Jericho get on the top rope, but Jericho sends AMbrose down to the floor. Jericho goes for a dropkick, but Ambrose counters and delivers an elbow drop from the top rope. Ambrose goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds, but Jericho counters and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Ambrose goes toward the ropes, but Jericho drags him back to the center of the ring. Ambrose reverses and rolls up Jericho, but Jericho kicks out at two. Jericho connects with an enzuigiri and goes for the cover, but Ambrose kicks out at two. Jericho delivers a back-breaker and goes for the cover, but Ambrose kicks out at two.

Ambrose delivers a series of chops and slams, but Jericho takes him down to the mat. Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but Ambrose counters with the knees. Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds and connects with it. Ambrose goes for the cover and gets the pin fall.
Winner: Dean Ambrose.

We go backstage with Mauro Ranallo and AJ Styles. Styles says he is going to have the match of his life and become the WWE World Heavyweight Championship all by himself tonight. He says Gallows and Anderson are his friends and they have his back, but it’s all about he and Reigns tonight.

We see Sasha Banks and Shane McMahon talking backstage.

WWE Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte (c) (w/Ric Flair) vs. Natalya (w/Bret Hart

Natalya goes for the Sharpshooter immediately, but Charlotte gets free and takes Natalya down. Natalya gets to her feet and they tie up. Natalya takes Charlotte down to the mat, but Charlotte gets up and goes to the corner. Natalya takes Charlotte down again, but Charlotte counters and applies a headlock. Natalya fights out and sends Charlotte off the ropes, but Charlotte drops her with a shoulder block. Natalya comes back with a shoulder tackle of her own. Charlotte leap frogs over Natalya, but Natalya trips her up and goes for the Sharpshooter. Charlotte gets free and goes to the outside. Natalya goes out after her, but Charlotte gets back into the ring and drops Natalya with a neck-breaker. Charlotte goes for the cover, but Natalya kicks out as two as the crowd chants “We want Sasha!”. Charlotte drives her knee into Natalya’s back and asks, “Who want who?” to the crowd. Charlotte goes to the outside and slaps Natalya across the face.

Back in the ring, Natalya sends Charlotte to the corner and then drops her with a German suplex. Natalya goes for the cover, but Charlotte kicks out at two. Natalya connects with a low dropkick, but Charlotte comes back and drives a knee into Natalya’s leg. Charlotte works over Natalya’s legs, but Natalya comes back and tries to lock in an arm bar. Charlotte gets free and suplexes Natalya into the ropes. Charlotte goes up top, but Natalya sends her to the outside. Charlotte gets on the apron, but Natalya counters with a hurricanrana to the outside. Back in the ring, Natalya delivers a series of right hands and drops Charlotte with a clothesline. Natalya keeps advantage, but Charlotte comes back quickly and drops Natalya with Natural Selection. Charlotte goes for the cover, but Natalya kicks out at two. Charlotte goes up top and connects with the moonsault. Charlotte goes for the cover, but Natalya kicks out at two. Charlotte locks in the Figure Four, but Natalya rolls over and reverses the hold. Charlotte gets to the ropes to force the break. Charlotte takes Natalya down and locks in the Sharpshooter and the referee calls for the bell even though Natalya didn’t tap out.
Winner and still WWE Women’s Champion: Charlotte.

After the match, Bret Hart and Natalya attack Ric Flair and Charlotte and lock them in Sharpshooters and Ric and Charlotte tap out.

We see the video preview for WWE Extreme Rules, which is in three weeks on Sunday, May 22nd.

We see the video preview for Camp WWE, which will be available on demand on the WWE Network tonight after Payback.

Mr. McMahon decides if Shane or Stephanie will run Monday Night Raw.

Vince brings up the fact that Raw is the longest running episodic show on TV as the crowd chants “CM Punk.” He begs the crowd to continue the chants, and then says one of his favorite eras of Raw was the Attitude Era. Vince says they need someone to run Raw who has a vision as to where they are going. He says this person needs to be a good business person and a person of good ethics. He says should it be Shane, to which the crowd cheers, or his daughter Stephanie, to which the crowd boos. He brings out Stephanie McMahon first.

She thanks the fans for their outpouring of support after Reigns speared her at WrestleMania and they boo her. Vince yells at them to shut up. She said she would rather be feared and respected than be felt sorry for. She says we saw the Women’s Revolition, the debut of guys and girls like Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, The New Day, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, and AJ Styles under her leadership. She says the biggest thing under the Authority’s leadership was the launch of the WWE Network. She says there is no denying that all of her decisions were best for business. She says when the going got tough, Shane ran away. And besides that, she says, he lost his match to The Undertaker at WrestleMania. She says his risk was stupid and he stabbed Vince in the back and spit in his face. She continues talking and the crowd chants “Boring!”

Shane’s music hits and he comes to the ring. Shane asks how many headlines Stephanie and Triple H made when they were in charge. He brings their attention to the Titantron, where all the headlines are all about how Shane has made everything better. Shane says the WWE Network praise goes to Vince, not Stephanie and Triple H. He says there was a jump in Network subscribers around WrestleMania 32, and it was perhaps due to his match against The Undertaker. Shane brings up his departure seven years ago. He said his voice wasn’t being heard and the difference couldn’t be overcome. He says Stephanie and Triple H put their own poison in the WWE and nearly burned it all to the ground. Shane asks his dad to listen, but he doesn’t have to listen to Shane’s voice, because the WWE Universe speaks for him.

Vince says enough, but Shane gets the “boo-yeah” thing going with he and Stephanie. Stephanie says Shane is more likable than she is, but that is not what business is about. Vince says Shane has been okay since he took over, but the only person he listens to is himself. Vince says tonight is about what he wants. He says he wants blood and wants to see Shane and Stephanie slit each other’s throats. Vince says they are both running Monday Night Raw.

Vince leaves and Shane extends his hand to his sister. She accepts the handshake.

We go to the preshow panel of Renee Young, Corey Graves, Booker T, and Jerry Lawler. Lawler says there is no way Shane and Stephanie will get along. Graves says it is all Sami Zayn’s fault that Cesaro lost the match again The Miz. Booker says Dean Ambrose went out there and got the respect from Chris Jericho. We take a look back at the two preshow matches from earlier tonight, which saw Dolph Ziggler defeat Baron Corbin and Kalisto defeat Ryback to retain the WWE United States Championship.

We see the video highlight package for the feud between Roman Reigns and AJ Styles.

In an update on Enzo, Michael Cole informs us that Enzo is still at the hospital and has been diagnosed with a concussion but all other tests were negative. Great news!

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. AJ Styles

Reigns tosses Styles into the corner and the crowd boos as they are 90% behind Styles. Styles gets Reigns in a headlock, but Reigns picks Styles up and tosses him across the ring. Styles goes back to the headlock and then kicks Reigns in the leg. Styles wrenches Reigns’ arm after a few more kicks, but Reigns drops Styles with a back drop. Styles comes back and arm drags Reigns to the outside. Reigns gets back into the ring, but Styles slides to the outside and tells Reigns to come get him. Reigns goes to the outside and chases Styles, but Styles gets back into the ring and stomps away on Reigns. Styles comes off the ropes, but Reigns takes him down with the shoulder tackle that sends Styles to the floor. Styles gets back in the ring and kicks Reigns’ hamstrings again, but Reigns counters and clubs Styles down to the mat. Reigns sends Styles off the ropes, but Styles counters with a knee lift. Styles connects with a forearm, but Reigns comes back with two elbow shots and a big clothesline. Reigns picks Styles up and then slams him down to the mat. Reigns goes for the cover, but Styles kicks out at two. Reigns goes for the Superman Punch, but Styles counters with the Pele Kick. Styles connects with a forearm and goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out at two. Styles drops Reigns with a neck-breaker and goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out at two. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Reigns catches him. Styles gets free and locks in the Calf Crusher, but Reigns quickly gets to the ropes.

Reigns goes to the outside, but Styles connects with the Phenomenal Forearm and they crash through the announce table. AJ gets back into the ring, but Roman doesn’t and the referee counts Roman out.
Winner by countout: AJ Styles; Roman Reigns retains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

After the match, Shane McMahon comes out and says that is not how a championship match will end in the New Era. He says the match will restart with no countouts.

AJ tosses Reigns back into the ring and goes up top. Reigns crawls away and Styles hops down. Reigns connects with a jawbreaker. Styles comes back with forearms and a Pele Kick. Styles goes up top and goes for the 450 Splash, but Reigns gets his knees up. Reigns goes for the cover, but Styles kicks out at two. Styles gets to his feet and gets on the ropes and jumps, but Reigns counters with a shot below the belt.
Winner via disqualification: AJ Styles; Roman Reigns retains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

After the match, Stephanie McMahon comes out and says the match isn’t going to end like that and now there are no disqualifications.

The match restarts and Reigns knocks Styles to the floor. Reigns goes out after Styles and kicks him and tosses him over the barricade. Reigns goes after Styles, but Styles clotheslines him back to ringside. Styles tosses Reigns back into the ring and goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Reigns counters with a Superman Punch. Reigns goes for the cover, but Styles kicks out at two. Reigns connects with another Superman Punch and sets up for the Spear. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson run down and pull Styles from the ring. They get into the ring and brawl with Reigns. They take him down with the Boot of Doom. Styles gets on the apron and connects with the Phenomenal Forearm, but Reigns gets his foot on the rope at two. The Usos run down and go after Gallows and Anderson and the two teams brawl on the outside. Styles goes up top, but Reigns shoves him out onto everyone. Reigns flies over the top rope and takes everyone except Styles out. Styles takes Reigns out with a Phenomenal Forearm from the barricade. Styles tosses Reigns back into the ring and hits the 450 Splash and goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out at two. Styles goes for the Styles Clash, but Reigns counters and puts Styles on the apron. Styles launches into the ring, but Reigns ducks under and Spears Styles and gets the pin fall.
Winner and still WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns.

After the match, we see Vince, Stephanie, and Shane backstage. Vince gives Shane and Stephanie props for restarting the match. Vince asks them if AJ should have a rematch and they both agree. It will be Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles at Extreme Rules in three weeks in an Extreme Rules Match.

Payback comes to a close with Roman Reigns standing tall in the ring with his WWE World Heavyweight Championship.