WWE Payback PPV Review
By: Larry Causion Jr. CausionCreations.com
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2015
Credit: Dave Meltzer, WrestlingObserver.com
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2015
Credit: Dave Meltzer, WrestlingObserver.com
Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns
vs. Dean Ambrose for WWE title
vs. Dean Ambrose for WWE title
Dave Meltzer from home
Very good match but a flat finish. Orton used the RKO on Noble, Mercury, hit the draping DDT on Rollins, then hit the RKO on Kane but Rollins then hit Orton with the pedigree for the pin. A lot of very good spots including a period where The Shield triple power bombed Orton through a table. Then they turned on Rollins and laid him out. Then they put Kane through a table on top of Rollins. That took two tries because the table didn't break the first time. Ambrose and Reigns were the last two standing and worked spots with each other but Rollins saved after Reigns hit the spear.
Very good match but a flat finish. Orton used the RKO on Noble, Mercury, hit the draping DDT on Rollins, then hit the RKO on Kane but Rollins then hit Orton with the pedigree for the pin. A lot of very good spots including a period where The Shield triple power bombed Orton through a table. Then they turned on Rollins and laid him out. Then they put Kane through a table on top of Rollins. That took two tries because the table didn't break the first time. Ambrose and Reigns were the last two standing and worked spots with each other but Rollins saved after Reigns hit the spear.
Larry Live in the arena
The main event was clearly the match of the night and the match everyone was waiting for. Ambrose was over huge. Orton had a lot of fans. And Reigns, this guy got Cena heat. Like him or hate him, he got a hell of a reaction of the Baltimore crowd. The Shield spots were excellent and people were popping like popcorn. I love the triple power-bomb and Seth Rollins facials before the turned on him. I didn't like all the interference, but I get it. The finish with the pedigree sucked the air out of the place. One pedigree? They really need to wrap up that lawsuit and un-ban the curb stomp soon.
The main event was clearly the match of the night and the match everyone was waiting for. Ambrose was over huge. Orton had a lot of fans. And Reigns, this guy got Cena heat. Like him or hate him, he got a hell of a reaction of the Baltimore crowd. The Shield spots were excellent and people were popping like popcorn. I love the triple power-bomb and Seth Rollins facials before the turned on him. I didn't like all the interference, but I get it. The finish with the pedigree sucked the air out of the place. One pedigree? They really need to wrap up that lawsuit and un-ban the curb stomp soon.
John Cena vs. Rusev for U.S. title in an I Quit match
Dave Meltzer from home
A nearly 30 minute match with the obvious finish, as Cena had Rusev in the STF while also using the top rope to put added pressure on and Lana said "I Quit." This was more a stunt show than a match, with both beating on each other and each refusing to quit. They didn't do much in the way of submissions only a Rusev Accolade that Cena got out of. Cena gave Rusev an Attitude Adjustment into the pyro which they teased as being the finish Lana came out but she didn't say I Quit for several more minutes. It was good but the moves to set up he ref asking if each guy would quit were really not convncing most of the way.
A nearly 30 minute match with the obvious finish, as Cena had Rusev in the STF while also using the top rope to put added pressure on and Lana said "I Quit." This was more a stunt show than a match, with both beating on each other and each refusing to quit. They didn't do much in the way of submissions only a Rusev Accolade that Cena got out of. Cena gave Rusev an Attitude Adjustment into the pyro which they teased as being the finish Lana came out but she didn't say I Quit for several more minutes. It was good but the moves to set up he ref asking if each guy would quit were really not convncing most of the way.
Larry Live in the arena
Cena is the king of heat. Place loved him. Even the Cena haters really like the guy, but they tried to keep up their gimmick. Match itself was nothing really special. Its like they went straight to moves, instead of actually have a match. The stupidest thing in the world is a man being kicked and the ref asking him does he quit. Smh. I quit matches need to be done away with if the ref if going to ask for every little thing, and they are not going to bother to apply multiple submission moves into the match. It wasn't the smartest booked match, but the crowd enjoyed it. the little firework explosion was just... cheesy.
Cena is the king of heat. Place loved him. Even the Cena haters really like the guy, but they tried to keep up their gimmick. Match itself was nothing really special. Its like they went straight to moves, instead of actually have a match. The stupidest thing in the world is a man being kicked and the ref asking him does he quit. Smh. I quit matches need to be done away with if the ref if going to ask for every little thing, and they are not going to bother to apply multiple submission moves into the match. It wasn't the smartest booked match, but the crowd enjoyed it. the little firework explosion was just... cheesy.
Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt
Dave Meltzer from home
Wyatt won with a tackle sending Ryback into the exposed metal after removing the padding off the turnbuckle and hit Sister Abigail for the pin. Not as good as the previous matches but decent enough. Highlights were Wyatt doing a senton off the apron on him and Ryback doing a splash off the top rope.
Wyatt won with a tackle sending Ryback into the exposed metal after removing the padding off the turnbuckle and hit Sister Abigail for the pin. Not as good as the previous matches but decent enough. Highlights were Wyatt doing a senton off the apron on him and Ryback doing a splash off the top rope.
Larry Live in the arena
Wyatt's entrance with everyone turning the lights on on their phone was great. As for the match, sorry, i wanted wanted tenders and fries, and a slice of pizza, so I was on the move. Priorities.
Wyatt's entrance with everyone turning the lights on on their phone was great. As for the match, sorry, i wanted wanted tenders and fries, and a slice of pizza, so I was on the move. Priorities.
New Day vs. Tyson Kidd & Cesaro 2/3 falls
Dave Meltzer from home
The New Day retained when Xavier Woods, who was the non-particpant snuck into the ring and schoolboyed Cesaro for the pin. The match was cool and the crowd was into it, but it was way too short for three falls. They rushed through the falls and there were several missed spots, but lots of cool stuff as well. First fall was the giant swing dropkick spot on Kingston. The New Day won the second fall with their regular on finish on Kidd, which was mistimed. Kidd, Cesaro and E did some very impressive stuff here. Not quite as good as their match last month.
The New Day retained when Xavier Woods, who was the non-particpant snuck into the ring and schoolboyed Cesaro for the pin. The match was cool and the crowd was into it, but it was way too short for three falls. They rushed through the falls and there were several missed spots, but lots of cool stuff as well. First fall was the giant swing dropkick spot on Kingston. The New Day won the second fall with their regular on finish on Kidd, which was mistimed. Kidd, Cesaro and E did some very impressive stuff here. Not quite as good as their match last month.
Larry Live in the arena
The heat for the New Day is fantastic. I am happy for these guys, because they were given no chance as faces with the stupid gimmick, but as heels, they are great. Xavier Woods is hilarious. Fans love chanting New Day Sucks. Were even doing it before the show started. They went at Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles, which got good heat too. The match itself was a little sloppy at points and seemed very rushed for 2/3 falls. But Cesaro is excellent and I will always enjoy anything he's involved in, even though there were some botches.
The heat for the New Day is fantastic. I am happy for these guys, because they were given no chance as faces with the stupid gimmick, but as heels, they are great. Xavier Woods is hilarious. Fans love chanting New Day Sucks. Were even doing it before the show started. They went at Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles, which got good heat too. The match itself was a little sloppy at points and seemed very rushed for 2/3 falls. But Cesaro is excellent and I will always enjoy anything he's involved in, even though there were some botches.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
Dave Meltzer from home
Sheamus won with a Brogue kick after Ziggler busted himself up with a head-butt. Ziggler was covered in hardway blood and it looked like they went right to the finish as Ziggler wasn't even on his feet for the kick. Earlier in the match Ziggler hiked up his trunks and rubbed his ass in Sheamus' face so heTgot revenge for the kiss my ass stipulation. The cameras were staying away from showing Ziggler bloody.
Sheamus won with a Brogue kick after Ziggler busted himself up with a head-butt. Ziggler was covered in hardway blood and it looked like they went right to the finish as Ziggler wasn't even on his feet for the kick. Earlier in the match Ziggler hiked up his trunks and rubbed his ass in Sheamus' face so heTgot revenge for the kiss my ass stipulation. The cameras were staying away from showing Ziggler bloody.
Larry Live in the arena
Hard hitting slug fest that they gave good time to. Crowd loved this match. Ziggler was on his A game, which was nice to see. I just don't why he headbutted Sheamus. He looked like he not only busted himself open by doing so, but knocked himself out. he was bleeding bad. They probably would have been even better.
Hard hitting slug fest that they gave good time to. Crowd loved this match. Ziggler was on his A game, which was nice to see. I just don't why he headbutted Sheamus. He looked like he not only busted himself open by doing so, but knocked himself out. he was bleeding bad. They probably would have been even better.
Neville vs. King Barrett
Dave Meltzer from home
They were in a tough spot to get heat. Match was going along fine when Barrett rolled out of the ring as Neville went to the top rope Barrett refused to get back in the ring and was counted out. So after the match, Barrett hit the Bull hammer and beat him down, but Neville made a comeback and used a German suplex and hit the red arrow. If he was going to hit the red arrow, why didn't he just win. Talk about overthinking something simple.
They were in a tough spot to get heat. Match was going along fine when Barrett rolled out of the ring as Neville went to the top rope Barrett refused to get back in the ring and was counted out. So after the match, Barrett hit the Bull hammer and beat him down, but Neville made a comeback and used a German suplex and hit the red arrow. If he was going to hit the red arrow, why didn't he just win. Talk about overthinking something simple.
Larry Live in the arena
This match was in a tough spot and the booking sucked ass. Why would you have a guy walk out for a count out, when he has no title to protect? essentially, he took a loss on purpose. The of course the crowd wanted to see the red arrow, so you have him do it and lay Barrett out anyway, so what was the point!!! Why not just have Neville win, and move on. Stupid.
This match was in a tough spot and the booking sucked ass. Why would you have a guy walk out for a count out, when he has no title to protect? essentially, he took a loss on purpose. The of course the crowd wanted to see the red arrow, so you have him do it and lay Barrett out anyway, so what was the point!!! Why not just have Neville win, and move on. Stupid.