WWE Payback Preshow Coverage

May 1, 2016 - by Michael Riba

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.

payback 16 - ziggler

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.

payback 16 - preshow

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.

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