According to one source, a big tag-team main event is scheduled to take place on tomorrow night’s post-Payback edition of WWE RAW.
In what could be a pairing of secondary champions depending on the outcome of some matches at tonight’s Payback pay-per-view, a tag-team match between Bad News Barrett and Cesaro vs. Rob Van Dam and Sheamus is the plan for tomorrow night.
(Credit: F4WOnline.com)
It’s being reported that the complete script for tonight’s WWE Payback pay-per-view was written in full this past Tuesday.
It should be noted, however, that while the script doesn’t include a WWE Tag-Team Championship match, nor has one been advertised on television leading into tonight’s show, there has been talk of a last-minute addition of The Usos vs. Luke Harper vs. Erick Rowan.
(Credit: F4WOnline.com)
Triple H recently tweeted the following, which contains a link to an Instagram photo of the Evolution leader working out in preparation for his battle with The Shield at WWE Payback on Sunday night.
Si vis pacem, para bellum. If You Want Peace, Prepare for War. Tomorrow, the last battle… #WWEPayback http://t.co/iFlow6lg5t
— Triple H (@TripleH) May 31, 2014
The Instagram photo he linked to can be seen below.
At one point WWE had plans for Cesaro to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship in a recent program. Instead, WWE opted for “The King of Swing” to work with Sheamus for the WWE United States Championship, with the feeling that going for the I-C title would be counter-productive for the newest “Paul Heyman Guy.”
As of now, there is no definitive word as to whether or not this will impact Sunday’s WWE Payback pay-per-view, where both the I-C and U.S. titles will be on the line.
The first round of betting odds have been released for Sunday’s WWE Payback pay-per-view. Here are the favorites, courtesy of International betting site PaddyPower.com:
– The Shield and Evolution are neck and neck with who will win the 6-man Elimination tag match.
– Divas champion Paige is a strong favorite to retain against Alicia Fox.
– IC Champion Wade Barrett is a strong favorite to retain against Rob Van Dam.
– John Cena is a slight favorite over Bray Wyatt in their Last Man Standing match.
– US Champion Sheamus is a slight favorite over Cesaro.
– El Torito is a strong favorite over Hornswoggle in the pre-show Mask vs. Hair match.
Make sure to check back this Sunday for our Live Coverage Results of WWE Payback.
The following are highlights of a new interview with Santino Marella:
Donald Wood: WWE’s Payback pay-per-view is Sunday, June 1, and there is a real buzz in the air about the show. As someone with a unique view of the action being in the trenches, what are you most looking forward to during the show?
Santino Marella: I really want to see the Shield vs. Evolution, for me, because this is a real classic story of the old champions that are past their prime and the new up-and-comers and somewhere theirs paths have to cross, somewhere one was going to be better than the other and it all was going to shift and change. Now? Is it maybe 2 years from now? That’s what I am really curious to see.
Mike Chiari: Having been with WWE for seven years you’ve had a lot of different experiences, but what one match or angle or moment stands out to you as your favorite thing you’ve been a part of in WWE?
Santino: It’s very difficult for me and I often tell people that the best moment is yet to come, but I believe winning the United States Championship was very nice, Elimination Chamber was very special for me, defending my US Title in a cage vs. Jack Swagger was cool; I had never been in a cage match before, to have just one moment; maybe wrestling in Italy.
Brandon Galvin: Not many fans know about your background in MMA, is this a style you would like to incorporate more into your future matches?
Santino: For my matches maybe not because my character is established but for the future and young talent, I believe this is the way the business should go because of the growth of MMA and people are becoming more savvy when it comes to submissions and takedowns and things like that. Before, when we said that wrestling was real we didn’t have to work so hard, but now that we acknowledge that it’s entertainment we have to be very realistic and that is the style we teach at Battle Arts Academy in Toronto.
Donald Wood: Your ring name Marella was an homage to WWE Hall of Famer Robert “Gorilla Monsoon” Marella. Did you have any say in this decision and how did it feel to be bestowed such an honor?
Santino: When they told me, immediately I realized it was an honor and a privilege and it did put some pressure on me to deliver the goods, so to speak.
Mike Chiari: You’ve been paired with a lot of different Divas over the course of your career like Maria, Beth Phoenix, Tamina and now Emma. As a performer how does sharing the stage with a valet or partner impact and enhance what you’re able to do?
Santino: If you know how to use them then of course you have a synergy and if you don’t know how to use them it can be a waste of time. I have been with very different women, for example, Maria was very delicate, more like a model, Beth Phoenix was very strong, Emma is very funny and Tamina was like an amazon. So you have to know how to incorporate them and it all depends on how the personalities mingle.
Donald Wood: You trained in Ohio Valley Wrestling under the tutelage of Paul Heyman. Heyman is widely regarded as one of the smartest minds in the business, but how did he influence your career and do you still go to him for advice?
Santino: Paul Heyman is like a wrestling genius. His input weighs a lot for me. In training, he was observing me and he pulled me aside and said I have an idea for you and he heard about my background and we became more selective and it was very good and it was very fun. I believe the people that watched, they believed 100 percent so we did our job, you know.
Brandon Galvin: You’re always willing to take a chance on something different and creative, whether it’s in the ring or outside the ring, with your character. How much of this a collaboration with others, or do you come up with everything we see?
Santino: In the beginning, it was more regionalized, then it was a collaboration, and now I have more freedom for input. They give me a skeleton, and say ‘you need to say this, this and this, but in your way’ and I come up with what I want to say.
Check out the complete interview above.
While this may have no impact on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship angle WWE is hyping up heading into Payback, new official WWE advertising recently came out that had Daniel Bryan listed as wrestling on the SmackDown television taping on June 24th.
The match on 6/24 for Bryan is listed as a six-man tag-team match, with The Shield and himself against Randy Orton and The Wyatt Family.
Several days after Bryan’s neck surgery, WWE sent out new advertising for their July 12th live event at Madison Square Garden, which is the company’s biggest annual non-televised show, which lists him in the main event against Triple H in a street fight.
Considering the fact that the 6/24 date is only a few weeks away, it would seem likely that if WWE wanted to, they could keep the title on Bryan since he would be back in the ring at a reasonable time.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
The Monday, May 26th Memorial Day edition of WWE RAW, which was also the WWE Payback “go-home” show, averaged 3.59 million viewers, making it one of the lowest numbers for a RAW show in the modern era that didn’t face competition from NFL.
The hourly viewership breakdown for Monday’s RAW is as follows:
Hour One: 3.54 million viewers
Hour Two: 3.86 million viewers
Hour Three: 3.41 million viewers
The final rating, which should be out later today, will likely fall somewhere between a 2.5 and a 2.7.
The contract that was used for the upcoming WWE Payback pay-per-view match between The Shield and Evolution had an interesting message at the bottom, to say the least.
The last paragraph of the contract from Monday’s RAW, which is seen in the photo below, reads as follows:
“World Wrestling Entertainment is a creative genius. The whole creation of the universe was fashioned by his ever-toiling hands. All living mortals should praise his name and image.”
– Monday night’s WWE Payback “go-home” edition of RAW was reportedly the final RAW appearance by Batista for the time being. As noted in the past, “The Animal” will be taking off a couple of months to do some movie promotional work and other things.
– It is believed that when the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan makes his return to the ring he will be working with Kane, likely in a “Buried Alive” match, as was planned prior to Bryan taking time off to undergo neck surgery. Bryan was currently added to advertisements for future WWE live events, where he is scheduled to work with Kane.
It was announced on RAW that Hornswoggle will face El Torito on Sunday’s WWE Payback kickoff show in a Hair vs. Mask match. Plus, Daniel Bryan will have to decide if he wants to surrender the WWE World Heavyweight Championship or see his wife Brie Bella fired.
Join us here this Sunday night for our Live Coverage of WWE Payback.
No Holds Barred Team Elimination Match
– The Shield vs. Evolution
Last Man Standing Match
– Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena
United States Title Match
– Sheamus (c) vs. Cesaro
Intercontinental Title Match
– Bad News Barrett (c) vs. Rob Van Dam
Divas Title Match
– Paige (c) vs. Alicia Fox
Mask vs. Hair Kickoff Pre-show Match
– El Torito vs. Hornswoggle
– Daniel Bryan will appear to answer Stephanie McMahon’s request to surrender the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. If he does not, his wife Brie will be fired.
It was revealed during the WWE RAW pre-show on the WWE Network on Monday night that Paige will be defending the WWE Divas Championship against Alicia Fox at this Sunday’s WWE Payback pay-per-view.
With that now known, here is your updated official WWE Payback pay-per-view lineup for this Sunday.
No Holds Barred Elimination Match
– The Shield vs. Evolution
Last Man Standing Match
– John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
Intercontinental Championship
– Bad News Barrett (c) vs. Rob Van Dam
United States Championship
– Sheamus (c) vs. Cesaro
Divas Championship
– Paige (c) vs. Alicia Fox
WWE’s Twitter account just issued a ‘breaking news’ alert that tonight’s RAW will feature a contract signing between The Shield and Evolution ahead of their match this Sunday at WWE Payback.
If previous WWE contract signings are any indication, it seems highly unlikely that this one takes place without a huge brawl ensuing.
For more on tonight’s RAW, check out our RAW Preview.
– The WWE Payback post-show on the WWE Network will only be a 30-minute show next Sunday night. WWE tried a one-hour post-show for the recent Extreme Rules pay-per-view, but ultimately felt like the show dragged on without a lot happening.
– The following is another clip of the new WWE “Greatest Factions” DVD and Blu-ray. This clip features former ECW faction, “Triple Threat.”
http://youtu.be/gbhs2_fuGUg
– The WWE crew will be flying back to the United States today, as the European tour ended with today’s final live event. The crew will start back with Monday’s RAW in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is the “go-home” edition of the show for the upcoming WWE Payback pay-per-view.
– Pat Patterson appeared at the WWE live event in Strasborg, France, as he served as the special guest ring announcer for the WWE Intercontinental Championship match between Bad News Barrett and Big E. As everybody knows, Patterson was the first ever WWE Intercontinental Champion.
WWE has announced that Cesaro will challenge Sheamus for the United States Championship at next Sunday night’s Payback pay-per-view. With that match set, here’s the updated card:
No Holds Barred:
– The Shield vs. Evolution
Last Man Standing:
– John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
Intercontinental Championship:
– Wade Barrett (c) vs. Rob Van Dam
United States Championship:
– Sheamus (c) vs. Cesaro
Join us here Sunday night, June 1st for Live Coverage of WWE Payback.
Currently there are three matches officially announced for the upcoming WWE Payback pay-per-view on June 1st in Chicago, Illinois. Those matches are The Shield vs. Evolution in a No Holds Barred Elimination match, John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt in a Last Man Standing match and Bad News Barrett vs. Rob Van Dam for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Other matches likely for WWE Payback include The Usos vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan for the WWE Tag-Team Championships, Paige vs. Alicia Fox for the WWE Divas Championship, Sheamus vs. Cesaro for the WWE United States Championship, Adam Rose vs. Jack Swagger, Rusev vs. Big E. and Summer Rae vs. Layla with Fandango as special guest referee.
As far as the No Holds Barred Elimination main event, a possible scenario being considered is one that would see Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins eliminated early, leaving Roman Reigns to make a huge comeback on all three Evolution members by himself.
The match will be Batista’s final match in WWE for several months, and based on plans for the future, could be one of Triple H’s last for a while as well.
WWE is indeed apparently going ahead with a love triangle story line between Fandango, Layla and Summer Rae.
According to one source, WWE is looking at a possible Layla vs. Summer Rae match at the upcoming WWE Payback pay-per-view on June 1st, with Fandango serving as the special guest referee for the bout.
Apparently the idea behind that match would be to see who Fandango sides with, and further the aforementioned love triangle story.
The two have already been sniping at each other on Twitter:
What's the problem, @realsummerwwe? I can't help it that I got the job, fell in love, and am dancing with @WWEFandango? #blessed #Raw
— Layla El (@mslayel) May 20, 2014
I bet you did @mslayel – how much does a girl like you charge 'for a job?' Let me guess…cheap? #SingleDollarBaby #WWE #Raw
— Summer Rae (@DanielleMoinet) May 20, 2014
Oh yea U so care! U played Cheap tonight …I actually feel sorry for U JEALOUSY is an Ugly Disease…. Just Like U!!! @RealSummerWWE
— Layla El (@mslayel) May 20, 2014
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
Following Monday’s taped edition of WWE RAW in London, England, here is your updated lineup for the WWE Payback pay-per-view, which takes place on Sunday, June 1st. It should be noted that not all of these matches have been officially announced yet, although are all planned for the PPV.
No Holds Barred Elimination Match
– The Shield vs. Evolution
Last Man Standing Match
– Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena
WWE Intercontinental Championship
– Bad News Barrett (c) vs. Rob Van Dam
WWE United States Championship
– Sheamus (c) vs. Cesaro
– Adam Rose vs. Jack Swagger
– Following Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown, John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt in a “Last Man Standing” match has been confirmed for the upcoming WWE Payback pay-per-view, which takes place on Sunday, June 1st.
– Speaking of SmackDown, here is this week’s edition of “SmackDown Fallout,” which features Batista.
– Finally, in one last SmackDown-related note, here is the video package that aired on Friday’s show to update fans on the condition of WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan.
The latest edition of Michael Cole’s sit-down interview series, which again features Triple H, has been added to the official YouTube channel of WWE.
In the latest installment, the WWE COO discusses the WWE World Heavyweight Championship situation with Daniel Bryan needing surgery, Kane’s recent attacks and the upcoming definitive confrontation between The Shield and Evolution at the WWE Payback pay-per-view on June 1st.
Hunter said “it remains to be seen” if The Authority swill vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but we’ll have a “definitive answer” on RAW, after Bryan’s neck surgery. He then knocked Bryan for not being an “A-Plus Player” and questioned if these are “the kind of rigors that a little B-Plus Player like Daniel Bryan can withstand.”
– Triple H announced on Monday’s RAW that The Shield will face Evolution at the upcoming Payback pay-per-view. This is a rematch from Extreme Rules, which saw The Shield standing victorious.
WWE Payback takes place on Sunday, June 1st from Chicago, Illinois.
– It was also announced on RAW that United States Champion Sheamus will face Cesaro on Tuesday night’s episode of Main Event on the WWE Network.
WWE World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan will be taking several weeks off due to a neck injury.
Bryan will undergo a minimally-invasive procedure. If it goes well, he could be back in time for the June 1st WWE Payback pay-per-view in Chicago. Otherwise, he’ll be back by Money in the Bank.
A source who was backstage at RAW says he’s been very quiet all day – and there were several rewrites to the show as a result of the injury.
Update: As we saw on Monday’s RAW, Daniel Bryan confirmed our report and announced he’ll be undergoing neck surgery on Thursday.
– WWE posted the following Mother’s Day tribute on their official Twitter account today.
From our family to yours … #HappyMothersDay!
#WWEMoms http://t.co/dSqDWycEoo
— WWE (@WWE) May 11, 2014
– The following is a video trailer for the upcoming WWE Payback pay-per-view on June 1st.
– According to one source, Adam Rose likely won’t be making his official main roster in-ring debut for WWE until the upcoming Payback pay-per-view on June 1st. It’s being rumored that Rose’s first opponent will be Jack Swagger.
– The new WWE United States Champion Sheamus is featured on the latest edition of “SmackDown Slam of the Week.” which you can check out below.