WWE Payback PPV results
June 16, 2013
Chicago, Ill.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Third Hour Results

Immediately after C.M. Punk disappeared to the back following his comeback victory over Chris Jericho, The Shield's music played. It felt like WWE didn't want the Chicago Crowd to head home after Punk's victory, so WWE transitioned right to the semi-main event. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins then came through the crowd to the ring. Randy Orton's music played first for the babyface challengers, bringing out Orton. Daniel Bryan's music then played to a huge reaction, in the ballpark of Punk tonight.

6 -- WWE tag champions THE SHIELD (ROMAN REIGNS & SETH ROLLINS) vs. DANIEL BRYAN & RANDY ORTON -- WWE Tag Title match

The crowd treated the first few minutes as a comedown/bathroom break as Shield and Bryan felt each other out to start the match. Orton then tagged in and DDT'ed Reigns before beating up Rollins, including delivering a snap powerslam for a nearfall. Orton then got the crowd fired up teasing an RKO, which also gave a "Don't Hinder Jinder" sign in the crowd another spotlight. But, Rollins rolled out of the ring to avoid the RKO. Shield proceeded to wishbone Orton, then the crowd picked up another RVD chant, which the announcers acknowledged. "Mr. Monday Night's coming back," JBL noted.

Shield continued to wear down Orton as the crowd continued to look for a reason to invest. So, they started a slow-clap. Reigns delivered a Samoan Drop to maintain control on Orton, then the crowd picked up another slow-clap. Rollins entered, then Orton suplexed Rollins onto the back of his head. This allowed Orton to tag in Bryan, who double-dropkicked both opponents before firing himself up for the House of Fire Hot Tag. Bryan smashed Reigns for a nearfall, then delivered multiple Yes! Kicks to the chest and a kick to the head for another nearfall.

At 9:45, Bryan cleared Shield members to the floor, then Bryan wanted a suicide dive on the outside, but Shield moved and Orton ate the suicide dive from Bryan. One fan on the front row hilariously shouted, "Dammit, Orton, it's all your fault!" Back in the ring, Shield isolated Bryan as Orton sold on the outside. But, Bryan put Rollins on the top turnbuckle and delivered a super bodyslam for a close nearfall.

Shield's numbers advantage caught up to Bryan, though. Suddenly, Orton re-entered the ring to help Bryan, but Bryan ate a Spear from Reigns. Chaos, then Rollins popped Bryan on top of his head with a running boot. Rollins pinned Bryan and it was good for the win. And now, Bryan is back to being the weakest link.

Post-match, Shield celebrated in the ring, Orton simply walked off frustrated with the outcome, and Bryan sold pain on the outside.

WINNERS: Shield at 12:10. Not in the best position to reach its potential after Punk's return match. (**)

After the match aired, WWE aired a PSA from Matt Lauer to promote Fatherhood. Back to the announcers, JBL didn't seem to get the cue that they were back on the air. Cole then transitioned to a video package on the John Cena vs. Ryback main event.

In-ring: Justin Roberts introduced all of the Stages of Hell in the 2/3 Falls match - Lumberjack match, Tables match, and Ambulance match. The Payback music then played to bring out the lumberjacks. Lumberjacks included but were not limited to Kane, Miz, R-Truth, 3MB, Khali, Players, Usos, Zack Ryder, Gabriel, Cesaro, Sin Cara, Langston, Yoshi Tatsu, Colons, JTG, Hawkins, Alex Riley, Sandow, Tons of Funk, DiBiase with an A.J. Styles look, Curtis Axel, Barrett, Cody Rhodes, and finally Sheamus.

After everyone was assembled ringside, Ryback marched out to the ring ready to eat a Cena Snack. John Cena then came out on-stage and looked deeply into the face of the WWE Title belt before marching to the ring. In the ring, Cena casually tossed the belt in the air toward the ref, then bounced the ropes and surveyed the crowd before finishing his pose.

Before the match, Justin Roberts handled formal ring introductions. Not too many cheers either way for this match.

7 -- WWE champion JOHN CENA vs. RYBACK -- Three Stages of Hell match for the WWE Title

STAGE 1 - LUMBERJACK MATCH

Cena started off in control before the heel and face jacks started bickering on the outside. Meanwhile, Cole talked up historic WWE lumberjack matches. Ryback then grabbed a headlock to allow Cena to adjust the belt on his cargo pants. Ryback followed with a backpack slam for a nearfall as Khali watched with a look of, "Why am I out here, again?" Ryback then tossed Cena to the outside near the heels, who took advantage of a chance to pound Cena before rolling him back into the ring.

Back in the ring, Ryback slammed Cena before declaring, "Ryback Rules!" Ryback proceeded to chuck Cena at the feet of the heel jacks again, leading to another beating until the faces restored order. Cena then tossed Ryback to the heel side and they played nice with Ryback. So, Ryback tossed Cena toward the heels again and they pounded away on Cena.

Back in the ring, Cena tossed Ryback toward the heels. The heels initially backed off, but Ryback shoved one of the heels, so all of the heels ganged up on Ryback. The faces joined in, so about 25-30 wrestlers were attacking Ryback, popping the crowd. Cena then climbed to the top rope and proceeded to cannonball dive onto Ryback and any other lumberjacks he could take out, which got a disinterested crowd to react.

Back in the ring, Cena could not capitalize on his cannonball dive. Ryback then hoisted Cena onto his shoulders, marched, and delivered Shell-Shock. It was good for the pin to win the first fall.

WINNER: Ryback at 7:30, up 1-0.

STAGE 2 - TABLES MATCH

After the lumberjacks cleared away from ringside and a rest period was observed, the next stage started with Ryback in control. Ryback introduced a table into the ring, then tried to Shell-Shock Cena to win the match, but Cena escaped. The crowd then taunted Ryback with a Goldberg chant. Ryback tried to quiet the crowd by press-slamming Cena through the table, but Cena slipped out and shoved Ryback out of the ring to the outside.

On the floor, Ryback ran Cena shoulder-first into the ring steps, ending Cena's momentum. Back in the ring, Ryback tried to smash Cena through a table with the ring steps, but Cena avoided and the steps went through the table. Cena then picked up the steps to pop Ryback in the face with. Next, Cena grabbed a new table from under the ring. Cena slowly set up the table, allowing Ryback to recover, but Ryback missed Cena and smashed the table with the steps again.

At 14:10, Cena made his trademark comeback before doing the You Can't See Me pose and fistdrop. Cena wanted the AA, but Ryback countered with a spinebuster. Ryback wanted to end Cena's night with a big clothesline, and he connected. But, there was no table available. So, Ryback went on the hunt for another table, which gave Cena another breather. JBL said it looks like they won't need the ambulance match, which was the reverse psychology before Cena reversed Shell-Shock into AA through the table, giving Cena the fall.

WINNER: Cena at 16:05, tied 1-1.

After the decision, Ryback popped to his feet and smashed Cena before chucking him out of the ring to the outside. On the floor, Ryback cleared the announce table before powerbombing Cena onto the table. Cena kind of slid through the table and crashed down to the floor as the table broke. Ryback smiled, then taunted Cena and dragged the WWE champ back into the ring. Then, the bell officially sounded to begin Stage 3.

STAGE 3 - AMBULANCE MATCH

Ryback dragged Cena out of the ring, then hoisted him on his shoulders and dragged Cena toward the ambulance on-stage. But, Cena slipped off Ryback's shoulders and shoved Ryback into the ambulance. Ryback crawled away, then Cena opened the ambulance's side door to find some toys to play with. Notably, several crutches spilled out of the side door. Ryback initially blocked a crutch shot, but Cena smashed Ryback's hand into the side of the ambulance. Ryback sold pain, then Cena slammed Ryback back-first into the side of the ambulance.

Both men sold the effects of the battle at 20:30 before Ryback opened the ambulance's driver-side door. Ryback wanted to send Cena into the driver's door, but Cena reversed the Irish Whip and Ryback crashed through the door, which fell to the ground. Lawler quipped that since they're in the Allstate Arena, they might need to call an insurance agent. After a reset, Cena shoved Ryback against the driver's seat, causing Ryback to accidentally hit some buttons that made noises. Ryback shoved Cena away, then ripped away the ambulance fender to use as a weapon. Ryback created a fender-bender, then stood over a fallen Cena.

Ryback wanted a powerbomb onto the hood of the ambulance, but Cena countered with a back body drop. Cena then climbed to the top of the ambulance, removed the siren display, and smashed Ryback with the sirens as Ryback tried to give chase. Ryback recovered on the floor, then scooped up a crutch and stared down Cena, who sat on top of the ambulance. Meanwhile, some of the fans started Fandango'ing in the background.

On top of the ambulance, Cena popped the crutch across Ryback's back before giving the crowd a look. Cena wanted the AA and he slammed Ryback through the roof of the ambulance. "Did Ryback just go through the roof of the ambulance?" Cole declared. The bell anti-climatically sounded and Cena was declared the winner as he stood on top of the ambulance.

Post-match, Cena kind of smirked about the finish, then hopped off the ambulance and received his WWE Title belt. Cena walked back into the ring, then held up the title belt as the Scott Steiner siren played in the background to signal Ryback being hauled away from the building off-camera. After a replay of the finish, they cut to a live shot of Cena posing in the corner. WWE then showed the ambulance being driven out of the building. WWE flashed "Ambulance Match" trending on Twitter as Cena continued to pose in the ring.

WWE then replayed the AA through the gimmicked roof of the ambulance and Cena celebrating. Back live, Cena took a victory lap as Cole tried to find the right note to close the show on. So, WWE replayed the finish one more time, then from another angle high in the arena, trying to make this seem like a memorable moment. Cena then disappeared to the back, WWE flashed the credits, they again replayed the finish and again replayed Cena posing on top of the ambulance to close the PPV at 9:51.

WINNER: Cena 2-1 at 24:38 to retain the WWE Title. Satisfying for the Cena Crowd that bought the PPV, but the match got ridiculous pretty quickly in the third fall. Just not PPV main event-worthy, relying too much on gimmickry for the second-straight month. Meanwhile, Ryback scored a pinfall on the WWE champion, giving him an "out" to get another title shot, if WWE goes that direction. (**1/2)

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