WWE Payback – May 27th 2018
Jonathan Coachman's voice was the first to be heard when the Smackdown-exclusive pay-per-view went live, while the crowd were shown cheering the start of the show. "Hello and welcome to WWE Payback! I'm Jonathan Coachman, alongside Corey Graves. And tonight, we have a special guest commentator. Welcome, Michael Cole."
"Thanks, Coach," Cole said. "I'm standing in for Renee Young, who is going to be in action later tonight when she meets Zelina Vega. Gentleman, that one is not going to pretty."
"No it's not," Graves agreed. "Neither of those ladies are wrestlers, but they do hate each other. What we're going to see is a fight, and I think it's going to get ugly for Renee Young."
While he was finishing his final sentence, Daniel Bryan's music hit, starting the fans cheering again.
"We're kicking off with Daniel Bryan," Cole said. "It was announced earlier tonight on WWE dot com and on Twitter that Smackdown's general manager has been instructed to announce the result of the vote of no confidence in Stephanie McMahon's leadership that was held this past Friday."
"That's right," Coach said while Bryan yessed his way down the entrance ramp. "That man right there knows the answer to the question we've all been asking: Is Stephanie McMahon still the commissioner of Tuesday Night Smackdown?"
"I know which answer I'm hoping for," Graves said. "It's time we saw the back of McMahon and her reign of chaos. In my opinion, Zelina Vega is the best candidate for the top job. Look at what she's been able to do with The Vega Cartel in just a matter of a couple of months. They hold every major title on Smackdown."
"You want to replace what you describe as a reign of chaos with what would undoubtedly be a reign of tyranny?" Coach asked.
Graves didn't respond because Bryan was ready to speak in the ring. "Welcome to Payback!" he said excitedly, drawing another cheer. "We've got an amazing show lined up for you tonight, bringing you the top quality matches that only Tuesday Night Smackdown can offer. But before we can get the action underway, I have the duty of making an announcement."
"So get on with it," Graves said dryly.
"As most of you will be aware, WWE's board of directors met on Friday, with the top item on the agenda being a vote of no confidence in our commissioner, Stephanie McMahon."
A mixture of cheers and boos could be heard. Presumably the cheers were for Stephanie's name and the boos for the no confidence vote.
Meanwhile, for the audience at home, a shot appeared on the screen of a plush locker room where the entire Vega Cartel were sitting on leather couches, watching proceedings on a flat screen TV. Zelina seemed to be hanging on every word, for obvious reasons.
"There we see The Vega Cartel, who have, let's say a vested interest in this announcement," Cole said.
Bryan went on, "I was sent an instruction by the board to come out here tonight and announce the result of the vote, which will determine if Stephanie continues in her role with the full backing of the office back in Stamford, or if she will be relieved of her position with immediate effect."
A chant of "Steph!" began, quickly growing in volume. It was obvious which outcome the fans desired.
Dragging out the announcement to build anticipation, Daniel waited for them to quiet down before continuing. "I can tell you now that a unanimous decision was not made. However, by a majority verdict, the vote determined that Stephanie McMahon..." he let his voice trail off to build even more anticipation.
"Say it!" Graves demanded.
"Will continue as commissioner of Tuesday Night Smackdown!"
"Yes!" Coach exclaimed, while the crowd went wild.
As soon as Bryan revealed the outcome, the cartel locker room was shown. All of the members were voicing their anger in the direction of the TV, apart from Zelina. She was just sitting there, absolutely seething.
"Look at Vega!" Graves said. "She's livid with that decision!"
"Oh, boo hoo," Coach said dismissively.
"Therefore," Daniel said, "Please welcome our commissioner, Stephanie McMahon!"
"Listen to this ovation!" Cole called out when the boss's music hit and she walked out onto the stage, raising her arms in celebration. "Gentlemen, I have to say that, speaking as something of an outsider, I think the board made the correct decision to show faith in Stephanie."
"No one cares what you think, Cole," Graves said heatedly.
Stephanie had wasted no time getting down to the ring, and was already prepared to speak. But before she could, Daniel spoke up. "Before you say anything, Steph, there's something I'd like to say to you."
Raising her eyebrows slightly, Stephanie nevertheless looked open to hearing him out.
"This whole no confidence vote has acted as something of a wakeup call to me. If you had been voted out of office, Zelina Vega would have been left as the most likely candidate to succeed you, and that's something no one wants to see," he added over a volley of boos directed at Vega.
"So what are you saying?" Stephanie prompted.
"I'm saying that I've come to the realisation that it's time to put our past differences, however great they might have been, behind us. We need to function as a management team, and our aim needs to be to take down The Vega Cartel. I offer you my full support, if you'll give me the same in return."
As Bryan extended his hand, the crowd erupted into a "Yes!" chant, trying to encourage McMahon to accept the new alliance. She looked around at the fans, trying to make up her mind.
"That's mighty big of Daniel Bryan," Coach opined.
Slowly, nodding her approval, Stephanie extended her hand and took Daniel's, to a rapturous response.
"They're shaking hands!" Cole called out. "McMahon and Bryan are on the same page! What does this mean for The Vega Cartel?"
"I can't honestly say this is how I expected things to play out," Stephanie said over the top of the raucous atmosphere. "But, Daniel, you're exactly right. There is a common enemy we need to fight, and that is Zelina Vega and her cartel." She looked right into the camera. "There's an expression, if you want to kill a snake, cut off it's head. So, Vega, all I have to say to you is, your hostile takeover bid has failed. And now that it has, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes come Tuesday night, because I'm going to show you what a commissioner can do when she puts her mind to it. You're going to wish you'd never even thought about signing for Smackdown."
"I don't like the sound of that at all," Graves said as Stephanie dropped her microphone to the mat. Her music hit and the now united management team left the ring.
The cartel locker room was shown again, now in total uproar. Everyone was on their feet, shouting about how ridiculous the board's decision was and arguing with each other over what should be done about it. Zelina was the only quiet one, staring at the TV, her face dark with rage.
"Vega looks like she's about to have a meltdown," Coach said. "She'd better hope her cartel doesn't suffer the same fate. Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode defend their Smackdown Tag Team Championships against The Bludgeon Brothers tonight, Bayley defends her Smackdown Women's Championship against Carmella, and Seth Rollins defends the WWE Championship against Finn Balor and AJ Styles in a triple threat match. It could all easily slip away from Vega tonight."
"That's not going to happen," Graves insisted.
Young vs Vega was the third match on the card. After the promo package to recap their rivalry, Renee was shown walking along a hallway, on her way to Gorilla. She was wearing red and white ring attire – the colours of the Canadian flag. There was a very determined expression on her face.
"There's Renee Young, on her way out here for her first ever wrestling match," Cole said.
She looks ready. She looks focused," Coach added. "You've got to hand it to her, she's got guts."
"What she doesn't have is a brain," Graves countered. "She has to be crazy to get in a ring with Zelina Vega. This could be a massacre."
"Tell that to the steel cage Vega got her head bounced off of," Coach chuckled. "Besides, Vega has no more experience in a wrestling ring than Young."
The shot changed back to the arena as Renee neared Gorilla. She had been given some entrance music and a video package shortly after getting the commentary job, so it was recognisable to some when it began to play. She got quite a pop from the fans, probably helped by the fact that she was about to go at it with the hated Zelina Vega.
"There's only one thing I fear about this match, Cole," Graves said as Renee walked out onto the stage.
"What's that?"
"If Zelina beats Renee to a pulp, we might get stuck with you every week."
Coach had to laugh at that, but he quickly covered himself. "Honestly, it's no laughing matter. Young and Vega genuinely despise each other. I think this is going to get nasty."
As Renee approached the ring, Greg Hamilton made his announcement. "This contest is scheduled for one fall." He ignored the fans repeating him. "Introducing first, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Renee Young!"
Cole said, "I think a lot of these fans would like to be in Renee's position right now. They would like to take a shot at Vega themselves."
Graves snorted derisively. "Zelina's said it many times: the fans are idiots. What they, and you, should remember is what Bayley said two weeks ago. She promised to create a monster out of Vega and unleash that monster on Renee Young."
"We'll soon see how much that promise was worth," Cole said as Renee's music faded out.
The shot changed to a different hallway than the one Renee had been in. Zelina was walking towards the arena alone, wearing black leather ring gear with gold trim – Vega Cartel colours. There could be no doubt she was in great shape, and she looked ready for a fight, spurred on by her anger at Stephanie managing to keep her job.
"Look at Zelina!" Graves cried in awe. "Bayley said she would create a monster! Look at Vega's physique, Coach. How do like your girl Renee's chances now?"
"It's the look on Vega's face that worries me. Renee might be in the wrong place at the wrong time here."
"But don't forget Young already left Vega a bloody mess once," Cole countered as the shot returned to the arena.
The cartel's theme hit a moment later, to a venomous crowd response. "Here we go!" Graves enthused.
Zelina was all business, marching to the ring without posing on the ramp as she usually did. Hamilton had to be quick with his announcement. "And her opponent, from Queens, New York, Zelina Vega!" More boos rained down.
"To say the least, a hostile reaction for Vega," Cole said. "But I honestly don't think she cares. One thing we do know is Young needs to stay away from the spike hurracanrana. If Zelina hit's that, it'll be over."
Zelina rolled into the ring, looking like she was going to go right after Renee, but the referee made sure to stop her, wanting to start the match properly. He only called for the bell once they had backed off into opposite corners.
"And we're underway," Cole said after the bell rang.
Renee immediately charged towards Zelina, who hit the mat and rolled out of the ring under the bottom rope. The crowd were right on her back for the cowardly act.
"There's the Vega I'm used to seeing," Coach said with distaste.
Zelina waved off Renee and sauntered around the corner of the ring, intending to take her sweet time getting back in there. Renee, however, was having none of it. She bailed out of the ring herself and ran after Vega. Seeing her opponent coming, Zelina took off running.
"Young chasing Vega down at ringside," Cole said. "Zelina Vega is running from Renee Young!"
Zelina completed a lap of the ring then rolled back in under the bottom rope. Renee followed, but Vega was up on her feet, ready and waiting.
"That's the Vega I'm used to seeing," Graves said, mocking Coach as Zelina started mercilessly stomping on Renee's back. "Always at least one step ahead of everyone else. She sucked Young in, now look at her go!"
In an extraordinary scene, Zelina stood there frantically stomping the crap out of Renee for well over thirty seconds, angering the crowd to an extraordinary level. When she finally stopped, she was breathing heavily with the effort that she had put into the vicious beat down. She raised an arm in triumph, rubbing her dominance in the fan's faces.
"The fans are all over Vega here," Cole said over the nasty booing.
"She's got them in the palm of her hand," Graves said. "And look at Renee, she's done already. Just pin her and get this ridiculous charade over with. To think people thought she would stand a chance," he scoffed.
Renee was indeed struggling after the kicking she had taken. She rolled back under the rope, hitting the floor like a wet blanket.
Finished with toying with the crowd for now, Zelina exited the ring and picked Renee up. Launching into a run, she hurled her opponent back first into the ringside barricade.
"Come on, Renee!" Zelina shouted at the Canadian, who lay crumbled up on the floor. "I thought you were going to get payback?" She delivered a savage kick to Renee's side.
"Oh, man," Coach said. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. We might all have gotten a bit carried away after the cage incident."
"You think?" Graves asked sarcastically.
Zelina had picked Renee up again. She repeated the same move, tossing Young into the barricade at the next corner of the ring, closer to the commentary position. "Where's my payback, Renee?" she screamed.
The referee was out there with them, repeatedly telling Zelina to take it in the ring, not that he stood much chance of being listened to. Vega picked Young up and again and led her over to the commentary table.
"Oh!" Cole shouted when Renee's head was banged onto the top of the table. All of the commentators got to their feet.
"This is where you're supposed to sit!" Zelina shouted at Renee, slamming her head into the table again.
"You're just a commentator!"
Slam.
"But you had to get in my face, didn't you?"
Slam.
"You thought you could beat me!"
Slam.
"Well this is what you get!"
Slam.
Zelina let Renee fall to the floor, looking totally destroyed. Satisfied with herself, she walked around behind the commentary table and snatched Coach's headset off him and shoved him aside so that she could stand in front of his chair.
"Why don't you get in the ring?" Cole demanded of her.
"Shut your mouth," she snapped at him. "What I'm doing right now is showing exactly what happens to anyone who gets on the wrong side of Zelina Vega or The Vega Cartel. We already saw Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode retain their titles in the previous match. Later, we'll see Bayley and Seth Rollins do the same."
"What about the announcement that Stephanie McMahon is still the commissioner of Smackdown?" Graves asked her.
"I'm talking, Corey. Shut up and listen and you might learn something."
"Sorry," he said humbly.
"Stephanie McMahon can make all the threats she wants. The fact of the matter is, I will win this stupid so-called match she put me in, my cartel will all retain their titles tonight, and one way or another, in due course, I will force McMahon out of office, and I will become the commissioner of Tuesday Night Smackdown."
"Speaking of the match, any chance you might go and compete in it?" Cole asked, risking some sarcasm.
Zelina looked over towards the ring, where Renee was trying to use the ring apron to pull herself up. "Don't worry, Cole, I'm a long way from finished with her yet." She tore the headset off and slammed it into Coach's chest.
"What's she doing now?" Cole demanded.
Zelina had taken the monitor cover off the table and thrown it aside. She proceeded to take the monitors out of the table and throw them aside also. Walking over to her opponent, who was still struggling to get up, she resumed shouting. "That's a nice commentary table, Renee! Sadly, I'm going to have to ruin it!"
After dragging Young over to the table, Vega lifted her on top of it, then climbed up there herself.
"This is going to be the end of Renee Young," Graves said as the commentary team hurried away from the table.
Zelina had Renee in position to deliver a powerbomb through the table, but before she could attempt it, Renee found life from somewhere and broke out. Taken by surprise, Vega didn't react quickly enough. Young kicked her in the stomach and delivered a DDT, collapsing the table in the process. The fans erupted as Graves screamed in horror.
"Vega just went head first through our commentary table!" Coach shouted, now back on the air.
"Both women are down," Cole said. "Our table is in pieces. It's carnage out here!"
"Forget the damn table!" Graves shouted. "We need help out here for Zelina Vega! She could have a concussion! She could have a broken neck!"
Seeing the remains of Vega on the big screen, lying among the table wreckage flat on her back with her eyes closed, the fans were chanting, "Yes!" But their cheers turned to boos when a crew of medical personnel hurried down the entrance ramp, bringing a stretcher with them.
"You're going to have to call the match off," Cole said to the referee, who was checking on both women.
Ignoring him, the ref set about helping the medics with Zelina once they arrived on the scene.
"Vega hasn't moved," Graves said quietly, horrified. "This is serious, guys. It's not about whether you like her at this point."
Zelina wasn't moving, but Renee was. Battered and dishevelled, she was still able to get to her feet. She stood there trying to regain her senses after the beating she had taken.
"It looks like they're going to put a neck brace on Vega," Cole said seriously. "You're right, Corey, this looks bad."
To a thunderous reaction, Renee walked over and shoved one of the paramedics out of the way before they could get the neck brace applied, followed by another.
"What are you doing, you idiot?" Graves shouted at her as she tossed the neck brace away and started dragging Zelina towards the ring.
"Renee doesn't care if Vega's hurt," Cole called out. "She came here tonight to get a piece of her, and that's exactly what she's done. Now she wants to beat her."
"Stop the damn match!" Graves shouted at the referee, but the official walked over and got back in the ring as Young shovelled Vega under the bottom rope.
After sliding into the ring, Renee went straight for a cover.
"No! No!" Graves shouted while everyone in the arena joined in with the count.
"One!"
"Two!"
Zelina's shoulder hopped off the canvas at the last moment.
"Yes! She kicked out!" Graves yelled happily, while everyone in the audience signalled their disappointment and surprise.
"I can't believe that," Coach said.
Even though Zelina was still in the match, Renee now had the upper hand, and with it a chance to show what she could do. She spent the next five minutes hitting some well-executed but basic suplexs and slams before setting Vega up for another DDT that would surely be the finishing touch.
However, Zelina countered into a northern lights suplex, leaving both women down.
"What a counter," Graves said. "That was picture perfect by Vega, but who can capitalise?"
The answer was soon clear. Despite the damage she had suffered, Zelina was on her feet first. With Renee kneeling groggily, Vega kicked her square in the face, superkick style.
"Oh! That was brutal," Cole said.
Sensing that the end might be near, the crowd started booing. Zelina waited for Renee to start moving again, then ran and hit the ropes.
"Here it comes! Spike hurracanrana!" Graves yelled as the finishing move connected. "That'll put any woman down."
"Vega for the win," Cole said as she made a cover and hooked Young's leg.
One.
Two.
Three.
The crowd groaned in dissatisfaction, but they were not surprised. Once Zelina had hit the one devastating move she had in her locker, everyone had known the count was academic.
"She did it! Vega wins!" Graves enthused while Zelina celebrated, still holding her neck to sell the injury.
"Renee Young gave it everything she had, and she definitely left her mark on Zelina Vega," Cole said.
Coach added, "Young has every right to feel proud of the performance she gave here tonight."
"Please," Graves countered as the camera focused on Zelina having her hand raised in victory. "Renee's a loser. That woman right there, Zelina Vega, is the one who should be proud. Put into a wrestling match by Stephanie McMahon, despite not being a wrestler, she walks out a winner after bouncing Young's head off the mat like a basket ball. Vega should be proud. I'm proud of her."
Leaving the ring, Zelina had a smug smile on her face.
Coach said, "Let's see if that smile is still on Vega's face Tuesday night. Even if the cartel still have all their gold by then, and that's a big if, I think Stephanie has something up her sleeve that Zelina's not going to like one bit."
A/N: Special thanks to everyone who left predictions for this event. I love to have interaction like that with you guys. I think we'll have to do it more often, with shout outs on offer for correct predictions. The only person who correctly the outcome of the vote and the match was ForzaAzzurra. Now you're all going to accuse me of fixing it. Haha!
A lot of people asked to see more of Bayley and Daga. Thank you for your input, it has been noted.
I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter, please.
Next time, we have the next Smackdown episode. The prediction question is going to be a tough one, but that means a lot of kudos if someone is correct! Stephanie promised Zelina something she's not going to like at all. What is it going to be?