Later that little night, Alex settled in the family room with his dad to watch WWE Payback PPV. The 2016 WWE Payback kickoff with the preshow opened live from Chicago, Illinois, with Renee Young as little Alex and Alex see the fans inside the Allstate Arena. Renee welcomes the fans at home, and Jerry "The King" Lawler, Booker T, and Cory Graves join her. Renee, the fans, were backstage to Greg Hamilton in the social media lounge. He plugs tonight's hashtags and will have Sami Zyan later for fan questions. Next, she sends the fans back to Renee to a video of Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon on last week's RAW. They talk about Vince McMahon's announcement and then another video for Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose. Next, there is more hype for tonight's show and a Tapout video, and then Renee leads the fans to a promo for tonight's main event. After the footage, Booker predicts AJ Styles wins, and Graves goes with Roman Reigns, and Lawler agrees with Graves.
"Who do you want to win, AJ?" his dad asked him.
"Me, I want Roman Reigns, daddy," he replied.
"Me too, buddy," he said.
They heard Renee, led them to a WrestleMania 32 recap video, and plugged tonight's tag team tournament finals.
Kristina walked into the family room and said, "What happens so far" sitting down beside her son, who cuddled with her.
"Not much; this is the preshow," Alex said.
"Ah yes," she said as they saw Mauro Ranallo and Byron Saxton
They saw Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy at ringside, as Baron Corbin makes his way out first to a chorus of boo. JoJo is doing ring announcing.
Dolph Ziggler makes his way out next to a pop. He makes his way to the ring and enters as Corbin watches on from the ringside. The bell rings, and they meet in the middle of the ring for some trash talking. Corbin shoves Ziggler, and Ziggler fires back with right hands forcing Corbin into the corner. Corbin pushes Ziggler off and then whips him shoulder-first into the turnbuckles. Ziggler hits hard and goes down. Corbin goes to work on Ziggler and chokes him on the bottom rope. Corbin slides out to the floor and nails Ziggler with a big right hand.
Corbin tosses him back inside, then slides in and covers him for a two count. Corbin keeps control and then begun to argues with the referee. Corbin begun to shows off and gets booed. Ziggler tries to fight back, but Corbin catches him and drops him over the top rope. Ziggler tries to fight back again, but Corbin cuts him off; Ziggler finally gets a sleeper holds applied, and Corbin goes down to one knee. Corbin breaks it in the corner and blocks superkick. Ziggler hits another kick, and a fameasser covers him for a close two count. They end up on the floor, and Ziggler jumps off the steel steps but Corbin books him out of the air. Corbin launches Ziggler face-first into the ringpost, and fans boo him. Corbin rolls Ziggler back in the ring and plays to the fans for more heat. However, he wastes the time she gets, she back into the ring.
Corbin comes back in and puts a boot on Ziggler. Corbin picks Ziggler up but stalls more to argue with the referee again. Ziggler rolls him up out of nowhere for the win. He escapes the ring before Corbin can go after him; Corbin looks upset and can't believe it. Ziggler makes his exit as Corbin looks on from the ring. They see promo videos and come back to Renee, who them to a video package for Sami Zyan vs. Kevin Owens, and then Sami is now in the social media lounge with Greg Hamilton. Sami said, "There They heard Renee, leading up was Bret Hart because of his tenacity and his matches." Sami isn't sure if he would ever trust Kevin Owens again because of their history.
He said, "They're like brothers but probably never fought like this." They talk more about Owens before Greg sends the fans back to Mauro and Byron for the preshow match.
Back to the ring and out first come to WWE United States Champion Kalisto for WrestleMania 32 rematch. Kalisto does his entrance, runs to the ring, hops onto tramp lion into the ring over the top rope, and poses for the fans. Ryback is out next to mostly boos and marches to the call and stomps up the steps and into the ring where he is boo some more. They get the formal ring introductions from Eden. Fans chant "Goldberg" as soon as the match starts. There was nonstop action between Ryback and Kalisto until Ryback missed a big splash from the top, and Kalisto nails Salida del Sol for the win.
After the match, back to the panel as the camera shows the door of Vince McMahon's office. The panel talks about the US title match as they show announcers coming out of the PPV, the preshow ended.
The 2016 WWE Payback Pay Per View opened with WWE Tag Team Champions on The New Day coming out. Xavier Woods talks about the tournament, presented but Booty O's, and Kofi said, "They will be sitting at ringside for the match."
Woods gives a shout-out to Beyoncé.
Big E said, "There's a new era in WWE because…. The "New Day Rock" chant starts as we go to the opening video package for Payback.
A live shot inside the Allstate again as out comes Enzo Amore and Big Cass. The announcers weren't talking during Enzo and Cass's entrance, as Enzo does the intro on the way to the ring as The New Day watches from ringside, with Booty O's in hand. Fans chant "How you doin?" as Enzo and Cass hit the ring. JoJo is the ring announcer for this one. Enzo and Cass do their things as they knock The Vaudevillains.
The New Day approves of their "Sawft" gimmick. Out next come Simon Gotch and Aiden English to boo. Announces team hasn't said one word yet, and then finally, Michael Cole speaks and shows the fans the tournament brackets and welcomes the fans to a sold-out Payback, and JBL and Byron Saxton join him.
They also see German and Spanish announce teams at ringside tonight. The bell sound and the match is underway, and the action has begun. Enzo gets caught by the bottom rope after Gotch launches him under it, and he goes down at ringside. Gotch tries to attack, but the referee backs him off, and the referee calls for a doctor as Cass is also over there. The referee quickly calls for the bell as a stretcher comes out. The announcer's camera is trained but cuts back to Enzo being punt in a neck brace and loaded onto the stretcher. Fans chant Enzo's name as he is taken away with no winner announced. They see a video package for the next match.
They continue to watch Payback as Kevin Owens comes out first and makes his way to the ring. Sami Zyan is out next to a big pop, as well. The "Ole" chants start as the bell rings. Owens trash talks and taunts Sami. Sami rocks him, and they begin to trade shots in the middle of the ring. Owens ends up on the floor as Sami hits the ropes and launches himself over the top rope hitting Owens sends him into the barricade. The action end back in the ring, where the nonstop action continues until Sami goes for the Helluva Kick, but Owens nails a superkick. Owens with the pop-up powerbomb and cover him for the win. After the match, Owens attack Sami and then tells everyone now he can focus on getting the WWE Intercontinental title back. As we go to a break, he joins the commentary team for the next, which was the WWE Intercontinental title match.
Back from the break and out comes WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz with Maryse. Cesaro is out next to a big pop. The ring introduction from JoJo, the bell sound, and the match are underway. There was lots of back and forth action until Sami Zyan came out of nowhere and leaps over the announce table, taking Owens out. Sami unloads, and they brawl at ringside, as Sami clotheslines Owens into the timekeeper's area, and Miz gets distracted and gets caught in the Cesaro swing, then he applies the crossface.
Meanwhile, outside of the ring, Owens and Sami continue to fight up to the apron, and Miz taps out, but the referee doesn't see it because he's dealing with the brawl. Cesaro gets up and knocks Owens and Zyan off the apron. Miz takes advantage and rolls Cesaro up with a handful of tights for the win.
After the match, Miz goes to ringside to celebrate but Cesaro nails a big running uppercut against the barricade, and the fans pop. Cesaro brings him back in the ring and nails Neutralizer next. Owens immediately drops him. Sami attacks Owens again but gets dropped with another powerbomb. Owens stands tall and whips Miz into the ropes for a pop-up powerbomb, but Maryse pulls him to safety. Miz retreats but forgot the title. Owens raises the title and yells at Miz as some fans pop.
They show a replay and come back to Owens raising the title. Back to break we go. Back from the break and they see Kristina's half-sister Stephanie McMahon with Apollo Crews backstage talking.
"There is your crush Alex," his dad teasing him.
"Daddy, that is Auntie Stephanie now," he said, looking up at his mom
"Yes"
"Nothing, you and auntie, looks like"
They chuckled and said, maybe a little bit, baby."
They watched Stephanie and Apollo shake hands and see a video package for the next match. Back to the ring and out first comes Chris Jericho to a mixed reaction, and he makes his way to the ring. They see the Brazilian, Russian, and Japanese announcing teams. Funaki is working Japanese commentary. Dean Ambrose is out next to a big pop, and he makes his way to the ring. Michael Cole sent prayers to Enzo Amore and said, "He can communicate with the medical officer at the hospital."
Jericho is talking trash to Ambrose after the bell sound. Fans do dueling chants now. Ambrose strikes first, and they go at it. There was back and forth action between the two until Ambrose blocks Jericho, nails Dirty Deeds, and covers him for the win. After the match, Jericho goes to ringside and throws a fit. Ambrose looks on as his music plats. Back to commercials, we go. Back from the break and AJ Styles is backstage with Mauro, who asks about Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.
AJ said, "We're going to see him have the match of his life and win the WWE World Heavyweight tonight on his own with no help." He walks off
They see Sasha Banks backstage talking with Shane McMahon before going back to the ring, and out first comes WWE Women's Champion Charlotte with WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair. They make their way to the ring and enter it. Natalya is out next, wearing a t-shirt for her uncle. She stops and stares at the Flairs before WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart makes his way out to a big pop. They walk to the ring together for Bret's first appearance since his prostate cancer battle. They reach ringside, and Natalya kisses her uncle on his cheek and thanks to him as she enters the ring. Bret points at Ric Flair and warns him. JoJo does the formal ring introductions.
Charlotte "whooos" in Natalya's face to start the match. Natalya immediately goes for a Sharpshooter, but Charlotte blocks it. They go until they finally lock up. Natalya takes her down, and Charlotte comes right back with a big shove and more taunting. Charlotte catches a kick, delivers another "whooo," and slaps Natalya. Natalya takes her down, but Charlotte applies a headlock. There is more back-and-forth action. Natalya goes for another sharpshooter, the Nature Boy, and the Hitman look on. Charlotte retreats to the floor for a breather. Back in, she comes as Natalya chases her around in, and Charlotte catches Natalya in the neckbreaker and covers her for a two count. Charlotte keeps control and drops her knees. Charlotte talks trash to the fans and rocks Natalya, with knees. Charlotte with another slap to the face and more showing off, wasting time. Charlotte with big chops to the chest of Natalya.
Natalya ducks a chop and lands one of her own. Natalya nailed a German suplex for a two count. Natalya runs over Charlotte's back and hits the ropes, nail a dropkick in the face. Charlotte pulls Natalya in face first to the turnbuckles. Natalya fights back, but Charlotte foes to work on the knee now. Charlotte keeps up the attacks on the knee and tells Bret to watch so he can learn something. Fans chant for Natalya, and she rolls Charlotte up for a two count out of nowhere. Charlotte applies a half crab now, but Natalya refuses to tap out. Natalya escapes the half crab and catches Charlotte in an armbar, but it's broken. Charlotte fights back and suplexes Natalya's bad leg into the ropes. There is more back and forth as they end up on the floor in front of Ric Flair. Charlotte tries to Powerbomb Natalya on the apron, but it's turned into a half hurricanrana on the floor.
Natalya rolls Charlotte back in and stops to stare at Ric Flair. She comes back in for the discus clothesline, but Charlotte nails her in the face with a big boot and covers her for two counts. Charlotte goes for the figure four leg lock, but it's broken with a cop. Natalya, with strikes now and then, nails discus clotheslines and cover for her two counts. Natalya looks at Bret and goes for the sharpshooter, but it's countered. Charlotte drops Natalya and hits Natural Selection for a close two count. Charlotte mounts Natalya with her forearms and covers for another two counts. Charlotte gets frustrated now that she can't put Natalya away. Charlotte steps on Natalya and goes or the top for a mooonsault, and she nails it and covers her for another two counts. Charlotte applies the figure four leglock, but Natalya yells at her and won't let her turn into the figure eight. Natalya reverses figure four, but Charlotte makes it to the bottom rope. Charlotte gets up, slaps Natalya, and then apples Sharpshooter and the referee Charles Robinson immediately calls for the bell and declares Charlotte the winner. But, the announcer said, Natalya never tapped out. She was trying to reverse the holds.
After the bell, Charles Robinson immediately goes to the ringside and brings the belt to Charlotte. Flair comes into the ring to celebrate with Charlotte as little Naitch leaves. Bret comes in and argues with Flair, and he drops Flair with a right hand as Natalya takes care of Charlotte, and they're both locks in Sharpshooters at the same time. Charlotte leaves with the title in the air as Natalya's music plays. Bret and Natalya look on as Flair hobbles to the back with Charlotte. They see a promo for Extreme Rules. Before going back to the ring as Eden introduces Vince McMahon out, he comes to a mixed reaction from the Chicago crowd.
Vince makes his way to the ring walk up the steel steps to the ring's apron and step through the ropes into the ring, where he is handed a mic as a massive CM Punk chant breaks out. Vince motions for them to get louder. He starts touting how successful RAW has been over the years, and the Punk chant starts back up.
Vince wonders how long they can go with that. He tells them to come on; they've got more than that. He calls them a crazy crowd. He went back to talking about RAW and said, "it's successful because they always reinvent things."
He said, "his favorite era would have been the Attitude Era. We have a new era, and we need a new leader."
He names traits and gets the "What?" treatment.
Vince said, "the new leader has to be a person of great ethics."
He asks who should run RAW, his son Shane, or his daughter Stephanie." Shane gets the pop while Stephanie gets booed. Then, Vince brings out Stephanie McMahon to more boos.
Vince said, "his daughter is beautiful," and she blushed. The boos continue as she thanks everyone for their support.
He yells at the crowd and calls them animals, telling them to show some respect.
Stephanie said, "It's alright because she doesn't want their support, compassion, or sympathy."
She goes on to said, "She's a leader."
She touts some of the stars we've seen come in under The Authority, like The Shield, Kevin, Owens, The New Day, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Charlotte, and AJ Styles.
She said, "The Authority also launched the WWE Network, touting the 1.8 million subscribers."
She mentions Shane McMahon, who abandoned the WWE Universe for seven years when the going got tough. She asks what would stop him from doing that again. Stephanie reminds her dad that Shane lost to The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell, and while his cell leap was impressive, the risk was just pure stupidity.
Fans chant "boring" now.
Stephanie said, "The only way Shane got his foot back in the door was by blackmailing Vince."
She goes on to said, "Vince needs the smartest, savviest, and most experienced leader, he can have… her…." But then, Shane's music interrupts, and out he comes to a pop.
Shane gets a big chant as he enters the ring. He usually doesn't like to talk about himself, but since Stephanie is, he will. He asks how many headlines the Authority got over the years. He shows a few headlines with Shane in the titles from sporting news, sky sports, Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, and others. A big "yes!" chant breaks out.
Shane gives Vince credit for the WWE Network but says, "Stephanie, only the subscribers can."
He said, "There was a jump around WrestleMania 32, and while that was an amazing event, perhaps everyone was extra interested in his match." Fans chant, "you still got it" now. Stephanie thanks them and agrees that she does still have it. They boo her.
Shane went on and said, "he came back to ensure the future of the company for his kids, Stephanie's kids, Vincent's kids, and all the fans." Shane gets crowd loud to help his case.
Vincent McMahon's music hits, and out he comes to a huge pop. He heard enough of his brother's mouth. He makes his way out to the ring, walks the steps to the ring's apron, and enters the ring. He took the mic from Stephanie and looked at their brother.
"Shane, your such lair, you came back because your businesses adventures aren't doing too well, and you need money."
He goes on to said, "As for the fans chant, you still got it, you have nothing, and I am a far better wrestler than you. I won multiple titles and a former Royal Rumble winner."
He tells Shane he is jealous of him and Stephanie's success in the WWE. It is eating himself alive on how his youngest siblings are successful were he not so successful. Oohh, that string.
Shane goes back at Vincent; when have you and Stephanie been successful, huh. It's dad here who has been a success, not you two.
He tells him to shut up. But, I am not the one who walks away from the family business that is you. Stephanie and I have help dad become successful while being husband and wife to ours spouse and raising our children in WWE.
"And Shane, I did not go and buy WCW out from under dad; that would be you. And then you try your damn hardest to put him, our dad, out of businesses, and what happened there, huh, you fail because you listen to someone like Paul Heyman who couldn't compete with dad or his bank account."
Vince heard enough from his son's talks now and said, "Tonight is about him and what he wants. He wants blood, figuratively speaking." So the "CM Punk" chants start again.
Vince said, "if you cannot work together, then I will be forced to come up with an alternative plan that will be good for RAW and the family."
He announced that the three of you both have an equal say and told them to figure it out. If not, your mother and I will, and you won't like what your mother and I come up with." He leaves as his music hit.
Shane wants to shake Stephanie's hand, but she refuses and stays close to her twin. They both didn't trust Shane right now, the RAW theme hits as Vincent and Stephanie leave together, and Shane looks on from the ring, looking somewhat skeptical at his brother and sister's behavior. The preshow panel discussions and the announcers.
Little Alex got off his mother's lap and said, "good night, mommy and daddy."
"Night, son," they said.
"You don't want to watch the main event?" his dad asked him
"No, daddy, you can tell me in the morning who won," he replied
"Okay, buddy"
"Don't forget to brush your teeth, baby," his mother called out to him.
"I will, Mommy," he called back as he climbed the stairs.
In Chicago, Stephanie and Vincent came through the curtain to see their dad packing up his things.
"Dad, everything okay?" Stephanie asked him, and he looked up
"Yes, princess, I need to leave because tomorrow morning, I have a doctor's appointment for my checkup."
"Okay"
"You two are in charge tomorrow and Tuesday night as well. I am going to spend time with your mother."
"All right, we have this no need to worry. You go home and spend time with mom."
"I will, son, bye."
"Bye, Dad," Stephanie and Vincent said together, watching their dad walked away.
Stephanie turned to her twin and said, "You know something, Vinny, ever since mom and dad had that trial separation years back, he has changed a lot."
"I think dad had an epiphany and saw what his life could have been if he and mom got a divorce."
"You could be right, Vinny."