Payback (2023)
Payback | |||
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Promotion WWE | | ||
Brand(s) | Raw SmackDown | ||
Date | September 2, 2023 | ||
City | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | ||
Venue | PPG Paints Arena | ||
Attendance | 14,584[1] | ||
WWE Network event chronology | |||
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Payback chronology | |||
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The 2023 Payback was the seventh
This was the first Payback to livestream on Peacock in the United States and Binge in Australia. This was also WWE's first PPV and livestreaming event held in Pittsburgh since Extreme Rules in July 2018, which was at the same arena. This would also be WWE's final PPV and livestreaming event in which the company was still owned and controlled by the McMahon family before WWE's sale to Endeavor was finalized on September 12, 2023, with WWE and Ultimate Fighting Championship subsequently merging to become divisions of a new entity called TKO Group Holdings.
Six matches were contested at the event. In the main event,
Production
Background
Storylines
The card comprised six matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,
At
On the August 7 episode of Raw,
On the June 19 episode of Raw, Raquel Rodriguez took issue with Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley assaulting Natalya before their match.[20] Also during this time, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan would win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.[10] Ripley continued her post-match assaults on Natalya,[11] which eventually led to a brawl between Ripley, Rodriguez, and Morgan on the July 17 episode where Ripley injured Rodriguez's left knee. This attack subsequently cost Rodriguez and Morgan the Women's Tag Team Championship in a match later that night. After Morgan attacked Ripley later that night,[13] a non-title match between the two was scheduled for the next week's episode, however, Ripley viciously attacked Morgan, injuring her arm, thus the match never happened.[14] On the next episode, Rodriguez returned and brawled with Ripley, only to once again get injured. Later that night, WWE official Adam Pearce stated that Rodriguez was not medically cleared to compete, however, he said that once she was cleared, she would get a match against Ripley.[15] On the August 21 episode, Rodriguez attacked Ripley and announced that she was medically cleared and that Pearce scheduled Ripley to defend the Women's World Championship against Rodriguez at Payback.[19]
On the July 28 episode of SmackDown, Santos Escobar faced fellow Latino World Order (LWO) stablemate Rey Mysterio in the finals of the United States Championship Invitational tournament to earn a title match against Austin Theory. Mysterio was injured during the match, thus Escobar was named the winner via referee stoppage.[21] The championship match was to occur on the August 11 episode, however, Theory attacked Escobar before the match, rendering him unable to compete. WWE official Adam Pearce then allowed Mysterio to take Escobar's place and face Theory for the title, which Mysterio won.[22] The following week, Theory demanded Mysterio to give back the championship as he was not supposed to be in the match, however, Pearce instead scheduled a number one contender's match that Theory won.[23] On the August 25 episode, the rematch was scheduled for Payback.[24]
During the August 25 episode of SmackDown, it was announced that at Payback, SmackDown's Grayson Waller would have a special edition of his talk show, "The Grayson Waller Effect", with special guest, Raw's Cody Rhodes.[24]
At SummerSlam, SmackDown's LA Knight won the Slim Jim SummerSlam Battle Royal, during which, he eliminated Raw's The Miz.[25] On the following Raw, Miz took issue with the amount of attention that Knight was receiving and the disrespect he was shown from Knight. This prompted a confrontation between the two.[18] After a couple of weeks of back-and-forth promos and interfering in matches, including Miz costing Knight a shot at the United States Championship,[23] Miz challenged Knight to a match, which he accepted, and an interbrand match between the two was scheduled for Payback.[24]
Since mid-July,
Event
Role: | Name: |
---|---|
Host | John Cena |
English commentators | Michael Cole |
Corey Graves | |
Spanish commentators | Marcelo Rodriguez
|
Jerry Soto | |
Ring announcers | Mike Rome (SmackDown) |
Samantha Irvin (Raw )
| |
Referees | Danilo Anfibio |
Jason Ayers | |
John Cena (LA Knight vs. The Miz) | |
Daphanie LaShaunn | |
Chad Patton | |
Rod Zapata | |
Interviewers | Cathy Kelley |
John Cena | |
Pre-show panel | Kayla Braxton |
Jackie Redmond | |
Peter Rosenberg | |
Booker T | |
Wade Barrett |
Pre-show
During the Payback Kickoff pre-show, it was announced that John Cena would be the
Preliminary matches
In the opening match, Becky Lynch faced Trish Stratus in a Steel Cage match. In the opening stages, Stratus tried to escape the cage, but Lynch stopped her and delivered three Bexsploders. As Lynch attempted a clothesline, Stratus dodged it, but Lynch countered with a legdrop. As Stratus climbed the cage, Lynch stopped her and delivered a powerbomb for a two count. As Lynch attempted the Manhandle Slam, Stratus countered it into the Widow's Peak for a two count. As Stratus attempted the Stratusfaction, Lynch countered it into the Twist of Fate for a nearfall. Stratus then delivered the Stratusfaction for another nearfall. As Lynch attempted the avalanche Manhandle Slam, Stratus blocked it into an avalanche Stratusfaction for a two count. Lynch then delivered a superplex to Stratus from the top of the cage. As Stratus tried to escape through the cage door, Zoey Stark came out to assist her. Lynch stopped her and delivered a Manhandle Slam to Stratus, but Stark broke up the pin attempt. Lynch then delivered the Manhandle Slam to Stark and an avalanche Manhandle Slam to Stratus and then pinned her for the win. After the match, Stratus got furious and told Stark to exit the cage. Stark refused to listen and then delivered the Z360° to Stratus and then exited.[1]
Next, Payback host John Cena came out to hype the crowd, only for The Miz to interrupt him. Miz gave Cena advice on hosting, however, Cena refused and stated that he wanted to be the special guest referee for Miz's match. This led into the second match in which SmackDown's LA Knight faced Raw's The Miz which featured Cena as the special guest referee. In the closing stages, Knight delivered a powerslam for a two count. Miz then delivered a back suplex and a lungblower for a two count. Miz then delivered two Miz-DTs for a two count. Knight then delivered a rolling DDT for a two count. Miz then delivered the Skull Crushing Finale, but as he attempted the Five Knuckle Shuffle (to mock Cena), Knight impeded him and delivered a powerslam, a leaping elbow drop, and the BFT for the win.[1]
In the next match, Rey Mysterio defended the United States Championship against Austin Theory. In the opening stages, Mysterio delivered two clotheslines, a slingshot stomp, and two fisherman suplexes for a two count. As Theory attempted another fisherman suplex, Mysterio countered it into a small package for a two count. Theory then delivered a spinning sleeper slam for another nearfall. Mysterio then delivered a spinning headscissors takedown and a sliding tornado DDT. As Mysterio attempted the 619, Theory countered it into a spinning powerbomb for a nearfall. Mysterio then delivered the 619, but as he attempted a slingshot splash, Theory got the knees up and attempted the A-Town Down, but Mysterio countered it into a roll-up to get the win and retain the title. After the match, Mysterio celebrated with the Latino World Order (Santos Escobar,
In the next match, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens defended the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest). In the opening stages, Zayn delivered a tope con giro to Priest and Bálor, but as Zayn attempted to bring Bálor back into the ring, Bálor hit him with a kendo stick. Owens and Zayn then started hitting Priest and Bálor with trash cans. Owens and Zayn then hit Bálor and Priest with steel chairs and vice versa. "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio then came out to assist Bálor and Priest in throwing Owens and Zayn into the penalty box, but as they turned around, Owens and Zayn were wearing
Following this, SmackDown's Grayson Waller hosted a special Payback edition of "The Grayson Waller Effect" with guest, Cody Rhodes from Raw. During the segment, Rhodes revealed that he was able to pull some strings and bring Jey Uso back as a member of the Raw roster[1]—Jey was on SmackDown but had "quit" WWE a few weeks before Payback after a falling out with his brother Jimmy Uso and The Bloodline as a whole.[22] After Jey made his entrance, Waller trash talked him and Jey performed a superkick on him.[1]
In the penultimate match, Rhea Ripley defended the Women's World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez. In the closing stages, Ripley delivered a basement dropkick and a sliding knee strike for a two count. Rodriguez then delivered a delayed suplex and a running corkscrew elbow drop to Ripley for a two count. Ripley then locked in the Prism Lock submission, but Rodriguez escaped and delivered a big boot and a bodyslam. "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio then came out to distract Rodriguez, but Rodriguez delivered a powerslam to him. Ripley then kicked Rodriguez's injured knee and delivered the Riptide to retain the title.[1]
Backstage, Payback host John Cena, who partially reenacted his Lance Catamaran character from WWE's YouTube series Southpaw Regional Wrestling, interviewed new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest). Bálor and Priest claimed that nobody could stop them.[1]
Main event
In the main event, Seth "Freakin" Rollins defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. In the opening stages, Rollins delivered two suicide dives to Nakamura on the outside. As Rollins attempted the Pedigree, Nakamura countered it into a back body drop. Rollins then delivered a senton, but Nakamura then delivered a back suplex to Rollins onto the announce table cover. Nakamura then delivered a running knee to Rollins' back. Rollins then performed an avalanche hurricanrana, a slingblade, and a frog splash for a two count. As Rollins attempted a powerbomb, Nakamura escaped, but Rollins immediately delivered the Rainmaker to Nakamura for a two count. Nakamura then performed a middle-rope Kinshasa for a two count. Nakamura then delivered a sliding german suplex and an exploder suplex. As Nakamura attempted the Kinshasa, Rollins impeded him with a superkick and a Pedigree for a nearfall. Nakamura then locked in a triangle choke, but Rollins used a powerbomb to escape the submission attempt. Nakamura then delivered a feint spinning heel kick, but Rollins then delivered an enziguri. Nakamura then performed a Kinshasa to the back of Rollins's head. As Rollins attempted the Curb Stomp, Nakamura intercepted it with a sit-down pin, but Rollins rolled through and delivered the Stomp and then pinned Nakamura to retain the title. After the event went off the air and as Rollins was making his way backstage, Nakamura attacked Rollins with a Kinshasa.[1]
Reception
Kevin Pantoja of
Dave Meltzer gave the Steel Cage match 4 stars. The LA Knight vs. The Miz match received 2.25 stars, the United States Championship match received 3.25 stars, the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match received 4.25 stars, the Women's World Championship match received 1.75 stars, and the main event received 3.5 stars.[30]
Aftermath
From January 2023, there had been speculation that WWE had been placed up for sale.
Raw
The following episode of Raw opened with Jey Uso, who thanked the fans and explained that Cody Rhodes had called him and subsequently was moved to Raw. Sami Zayn, who Jey had history with while Zayn was part of The Bloodline, came out. Zayn claimed he was proud that Jey broke free from The Bloodline and was glad he was on Raw. Despite Zayn offering him a handshake, Jey did not reciprocate. As Zayn was leaving, Jey called him back, referenced a joke about not feeling "Ucey", and offered the handshake, however, Zayn instead embraced Jey. Later, WWE official Adam Pearce revealed that a member of the Raw roster, which was later revealed to be Zayn's partner Kevin Owens, was traded to SmackDown and because of that, Jey could join Raw.[35]
Also on Raw, Shinsuke Nakamura stated that he underestimated Seth "Freakin" Rollins and he would eventually win the World Heavyweight Championship. Later, Rollins said he did not feel right that Nakamura left Payback on his own two feet while he had to be helped out of the arena. He subsequently called out Nakamura and offered to have another title match against him that night, however, Nakamura declined as he wanted to do it on his own terms. A confused Rollins then brawled with Nakamura, who got the upper hand.
In a backstage interview during Raw, Zoey Stark stated that her partnership with Trish Stratus was over and that although she had learned a lot from Stratus, nobody pushes her.[35]
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley) celebrated their championship wins on Raw. Bálor thanked everyone in the group, as well as JD McDonagh, who then came out. As McDonagh and Priest had been at odds, McDonagh presented Priest with a custom purple Money in the Bank briefcase as a peace offering. Sami Zayn then interrupted and noted that it took all five of them for Bálor and Priest to beat him and Owens for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. Zayn wanted to face Mysterio that night as it was he who cost them the titles, however, McDonagh offered to face him instead. Later, McDonagh defeated Zayn thanks to Mysterio's interference.[35] Owens and Zayn then received their championship rematch against Bálor and Priest on the September 25 episode, however, Mysterio and McDonagh interfered once again, leading to Judgment Day retaining.[37] During this time, The Judgment Day began feuding with Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso,[36] and Bálor and Priest were scheduled to defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Rhodes and Uso at Fastlane.[38]
Also on Raw, Raquel Rodriguez confronted WWE official Adam Pearce about a rematch against Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley due to "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio's interference. Pearce agreed and scheduled the championship rematch for the following week with Mysterio barred from ringside.
During a "Miz TV" segment on Raw, The Miz claimed that he was robbed of a win at Payback due to special guest referee, John Cena. He then introduced Cena as his guest, however, Cena did not appear; Miz acted if he was present and "interviewed" him (referencing Cena's "You Can't See Me" catchphrase) claiming that Knight conspired with Cena to screw Miz over. Miz then challenged Knight to a rematch without a special guest referee or any surprises.[35]
SmackDown
On the following episode of SmackDown, LA Knight addressed his match with The Miz at Payback and accepted Miz's challenge for a rematch,[41] which was scheduled for the following week.[39] Knight was again victorious.[42] Furthermore, after John Cena had praised Knight at Payback, Knight would subsequently aid Cena and join him as his tag team partner to face The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa) at Fastlane.[43]
Also on the following SmackDown, The Bloodline's manager Paul Heyman questioned Adam Pearce about who was traded to SmackDown for Jey Uso, however, Pearce refused to say.[41] The following month on the October 13 episode, after WWE executive Triple H announced that Pearce—who had officiated for both Raw and SmackDown since January 2020—would now just be the general manager of Raw with former National Wrestling Alliance wrestler Nick Aldis introduced as SmackDown's general manager,[44] Aldis revealed that Kevin Owens had been traded to SmackDown for Jey,[45] in turn splitting the team of Owens and Sami Zayn.[46]
Results
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship[47] | 26:05 | |
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References
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