By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Payback
Streamed live September 2, 2023 on Peacock
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at PPG Paints Arena
There were no Kickoff Show matches. The cage started lowering around the ring at the end of the Kickoff Show… A video package opened the main show… Pyro shot off on the stage and then Michael Cole and Corey Graves checked in on commentary. Cole said there were 14,584 in attendance…
A video package recapped the Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus feud… Ring announcer Samatha Irvin handled the introductions for the opening match. Becky Lynch made her entrance. Trish Stratus’s entrance followed and she was not accompanied by Zoey Stark…
Powell’s POV: The production team put some work into that video package. It remains to be seen whether they went above and beyond for this match or if all the matches will receive similar treatment.
1. Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus in a steel cage match. NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was shown in the crowd. Cole said Stratton told him that there’s not enough competition in NXT, so she’s scouting main roster wrestlers.
Trish made an early play to escape the cage, but Lynch met her on the ropes and knocked her down. Trish got up and pulled Lynch down and then ran her into the cage wall. Lynch remained in offensive control and ran Lynch into the cage multiple times. Lynch went for a clothesline that Stratus ducked by going into Matrix mode, but Lynch dropped a leg on her to send her to the mat.
Both wrestlers got up and traded strikes. Lynch got the better of it and ran Stratus into the side of the cage. Lynch went up top and was cut off by Stratus, who went for a head-scissors move that Lynch blocked. Stratus impressively sat up and threw punches at Lynch.
Stratus climbed over Lynch and tried to escape the cage. Lynch regrouped and powerbombed Status and covered her for a two count. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Lynch set up for her finisher. Stratus blocke dit and sent Lynch into the cage. Stratus powered up Lynch and hit the Widow’s Peak move, which led to a two count. Cole recalled Victoria using the same move as a finisher when she faced Lita in the first women’s cage match in WWE.
Stratus, whose forehead was bruised, set up for a bulldog. Lynch countered into a Twist of Fate and covered Stratus for a near fall. Stratus came right back with a Stratusfaction bulldog for a close near fall. Another round of “this is awesome” chants started up.
Stratus went up top and tried to escape. Lynch followed her and pulled her back to the top rope. Lynch joined her on the top rope and slammed her head against the cage multiple times. Lynch set up for her finisher, but Stratus stuffed it and performed a bulldog from the top rope, which resulted in another close near fall.
Stratus tried to escape over the top of the cage. Lynch caught up to her and they both ended up seated on top of the cage for a moment. Stratus fought Lynch off and kicked her back into the ring. Lynch shot up and was able to pull Stratus back to the top of the cage. Stratus headbutted Lynch.
Lynch punched Stratus, who fell backward and her legs were hooked on one of the bars at the top of the cage. Lynch pulled Stratus up and slammed her head on the top bar, then pulled her back inside the cage and superplexed her. Lynch draped her arm over Stratus, who got her shoulder up at two.
Lynch got to her feet while the crowd chanted “this is awesome” again. Lynch climbed to the top of the cage. Stratus started to crawl toward the cage door. Lynch dropped down and stopped Stratus. Zoey Stark showed up and tried to pull Stark out, but Lynch won the battle by pulling Stratus back to the middle of the ring.
Stark slammed the cage door on Lynch’s head. Stratus rolled up Lynch for a near fall. Lynch came right back with a Manhandle Slam and had the pin, but Stark ran in and broke it up. Lynch got up and slammed the cage door shut behind her and then fought with Stark.
Stratus climbed up the cage. Lynch hit a Manhandle Slam on Stark. Lynch raced up the cage to prevent Stratus from escaping. Lynch performed a Manhandle Slam from the top rope and then got the three count.
Becky Lynch defeated Trish Stratus in 20:00 in a steel cage match.
Lynch signed an autograph for a fan at ringside. In the cage, Stark helped Stratus to her feet. Stratus jawed at Stark and then slapped her. Stark tried to get Stratus to keep her cool. Stratus told Stark to leave. Stark closed the cage door instead. Stark poked Stark with her finger a few times. Stark hit Stratus with the Z360. Stark removed her “Thank You Trish” t-shirt and left Stratus lying…
Powell’s POV: The “this is awesome” chants were justified. This was a really hot cage match that both wrestlers can be proud of. In fact, this would be a hell of a match for Trish to go out on, but I have no idea whether that’s the plan. Either way, they got the show off to an excellent start. The Lynch and Stratus feud never quite clicked, but they saved the best for last.
Payback host John Cena made his entrance and was introduced by ring announcer Mike Rome as the greatest of all-time. Cena welcomed the fans and said the first match was awesome. He spoke about the various things he’s done in WWE over the years and said he’s never been the host.
Cena said his job as the host is to make it a special night. He said he would be the special guest referee for the LA Knight vs. The Miz match. The Miz made his entrance. Once in the ring, Miz said he would expect Knight to pander to the fans, but he didn’t expect it from Cena (really?).
Miz said Cena sucks as a host. Cena said Miz has a lot of hosting experience and asked him for advice. Miz said Cena shouldn’t make himself the special referee for his match. Miz’s other advice is that when you’re called to play the Merman in the Barbie movie, you say no.
Cena said he doesn’t like Miz, but he respects him. He said he was seeking his advice. Miz said Cena needs to be more involved. Miz recalled being in two matches when he hosted WrestleMania. He also said he wore a suit, whereas Cena dresses like a Teletubby.
Cena said all of Miz’s advice seemed to add up to his idea of being the special referee for his match. Miz said no. Miz said Cena doesn’t even have a referee shirt. A production member handed Cena a referee shirt. Cena said he had his shirt, so he would be the special referee for his match. Miz and Cena went back and forth with “no” and “yeah.” Cena pointed to the stage and then LA Knight made his entrance…
2. LA Knight vs. The Miz with John Cena as special referee. Hometown boy Graves said that Miz wearing Cleveland Browns colors in this part of the stage was blasphemy, but he still felt bad for him. There were “LA Knight” and “Tiny Balls” chants while Miz stalled before the bell rang to start the match. Miz immediately rolled back to the floor once it did.
Shortly after they got going, Miz dumped Knight from the ropes face first and went on the offensive. Knight came back with a powerslam and then threw punches at Miz. Knight picke dup Miz for a suplex, but Miz slipped away and went for his finisher. Knight countered into a BFT attempt, but Miz slipped away and went to the floor.
Knight kicked Miz through the ropes and joined him on the floor. Knight slammed Miz’s head off the broadcast table several times while the fans said “yeah” each time. Miz ended up pulling Knight face first into the side of the broadcast table. Miz slammed Knight’s head off the barricade and said “yeah” each time while fans booed. Funny.
Knight backdropped Miz into the timekeepers area. Once they returned to the ring, Miz took offensive control and threw kicks at Knight in the corner. Miz put his boot on Knight’s throat. Cena intervened when Miz didn’t break on his count and pulled him away. Knight did the same thing and Cena also pulled him away from Miz.
Knight jawed at Cena. Miz hit Knight from behind. Miz hit Knight while he was in the ropes and broke at Cena’s two count. Cena thanked him and said he had five seconds. Miz pulled Knight from the ropes into his knees and then covered him for a two count.
A short time later, Miz pulled Knight from the apron, causing him to land face first on the side of the ring. Miz tossed Knight back inside the ring and then threw kicks at him. Knight ducked a kick and then spiked Miz on the mat. Knight hit a series of moves and got a two count.
Miz came back and caught Knight with a kick to the knee and then hit him with back to back DDTs, which led to a two count. Miz set up for his finisher, but Knight avoided it and rolled him up for a two count. Knight avoided Miz’s corner clothesline and then executed a spinning neckbreaker for a two count.
Miz tried to use the ropes for leverage while pinning Knight, but Cena caught him. Cena poked Cena’s chest and jawed at him. Knight took advantage of the distraction and went for his finisher, but Miz avoided it. Knight swung at Miz, who ducked, and then Knight stopped short of hitting Cena. Miz put Knight down with a Skull Crushing Finale for a near fall.
Miz looked at Cena and then held up his hand to indicate that he would go for a Five Knuckle Shuffle. Knight regrouped and slammed Miz to the mat. Knight followed up with an elbow and then Blunt Force Trauma and got the three count…
LA Knight defeated The Miz in 15:45.
After the match, Knight jawed at Cena on the stage. Cena removed his shirt and then offered Knight a handshake, which he said was a sign of respect. Knight accepted the handshake and then Cena raised his hand before leaving to give Knight a moment to play to the fans…
Powell’s POV: This match went about seven minutes longer than it needed to. As much as I would like to see Miz booked to have more in-ring credibility, this wasn’t the time to start. The guy loses to everyone, so it didn’t do Knight any favors to take so long to put him away. They had the crowd and it felt like they lost them about halfway through.
Pittsburgh sports imagery was shown… Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers were shown seated in the crowd… A video package set up the U.S. Title match…
Entrances for the U.S. Title match took place. Rey wore the jacket he wore when Dominik Mysterio turned on him for the first time since that angle. Cole noted that Rey had Dom’s name covered…
3. Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory for the U.S. Championship. The match was sponsored by a breakfast cereal, so the big screen and the barricade screens featured the brand’s logo. Early in the match, Theory had Rey on the ropes and tried to remove his mask. Rey fought off Theory and then hit him with a top rope moonsault.
Theory ended up at ringside. Rey slid under the bottom rope and performed a tornado DDT on the floor. Back in the ring, Rey executed a seated senton and got a two count. Rey went for a 619, but Theory avoided it. Rey went for a move from the middle rope, but Theory caught him on his shoulders and then performed a spinning sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
Theory performed a rolling dropkick. Rey bounced off the ropes after taking the dropkick and hit a seated Theory with one of his own. Moments later, Rey connected with a 619. Rey went for a springboard move, but Theory put his knees up. Theory powered up Rey for his A-Town Down finisher, but Rey countered into a pin for the win…
Rey Mysterio defeated Austin Theory in 9:45 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
After the match, LWO members Santos Escobar, Zelina Vega, Cruz Del Toro, and Joaquin Wilde came out and celebrated with Rey. Escobar hoisted up Rey on his shoulders while Theory fumed inside the ring…
Powell’s POV: A solid match with a predictable finish given that Rey recently won the championship. The crowd was pretty quiet when Theory was in offensive control, but they came to life for Rey’s offensive spots.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley asked Becky Lynch what’s next for her. NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton showed up and said they got off on the wrong foot. Stratton recalled mistakenly listing Lynch as a former NXT Women’s Champion when she never actually won the title. Lynch said Stratton should be focused on the title match she’s scheduled to have a Tuesday, then said she would see her soon. “Okay, toodles,” Stratton replied…
A video package spotlighted the street fight for the tag titles… Entrances for the match took place…
4. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. Damian Priest and Finn Balor in a Steel City Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles. Priest brought his Money in the Bank briefcase to the ring with him. The teams battled to ringside seconds after the bell rang to start the match. Owens wore jeans and a Terry Funk t-shirt, Zayn wore a “Fight Together” t-shirt, and the Judgment Day duo wore their regular ring attire.
Zayn tossed chairs inside the ring. Balor blasted Zayn with a kendo stick shot. Balor pulled Terrible Towels out from underneath the ring along with more kendo sticks. Balor played to the crowd with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ towel and then threw it on the ground for some easy heat. Owens hit Balor from behind for a pop.
Zayn performed a flip dive onto both opponents after they doubled up on Owens on the floor. Cole noted that Balor had never been a tag team champion in WWE. Owens and Zayn grabbed trashcans and used them to batter their challengers.
Owens and Zayn pulled a table out from underneath the ring for the usual big pop. They set the table up on the floor. Priest fought with Owens and Zayn on the floor. Balor ran over and jabbed Zayn’s gut with a chair. The challengers threw Owens inside the ring and took turns jabbing him with chairs. Priest held Owens while Balor slammed a trashcan over his head.
Zayn returned to the ring and was quickly double teamed by Priest and Balor. Priest sent Zayn to ringside and then joined him on the floor and hit him with an elbow to the head. Priest threw a bunch of chairs inside the ring while Balor worked over Zayn with punches.
Owens came back to life and put the boots to Priest and then slammed a chair over his back. Balor returned and hit Owens with a couple of chair shots. Zayn jabbed Balor with a chair to the gut and then slammed it over his back. The action spilled over to ringside again.
Dominik Mysterio showed up and helped Priest and Balor. The trio posed for the crowd while Owens and Zayn were down. Priest and Balor talked strategy, which consisted of throwing Owens and Zayn back inside the ring and then pinning them.
Owens and Zayn stood up inside the arena’s penalty box and they were dressed in Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby jerseys (Pittsburgh Penguins hockey icons). Owens bled from the forehead and battered the heels with a hockey stick. In the ring, Zayn executed a Blue Thunder Bomb on Balor onto a pile of chairs for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Owens and Zayn set up four chairs next to one another (two on each side). Priest recovered and ended up slamming Zayn onto the chairs. Priest covered Zayn. Owens threw a chair at Priest. Owens ended up at ringside. Priest and Balor fought Owens to the back of the main floor section. Zayn joined them and slid a chair from the Kickoff Show into the knees of Priest.
Zayn slammed Balor’s head off the Kickoff Show desk and then climbed on top of it. Zayn performed a somersault senton onto both heels. Dom showed up again and battered Zayn. Graves said that Dom is what they call a jagoff in Pittsburgh. Funny.
Owens got the better of Dom and left him lying on a table. Owens climbed up to the top of a stairwell and executed a Swanton that put Dom through the table. Owens came up holding his wrist. The production team had cool shot of Owens performing the move from a camera that was below him on the floor.
In the ring, Zayn set up for a Helluva Kick on Balor, but Priest threw a trashcan at Zayn’s head. Balor covered Zayn for a near fall. Priest and Balor talked strategy again. Priest hoisted up Zayn for a Razor’s Edge while Balor went to the ropes. Zayn slipped away and shoved Balor down.
Zayn hit an exploder suplex on Priest and then knocked Balor off the apron and through a table on the floor. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick on Priest, who grabbed him by the throat. Owens returned and caught Priest with a Stunner. Zayn followed up with a Helluva Kick and had the pin.
JD McDonagh showed up and pulled Zayn off of Priest to break the pin. Owens performed a Popup Powerbomb on McDonagh onto the broadcast table, which didn’t break. Ouch. Rhea Ripley ran out and speared Owens through the timekeepers barricade.
Balor put Zayn down with a sling blade clothesline and then followed up with a shotgun dropkick. Balor went for the Coup De Grace, but Zayn avoided it. Zayn performed an exploder suplex, removed his shirt, and drilled Balor with a Helluva Kick. Zayn had the pin, but Dom ran in and hit Zayn with the MITB briefcase. Balor draped his arm over Zayn and scored the pin…
Damian Priest and Finn Balor defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in 20:45 in a Steel City Street Fight to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles.
After the match, the Judgment Day members celebrated their win inside the ring…
Powell’s POV: A hell of a brawl. I wondered if WWE would use the street fight stipulation to go with a double pin to split up the unified tag titles. Rather, they went with a ton of outside interference and a title change. It does beg the question of why Cody Rhodes and other babyfaces didn’t help Owens and Zayn, but I doubt that most viewers will spend much time thinking about that. Will Priest and Balor be bickering tag team champions or does this win get them back on the same page?
Families associated with the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh were shown in the crowd. Graves put on his Connor’s Cure wristband… An ad aired for the NXT No Mercy PLE that will be held on Saturday, September 30 in Bakersfield, California…
Grayson Waller hosted the Grayson Waller Effect talkshow inside the ring. He took a shot at the host city and introduced Cody Rhodes as his guest. After making a full entrance, Rhodes sat down at Waller’s desk. Rhodes started to do his catchphrase, but Waller cut him off.
Waller said they weren’t going to do that. Waller said he was just being honest in saying that nobody cares what Pittsburgh wants to talk about. Waller said he wanted to talk about Cody’s big announcement. Waller said Cody has had “so many ups and so many downs” this year. He added that he appreciated Cody begging to be on his show to get rub from him.
Cody said it was a fine speech. Cody said he knows that Waller is a newly minted graduate from hip-toss class. Cody ran through some of the classic WWE talkshows and ran through a predictable scenario that concluded with Rhodes hitting his finisher on Waller.
Waller said he wouldn’t fight “in front of these beautiful trees.” Cody said he asked to be on Waller’s show and mockingly thanked him for the rub. Cody said he wanted to give him something in return in the form of a big scoop.
Cody asked if Waller watches Smackdown. Waller said he watches his own stuff. Cody said Smackdown is intriguing. He said he saw a wrong that needs to be righted. Cody said he cashed in whatever political chips he has and added that he hoped he knew what he was doing.
Cody introduced Jey Uso as the newest member of the WWE Raw roster. Jey made his entrance wearing non-wrestling attire. Cody exited the ring and stopped at ringside where he and Jey looked at one another. Jey entered the ring while Cody headed toward the back. Jey went to the ropes and played to the live crowd.
Waller said Jey has been a twin his whole life and has been surrounded by The Bloodline. Waller said that for as successful as Jey has been in a team, he’s done absolutely nothing as a singles wrestler. Waller started to say that if anyone is in need of the Waller rub, but Jey took him out with a superkick before he could finish his sentence. Cody was shown watching from the stage area while Jey celebrated with the fans…
Powell’s POV: That’s a fun development. Jey is over enough as a singles act to say that this gives Raw another top babyface. I like that Cody showed some trepidation over making this move, as it’s a good move to let viewers wonder where Jey stands now that he’s on his own. As much as the fans love Jey and I think he’ll remain a babyface, it doesn’t mean that he can’t be opponents for Cody and Seth Rollins.
A video package set up the Women’s World Championship match… Entrances for the match took place. Yes, Raquel flexed her back muscles. Ripley blew a kiss to Rodriguez during her own entrance…
5. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s World Championship. Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. The opening minutes were spent establishing that neither wrestler had a power advantage. Rodriguez eventually caught Ripley with a clothesline and then bodyslammed her.
Ripley came back with a leg sweep and then dropkicked a seated Rodriguez. Ripley mounted Rodriguez and threw punches at her. Ripley bled from her nose. Ripley took offensive control and stomped Rodriguez before applying an abdominal stretch.
A short time later, Rodriguez tossed Ripley across the ring. Ripley came right back and put the boots to her challenger. Ripley told the crowd to shut up, which was unnecessary given how quiet they were at this point in the match.
Ripley threw a nice dropkick and then pounced Rodriguez with punches. Rodriguez came back with a series of clotheslines, including one to the back of Ripley’s head. Rodriguez followed up with a fallaway slam. Rodriguez went to the ropes and ended up being tripped up (or slipped). Ripley put the boots to her.
Ripley went to the middle rope and headbutted Rodriguez a few times. Ripley started to mug on the ropes, but Rodriguez kicked the ropes. Rodriguez powered up Ripley and held her before putting her down with a vertical suplex. Rodriguez hit her spinning corkscrew elbow from the middle rope and got a two count.
Rodriguez went for her finisher, but Ripley escaped and ended up dumping her to the mat. Ripley hit a running knee to the head and then made a cocky cover, allowing Rodriguez to kick out at two. Ripley set up for her finisher, which Rodriguez avoided. Rodriguez powered up Ripley and awkwardly fell back, which led to Ripley landing on her feet and running into the ropes.
A short time later, Ripley clipped the left knee of Rodriguez and then applied her Prism Lock. Rodriguez countered into an inside cradle for a two count. Rodriguez powered up Ripley, stumbled, and then slammed her. The broadcast team chalked it up to her injured knee.
The match spilled over to ringside. Rodriguez hoisted up Ripley and ran her into the post and then flung her into the ringside barricade. Rodriguez picked up Ripley and threw her shoulder first into the ring post. Rodriguez brought Ripley back to the ring.
Dominik Mysterio came out and grabbed Ripley’s arms in an attempt to stop Rodriguez from pulling Ripley to the center of the ring. Rodriguez won the power battle and took out Dom. Ripley took advantage of the distraction and ended up hitting her Riptide finisher for the win…
Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez in 17:20 to retain the Women’s World Championship.
Powell’s POV: The live crowd was nearly silent for most of this match. Pittsburgh is known for being a tough crowd, but they’ve been vocal throughout most of the show. The issue is that Rodriguez hasn’t connected with fans a babyface and it’s going to take a lot more than flexing her back and either smiling or making mean faces to make that happen. I didn’t mind the Judgment Day finish to the tag title match, but coming right back with Dom interference to end this match was weak.
John Cena played his Lance Catamaran character from Southpaw Regional Wrestling while conducting an interview with Damian Priest and Finn Balor on the backstage interview set. Balor used Cena’s “the champs are here” line. Priest said that when they are on the same page, nobody can stop them. “Good job, kid,” Priest told Cena, who acted awestruck…
Powell’s POV: I got a kick out of Southpaw Regional Wrestling, but I’ll bet that at least 80 percent of the viewing audience is wondering what Cena was doing.
A brief video hyped the WWE Fastlane PLE for Saturday, October 7 in Indianapolis, Indiana…
The Kurt Angle documentary on Peacock was plugged, and then Cole hyped Gunther vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship for Monday’s Raw…
A video package set up the main event and then entrances took place. An animated video preceded Shinsuke Nakamura’s entrance and warned that this was the beginning of Rollins’ end…
The Great Muta was shown seated in the front row. Cole noted that Nakamura had one of the last matches of Muta’s career. He also said this is the first time that Nakamura has headlined a WWE premium live event…
6. Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the World Heavyweight Championship. Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Cole and Graves recapped the story of Rollins’ back injury, and Graves played up that Nakamura can knock an opponent out with one strike.
Early in the match, Nakamura caught Rollins on the barricade and then slammed him onto the broadcast table. Nakamura continued to target the back of Rollins by running it into the barricade. Back in the ring, Nakamura placed Rollins over the top turnbuckle and hit him with a knee to the gut, then rolled him over and threw another to the lower back. Nakamura covered Rollins for a two count.
Nakamura continued to target the back and picked up multiple two counts. Rollins eventually came back with a huracanrana from the ropes. The broadcast team played up the idea that he wanted to go for his usual superplex and falcon arrow combo, but he opted to spare his back by going with the huracanrana.
Rollins got Nakamura down and barked at him about knowing that his back is messed up. Rollins went for a Stomp that Nakamura avoided. Nakamura hit a flying knee from the middle rope for a near fall, then showed frustration when he didn’t get the pin.
Nakamura bodyslammed Rollins and then suplexed him. Nakamura executed his snap German suplex and then returned to the ring and covered Rollins for a close near fall. Nakamura went for a Kinshasa, but Rollins cut him off with a superkick and got a near fall of his own.
Rollins rolled Nakamura into an armbar. Rollins locked his fingers, but Nakamura countered into a triangle. Rollins tried and failed to power him up. Cole played up Rollins fading, but he regrouped and then powered up Nakamura and broke the hold with a sit-out powerbomb. Rollins covered Nakamura for a two count.
A short time later, Nakamura performed the Landslide from the ropes for a good near fall. Nakamura drilled Rollins with a Kinshasa to the back of the neck. Nakamura set up for another Kinshasa, but grew frustrated when Rollins didn’t get back to his knees.
Nakamura reached down and grabbed Rollins, who slapped him across the face. Nakamura threw kicks at Rollins and then hit him with knee strikes and knocked him down with a kick. Rollins covered up while Nakamura threw kicks at him on the apron. “Nakamura is destroying the World Heavyweight Champion,” Cole said.
Nakamura tried to suplex Rollins back inside the ring. Rollins slipped away and eventually caught Nakamura with a Pedigree. Rollins pulled himself up by using the ropes, but then he ran into a kick from Nakamura. They traded pin attempts. Rollins got to his feet and put Nakamura down with a Stomp and then covered him for the three count…
Seth Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in 26:05 to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
Rollins celebrated his win while continuing to sell his back injury. Nakamura stood at ringside looking frustrated. Cole closed things out by telling viewers to have a great Labor Day weekend… A video package recapped the event…
Powell’s POV: A good main event. They set up the story of Rollins’ back injury and leaned into it heavily throughout the match. It’s a shame that they didn’t start the Nakamura rebuild sooner because perhaps the live crowd would have viewed him as a stronger threat to actually win the title.
Overall, the show was better in execution than it looked on paper. I will have a lot more to say about Payback and AEW firing CM Punk when Jake Barnett and I team up shortly for our same night audio review of Payback for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Payback by voting for the best match and grading the overall show below. Stop back tomorrow night for my live review of AEW All Out.
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The last two matches hurt the overall card, but it was still pretty good. Could have done without the unprotected head shots in the street fight, but at least it looked like a street fight.
That opening cage match stole the show. Everything through the Jey to Raw announcement was really good.
Tag match was great but sucked at the end, then the rea Ripley match predictable, still wandering why no one came out to zayn and owens
Obviously the next thing was Southpaw. Win one for Dewey.
How many events do we have to watch the same endings from the judgement day- the should just announce interference before every match so we don’t have to waste our time watching the same thing over & over again!
I agree with Richard.