WWE “PAYBACK” Philadelphia- Pennsylvania/ USA from September 2nd, 2023
During the “WWE Payback 2023” kick-off show, a panel of experts led by Wade Barrett, Booker T, Kayla Braxton, Lexi Nair, Pete Rosenberg and later Grayson Waller discussed the feuds of today’s matches and speculate around the potential winners as usual. Plus, as usual, the associated video packages will air with all the key moments from each program.
We start the evening with an opening video, which of course revolves around the upcoming matches of the evening and today’s omnipresent mantra “Payback” or in German: Rache! Fireworks and a few crowd shots later, Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcome us to the PPG Paints Arena, where the steel cage for the clash between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus is lowered from the ceiling, before the video review of the feud between the two ladies follows.
The cameras catch, also NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton on “PAYBACK” and excited to see what happens between Becky and Trish.
Becky Lynch ends feud with Trish in spectacular fashion
•Steel Cage Match
Becky Lynch der. Trish Stratus via Pinfall after the Super Man-Handle Slam•
Match Time: 20:00
After just a few minutes, Stratus suffered a bump on his forehead, which swelled up considerably during the match. Various moves from the turnbuckle were cheered by the fans with “This is awesome” chants.
After a good eighteen minutes Zoey Stark interfered in the action, but she caught a man-handle slam before Lynch rang in the finish.
The celebrating Becky Lynch leaves the arena through the entrance tunnel, while Zoey Stark tries to help her mentor to her feet in the ring. The Hall of Famer gives Zoey a back slap, but has to endure the Z-360 as a consequence. Zoey rips off the “Thank You Trish” t-shirt and throws it at the beaten Canadian, who leaves her motionless in the ring.
-After that we get to see a promo video from Shinsuke Nakamura.
John Cena is not only backstage at “PAYBACK”, he is the host of the evening!
Amidst frenetic cheers, however, the next match does not start, but “My Time Is Now” begins to echo from the speakers and John Cena makes his way to the ring, being announced as “The Greatest Of All Time”.
Cena grabs a microphone and explains that he’s done it all, but he’s yet to host a WWE show. To make this debut special, “Big Match John” briefly announces himself as the special guest referee for a match he’s had his eye on for a long time, the one between LA Knight and The Miz. The A-Lister comes down the ramp as if summoned and complains to John about the impudence of interfering in his match.
The Miz makes fun of Cena’s performance in the “Barbie Movie,” but the Chain Gang leader asks his counterpart for advice, as he wants to improve. Again, Miz has an answer, saying that while he walks around in expensive and classy clothes, Cena has been dressing like a Teletubby for 20 years. The segment drags around a comedic conversation between the two before “Superstar” LA Knight makes his entrance, receiving the loudest pop of the young evening alongside Cena.
•Singles Match- Special Guest Referee: John Cena
LA Knight def. The Miz via Pinfall after the Blunt Force Trauma (BFT)•
Match Time: 15:45
Before the ring bell rang, The Miz hesitated to enter the ring.
The chants of “Tiny Balls” and “LA Knight” rang out from the crowd.
During the match, the guest referee and LA Knight engaged in a heated, albeit brief, exchange of words. The rest of the match also hinted at a future confrontation between Cena and LA Knight.
John Cena pays his respects to Knight and shakes his hand.
-In the next match of the night, Austin Theory attempts to regain the United States Championship from Rey Mysterio and the video package for the pairing plays across the screen.
•WWE United States Championship
Singles Match:
Rey Mysterio (w/ The Latino World Order) (c) retains the US Championship against Austin Theory via Pinfall after a Roll-Up•
Match Time: 09:50
During the match, Theory tried to rip the mask off the WWE Hall Of Famer’s head.
A scheduled interview with Becky Lynch is interrupted by Tiffany Stratton, who takes on “The Man”. Lynch threatens her that they might meet again soon.
The disagreements between Balór and Priest seem to be wiped away
•Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Steel City Street Fight:
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor & Damian Priest) defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) via Pinfall to Sami Zayn by Finn Bálor after being hit with the MITB briefcase by Dominik Mysterio. TITLE CHANGE!
Match Time: 20:45
As the match shifted to the stands after just over eight minutes, Dominik Mysterio intervened in the match. After a few undiscovered moments, KO and Zayn emerged from behind a bandstand armed with field hockey sticks and wearing Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys.
After fifteen minutes, Owens performed a Swanton Bomb from one of the stair railings on Dominik Mysterio, who was laid out on a table below KO.
A few minutes later everything looked like a successful title defense after a Helluva Kick, but JD McDonagh pulls Sami Zayn out of the ring. The retaliation follows immediately by Kevin Owens, who boards Bálor’s protégé with a Powerbomb on the commentator’s desk. Last laugh, however, is Rhea Ripley, who spears KO through the ring barrier. The next cover by Sami is interrupted by Dom Dom and turned in favor of Judgment Day.
The entire Judgment Day celebrates the title win of Bálor and Priest under fireworks. In today’s Main Event Señor Money In The Bank could also become active once again and land the really big shot.
Jey Uso Isn’t done yet!
A promo video for Cody is followed by the brand new edition of the Grayson Waller Effect, where the “American Nightmare” is the guest of honor. But as Grayson sees it himself, the talk show is about what Waller wants to talk about, who thanks Cody because Rhodes begged him to be invited. “The American Nightmare” counters that he knows how the game goes and in the next breath counts down some of the most famous talk shows in WWE history.
Rhodes asks Waller if he watches SmackDown because there was a rip-roaring injustice there that Cody couldn’t let stand like that and moved him to make a move. A move he hopes he won’t regret. Ladies and gentlemen, the newest member of the “Monday Night RAW” roster, “Main Event” Jey Uso! Under a loud pop and a new entrance theme, the “Uce” celebrates his entrance to the ring and promptly negotiates the audience stands to the likes of a hip-hop concert.
After some taunting remarks from the Australian, Jey has had enough and gives Waller the superkick.
Dom Dom helps “Mami”
•WWE Women’s World Championship
Singles Match
Rhea Ripley (c) retains her Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez via Pinfall after the Riptide.
Match time: 17:20
Before the finish, Dominik Mysterio gave his “Mami” a breather, but also took a running powerslam from Rodriguez.
John Cena plays his character Lance Catamaran from Southpaw Regional Wrestling as he conducts an interview with Damian Priest and Finn Bálor on the backstage interview set. Cena introduces the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor and Damian Priest.
Balór says, “The champs are here!” Cena reminds that they haven’t been on the same page lately, but now they are champions. Priest claims that families fight, but they are The Judgment Day and they rule the world. Cena passes back to the commentary team.
-The following is the trailer for WWE Fastlane. The next WWE Premium Live Event takes place on Saturday, October 7 in Indianapolis, Indiana… The Kurt Angle documentary on Peacock is introduced and Cole announces Gunther vs. Chad Gable for the WWE Intercontinental Championship on Monday on Raw.
-Now comes the final video of the night for the Main Event Match… An animated video preceded Shinsuke Nakamura’s entrance and warns that this is the beginning of Rollins’ end…
-WWE Hall of Famer The Great Muta is in the audience.
•WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Singles Match:
‘Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) retains his World Heavyweight Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura after the Stomp
Match time: 26.05
Post-match: Rollins, who is obviously in a lot of pain, can’t muster the strength to celebrate his victory. Nakamura angrily walks around the ring.
-Lenny Wrestling
*Photo courtesy of WWE Twitter
WE LIKE SPORTZ SHOW 