Welcome to the Fightful.com discussion & coverage for the 9/2/2023 edition of WWE Payback on Peacock & the WWE Network.
We will bring full results for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here is what is set for the show.
Preview.
WWE Payback (9/2/2023).
- Steel Cage Match: Becky Lynch def. Trish Stratus.
- Singles Match with John Cena as Special Guest Referee: LA Knight def. The Miz.
- WWE United States Championship Match: Rey Mysterio (c) def. Austin Theory.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship - Steel City Street Fight: The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c).
- The Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes.
- WWE Women's World Championship Match: Rhea Ripley (c) (w/ Dominik Mysterio) def. Raquel Rodriguez.
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
Live Coverage.
- Michael Cole & Corey Graves welcomed the audience to the show before transitioning to the opening match.
Steel Cage Match.
Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch.
NXT Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton watched the match from the crowd.
The opening contest began with Lynch going for a Uranage, but Stratus evaded before trying to climb the cage. After being pulled off the cage by Lynch, Stratus slapped Lynch in the face. Lynch retaliated by throwing Stratus repeatedly into the cage before hitting a series of Exploder Suplexes. Stratus slammed Lynch into the mat before climbing to the cage, but Lynch met her at the cage. Stratus dropped Lynch off the cage before slamming her face-first into the cage.
Stratus continued to slam Lynch's head into the cage before locking in the Fish Hooks on Lynch, followed by slamming her face into the mat. Lynch got back up and slammed Lynch's head into the cage before hitting a shoulder tackle for a near fall,w which she followed immediately by locking in the Disarmer. Stratus got out of the hold before slamming Lynch's head into the cage. After Stratus evaded a lariat from Lynch with a Matrix pose, Lynch responded with a shotgun dropkick into Stratus's ribs.
The two slammed their heads repeatedly into the cage before Lynch got Stratus on the top rope and hit the Nyla Rose Guillotine Leg Drop for a near fall. Lynch stomped Stratus's back before getting to the top rope, but Stratus caught her with a jab. Stratus went for the Trish Rana, but Lynch grabbed her and locked in the Boston Crab. Stratus broke the hold and tried to get out of the cage, but Lynch pulled Stratus off the cage before hitting a Liger Bomb for a near fall.
Stratus got back up and picked Lynch before hitting the Widow's Peak for a near fall. Stratus went for the Bulldog, but Lynch evaded before hitting the Twist of Fate for a near fall. Lynch went for a Splash, but Stratus evaded before hitting Stratusfaction to get the pin on Lynch, but Lynch kicked out at two. Stratus tried to climb the cage, but Lynch pulled her back before grabbing Stratus. Stratus got Lynch and hit an Avalanche Bulldog on Lynch to get the pin, but only got a near fall. The two climbed to the top of the cage, but Stratus pushed Lynch off the cage into the. ring.
Stratus tried to get outside of the cage, but Lynch pulled Stratus back into the cage before trapping Stratus on the top of the cage. Lynch pulled Stratus off the top of the cage before hitting a Superplex off the cage straight into the mat. Lynch went for the pin on Stratus, but Stratus kicked out at two. Stratus tried to crawl out of the ring, but Lynch pulled her back into the ring. Zoey Stark tried to get involved, but Lynch pulled Stratus into the ring before hitting a Uranage on Stratus for a near fall. Stark laid out Lynch before trying to help Stratus out of the cage, but Lynch laid out Strauts with a Uranage before she caught Stratus on the top of the cage and hit an Avalanche Man-Handle Slam for the pinfall win.
Winner: Becky Lynch.
- After the match, Zoey Stark tried to speak with Trish Stratus, but Stratus slapped Stark in the face. Stark closed the cage door before hitting the Z360 on Stratus, turning on her mentor.
- The host of WWE Payback, John Cena, came to the ring to hype up the crowd and preview the match card but was immediately interrupted by The Miz. The Miz ran down on Cena's job as the host. Cena said he did not like Miz but wanted to get some advice as to be the host. The Miz suggested Cena to be more involved and to dress the role instead of dressing up like a Teletubby. Cena agreed and said that he should be the special guest for the Miz's match against LA Knight.
Singles Match with John Cena as Special Guest Referee.
LA Knight vs. The Miz.
Cena rang the bell, but Miz immediately rolled out of the ring. Miz and down on Knight & Cena before saying he would walk out of the match. Knight chased Miz back before catching him with two jabs and sending him back into the ring. Knight got a takedown on Miz before the two exchanged punches. Knight hit a back elbow and a suplex on Miz before getting him on the top rope, but Miz pushed him off the corner with a Facebuster, which he followed up by hitting an Ax Handle off the top rope. Miz gained control of the match, but Knight caught. Miz with a Tilt-to-Whirl Powerslam. Knight went for the BFT, but Miz evaded before rolling out of the ring.
Miz was about to leave the ring, but Knight caught him with a dropkick through the ropes before slamming Miz's head into the broadcast table. Knight got back in the ring to break the count before going for Miz again, but Miz slammed Knight into the broadcast table before slamming him into the barricade. Miz ran onto Knight, but Knight sent him flying into the Timekeeper's Area with a Bandera Toss before Jumping into the barricade and hitting a Diving Lariat on Miz. Back in the ring, Miz stomped down Knight in the corner, but Cena pulled Miz out of the corner. Knight tried to return the favor to Miz, but Cena pulled Knight out of the corner. Cena & Knight argued, which allowed Miz to attack Knight from behind.
Miz gained control of the match, hitting a Code Breaker on Knight off the middle rope for a near fall. Miz locked in a headlock on Knight, but Knight broke the hold. Miz tossed Knight into the apron with a Bandera before sending him crashing into the ringside floor. Miz hit the "Yes" Kicks on Knight before going a Roundhouse kick, but Knight evaded and hit a Back Drop Driver on Miz.
Knight hit a series of jabs, a lariat, a neck breaker, a Diving Bulldog, and a Running Single-leg kick on Miz for a near fall. Knight continued to storm p away at Miz in the corner before hitting a running knee on Miz into the corner. Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Knight slammed Miz into the corner. Miz rolled over before hitting two DDTs on Knight for a near fall. Miz went for the Miz Lariat, but Knight evaded before catching Miz with a Spinning DDT on Miz for a near fall. Miz went for an O'Connor Roll while craving the ropes, but Cena kicked Miz's hand off the ropes. Miz argued with Cena before Knight took down Miz. After evading a jab from Knight and nearly causing Knight to Punch Cena, Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale for a near fall. Miz went for the Five Knuckle Shuffle while doing the "U Can't See Me" taunt, but Knight got back up and hit the Powerslam, a Leaping Elbow Drop before hitting the BFT for the pinfall win.
Winner: LA Knight.
WWE United States Championship Match.
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Austin Theory.
The match began with Mysterio evading Theory multiple times before getting him in the corner and firing away with punches on Theory. Mysterio went for an inverted leapfrog, but Mysterio caught him before hitting a lariat on the current United States Champion. Theory hit a corner lariat, a Springboard stomp, and a Fisherman's Buster on Theory for a near fall. Theory hit a second Fisherman's Buster going for a third, but Mysterio reversed it with an Inside Cradle for a near fall.
Theory tossed Mysterio across the ring before locking in a Chin lock on Mysterio. Theory had control of the match, which was emphasized by Theory slamming Mysterio into the corner with an Irish Whip. Theory got Mysterio on the top rope and tried to take off Mysterio's mask, but Mysterio caught him with a series of back elbows before dropping Theory and hitting an Asai Moonsault off the top rope.
Mysterio hit the Tijeras on Theory before catching him with a Sliding Tornado DDT on Theory to the outside. Mysterio got back in the ring and hit a Seated Senton on Theory for a near fall. Mysterio hit a Springboard Tijeras before going for the 619, but Theory evaded. Mysterio went for the Best Moonsualt Ever, but Theory caught him in a Torture Rack before hitting Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Theory picked Mysterio up for A-Town Down, but Mysterio evaded and caught him with an enziguri kick. Theory hit a Rolling dropkick on Mysterio, but Mysterio caught him with a Shotgun Dropkick of his own as the two laid down on the mat. Theory hit a series of strikes on Mysterio, but Mysterio caught him with a dropkick before hitting the 619. Mysterio went for a Slingshot Splash on Theory, but Theory blocked it with his knees. Theory went for A-Town Down, but Mysterio reversed it with a Victory Roll for the pinfall win.
Winner & STILL WWE United States Champion: Rey Mysterio.
- Becky Lynch was interviewed by Cathy Kelley backstage but was interrupted by NXT Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton. Stratton "apologized" for incorrectly naming Lynch as a former NXT Champion, but Lynch told Stratton to focus on defending her title.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship - Steel City Street Fight.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor).
The match began with the four men brawling on the ringside area. Zayn threw Balor back in the ring before throwing three chairs into the ring. Zayn went for Balor, but Balor hit Zayn with a kendo stick. Balor pulled a Pittsburg terrible towel before stomping it, which caused the crowd to boo Balor. Owens attacked Balor, but Priest laid him out. Balor & Priest tried to attack Owens, but they were caught with a Tope Con Giro by Zayn. Owens & Zayn pulled out trash cans and began attacking Priest & Balor with the trash cans.
After revealing he had a Terry Funk T-Shirt, Owens & Zayn put a trash can on Balor's head before swinging their kendo sticks on Balor & the trash can. After they pulled out a table from under the ring, they went to attack Priest with the trash can; however, they were attacked by Damian Priest before Balor hit Zayn with a Steel Chair into the ribs. Back in the ring, Balor & Priest attacked Owens with chairs before attacking Zayn in the corner. Balor attacked Zayn at ringside while Owens stomped down Priest inside the ring.
Owens hit Priest with a chair, but Balor attacked Owens with a chair too Zayn got back in the ring and attacked Zayn with a chair before Priest & Balor got on the crowd area. Owens & Zayn attacked Balor & Priest, but Dominik Mysterio attacked Zayn & Owens to give Judgment Day the numbers advantage. Owens & Zayn attacked Balor & Priest with Hockey Sticks, all while Owens was busted open from the forehead.
Back in the ring, Zayn attacked Balor before hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb on Balro into a stack of chairs for a near fall. Zayn & Owens lined up a stack of chairs in the ring, but Priest laid them out with a hockey stick before Priest hit a Broken Arrow on Zayn into the stack of chairs to get the pin, but Owens threw a chair to break the pin. Balor & Priest attacked Owens at ringside before Balor clotheslined Owens over the barricade into the crowd area. Zayn joined Balor, Priest & Owens in the crowd area as they made their way into the Kickoff show panel. Zayn got on top of the Kickoff show panel before hitting a Tope Con Giro on Priest & Balor off the Kickoff table. Dominik Mysterio attacked Zayn, but Owens attacked Mysterio before putting Dominik on a table and hitting a Swanton Bomb on Dominik through the table.
Back in the ring, Zayn hit an Exploder Suplex on Balor before going for a Helluva Kick, but Priest threw a Trash Can on Zayn for Balor to get the pin, but Zayn kicked out. Priest & Balor went for a move, but Zayn evaded and attacked Priest & Balor. Zayn hit an exploder Suplex on Priest before pushing Balor through a table on the outside. Kevin Owens got back in the ring and hit a Stunner on Priest before Zayn hit the Helluva Kick on Priest to get the pin, but JD McDonagh pulled Zayn out of the ring to break the pin.
Owens put McDonagh through the table, but Rhea Ripley appeared and hit a Pounce on Owens onto the barricade. Back in the ring, Balor hit a Sling Blade on Zayn before going for the Coup de Grace, but Zayn evaded before hitting the Exploder Suplex. Zayn hit the Helluva Kick on Balor before going for the pin, but Dominik hit Zayn in the head with the Money In The Bank Briefcase before Balor rolled over and pinned Zayn for the win.
Winners & NEW WWE Tag Team Champions: Finn Balor & Damian Priest.
- Grayson Waller hosted a new edition of The Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes as the Special Guest. Waller said that he believed that Rhodes has a new announcement, saying that it can change Rhodes's announcement. Rhodes acknowledged the history of WWE Talk shows, the television programming, and more from WWE before asking Waller about SmackDown. Rhodes revealed that his big announcement was moving Jey Uso to Monday Night Raw. Jey appeared before hitting a Thrust Kick on Waller while having a staredown with Rhodes.
WWE Women's World Championship Match.
Rhea Ripley (c) (w/ Dominik Mysterio) vs. Raquel Rodriguez.
The match began with the two locking up before separating horns. Ripley slapped Raquel, but Raquel responded with a shove before Ripley locked in a headlock on Raquel. The two collided with shoulder blocks before Ripley pulled Raquel's hair. Ripley went for a lariat, but Raquel evaded before hitting a shoulder on Ripley to send her to the outside. Ripley slammed Raquel's neck to the rope before getting back in the ring. Raquel backed Ripley into the corner, but Ripley got out of the corner and hit a gut-kick.
Ripley went for an Irish Whip before hitting two short-hand clotheslines, but Raquel shook it off before hitting a Swinging Lariat and a Powerslam. Raquel went for a second powerslam, but Ripley evaded and hit a leg sweep before catching Raquel with a single leg kick. Ripley drove her shoulder on Raquel's abdomen in the corner before targeting Raquel's back. Ripley hit a snap-mare before hitting a Penalty Kick to Raquel's back, followed by locking in a seated Abdominal Stretch. Raquel got back up, but Ripley caught Raquel with a series of knee strikes before locking in a Guillotine Chokem but Raquel broke the hold by tossing Ripley into the mat with a facebuster.
Ripley kicked Raquel in the nose before stomping away at Raquel's face. Raquel hit a series of jabs on Ripley, but Ripley responded with a dropkick before hitting a series of hammer fists on Raquel. Raquel got back up and hit a lariat, a back lariat, a Fall-Away Slam & a corner splash on Ripley before going for Middle rope move, but Ripley slammed Raquel into the corner. Ripley got on the top rope and hit a series of headbutts on Raquel, but Rodriguez left Ripley hanging on the top rope before catching Ripley and hitting a Delayed Vertical Suplex on Ripley, followed by a Corkscrew Elbow for a near fall.
Raquel went for the Tejano Bomb, but Ripley evaded and hit a headbutt before hitting a Facebuster and a V-Trigger on Raquel for a near fall. Ripley went for the Riptide, but Raquel centered with a Facebuster. Raquel tossed Ripley into the ropes with a Modified Flapjack before hitting Ripley with a lariat for a near fall. Raquel got Ripley on the top rope for a Superplex, but Ripley dropped her before hitting Raquel with a Chop Lock and locking in the Prism Lock on Raquel, but Raquel reversed it with a small package for a near fall. Ripley went for a corner spear, but Raquel evaded before hitting a Powerslam on Ripley.
The two exchanged strikes before Raquel tossed Ripley out of the ring with a Big Boot. Raquel got on the outside, but Ripley tripped her on the outside. Raquel got Ripley up and slammed her into the ring post before slamming her into the barricade and hitting the Snake Eyes on Ripley into the ring post. Ripley & Rodriguez got back in the ring before Dominik got in the ring as well. Rodriguez picked up Dominik and hit a Running Powerslam on Dominik, but Ripley caught Raquel with two kicks before hitting the Riptide for the pinfall win.
Winner & STILL WWE Women's World Champion: Rhea Ripley.
- John Cena interviewed Finn Balor & Damian Priest backstage after their title win earlier in the night. Priest that brothers can fight, but no one can stop Judgment Day when they are on the same page before Priest promised that Judgment Day will always rise.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match.
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.
The main event of WWE Payback began with Rollins & Nakamura having a staredown before Rollins tried to lock up, but Nakamura side-stepped. The two locked up before Rollins got a waistlock, but Nakamura reversed it with a wrist lock. Rollins locked in a Hammerlock, but Nakamura reversed it with headlock before the two had a staredown again. Rollins locked in a headlock on Nakamura, but Nakamura backed Rollins into the ropes before doing his "COME ON" taunt. Rollins ran at Nakamura, but Nakamura evaded before kicking Rollins on his back. Rollins hit a series of jabs on Nakamura before stomping away at him in the corner. Rollins leaped over Nakamura before hitting a Running Forearm, followed by a Tope Suicida on Nakamura to the outside.
Back in the ring, Rollins went for the Pedigree but Nakamura reversed it by hitting a Back drop on Rollins's injured back. Nakamura hit a series of kicks & a forearm shiver on Rollins's injured back before hitting the "Good Vibrations" kick. Nakamura went for a running knee, but Rollins evaded before Rollins hit a Guillotine on Nakamura into he top rope. Rollins hit a Swanton before going for a Lionsault, but Nakamura rolled to the outside. Rollins saw this and caught Nakamura with a Tope Suicida to the outside. Rollins got on the top of the barricade, but Nakamura kicked Rollins up and slammed him into the broadcast table before tossing him into the barricade too.
Back in the ring, Nakamura hit a kick on Rollins's back before placing Rollins on the top rope and catching him with a running knee on Rollins's abdomen & his back for a near fall. Nakamura continued to target Rollins's back by locking in a Camel Clutch before hitting Rollins with a back breaker for a near fall. Rollins rolled on the apron, but Nakamura caught him with a knee strike & a diving knee off the apron for a near fall. Nakamura hit a leaping Shining Wizard on Rollins before locking in a Single-Leg Crab on Rollins. Nakamura sat down to keep the hold, but Rollins kicked Nakamura in the head to break the hold.
Nakamura backed Rollins into the corner before going to the top rope, but Rollins caught him with a chop. Rollins climbed to the top rope and hit an Avalanche Frankensteiner on Nakamura. Rollins hit a series of forearm strikes on Nakamura before hitting a lariat, a kick, a sling blade, and a Frog Splash on Nakamura to get the pin, but Nakamura kicked out. Nakamura went for a kick, but Rollins evaded before hitting a Rain Maker on Nakamura for a near fall. Rollins continued to attack Nakamura on the back of his neck before going for the Curb Stomp, but Nakamura evaded and locked in a Sleeper Hold. Rollins escaped the hold, but Nakamura responded by hitting a flying Knee for a near fall.
Nakamura hit a body slam on Rollins, targeting his back before hitting a Snap-Suplex. Nakamura went for a suplex, but Rollins evaded. Rollins climbed to the top rope, but Nakamura left Rollins hanging into the middle rope before hitting a Sliding German Suplex for a near fall. Nakamura hit an Inverted Exploder before going for the Kinshasa Knee Strike, but Rollins caught him flush with a Thrust Kick for a near fall. Rollins & Nakamura exchanged strikes going for a Rolling Forearm, but Nakamura evaded and locked in the Juji Gatame before transitioning into the Triangle Choke. Rollins lifted Nakamura and broke the hold with a Sit-Out Powerbomb for a near fall.
The two exchanged strikes before Rollins hit a Rolling Forearm, but Nakamura responded with a Spinning Heel Kick. Nakamura went for the Death Valley Driver, but Rollins evaded before hitting a Pele Kick. Rollins got to the top rope, but Nakamura caught him and hit an Avalanche Landslide for a near fall. Nakamura hit the Kinshasa to the back of Rollins's head before getting back up and aimmed for the Kinshasa, but Rollins collapsed. Nakamura lifted Rollins up, but Rollins responded with two slaps. Nakamura hit a series of vicious strikes on Rollins. Nakamura got Rollins back in the ring, but Rollins caught him with a Pedigree. Rollins went for the stomp, but Nakamura reversed it with a Pele kick. Nakamura went for a pin, but Rollins rolled over and hit the Curb Stomp for the pinfall win. Despite his injured back, Rollins stood tall to end the broadcast.
Winner & STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Seth Rollins.
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.
