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Payback (2023)

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Payback
Promotional poster featuring The Judgment Day ("Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, and Finn Bálor)
PromotionWWE
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown
DateSeptember 2, 2023
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
VenuePPG Paints Arena
Attendance14,584[1]
WWE Network event chronology
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SummerSlam 		Next →
NXT No Mercy
Payback chronology
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2020 		Next →
—

The 2023 Payback is the ongoing seventh Payback professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event took place during Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the first Payback held since 2020. It also marked the first Payback held on a Saturday and in September, as well as the first to livestream on Peacock in the United States and Binge in Australia. This was WWE's first PPV and livestreaming event held in Pittsburgh since Extreme Rules in July 2018, which was at the same arena. The theme of the event was wrestlers seeking payback against their opponents. John Cena served as the host of the event.

The event featured the return of Jey Uso, who made his first appearance since the August 11, 2023 episode of SmackDown when he "quit" WWE. He was later announced as a member of the Raw roster.

Production

Background

The event is being held at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Payback is a professional wrestling event that was established by WWE in 2013. The concept of the event is the wrestlers seeking payback against their opponents.[2] The event continued annually until 2017, but was discontinued a first time until it was reinstated in 2020, but was again discontinued. On June 16, 2023, however, WWE announced the revival of the event, with the seventh Payback to take place during Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. This is subsequently the first Payback held on a Saturday and in September. This is also WWE's first pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event held in Pittsburgh since Extreme Rules in July 2018, which was at the same arena. In addition to airing on traditional PPV worldwide and the WWE Network in most international markets,[3] it is the first Payback to livestream on Peacock after the American version of the WWE Network merged under Peacock in March 2021.[4] Tickets went on sale on June 27 via Ticketmaster.[3] John Cena serves as the host for the event.[5]

Storylines

The card includes matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[6][7] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[8]

At Night of Champions, Trish Stratus defeated Becky Lynch thanks to interference from Zoey Stark, who was later revealed as Stratus' protégé.[9] They continued to feud, with the three qualifying for the women's Money in the Bank ladder match, but none were victorious, although Stratus legitimately broke her nose during the match thanks to Lynch.[10] Stratus then denied Lynch's challenge to fight her, claiming she was not medically cleared.[11] Stark instead faced and defeated Lynch on the July 10 episode of Raw.[12] The following week, Stratus said she would accept Lynch's challenge if Lynch could defeat Stark in a match on the July 24 episode, but if Lynch failed, she would have to get down on her knees, thank Stratus, and get "Thank You Trish" tattooed on her chest.[13] Lynch won,[14] setting up a rematch on the next episode that quickly ended in a disqualification win for Lynch after Stark interfered. Later, WWE official Adam Pearce scheduled a rematch for the August 14 episode with Stark banned from ringside,[15] but it ended in a double countout and the two brawled throughout the arena with Stark helping Stratus. Later, Pearce announced another rematch, this time as a Steel Cage match,[16] which was scheduled for Payback.[17]

On the August 7 episode of Raw, Seth "Freakin" Rollins accepted Shinsuke Nakamura's offer to be on his team in a six-man tag team match that night. Their team won, but during the celebration, Nakamura attacked Rollins with a Kinshasa, turning heel.[18] The following week, Nakamura stated that he wanted the World Heavyweight Championship, prompting Rollins to come to the ring, saying that he would face Nakamura at anytime with the title on the line. The two then shook hands, but Nakamura feigned leaving and again attacked Rollins with the Kinshasa.[16] On the next episode, Rollins was scheduled to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Nakamura at Payback.[19]

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, Grayson Waller would have a special edition of his talk show, "The Grayson Waller Effect", with special guest 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, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn had been feuding with The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley) after Judgment Day defeated Owens and Zayn's team in a six-man tag team match.[12] This led to a match on the July 17 episode of Raw, where Owens and Zayn successfully defended the championship against Priest and Mysterio.[13] Also during this time, Mysterio won the NXT North American Championship[26] and successfully defended the title against Zayn after a distraction from Priest and Ripley, who attacked and injured Owens.[14] Zayn's rivalry with The Judgment Day would continue through the next month, and on the August 21 episode, Owens would make his return. Later that night, Owens and Zayn's team would defeat The Judgment Day in a six-man tag team match.[19] The following week, Owens and Zayn were scheduled to defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Bálor and Priest at Payback, and later, Owens and Zayn announced that after talking with WWE official Adam Pearce, the match would be a Steel City Street Fight.[27]

Event

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
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
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 special guest referee for the match between LA Knight and The Miz, in addition to his hosting duties for the event.[28]

Preliminary matches

Main event

Results

No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[1]
1Becky Lynch defeated Trish Stratus by pinfallSteel Cage match[29]20:00
2LA Knight defeated The Miz by pinfallSingles match[30]
John Cena served as the special guest referee.		15:45
3Rey Mysterio (c) defeated Austin Theory by pinfallSingles match for the WWE United States Championship[31]9:45
4The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Bálor) defeated Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens (c) by pinfallPittsburgh Steel City Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship[32]20:45
5Rhea Ripley (c) defeated Raquel Rodriguez by pinfallSingles match for the Women's World Championship[33]17:20
6Seth "Freakin" Rollins (c) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfallSingles match for the World Heavyweight Championship[34]26:00
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

References

  1. ^ a b Powell, Jason (September 2, 2023). "WWE Payback results: Powell's review of Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the World Heavyweight Title, Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the Women's World Title, LA Knight vs. The Miz". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "Payback 2013 (DVD)". WWE Home Video UK. WWE. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Lambert, Jeremy (June 16, 2023). "WWE Payback Announced For September 2". Fightful. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Defelice, Robert (March 8, 2021). "Standalone WWE Network App Shutting Down In The US On 4/4, New Details On The Transition To Peacock". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "John Cena is the host of WWE Payback". Fox Sports. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  6. ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  7. ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  8. ^ Steinberg, Brian (May 25, 2016). "WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  9. ^ Powell, Jason (May 27, 2023). "WWE Night of Champions results: Powell's live review of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles, Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Bianca Belair vs. Asuka for the Raw Women's Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Powell, Jason (July 1, 2023). "WWE Money in the Bank results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa vs. The Usos, two MITB ladder matches, Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Championship, Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Powell, Jason (July 3, 2023). "WWE Raw results (7/3): Powell's live review of the MITB fallout show, Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya for the Women's World Championship, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio, Damian Priest vs. Shinsuke Nakamura". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Powell, Jason (July 10, 2023). "WWE Raw results (7/10): Powell's live review of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio, Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle vs. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark, Logan Paul and Ricochet". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Powell, Jason (July 17, 2023). "WWE Raw results (7/17): Powell's live review of Brock Lesnar's appearance in Cody Rhodes country, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Powell, Jason (July 24, 2023). "WWE Raw results (7/24): Powell's live review of Seth Rollins and Finn Balor contract signing for SummerSlam, Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark, Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bronson Reed, Logan Paul and Ricochet, Gunther and Drew McIntyre". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Powell, Jason (July 31, 2023). "WWE Raw results (7/31): Powell's live review of Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes final appearances before SummerSlam, Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn vs. Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest, Logan Paul's appearance". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Powell, Jason (August 14, 2023). "WWE Raw results (8/14): Powell's live review of Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus with Zoey Stark barred from ringside, Shinsuke Nakamura follow-up from his turn on Seth Rollins". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (August 18, 2023). "Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus Cage Match Announced For WWE Payback". Fightful. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Powell, Jason (August 7, 2023). "WWE Raw results (8/7): Powell's live review of the SummerSlam fallout edition". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Powell, Jason (August 21, 2023). "WWE Raw results (8/21): Powell's live review of Gunther vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Title, Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle vs. New Day, Shinsuke Nakamura on what he told Seth Rollins". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  20. ^ Powell, Jason (June 19, 2023). "WWE Raw results (6/19): Powell's live review of Logan Paul's return, Trish Stratus vs. Raquel Rodriguez in a MITB qualifier, Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya in a non-title match, Bronson Reed vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Matt Riddle vs. Ludwig Kaiser, Alpha Academy vs. The Viking Raiders". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  21. ^ Powell, Jason (July 28, 2023). "7/28 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns and Jey Uso on the road to Tribal Combat, Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar for a shot at the Intercontinental Title, Karrion Kross vs. Karl Anderson". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Barnett, Jake (August 11, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (8/11): Barnett's review of Jimmy Uso's "Hail to the Chief" segment, Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair, Austin Theory vs. Santos Escobar for the U.S. Title, AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Barnett, Jake (August 18, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (8/18): Barnett's review of Edge's 25-year celebration and faces Sheamus, Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair vs. Iyo Sky and Bayley, Grayson Waller Effect with Rey Mysterio". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c Barnett, Jake (August 25, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (8/25): Barnett's review of the Bray Wyatt and Terry Funk tributes, Iyo Sky vs. Zelina Vega for the WWE Women's Championship, U.S. Champ Rey Mysterio vs. Grayson Waller". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  25. ^ Powell, Jason (August 5, 2023). "WWE SummerSlam results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso in Tribal Combat for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title, Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women's Title, Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Title, Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Moore, John (July 18, 2023). "NXT TV results (7/18): Moore's review of Wes Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio for the NXT NA Title, Nathan Frazer and Dragon Lee vs. Los Lotharios, Kiana James vs. Gigi Dolin, Tony D'Angelo's homecoming". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  27. ^ Powell, Jason (August 29, 2023). "WWE Raw results (8/28): Powell's live review of Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark in a Falls Count Anywhere match, Chad Gable vs. Ludwig Kaiser, New Day vs. Viking Raiders, Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bronson Reed". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  28. ^ Casey, Connor (September 2, 2023). "WWE Payback 2023: John Cena's Role in a Particular Match Confirmed". ComicBook.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  29. ^ WWE.com Staff (August 21, 2023). "Becky Lynch battles Trish Stratus in a Steel Cage Match". WWE. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  30. ^ Miller, Gregory (August 25, 2023). "LA Knight vs. The Miz". WWE. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  31. ^ WWE.com Staff (August 25, 2023). "United States Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory". WWE. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  32. ^ WWE.com Staff (August 28, 2023). "Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. The Judgment Day (Steel City Street Fight)". WWE. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  33. ^ Miller, Gregory (August 21, 2023). "Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez". WWE. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  34. ^ WWE.com Staff (August 21, 2023). "World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura". WWE. Retrieved August 21, 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Payback_(2023)&oldid=1173542399"