Payback 2020: At Least Someone Is Happy
IMG Credit: WWE
Payback 2020
Date: August 30, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe, Byron Saxton, Michael Cole, Corey Graves
We’re back on pay per view less than a week after the last one ended, because that’s a thing that needed to happen. This time around we have the big main event of the Fiend defending the Smackdown World Title against Braun Strowman and a surprisingly heel Roman Reigns, with Paul Heyman in his corner. That sounds like it could have some serious legs so let’s get to it.
Kickoff Show: IIconics vs. Riott Squad
The IIconics promise to expose them as frauds before the match. Riott charges at Royce to start and the chase is on around the ring. That means Riott runs into Shades of Kay and it’s off to a neck crank inside. Kay forearms Riott for two and the trash talk is on in a hurry. Royce knees her in the back a few times and we hit the chinlock as they aren’t exactly tearing the house down with the offense here.
Riott fights up but a Kay distraction lets Royce knock Liv to the floor. Kay tries to convince Morgan that Riott did it and Morgan is rather confused on the floor. Riott knocks Kay away and Morgan convinces herself to get up for the hot tag. Everything breaks down and Morgan slips off a springboard dropkick but manages to make some contact with Royce anyway.
A double stomp in the corner gets two more on Royce but the double STO is broken up. Deja Vu gets two on Riott with Morgan making the save and pulling Riott over for the corner. I’m not sure when Riott was legal in the first place but I can’t imagine it matters. Oblivion gets two on Royce so it’s the Riott Kick to give Riott the pin at 9:00.
Rating: D+. They had a story to the match and played it up well enough but they were so sloppy throughout and some of the botches and miscommunication hurt it a lot. What matters is that the right team won and the Squad getting a Tag Team Title shot could be a nice story. Just tighten things up a bit and it can be a lot better.
The opening video looks at the major feuds and talks about revenge. That only makes sense in a few of the matches but it fits the theme.
US Title: Bobby Lashley vs. Apollo Crews
Lashley is challenging and has the Hurt Business with him. MVP gets in a quick promo during the entrances, saying that last time Crews got hurt, but this time he gets Lashley. Crews gets taken down with a waistlock to start as Joe compares the Hurt Business to people who show up at your birthday, eat your cake in front of your wife and sing you a song. Crews fights out of the corner and hits a dropkick to the floor, setting up a moonsault from the apron.
The Hurt Business stares Crews down so he gets back inside rather than dealing with the numbers. Back in and Lashley drops him onto the top rope for another trip to the floor, followed by a ribs first ram into the post. We hit the chinlock and then a waistlock as Lashley keeps using the power. Crews fights up and hits a jumping enziguri but gets caught in the spinning Dominator for two.
The spear misses though and Crews hits a middle rope high crossbody for a breather. The Toss Powerbomb doesn’t work so Crews settles for a spinebuster for two instead. Crews can’t hit a gorilla press but he can hit a German suplex. A frog splash gives Crews two more but Lashley is right back with a spinebuster. The Full Lashley with a bodyscissors gives Lashley the title at 9:29.
Rating: C. Lashley was going to wind up with the title at some point so giving it to him here made as much sense as anything else. Maybe Crews gets it back at Clash Of Champions but there was no stopping Lashley from getting it either here or there. You can’t have the Hurt Business come up short every time so the title change had to take place.
Post match Crews jumps the Hurt Business and promises to get the title back as he runs off.
We look at Roman Reigns becoming a Paul Heyman Guy. Man that needed a live crowd.
Paul Heyman won’t answer if Reigns will sign the contract but you would have to ask him for sure. Kayla Braxton: “Can I ask him in person?” Heyman: “No you may not.”
JBL comes up to Keith Lee and offers him a shot at some hedge funds for only a million bucks. Lee doesn’t have that kind of money, but JBL thinks he will if he wins tonight. What a random cameo.
We look at Big E. getting annoyed at Miz on Talking Smack for suggesting that the rest of New Day has been holding him back.
Sheamus says tonight is Big E.’s time to fall because New Day has been propping him up.
Big E. vs. Sheamus
Big E. goes with the waistlock to start until Sheamus reverses into one of his own. That’s flipped away without much effort so Sheamus grabs a headlock on the mat instead. Big E. breaks that up as well and knocks Sheamus down but the apron splash only hits apron. Back in and Sheamus starts in on Big E.’s knee with a shinbreaker and some general stomping. The Irish Curse gives Sheamus two and we hit the half crab.
That doesn’t last long so Sheamus goes up, only to dive into a pair of belly to bellies. The Rock Bottom out of the corner gives Big E. two but Sheamus is back with a slingshot shoulder. Big E. fights up again and hits the spear through the ropes to the floor. Sheamus goes back to the knee with a heel hook but Big E. is back up in a hurry. That means a jumping knee to the face but the Brogue Kick is countered into a powerbomb. Big E. hits the Big Ending for the pin at 12:25.
Rating: C. This felt like a slightly bigger than usual Smackdown match and that works fine enough. Big E. needs to rack up some wins, but at the same time, he needs somewhere to go with the wins. Beating Miz, Morrison and Sheamus is fine, but that is only going to get him so far. He needs a story other than “I want to be my own man” over and over again and while this was a nice step, he needs some bigger ones.
Post match a very fired up Big E. shouts at commentary that he’s coming.
Matt Riddle is done with King Corbin’s tweets and is ready to shut him up tonight. He has no reaction to Corbin’s tweets talking about how Riddle is a failure at home. That’s your official acknowledgment of SpeakingOut I guess.
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler argue over who is the captain of the team. Remember like two weeks ago when Nia attacked Shayna’s friends on Raw Underground? Something tells me WWE doesn’t.
Matt Riddle vs. King Corbin
Corbin is carried in on the throne and jumps Riddle before the bell to get the early advantage. They fight outside early on with Corbin talking trash as Cole praises his striking abilities. Back in and Riddle kicks away in the corner and grabs a Kimura. That’s broken up so Riddle grabs a choke but Corbin throws him off.
Corbin grabs a chinlock but Riddle fights up, leaving Corbin to shout at commentary. Corbin’s under the ropes clothesline is cut off with a kick to the head and they head outside again. Riddle is driven back first into the apron but Riddle is back in with the running forearms in the corner.
A running knee gets two on Corbin and they strike it out with Corbin getting the better of things with a shot to the face. Deep Six gets two and the frustration sets in. Corbin hammers away some more but Riddle pulls him into a triangle. That doesn’t work so it’s the Bro To Sleep into the Floating Bro to give Riddle the pin at 10:53.
Rating: C+. Not too bad here as Riddle gets another win and starts moving up the ladder a bit. He can move up, down, left or right but it’s the right way as long as he gets away from Corbin. That’s a dead end feud if there ever has been one but at least he got his “feud with Corbin” badge. Just get him somewhere else now.
Post match Riddle is asked about the win but gets jumped by Corbin because this has to keep going.
We recap Sasha Banks/Bayley vs. Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler for the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Bayley and Banks have dominated the women’s divisions for months so it’s time to throw together a pair who doesn’t like each other to go after the titles.
Women’s Tag Team Titles: Bayley/Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler
Jax and Baszler are challenging. Baszler tags herself in at the bell to kick Banks down in a hurry. Banks gets caught upside down in the corner so Baszler can kick her in the face over and over. Bayley comes in and gets taken down by the arm but Banks grabs Jax’s leg, allowing Bayley to throw Baszler into her. Back in and Banks grabs a seated abdominal stretch on Baszler before hitting two Amigos.
It’s back to Bayley for the sliding clothesline but an angry Jax comes in for the save. Jax gets the tag and slams Bayley down for two but Banks sneaks in for a chop block. Bayley gets Jax down in the corner and hammers away, only to get slammed down again. There’s the Samoan drop to Banks, with Jax swinging Banks’ feet into Bayley’s face for a bonus.
Bayley grabs the leg for a not so great kneebar so Jax drags her over to the corner for the tag to Jax. House is cleaned in a hurry and a gutwrench faceplant hits Banks. It’s off to Jax, who says they can win. Everything breaks down with Banks hitting a faceplant on Jax to cut her off. Bayley comes in to drop Jax again and Banks’ frog splash barely gets two.
The champs look scared so Banks hits a sliding knee for two more. Baszler tags herself in as the champs hit a double backdrop on Jax. Banks saves Bayley from the Kirifuda Clutch so it’s an Indian Deathlock to Banks and the Kirifuda Clutch to Bayley at the same time. Baszler wraps Banks’ arm around Bayley’s throat to make her tap away the titles at 10:23.
Rating: C+. It’s the right way to go as Bayley cost Banks her only remaining title, but sweet goodness it is going to be around to hear Jax and Baszler bicker throughout their entire title run. They had to change the titles sooner rather than later at this point though as the story has cleared its peak and needs to go somewhere else.
Post match Nia shouts a lot to celebrate and Shayna says they’re the champs. My goodness it’s already starting.
We recap Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee. Orton attacked Drew McIntyre on Raw so Lee stepped up to face him. McIntyre interfered in the match so Orton attacked him again later in the match. Lee is stepping up for his friend and his first big match.
Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee
Lee has generic rock music but they did fix his gear, putting him in the sleeveless shirt and the same shorts he wore in NXT. Orton goes after him to start but Lee crossbodies him for a trip to the floor. Back in and Orton demands respect before snapping off a chop. Orton does it two more times and Lee is getting angry. Grizzly Magnum drops Orton in a hurry and Lee takes him into the corner.
They head outside with Orton getting in a cheap shot and dropping Lee hard onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Orton gets two on off a knee drop, meaning it’s chinlock time. Lee fights up and Pounces Orton all the way to the floor, setting up his own drop onto the announcers’ table. Orton takes him back inside for the hanging DDT. The RKO is loaded up but Lee counters into the Spirit Bomb finishes Orton at 6:35.
Rating: C-. Well ok then. I didn’t see that one coming but points for giving Lee the clean win in his real debut. At some point you need to pull the trigger on someone and that’s what they did here in the same vein as Kevin Owens back in 2015. The match itself wasn’t all that great due to the time, but Lee got the win and that’s a big deal. Orton losing is rather surprising, but he’s probably getting the rematch at Clash anyway.
Heyman still won’t answer about Reigns signing the contract but you can believe that Reigns is leaving as champion.
We recap Seth Rollins/Murphy vs. the Mysterios. This feud has been going on for months as Rollins has tried to get rid of Rey as a sacrifice for the greater good. They faced off on Raw but Retribution interfered so it’s time for a rematch.
Rey Mysterio/Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins/Murphy
Rollins gets chased to the floor to start and the frustration sets in early. Dominik kicks Murphy in the face and brings Rey in for a Russian legsweep into a dropkick for two. Rey wants Rollins and gets to roll him up for two. Murphy takes Rey down to the floor for a cheap shot and it’s Rollins hitting a shoulder to the ribs back inside. Rey gets over for the hot tag to Dominik, who is taken down in a hurry.
Murphy’s snap suplex gets two and we hit the abdominal stretch to Dominik’s banged up ribs. That’s broken up and Dominik kicks Murphy away, allowing the hot tag to Rey. A top rope moonsault press gets two on Rollins but the 619 misses. A basement kick to the head gets two more with Murphy making the save. Dominik’s DDT out of the corner hits Murphy but Rollins is back with the Sling Blade.
Murphy and Dominik fight to the floor and Rollins counters Rey’s high crossbody with double knees to the ribs for two. Dominik comes back in and sends Murphy outside again, only to be sent back outside by Rollins. Both Mysterios are sent into the barricade and Rollins asks Rey where the family is now. Rollins tells Murphy to kick him in the head but the kick hits Rollins instead. Rey’s sliding splash winds up being a sliding sunset bomb to send Rollins into the barricade, leaving Dominik to hit a 619 into the frog splash to pin Murphy at 15:59.
Rating: C+. So yeah that happened, which has been my reaction to every match in this feud so far. It hasn’t been an interesting feud but it keeps going on and on no matter what. They really need to wrap this up sooner rather than later because there isn’t much to it at all. Get them on to something else already because they haven’t had much of a purpose in a long time now.
The Hurt Business leaves. Nothing more to it than that.
We recap Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman vs. the Fiend for the Universal Title. Fiend took the title from Strowman last Sunday at Summerslam and the returning Reigns attacked both of them to end the show. Reigns then revealed Paul Heyman as his new associate, turning heel in the process. Tonight it’s No Holds Barred, but Reigns may not have signed the contract.
Smackdown World Title: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman vs. The Fiend
No Holds Barred and Fiend is defending. Fiend does his big entrance and Strowman jumps him from behind, with the powerslam getting two about thirty seconds in. Fiend runs him over and Sister Abigail gets two more as Reigns is nowhere to be seen. Strowman heads outside and they slug it out until Fiend Rock Bottoms him through the announcers’ table. With Strowman down, Fiend grabs the big mallet but Strowman throws a chair at him.
A big shot to the chest puts Fiend down on the steps so Strowman grabs the mallet. That’s knocked out of his hands so Fiend can pick it up and hit Strowman in the chest. Fiend screams a lot and then twists Strowman’s neck, setting up a steps shot to the elbow. We see Alexa Bliss watching in the back as Fiend takes him up the ramp for another neck twist. Strowman sends him into the LED boards but has to fight out of another Sister Abigail.
A running charge knocks Fiend off the stage and through some tables for the big crash. They head back to the ring, where Fiend catches him on top. Fiend superplexes him down and they break the ring for the even bigger crash. Now, ten minutes into the match, here’s Reigns with a chair and Heyman at his side.
Reigns signs the contract (because that’s how contracts work in wrestling) and demands another referee but only gets two on each of them. A bunch of chair shots have Strowman down for two more but Fiend is up with the Mandible Claw on Reigns. That’s broken up with a low blow to put Fiend on the floor and the spear to Strowman gives Reigns the title back at 12:43.
Rating: C+. They got as close to sticking the landing as this company is capable of doing these days so I’ll take what I can get. Reigns came in and basically stole the title, which is quite the heelish move for him. Now do the big promo and explanation on Smackdown and everything should be fine. Fiend vs. Reigns has been the plan for a long time now and for once they can finally get there. Not a great or even good match, but it did the job they needed it to do.
Overall Rating: D+. And thus ends the pay per view that only needed to exist in the minds of the WWE scheduling department. Nothing on here was terrible and the ending worked, but this was a bunch of TV level matches and then the main event. This would have been bad as a regular pay per view but coming a week after Summerslam, it felt like some downloadable content on a game that wasn’t great in the first place. Totally skippable show, which shouldn’t be that surprising.
Results
Bobby Lashley b. Apollo Crews – Full Lashley with bodyscissors
Big E. b. Sheamus – Big Ending
Matt Riddle b. King Corbin – Floating Bro
Shayna Baszler/Nia Jax b. Sasha Banks/Bayley – Kirifuda Clutch to Bayley
Keith Lee b. Randy Orton – Spirit Bomb
Dominik Mysterio/Rey Mysterio b. Murphy/Seth Rollins – Frog splash to Murphy
Roman Reigns b. The Fiend and Braun Strowman – Spear to Strowman
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:
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These matches easily could’ve been on Raw or SmackDown & even the main event could’ve been a big SmackDown main event or saved for The Clash.
Why did Stephanie McMahon make triple h smell her foot???
While i agree this probably didn’t need to happen a week after Summerslam it was still an enjoyable Show which flew by like an In Your House. I am already loving Heel Roman Reigns coming in the back door and winning the Universal Title. The paining with him and Paul Heyman kinda reminds me of Heel Austin with Vince in 2001.
Wtf is this booking? This was not a bad show at all from a match perspective but the booking left me scratching my head.
First off Matt riddles gts looked like shit, idk if baron didn’t want to take the move or if it’s considered unsafe now or what but he didn’t connect at all with it. And then after riddle beat corbin clean he still can’t get out of a feud with him. In 2020 feuds never, ever end! Poor riddle.
It was nice to see shayna actually get a push and win a title even if it is with nia. Her tappping our banks/bayley at the same time should make her look legit for marks.
Orton/Keith lee…. Keith lee did not need to win this, he would’ve looked fine if he had a good back and forth match with Orton and lost to the kayfabe “greatest wrestler ever.” Orton by losing looks like a scrub, now he’s lost at summerslam to a backslide and to the new guy in one finisher. Why should he be number one contender? This was just to appease the internet fan boys who would’ve bitched that lee was “buried” if he had lost to Orton. I’m assuming they’re going to insert Keith lee into the title picture making it a triple threat but lee has practically no reason to be there other than he wants the title while Orton/drew are in a blood feud.
Rollins and Murphy/mysterious was pretty good but the feuds still not blown off as rey vs Seth is advertised for raw tomorrow.
So wtf is Roman? It looks like they’re trying hard to make him a heel with him coming out late, using a low blow and a chair etc but he’s feuding with two guys who are heels (you could maybe argue that wyatts a tweener). It’s so confusing, is Roman a face with an attitude, a tweener or a straight up heel? I genuinely don’t know and if he is a heel then you’re too three guys feuding for the title are all heel.
Your*
Wyatt is a babyface
Why is Wyatt a baby face? He was heel a month ago when they did extreme rules, now you’re saying he’s a face because he turned Braun heel by throwing him in a swamp and saved alexa bliss (after kidnapping her and choking her out)? If anything that’s tweener.
So why did Keith Lee not need to win? Isn’t the whole idea of bringing in someone new to put them over and establish them. I really don’t understand your logic.
And your seriously asking if Roman is a Heel now. Being aligned with Paul Heyman, picking his spot to come in, a Low Blow. Name a time when he has ever done any of that.
My point is, on Roman, this would be way easier to tell if he was feuding with someone who was actually a face. If he ran in and did this shit to drew it’s obvious that he’s a heel, here he’s beating up two other guys who are heels. He doesn’t even come across as a dick, just smart. He’s doing heel stuff but when you’re doing heel stuff to a heel:… does that make you a face or a tweener or a heel? And if he is a heel then all three guys in smackdowns main event scene are heels. That’s terrible booking.
On Keith lee, lee didn’t need to win because him winning makes Orton look like a bitch, now Orton has lost twice, at summerslam he lost to a backslide and now he lost the new guy with one finisher. And I absolutely would not care if lee had beaten Orton last night if Orton wasn’t in a blood feud with drew. On raw he punted drew three times, caused internal bleeding and sent drew to the hospital. Now Keith lee beat him so why, other than Orton attacking drew, should Orton get a title shot? He’s lost twice in two weeks in two ppvs, he needed the win here if he was going to continue feuding with drew. Lee would’ve looked fine if he had lost to the wwe kayfabe “greatest wrestler ever” and I 100% know you jay, that if Orton had beaten Keith lee you’d be defending it rn as the right thing to do because in your eyes wwe never, ever ever ever ever does anything wrong.
Actually I would have said had Orton won it would have been a mistake. You aren’t as smart as you try to make yourself out to be.
Make her look legit for marks? You can just say you like things. Yes roman is a heel. You should try someone new. Orton will be fine.
I did like it, what I meant by look legit to marks was that shayna, ever since coming to the main roster has been buried. She lost at mania and has continued to get buried until last night. A lot of people don’t watch nxt so if someone hasn’t seen nxt and only main roster shayna (I called them marks here but I guess you could call them people who only watch main roster whatever) they’re going to think she sucks. Now she actually looks legit for people who haven’t seen nxt.
I wouldn’t mind Keith lee winning if they had blown off the Orton/drew feud at Summerslam but they didn’t, they’re embroiled in a blood feud and Lee’s going to get into the title picture with very little reason to be there while Orton/drew want to kill each other. I really don’t think people from nxt need to be pushed down your throat as soon as they leave nxt either but if he hadn’t won all the marks on twitter, who were already complaining on raw that he was “ buried” which is bs he looked fine on raw, would’ve bitched themselves silly saying that lee was buried even if he had lost in a good back and forth match.
Looking forward to Paul’s promo on smackdown. Really average ppv. Keith Lee winning was a total shocker but I have a feeling he’s only being used to advance the McIntyre/Orton title rivalry. I see a few punt kicks in his future.