‘WWE Payback 2023’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of WWE Payback 2023, three years after Roman Reigns turned heel and challenged for the Universal Title… and we all know how that turned out! Let’s see what this year’s pay-per-view has in store…
Match #1: Steel Cage Match – Becky Lynch def. Trish Stratus
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Man came to Pittsburgh and made good on her word as she dispatched WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus in a thrilling Steel Cage Match. Trish Stratus started the match by attempting to unceremoniously escape the cage, but she was captured by Lynch. The Man went to work, tossing the Hall of Famer all around the ring and even into the steel structure. Both Superstars exchanged incredible moves, like Trish Stratus hitting a Widow’s Peak and Lynch nailing not only a Twist of Fate, but also a back-breaking superplex. Zoey Stark came to Trish Stratus’ aide and got into the cage, but Lynch locked the cage door herself and proceeded to hit a Man-handle Slam on Stark and then a Super Man-handle Slam on Stratus to earn the victory. After the match, Trish Stratus slapped Stark which prompted a brutal Z-360 onto the WWE Hall of Famer.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: LA Knight def. The Miz
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
WWE Payback host and “The Greatest of All Time” John Cena hit the ring and infuriated his old rival, The Miz, by announcing that he would be the Special Guest Referee in his match against LA Knight. The WWE Universe lit up every time Knight struck The Miz, but the A-Lister showed that he had a few tricks up his sleeve, using his veteran savvy to down Knight while trying to circumvent Cena’s strict enforcement of the rules. After kicking out of the Skull-Crushing Finale, Knight rallied and fed off the WWE Universe to hit his signature elbow drop, then planted him with Blunt Force Trauma to earn one of his biggest victories yet. As the two stood atop the ramp, Cena raised Knight’s hand to show his respect for The Megastar.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: United States Championship Match – Rey Mysterio def. Austin Theory
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The United States Championship remains with the LWO as Rey Mysterio knocked off Austin Theory to retain his title. The legendary luchador and WWE Hall of Famer lived up his reputation as one of the greatest ever as he used his speed and agility to keep Theory off-balance, highlighted by an incredible sliding Tornado DDT to the outside. After getting drilled by a 619, Theory expertly countered the following splash, but his attempt at A-Town Down went awry as Mysterio rolled him up to retain his title.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match – Finn Bálor & Damian Priest def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
A Steel City Street Fight went the way of The Judgment Day as Finn Bálor and Damian Priest knocked off Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to become the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Owens and Zayn were in control of the match, but NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio appeared and got into the fray, only for the titleholders to return wearing Pittsburgh Penguins NHL gear, using hockey sticks as weapons. The Judgment Day’s title hopes looked lost, but JD McDonagh and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley appeared, taking out Owens, isolating Zayn in the process. Zayn hit a Helluva Kick on Bálor, but Mysterio cracked the champion with the Money in the Bank briefcase, allowing him to pin Zayn to win the Undisputed Tag Title.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #5: WWE Women’s World Championship Match – Rhea Ripley def. Raquel Rodriguez
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Judgment Day continued their stranglehold on WWE as Rhea Ripley remained the WWE Women’s World Champion by toppling one of the strongest Superstars in WWE, Raquel Rodriguez. Both competitors’ power was on display as they dared each other to hit as hard as they could, and it was Ripley who blinked first as she was dropped by a clubbing blow from her challenger. As Rodriguez picked up momentum, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio arrived and he paid dearly for it as the challenger hit him with an incredible powerslam, but the distraction proved to be enough. Ripley gathered herself and hit a devastating Riptide to retain her title and ensure The Judgment Day left WWE Payback dripping in gold.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match – Seth “Freakin” Rollins def. Shinsuke Nakamura
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Seth “Freakin” Rollins remains the WWE World Heavyweight Champion after defeating Shinsuke Nakamura at WWE Payback, but it came at an agonizing cost. The challenger’s game plan was clear – attack the champion’s already injured back. Nakamura executed his plan perfectly, smashing Rollins onto the monitors on the announce table. Rollins rallied in a big way, but Nakamura continued his assault which included a top rope Landslide as well as a Kinshasa, but neither were enough to dethrone the champion. Bad back and all, Rollins finally mustered up enough energy to hit a Pedigree and a Stomp to retain his title.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
A very good pay-per-view from the WWE, with two amazing matches – including THAT opening steel cage match between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus that put to bed any qualms about the pair’s previous matches; and a tag team match that set a new bar for tag matches in WWE, it was certainly the best tag match we’ve had in a LONG time! I think some of the matches suffered in comparison to those two matches… Though kudos to the last two matches on the card for trying to up the ante, making sure that Payback was one of the better non “Top 4” PPVs the company has produced in a good while.
