WWE Payback 2023 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights

Credit: WWE.com

WWE presented its September premium live event offering, Payback, from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh Saturday night, with high stakes for several top Superstars, including The Judgment Day.

Rhea Ripley defended her Women's World Championship while Finn Bálor and Damian Priest challenged for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships, with promises of change coming to the faction if they failed to leave with the gold.

How did The Eradicator, The Archer of Infamy and the former universal champion fare and what went down when Seth Rollins and Shinsuke Nakamura did battle for the World Heavyweight Championship in the night's main event?

Find out with this recap of the September 2 broadcast.

Announced for the premium live event card:

• World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
• Women's World Championship: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Rhea Ripley (c)
• Steel Cage match: Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus
• Steel City Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (c) vs. Finn Bálor and Damian Priest
• LA Knight vs. The Miz
• United States Championship: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Austin Theory
• "The Grayson Waller Effect" featuring guest Cody Rhodes
• John Cena hosts Payback

Credit: WWE.com

Becky Lynch turned lemons into lemonade Saturday night, delivering another extraordinary performance in a career full of them by kicking off Payback with a Match of the Year candidate against Trish Stratus.

It was a hard-hitting bout that left both women with physical reminders and included two jaw-dropping spots: A superplex from the top of the cage and an avalanche Manhandle Slam, with the latter earning The Man the victory.

This was what fans should have gotten at SummerSlam, but in hindsight, it may be better that it took place at Payback. While it's not the stage that the summertime spectacular is, it provided the women more time and a brighter spotlight than they would have received in August.

Sure, the feud dragged on a bit too long and the storyline accompanying it never really matched the magnitude of two of the most influential women in wrestling history competing against each other, but the culmination made up for it all.

This was a legitimate MOTY candidate and something both women should be immensely proud of.

The post-match events, which saw the WWE Hall of Famer berate Zoey Stark before being left lying in the center of the ring, should nicely segue the heel mentor out of her program with Lynch and into a feud with her protégé.

Result

Lynch defeated Stratus by pinfall

Grade

A+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• NXT women's champion Tiffany Stratton watched from ringside, continuing the story that there is not enough competition on Tuesdays. Could this be the start of the feud with The Man over the one title she has never won?
  
• Stratus' first steel cage match was one her body will not forget as she sported a huge knot on her forehead while bruises and welts decorated her arms.
• Paying homage to the competitors involved in the first women's steel cage match, Victoria and Lita, Stratus broke out a Widow's Peak while Lynch delivered a Twist of Fate.
• There was an ode to Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart from SummerSlam 1994 with Lynch trapping Stratus' legs in the cage, preventing her from reaching the floor and winning the match.
• Lynch delivered the damnedest superplex from the top of the cage. It likely hurt every bit as much as Stratus sold it.
• Corey Graves called out the fact that the cage match was intended to keep Stark out, as always the voice of the people watching at home with continuity complaints.

Credit: WWE.com

LA Knight defeated The Miz in a match that was exactly what it needed to be: A star vehicle for the massively over babyface currently in the middle of a run as hot as anyone has experienced all year in WWE.

The company also booked John Cena as the special referee, a revelation that came in a pre-match promo segment involving the former 16-time champion and The Miz.

There were a few teases of Cena inadvertently costing Knight and obvious interactions between him and The A-Lister, but he stayed out of the action and let the competitors have the stage for the most part.

When he did involve himself, it was after the match, at the top of the aisle as he extended his hand to Knight in a sign of respect. The Megastar accepted it, but not before rightly pointing out that he almost cost him, an appropriate reaction to what just unfolded.

The crowd was red hot for The Megastar, the commentary team did a great job of putting him over, and the acknowledgment from Cena was the exclamation point this segment needed.

If there were any concerns about WWE's recognition of Knight, they were erased here.

Result

Knight defeated The Miz

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "I've been...a prototype, a doctor, but I've never been a host," Cena said, tipping his hat to previous incarnations of his character.
• "You're almost 50 years old and you're still dressing like a Teletubby," Miz told Cena.
• Graves pointed out the blasphemy of Miz wearing Cleveland Browns colors in Pittsburgh but said he still felt bad for him having to endure Cena as the special referee.
• The pop for Knight was enormous and the chants of "LA Knight!" were equally as loud. The guy is not the future of WWE, he is the here and now, and the company would have to be oblivious not to recognize it. That does not necessarily mean a world title, but it should make him a focal point of high-profile stories and feuds.
• "Cena might have found his next excursion. He could be like a modern-day 'Dangerous' Danny Davis," Graves said with a great callback to the referee of the golden era of WWE.
• Knight nearly rocked Cena with a right hand but pulled up, allowing Miz to hit the Skull-Crushing Finale for two in a great false finish.

Credit: WWE.com

Austin Theory challenged Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship he once held. Despite a focused effort, though, he was unsuccessful in regaining the title that had defined him for the past year.

Mysterio fended off the challenge of the challenger, ultimately countering A-Town Down and stacking the heel up for the pinfall victory.

The question now is where Theory goes from here.

One would not think Triple H and the creative team would allow him to fade into obscurity on SmackDown given all of the effort we have seen building his star over the last year.

Perhaps he is the next foil for LA Knight?

If that is the case, he better work on his promos and sounding more natural because he would get smoked on the mic by The Megastar at the moment.

Beyond that potential showdown, barring a series of needless rematches, it is difficult to forecast exactly where he fits at this particular time.

Result

Mysterio defeated Theory to retain

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Cole compared Theory's rise to Randy Orton's as both were young stars with tremendous upside who enjoyed meteoric pushes early on. It's a valid comparison, but one that may prove detrimental for the former U.S. champion if it becomes commonplace because that sets expectations extremely high.
• With that said, Theory is as smooth a worker as there is. He is not flashy and does not need to be. He is athletic and solid, and he has consistently picked up little things that help improve his game.
• LWO celebrated with Mysterio after the match, showing no signs of tension between the group and their leader.

Credit: WWE.com

After four months of frustrating results, The Judgment Day finally got the best of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens as Damian Priest and Finn Bálor captured the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, though not without a little help from their friends.

In a wild Match of the Year candidate Steel City Street Fight, the heels benefited from interference from Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley and JD McDonagh to emerge victorious.

The crowd was hot, the action was nonstop, and the fact that there were big spots and vivid imagery elevated it. From Owens diving off the balcony with a Swanton bomb that drove Mysterio through a table and the champs donning Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys to unleash a beatdown, this one had something for everyone.

The screwjob finish puts heat on the heels, gives the babyfaces an out for losing, and it allows WWE to revisit the feud as soon as Monday's Raw if it so pleases.

This was great stuff and the quality of match you hoped for given the talent and the stipulation.

Result

The Judgment Day defeated Zayn and Owens to win the tag titles

Grade

A+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Zayn and Owens incorporated odes to the late Terry Funk early, and The Prizefighter sported a shirt featuring the Hall of Famer throughout.
• The visual of Owens bleeding, wearing hockey gear and stalking his opponents was great. It will be an internet meme.
• The Spear from Ripley to Owens through the timekeeper's position was a risky spot given the fact that she was in the semi-main event later in the show.
• Priest is going to be mentioned in at least two Match of the Year candidates at the end of the year, and that really isn't talked about enough. He is having a career year.

Credit: WWE.com

"The Grayson Waller Effect" featuring Cody Rhodes lacked, well, Cody Rhodes.

The American Nightmare hit the ring, took a shot at Waller's relative newness despite his abundance of confidence, and revealed that he pulled some strings to bring a new Superstar to Raw: Jey Uso.

From there, the former tag team champ basked in the audience's reaction and proceeded to drop Waller with a superkick.

It was the big moment the show needed and something the social media team could hang its hat on, but it would have been nice to see more of an interaction between Rhodes and Uso.

Sure, that is likely to come as soon as Raw, but considering The American Nightmare seemingly gave Uso's career new life despite their recent history, it would have been nice to witness even the smallest acknowledgment.

Rhodes stepped aside and gave Uso the spotlight. What it means moving forward should make for some intriguing creative and add to what is expected to be a journey back to the WrestleMania main event for The American Nightmare as he seeks to finish his story.

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "My personal favorite, A Flair for the Gold," Rhodes took a second to shout out his love for WCW while discussing classic wrestling talk shows.
• Cole implied that Rhodes said, undetected due to the pop, "I hope we know what we're doing." If that is the case, it does not make sense because he said moments earlier that he cashed in political favor to right a wrong.
• "If anyone is in need of the Grayson Waller rub, it is..." the heel began before Uso rocked him with a superkick.
  

Credit: WWE.com

Rhea Ripley has been the most physical competitor in the women's division in 2023, as evidenced by both her WrestleMania classic against Charlotte Flair and Saturday's Payback war of attrition with Raquel Rodriguez.

Ripley narrowly escaped an absolute battle and withstanding the arsenal of a rare opponent who could match her power. Rodriguez tested her in a way no one has in her title reign, and that will go a long way in propping up the second-generation star in the eyes of fans.

Triple H and the creative team still have considerable work to do in order to get fans to invest in Rodriguez and genuinely care about her, but performances such as this one will go a long way in expediting the process.

There were a few spots late that did not go according to plan, but the combatants recovered and delivered a hot finish that protected Rodriguez and continued the narrative of The Judgment Day cheating to accomplish their goals and achieve dominance.

Result

Ripley defeated Rodriguez to retain

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Ripley's gear paid homage to the late Chyna. This is a reminder that The Ninth Wonder of the World is one of the most influential stars of her generation and earned a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame for her own achievements, not just as a member of D-Generation X.
• Ripley rocked Rodriguez with a dropkick directly to the face and then wiped blood from her nose; two moments that put over the physicality of the match.
• Rodriguez hoisted the Australian for a powerbomb and drove her into the ring post, then whipped her into the guardrail before sending her shoulder-first into the post.
• Dominik Mysterio interfered for the second time in this show and ate a running powerslam, and Ripley responded with the Riptide for the win.

Credit: WWE.com

There were considerable expectations for the World Heavyweight Championship match between Seth Rollins and Shinsuke Nakamura on Saturday, based solely on the skill level of the Superstars involved.

It did not disappoint.

Rollins and Nakamura had a physical battle. The Artist targeted the injured back of his rival that had been established in vignettes and nearly put him away with a Kinshasa to the back of the head.

The Visionary fought through it all to deliver the Stomp and retain his title.

There was nothing flashy here or much storyline development. It was just a very good match that paid off the first chapter of the program while still managing to present Nakamura as a legitimate threat who is far from finished with Rollins.

This feels like a program destined to continue and the manner in which the challenger was presented moments after losing suggests we may see Nakamura sink deeper into darkness to achieve his goal.

Result

Rollins defeated Nakamura to retain the title

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• WWE Hall of Famer The Great Muta sat ringside and was acknowledged as a great inspiration for Nakamura. That, coupled with a special anime entrance, made this feel like the night WWE may put the title on The Artist.
• "I know my back's messed up!" an incensed Rollins said before firing off at Nakamura.
• The Visionary cut down a charging Nakamura with a superkick, halting his attempt at a Kinshasa.
• The Artist punished Rollins late, but the champion countered a roll-up and delivered a Stomp to score the successful title defense.

WWE has a history of outperforming the hype surrounding some of these B-level premium live events, and this was no exception.

After being such an essential piece of Raw for so long, it was nice to see The Judgment Day have their moment in the sun with all the gold in their possession.

Who brings the faction down remains to be seen, but Damian Priest's Money in the Bank briefcase will likely play a role in it.

Two great matches (Lynch-Stratus and Steel City Street Fight) and a slew of other very good in-ring contests, as well as the continued spotlighting of LA Knight and the big news of Jey Uso's return to Raw, make this an easy thumbs-up.

Grade: A+ on the strength of the two Match of the Year candidates