The idea of running back-to-back weekend pay-view events was questionable for WWE, but after the thrilling version of the 2020 WWE Pebble on Sunday night, it was clearly the right decision. After last week’s SummerSlam provocative action, Pebeck proved to be a better event in terms of in-ring action without a single true mistake.
The main event of the night saw a major title change as the Roman Reigns won the Universal Championship in their first match since March 1, defeating “The Find” Bry Wyatt and Braun Strowman in a no-hold-blocked triple threat bout. Ryan was not in the match until Wyatt and Stromman hit each other hard and broke the ring with a hefty suplex. At the time, Rains and new “advocate” Paul Heyman were on the field attacking both men before striking Strowman to win the title.
Considering the action being featured in the conversation for the best wrestling card with the thrilling action from the opener between Apollo Cruz and Bobby Lushley for the title-winning moment of the 2020 United States Championship to Rains.
2020 WWE Payback Results, Grade
Riot Squad vs I Iconics (Kick Off Show): After a quick start with Ruby Riot, Billy Kay threw her to Liv Morgan’s knee. A few moments later, Riot used an unexpected blind tag and then hesitated to tag Morgan in the ring again, wasting some time to show that things weren’t clicking well even after he rejoined the affair. Iconics continued to run, separating the riot. When Riot managed to reach the tag, Kay knocked Morgan off with an apron and then told Morgan that the blow came from Riot. Morgan was hesitant to return to the ring apron but in the end he decided to trust the riot, jumped on the apron and kept tagging, but after the hot tag it was a small boat, slipped down the middle rope on the springboard and then missed. Turnbuckle apparently as Peeton Royce’s face enters. Soon, Iconics knocked Dejo Wu to the riot, but Morgan saved and pulled the riot to the corner for a toggle. Morgan and Riot agreed to finish Kay with a double knee in the Wright kick. The story of the match was solid to tell, but Morgan apparently fell after his butch and the match went with him. Iconics are valuable roster members, but they can’t run matches, and when separated from the other side, they show up more obviously. Riot Squad Def. Iconics – Grade: c
United States Championship – Apollo Cruz (C) vs. Bobby Lashley: The Challenger dominated as early as possible with intense power, but the crew’s skill allowed him to send Lashley out of the ring before he could hit the moon in the ring with an apron. The crew took part outside, eventually the crew grabbed him by the shoulder in a fireman’s carry and moved him to the ring post. The crew’s big comeback was cut for two counts by Lashley’s dominant. The crew toss failed to hit the powerbomb, but he knocked the Spinebuster into the standing moon for his own two counts. The crew took charge on their own strength, a pair of press slam and German suplexis, before heading to the top rope for a frog splash. As the MVP fired on the ringside, the match was reported to have slipped, and Lashley let the crew go and Fullash Shelley was king to win the title. As soon as Hurt Business asked for the camera, the crew attacked before leaving and vowed to get his title back. It was a very solid match that showed the crew’s dynamic offense and Lashley’s power game well. Taking the cruise title is questionable, as it could have gone through the entire hurt business roster, but this is the move that puts a solid force on the group raw. Bobby Lashley Def. To win the title by submitting Apollo Cruz (C) – Grade: B
Big E vs Shamus: Shemus was in trouble early on as he was repeatedly kicked in the leg by the Big E. Shortly afterwards, Big EA lost a splash on the apron, knocking out the shams, Big Stomps and leg breakers will work on Big E’s knees. The Irish curse continued to focus on the schizophrenic knee before the backbreaker, with Big In consistent foot attacks. On the return attempt, Sheamus was again slightly ahead of the Big E, throwing his knees to face the spear with ropes, and then Big EA cut him off from the Alabama slam again, trying to roar over Sheamus’s supine body. Shemus locked in a modified sharpshooter, but Big E managed to catch the rope below and then the spear from the rope reached the floor. Shamus tried for a brog kick but caught it with a powerbomb and a big finish for the finish. The chemistry between Big E and Sheams, Power Vs. Power left for the pair and this was a very good performance match for the Big Inn singles run potential. Big E Def. Shimus by Pinf fall l – Grade: B +
King Corbin vs. Matt Riddle: Jumping into the ring before the match began, Corbyn hit Riddle with a strip of cloth. Corbyn threw Riddle into a corner and took him outside to continue beating. Ridley locked the naked square in the back but was thrown by Corbin on his back, but then Ridley locked the hold directly before sitting down and finally throwing on the mat. Corbyn continued to physically attack Riddle, but followed Riddle’s earlier tweet, firing at Riddle, using the same tunt in the ring, calling Riddle a “failure at home.” Ridley then knocked Corbin out of the ring with a head kick. Coribin finally flew the flying strike before landing right hand to slow things down and moments later hit the Deep Six for two counts. Corbin fell with Riddle’s full guard and ate a little elbow before reaching his feet and hitting with a body kick and floating bro to finish.
After the match, Riddle was interviewed backstage and was talking about how good it felt to be with Corbin when he was attacked from behind and placed by the catering table. This would sound like a complaint, but there was a lack of chemistry between the two men that actually led to more interesting matches, less smooth and more natural physique than many WWE matches, which often run like clockwork. This was made for an interesting, physical fight that made both men look good. Another solid match in the hot start of the night. Matt Riddle Def. King Corbin by Pinball – Grade: B +
Women’s Tag Team Championship – Bailey and Sasha Banks (C) vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Basler: As soon as the opening bell rang, Bazzel tedged himself into the match and immediately started hitting the banks before getting stuck in the corner of the head and kicking a series. Banks tied Jacques from the outside while Belle was a legitimate woman, prompting Jacques to be hung from the side of that knee, as Basler was separated in the ring. Jacques rejoined, repeatedly turning the Bangs into the barricade before entering the ring and cutting a sneaky Banks block behind the referee’s back until Bayle was in charge. Belle hit an elbow drop on Jax, then Banks frog for two counts. Baszler locked Muta in a Kirifuda clutch and then locked Ballen to force him to submit and win the tagging championship. This was really a good stuff with a weird finale that saw the pace go to the next level as things just kept going away from Bailey and Banks until Basler’s weird finale combination. Nia Jax and Shayna Basler D.F. Belle and Sasha Banks (C) to win the title by submitting – Grade: A-
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton: After Lee bounced Orton early in the ring, Ton Rtoon responded with a series of chops. The fight went out of the ring. Lee dropped Ton Rton on the announcement table and continued the attack, but Orton was able to use it to arrange a hanging DDT rather than Lee trying to enter the ring. Ton Rutton is an RKO. Was adjusting for when Lee hit a spirit bomb anywhere to score the pin. With a shockingly quick win and a win, Lee didn’t even beat his standard finisher to win. If there are doubts as to whether Lee will be treated well on the main stage, a strong victory over the strongest wrestler in the WWE in 2020 should answer that question. There wasn’t much of a touch of despair for the match, but there is still solid material and a shocking ending. Keith Lee Def. Randy Thornton by Pinf Orl – Grade: b
Ray and Dominic Mysterio v. Seth Rollins and Murphy: Dominic attacked the bat directly and started hot, causing a bit of an argument between Rollins and Murphy. Rollins made a comeback on Ray, eventually moving him out of the ring and onto Murphy, who was lying on the ringside with his knees. Ray made a hot tag to Dominic, who tried to come up with a cross body, just caught by Murphy and Rollins, turning the moment into an auxiliary Falcon Arrow. Donnick made a few beats before making a hot tag to Ren, who committed some explosive offense on Rollins, including a 191 in the foot before a drop kick. Missed, but hit a big kick for two counts. As the momentum picked up, Rollins jumped to a nearby fall and hit a double knee as Ray tried to get out of the top rope with a cross body. After taking charge of Rollins, he yelled at Ray, “Where’s your family now?” Before Murphy kicks Ray in the head. Instead, Murphy’s Kick Hot Rollins. Ren tagged Dominic for 619 and a frog was sprinkled on Murphy for the victory as Ray stepped out of the ring to toss Rollins into the barricade. This was a night for pure wrestling action. Dominic continues to impress and the pace of this match will not slow down even a little until the opening bell ends. Ray and Dominic Mysterio Def. Seth Rollins and Murphy by Pinfall – Grade: B +
Universal Championship – “The Find” Bray Wyatt (C) v. Braun Strowman v. Roman Rule: Strowham attacked Wyatt during his ring walk, but Wyatt hit Sister Abigail for a near fall that was not in the match with the Rhine. Stromman tried to fire back at the ringside, but Wyatt put it on the announcement table with urine. Wyatt grabbed a m .let, but started the chair on it before Stormman dressed him in the ring steps. Vyara used a mallet to drill into the chest moments after Strowman. Alexa Bliss was shown backstage during the match, playing with her hair and watching the action. The two men fought on the entrance ramp, Strovem pulled Wyatt out of the cage, and placed the two men on a platform next to the stage. Strowman took action again on the ring and went to the top rope but caught Wyatt, who hit the superplex that broke the ring.
At that point, the Rains appeared, signing a contract held by Paul Heyman without signing before the match and calling down the new referee and trying to pin Wyatt, getting a waterfall near the two. The rulers then tried to pin Strawman, who was also kicked out. The rulers hit Strawman several times with a steel chair for the other two counts and then tried to do the same to Wyatt, but Wyatt was locked in a mandible claw. The regime escaped a low shot, slipped back into the ring and Strawman feared for three counts to win the title. The action between Wyatt and Strowman was the right kind of chaos, but the effect of the ring-breaking, which always seemed obvious before it happened, has lost all its effect. And getting into the regime and doing little to win doesn’t seem like the right way to go – even if it does heel work with Heman. Roman rule def. “The Find” by Bray Wyatt (C) and Braun Stroman [via pinfall] To win the title – Grade: B-
