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Payback kicked off from the WWE Thunderdome and the United States title match was the first contest of the night. The pre-show saw the newly reunited Riott Squad beat the IIconics in a tag match. The second PPV of this month was about to see Roman Reigns' first match after his return last Sunday at SummerSlam, but only if he signs the match contract at Payback.
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Apollo Crews (c) vs. Bobby Lashley - United States Championship match at Payback
Lashley was dominating right away before Crews countered him with a dropkick and sent him outside for a moonsault from the apron. MVP and Benjamin ran a distraction as soon as Crews was outside and allowed Lashley to take back the momentum.
Crews was being manhandled but countered the suplex with a kick to the head. Lashley hit the Dominator for a near fall before Crews hit a crossbody from the top rope. Crews hit the standing moonsault but took a German Suplex before getting a near fall with a frog splash.
Lashley got the Full Lashley for a second time and this time they dropped to the mat before Lashley picked up the win via submission.
Result: Bobby Lashley def. Apollo Crews to become the new United States Champion
Apollo attacked Lashley after the match and yelled that he will be getting the title back before leaving.
Match rating: B+
Kayla Braxton ran into Paul Heyman backstage at Payback and he said Roman had still not signed the match contract for the Universal title.
Keith Lee ran into JBL who was playing mind games with him about tonight's match with Randy Orton.
We got a recap of the fight between the Miz and Big E from Talking Smack which led to a match on SmackDown before Sheamus came out for the next match of the night at Payback.
Sheamus vs. Big E at Payback
Sheamus started off strong but was taken down by Big E before getting back momentum with a knee to the heat and some fists at Payback. Big E dropped Sheamus on the apron and went for a splash but Sheamus moved away.
Big E tried for the apron spear but was caught by Sheamus with a knee strike. Big E hit the Belly to Belly but took an Alabama Slam before both men went down. Sheamus used a single leg sharpshooter but E found the bottom rope at Payback.
Sheamus was on the apron and Big E hit the spear but missed the Big Ending. Sheamus locked in the Heel Hook but E got out. Sheamus hit the knee on E and then fell on him for the cover but E managed to kick out anyway.
Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick but Big E caught him, hit the Powerbomb, and then the Big Ending for the win on Payback.
Result: Big E def. Sheamus
Match rating: B
Matt Riddle was backstage at Payback and said that Corbin had been wrecking his 'vibe' and he would be running circles around him.
Shayna and Nia were backstage at Payback and still were at each other's throats before we headed for ads.
Matt Riddle vs. King Corbin at Payback
Corbin attacked Riddle before the match started and Matt gave the clear before the ref started the match at Payback. Corbin unloaded on Riddle in the corner and tossed him outside before hitting him on the announce desk.
Riddle tried for the standing sleeper lock but Corbin overpowered him. Riddle went for the submission again after they fell to the mat and yet again Corbin powered through. Corbin went for a submission of his own but Riddle got.
Riddle hit a kick and elbows in the corner before hitting the Broton for a near fall. Riddle took the deep six for a near fall before hitting the Bro to Sleep and then the Floating Bro for the win on Payback.
Result: Matt Riddle def. Baron Corbin
Match rating: B
King Corbin attacked Matt Riddle backstage at Payback and left him lying on the floor before a group of officials came out to assist him.
Sasha Banks & Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler - Women's Tag Team Championship match at Payback
Nia wanted to go first but Baszler tagged herself in before taking Sasha into the corner and then tossing her around after stepping on her arm. Bayley was tagged in and Sasha dropped Nia from the apron on the outside before doubleteaming Baszler into their corner as Payback continued.
Nia sent Sasha into the barricades over and over before being tagged in. Bayley was being steamrolled by Nia in the ring before Sasha took her out while the ref was distracted. Jax hit the Samoan Drop and went for the leg drop but Bayley countered and turned it into a knee bar.
Bayley hung on but Nia dragged Bayley across and tagged in Shayna. Shayna hit shot after shot and then a running knee to both Bayley and Sasha before taggin Jax back in. Bayley tagged in to hit the elbow and Banks came back in for the Frog Splash but Nia kicked out as Payback went on.
Sasha Banks & Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler - Women's Tag Team Championship match at Payback (contd...)
Baszler was manhandling both champs and locked in a modified three way submission move before picking up the title win for her team on Payback.
Result: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler def. Sasha Banks & Bayley to become the new Women's Tag Team Champions
Nia and Shayna hugged for a second before pretending to be enemies again.
Match rating: A
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton at Payback
Orton went for a headlock right away before Randy hit chops to Keith's chest, making him angry. Lee went straight into the ringpost after Randy sidestepped and then was tossed into the announce desk by Orton.
Back in the ring, Lee tossed Orton outside and returned the favor by sending Orton into the announce desk. Orton hit a draping DDT and went for the RKO in the ring. Lee dodged the RKO and hit a Spirit Bomb to pick up the win.
Result: Keith Lee def. Randy Orton
Match rating: A
Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy at Payback
Dominik went after both oppoenets right off the bat and Rollins volunteered to tag in to 'take care of him'. Rollins was sent outside and was starting to get frustrated after not being able to get any offense in. Murphy was back in and Dominik was still in control as he tagged in Rey for a double team at Payback.
Rey called Rollins into the ring and Seth tagged in before they went at each other. Rollins took control with a gut buster and tagged in Murphy before sending Rey out of the ring and into Murphy's knees.
Rey made the tag but Dominik was caught into a Falcon Arrow by Rollins. Rollins was dominating in the ring before Murphy and then Rollins was taken out on the outside. Dom went for the tag and Rey hit a huge sequence of moves on Rollins.
Rey hit the moonsault for the near fall before missing the 619. Rollins took Rey down before telling Murphy to kick him in the head but Murphy kicked Rollins by mistake at Payback.
Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy (contd...)
Rey tagged in Dominik and hit the sliding Canadian Destroyer on the outside. Inside the ring, Dominik hit the 619 and the Frogsplash on Murphy for the win at Payback.
Result: Dominik & Rey Mysterio def. Murphy and Seth Rollins
Match rating: A
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns - No Holds Barred Triple Threat Universal Title match at Payback
Strowman attacked The Fiend during his entrance and took him down but Wyatt managed to hit the Sister Abigail for an early near fall. Reings was nowhere to be seen as the Fiend drove Braun through announce table and then got a giant mallet from under the ring.
Strowman tossed a chair at Wyatt and set him up on the steel steps before trying to hit him with the mallet. Wyatt recovered quick and the brawl continued at ringside as Wyatt took Braun down with the mallet.
The Fiend used the steel steps to pummel Braun to the ground before dragging him up the entrance ramp and Braun tossed him into the LED screens at Payback.
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns - No Holds Barred Triple Threat Universal Title match at Payback (contd...)
Strowman dodged the second Sister Abigail and sent Wyatt crashing into some tables set up next to the equipment near the stage. Strowman dragged Wyatt back to the ring before climbing to the top rope at Payback.
Wyatt climbed up after Braun and hit a Superplex, making the ring crash to the ground and the official was tossed outside. Roman Reigns came in while both men were down and tried to pin the champ twice. Strowman kicked out too before getting a steel chair and destroying Strowman but couldn't put him away.
Wyatt locked in the Mandible Claw but Roman hit a low blow to get out of it. Strowman got up and took a spear from Reigns before being pinned by him.
Result: Roman Reigns def. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman to become the new Universal Champion
Match rating: A+
PPV Rating: A
A short but great PPV, Payback saw Lashley win the US title, Nia & Shayna pick up the women's tag titles and the Mysterio family got their long awaited revenge. Roman's return match was a great end to the PPV.
An unexpected name just challenged Randy Orton RIGHT HERE.
