WWE Payback Results – August 30, 2020

Welcome to Ringside News’ live results coverage of WWE Payback 2020!

Tonight’s PPV comes a mere seven days after SummerSlam, and it’s not the most well-planned card, but it still has the potential to be a fun one. The main event tonight is the exciting return of Roman Reigns as he battles The Fiend and Braun Strowman in a No Holds Barred match. Wyatt and Strowman had a plodding main event at SummerSlam but the return of Reigns with a new attitude was the jolt of lightning SmackDown needed. Throw-in Paul Heyman as Roman’s advocate and you have some must-watch television.

There will be no WWE Championship match tonight, after Randy Orton punt kicked Drew McIntyre three times on RAW. Instead tonight, Randy will face Drew’s old buddy Keith Lee. The former NXT Champion debuted on RAW in less than exciting form but a proper match with Orton has…limitless…potential.

Elsewhere tonight, Sasha Banks and Bayley will put their Women’s Tag Team Championships on the line against the makeshift team of Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax, Bobby Lashley challenges Apollo Crews for the United States Championship, Rey and Dominik Mysterio team-up again to battle Seth Rollins and Murphy, Big E goes toe-to-toe with Sheamus, and Matt Riddle gets his PPV debut against King Corbin.

Payback looks like it will be a pretty great show from an in-ring perspective and it all starts at 6PM EST with the Kick-Off Show, where Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan will face The IIconics. Follow along here for live updates and enjoy the show!

Kick-Off Show

We start things with Charly Caruso, Booker T, Jerry Lawler, Peter Rosenberg, and JBL on the Kick-Off Show. They reveal that the next WWE PPV is going to be Clash of Champions on September 20^th.

The first match up for discussion is, presumably, the main event Triple Threat for the WWE Universal Championship. Rosenberg says it’s crazy to see Roman Reigns with Paul Heyman, but how does Brock Lesnar react to that? JBL says Paul Heyman is the greatest manager ever and Roman wants to be the best, so of course they’re aligned. Booker agrees and Lawler says that was one of the most shocking things he’s ever seen. Charly asks why he’s chose to align himself with Heyman and JBL says it’s a great way to nullify the mind-games of Bray Wyatt. Lawler says he’s the only one here to suffer the wrath of The Fiend, and you can’t count him out.

We see a replay of Monday Night, when Randy Orton punt kicked Drew McIntyre three times. The panel talk about how courageous Keith Lee is for debuting against The Legend Killer, and that he might have bitten off more than he can chew.

After a video package for the Women’s Tag Team Title match, the panel discuss if Baszler and Jax can possibly win the belts in their first match together. Booker and Lawler says that often you can find two complete opposites and they just click, however JBL says that’s not that common. He points to Booker and says Harlem Heat are a great example of needing chemistry and love to make it work.

R-Truth shows up randomly and says he’s sorry he’s late. Truth thinks he’s here for RAW Talk. They correct him and he says he must have been looking at his 2019 calendar. JBL tells him he’s live and he says to cut the feed. They ask him about Bobby Lashley and Truth doesn’t like him because Lashley put him in Nelson from The Simpsons. Truth eventually leaves and Caruso apologises, saying he has a few loose screws.

The panel talk about Big E and Rosenberg says he loves the man. Booker says his next door neighbour is a nice guy too but he has no titles. He says Big E needs to follow The Miz’s advice and become more serious. JBL says Booker did the spinarooni and was entertaining. JBl says there’s a lot of guys in the back have no charisma and couldn’t put butts in seats if they were covered in glitter and you dropped money from the ceiling, so long as Big E is entertaining it doesn’t matter. Booker says he has all the potential, he just needs to be able to shift gears when appropriate.

The Riott Squad Vs. The IIconics

The match begins with Ruby and Billie. Ruby knocks Peyton off the apron and attacks Billie, before making an early tag to Liv. Billie throws Ruby into the knees of Liv and makes a tag to Peyton. Royce kicks Liv and talks trash, but Liv fires back and tags Ruby. Riott beats on Peyton but Royce ducks a clothesline and slaps the back of her head. Ruby chases Peyton out and around the ring where Kay hits her with a big boot.

Back inside Kay is legal and she chokes Ruby on the bottom rope. Royce tags in again and they forearm Ruby and make fun of her. Ruby looks for a roll-up to no avail and gets caught with a clothesline. Kay tags back in and applies a submission to Ruby. Riott tries to fight out but gets slammed down. Kay stands on the hand of Ruby and kicks her in the ribs. Peyton tags in and kicks Ruby down, then applies a rear naked choke.

Ruby knocks Peyton down and looks to make a tag but Kay pulls Liv off the apron. Billie tells Liv that Ruby hit her, so Liv ridiculously believes it and walks off while they beat her up. Morgan changes her mind and takes a tag, then comes in hot against both IIconics. Liv hits an enziguiri to Peyton, followed by a flying forearm off the middle rope.

Liv hits a double stomp to the back of Peyton and tags Ruby. Peyton throws Liv out and tags Billie for Deja-Vu but Liv breaks it up. Morgan drags Ruby to her corner and tags herself in. The IIconics look to hit Deja-Vu to Liv but she kicks them off and hits ObLIVion to Peyton. Morgan tags Ruby and they hit a Codebreaker into the Riott Kick for the win.

Winners: The Riott Squad

Ruby and Liv join the Kick-Off panel after their match and clear up the confusion. Ruby says this is the first step for them and that she lives to riot. Charly says that was a big win for them because The IIconics have been a pain in their ass. JBL says there’s nothing like a good win to kick-start your career.

The panel run down the card for Payback one last time before talking about Randy Orton and Keith Lee again. JBL says Randy Orton is a guy you can make your name off of, he’s a guy who can and will hurt you. Keith Lee is every bit as great as people say, but he’s stepping in the ring with a 13x World Champion. Booker says Lee is limitless but he needs to learn DTA: don’t trust anybody. Lawler says Randy hurt Ric Flair, so what will he do to Keith Lee? Rosenberg says as much momentum as Orton has, there’s a lot of pressure on him to not lose two matches in a row.

And that’s it for the Payback Kick-Off Show, the main card is starting right now!

Payback

United States Championship

(C) Apollo Crews Vs. Bobby Lashley W/MVP & Shelton Benjamin

The match begins and Lashley grabs hold of Apollo, and slams him down. Lashley maintains control until Apollo breaks free and hits a dropkick. Apollo tells him to show what he’s got and Lashley does just that. Lashley whips Apollo to the corner but Crews jumps over him and hits a shoulder tackle that knocks Lashley out of the ring.

Crews goes to the apron and hits a moonsault to Lashley. MVP and Benjamin step between Crews and Lashley, keeping them apart. They get back into the ring and Bobby slams Apollo into the buckles a few times before lifting him up and dropping him chest-first on the top rope. Crews tumbles to the floor and Lashley goes after him.

Lashley gets Apollo on his shoulders and runs him into the ring post. Lashley takes a headlock in the middle of the ring. The Champion fights up but Lashley hits a fallaway slam, and follows-up with a shoulder tackle in the corner. Crews counters a suplex and hits an enziguiri but Lashley fires right back with a Dominator for a near-fall!

Lashley runs at Apollo but eats a boot, then Crews hits a flying crossbody and both men are down. Crews gets fired-up and beats Lashley into the corner, hits a splash, then looks for the toss powerbomb but Lashley fights him off. Apollo hits a spinebuster, does a Wakanda Forever pose for Chadwick Boseman, and lands a standing moonsault for a near-fall.

Apollo signals for the end, lifts Lashley up in a military press but Bobby drops down and shoves him into the buckles. Apollo hits a German suplex, then another and goes up top. Crews hits a five-star frog splash for a near-fall. Crews attacks Bobby in the corner but gets elbowed and Lashley hits a massive one-handed spinebuster. Lashley lines up the Full Lashley, and Apollo taps!

Winner and New United States Champion: Bobby Lashley

That was a really solid match, those two have very good chemistry. MVP drags a photographer over to take a good picture of them strapping the title on Lashley and posing together. The video then cuts to the supposed pictures the photographer just took. Apollo attacks them as they’re celebrating but Benjamin and MVP beat him out of the ring. He says he’s getting his title back.

We see a replay of last Friday’s SmackDown, where Roman Reigns got the contract for his match tonight, and revealed his alliance with Paul Heyman. Kayla Braxton is outside Roman’s locker room and Paul Heyman appears. She asks if Roman is his client and how he did it. Heyman insults her and says if he needs to cite his accolades they’d be here all night. He reiterates that Roman said he would sign the contract, so he most likely will.

Keith Lee is shown warming up backstage and in walks JBL. Lee is happy to see him and JBL says he’s enjoyed watching Lee’s work. He hands him a card with the names of some hedge funds, an entry fee of a million dollars. JBL says if he can beat a guy like Rnady Orton, he’ll be well on his way. But if he doesn’t win tonight he shouldn’t feel bad, because Orton is one of the all-time greats.

Big E Vs. Sheamus

The bell rings and they lock-up and jockey for control. They separate and go to another stiff lock-up. Sheamus is getting frustrated and takes the wrist to force E to the ropes. Big E grabs the waist but Sheamus elbows him off and takes the waist himself, only for Big E to throw him off.

Sheamus kicks the gut and hits a headlock takedown. Big E shoots him off, drops down, leap frog, and hits a big back elbow. Sheamus suckers Big E out of the ring and looks to his the Ten Beats of the Bodhran but E fights free and drops him. Big E looks to hit a splash on the apron but Sheamus moves and he crashes to the floor.

Sheamus stomps Big E and starts working on his left leg. Sheamus applies a single leg Boston crab but Big E kicks him off, only for Sheamus to fire right back with a kick to the face. Sheamus heads up top and jumps but gets caught with a belly-to-belly, then another. Sheamus headbutts him but gets caught with a urinagi for a near-fall.

Sheamus rolls to the apron and Big E looks to hit the spear through the ropes but Sheamus hits a flying shoulder tackle. Big E hits a body attack, then does a little dance, which gives Sheamus time to lift him up and hit an Alabama slam. Sheamus applies a modified Cloverleaf but Big E reaches the bottom rope to force the break.

Big E throws Sheamus over the ropes, then connects with the spear through the ropes! Big E gets fired-up and puts Sheamus back inside and attempts the Big Ending but Sheamus applies a heel hook on the bad leg. Big E fights off but gets hit with a knee for a two-count. Big E dodges the Brogue Kick and hits a powerbomb, followed by the Big Ending for the win!

Winner: Big E

After the match Big E heads to the commentary table and tells Corey Graves to inform the people he’s here and he means business.

Matt Riddle is interviewed by a new woman whose name I missed, and she asks how motivated he is tonight. He says he’s always motivated, but King Corbin has been killing his vibe since he came to SmackDown. He says the King of Bro’s is going to steal the crown from the King. The interviewer asks him to respond to King Corbin’s Tweet that he’s a failure in the ring and as a husband and Riddle gets mad and walks off.

Nia Jax joins Shayna Baszler backstage. Jax says she’s confident they can win tonight if she follows her lead. Shayna says they’ll be just fine if Jax stays out of her way. They shove each other then agree not to speak.

King Corbin Vs. Matt Riddle

As Riddle gets into the ring and kicks his flops off, Corbin cheap shots him. Corbin forces Riddle to the corner and stomps a mudhole in him. Riddle rolls outside and Corbin goes after, punching him across the announce desk. Back in the ring Corbin elbows Riddle in the neck and applies a chinlock.

Riddle fights back and kicks the chest of Corbin in the corner. Riddle jumps into a Kimura but Corbin counters into a body slam. Riddle ducks under Corbin and jumps on his back for a sleeper hold. Corbin drops down to hit a jawbreaker but Riddle quickly goes back to the sleeper. Corbin slings Riddle off and runs for the out-and-in clothesline.

Corbin punches Riddle and applies a chicken wing. Riddle fights free but gets caught with a sidewalk slam. Corbin attempts a single leg Boston crab but Riddle kicks him off. Corbin looks for the out-and-in clothesline again but Riddle headkicks him and he rolls out. Riddle gets Corbin back inside and hits a kick, some running forearms, the Broton, and a running kick for a near-fall.

Riddle lands some open-hand strikes and a kick but Corbin drops him with a right hand. Corbin hits Deep Six for a two-count and gets frustrated. Riddle hits a liver kick and the Bro-2-Sleep, then goes up top and hits the Floating Bro for the win!

Winner: Matt Riddle

Riddle is walking backstage and he’s stopped for an interview. He starts talking but Corbin attacks him from behind. Corbin slams him into a table and punches him until he’s pulled away by officials.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

(C) The Golden Role Models Vs. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax

Nia looks to start the match with Banks but Shayna tags herself in. They trade shots with Baszler getting the better of the exchange, but Sasha tries to use her speed. Sasha jumps to the middle rope but Baszler kicks her face repeatedly, then throws her. Bayley gets a tag and Sasha runs at Baszler but gets tossed out of the ring.

Bayley gets slammed and Baszler manipulates the joint. Bayley suckers Shayna into Nia, knocking her to the floor where she clutches her ankle. The Champs double-team Baszler in the corner and Banks tags in to apply an abdominal stretch. Nia slams Bayley not the barricade, then slams Banks into it repeatedly.

Jax tags in and steamrolls Bayley. Sasha and Bayley look to double-team Nia and focus their attack on her injured leg. Bayley hits a lariat but Nia doesn’t fall, then catches a crossbody and slams her down. Nia lifts Bayley up but Sasha pulls her off. Jax lifts Sasha and knocks Bayley down, then drops Banks on Bayley. Jax leg drops Bayley but gets caught with a kneebar.

Nia stands up and walks to her corner with Bayley hanging on her leg, to tag Baszler. The former UFC fighter hits running knees to both role models, then hits a gutwrench suplex and knee to Bayley. Banks tags in and she eats a gutwrench as well. Jax tags in and tosses Sasha to the corner. They throw them into each other and Nia double-splashes them.

Banks counters a powerbomb with a facebuster and both are down. Bayley comes in for an elbow drop, then Sasha hits a frog splash for a near-fall while Bayley hits the Bayley-to-Belly on Baszler. Banks knees Nia, then kicks her in the head and tags Bayley. They look for a double-team move but Shayna tags herself in as the Champions hit a back drop to Nia. Baszler grabs Bayley with the Kirifuda Clutch and simultaneously get Sasha in a leg submission. Sasha looks to grab her but Baszler uses Sasha’s arm to choke Bayley and they tap out!

Winners and New Women’s Tag Team Champions: Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax

Charly gets into the ring to interview Nia and Shayna. Baszler says they aren’t best friends while Nia screams and shoves the title into the camera.

Keith Lee Vs. Randy Orton

The match gets underway and Orton circles Lee before locking-up and taking a headlock. Lee shoots him off and Orton looks for a shoulder but bounces off. Orton hits the ropes but Lee leap frogs him and hits a crossbody that takes the wind out of Orton. Randy tells Lee who he is and demands respect, then lands some big chops to the chest.

Lee gets mad and blocks an Irish whip before chopping Randy down with two hands. Randy rolls outside and Lee chases after, but the Viper back suplexes Keith on the announce desk. Lee gets back in the ring for 8, but Orton starts stomping his extremities. Orton goes to a headlock to grind the big man down.

Lee fights up and hits a pounce that sends Orton out of the ring. Lee goes after Orton and back suplexes him on the announce table! Lee gets Orton back inside but Randy grabs him on the apron for the draping DDT! Orton readies himself and looks for the RKO but Lee counters and hits the Spirit Bomb for the win!!!

Winner: Keith Lee

Paul Heyman is walking backstage but Kayla Braxton stops him to ask again if Roman Reigns will compete tonight. Heyman says if she watched TV she would know Reigns promised he would show up, wreck everyone, and leave as Champion. Well she can believe that.

Seth Rollins & Murphy Vs. Rey & Dominik Mysterio

The bell rings and Dominik runs past his father to knock Seth off the apron, then beat Murphy out of the ring. He tells them to bring it but Seth stops Murphy and gets in himself. Seth gets in and kicks Dominik, then throws him over the ropes. Dominik hits a springboard arm-drag and Seth flies under the ropes to the floor where he gets angry and slaps the announce desk.

Murphy tags in and Dominik hits him with an arm-drag, then a tilt-a-whirl arm-drag and a dropkick. Rey tags in and they hit a Russian leg sweep/dropkick double team. Seth comes in and taunts Rey, who slaps him and starts throw hands and feet. Rollins whips him to the corner but Rey comes back with a hurricanrana. Seth lifts Rey up for a gutbuster.

Seth tries again but Rey shrugs him off. Murphy gets the tag but Rey knocks him off the apron. Seth slides Rey out of the ring, belly-first, and Rey lands on Murphy’s knees! Murphy beats Rey against the apron, then gets him back inside and they double-team him. Seth is legal for all of two seconds before tagging Murphy to hit the same move.

Rey finally dodges Seth’s shoulder tackle and catches Murphy with a bulldog. Tag to Dominik, who jumps at both with a crossbody but gets caught and tossed. Seth stomps him down before tagging Murphy and he continues the beatdown. Murphy slams Dom for a two-count, then goes to an abdominal stretch. Dom hits a jawbreaker to get free but scuppers a tag attempt and tags Seth who body slams Dominik and stares at Rey.

Dominik is tossed out of the ring and Murphy grabs him but Dom turns the tables and sends Murphy into the barricade. Seth leaps at Dominik and misses, allowing Dom to get inside and tag his father. Rey comes in like lightning and hits a headscissors to Seth, slams him into the buckles, and goes up top for a moonsault and a near-fall.

Rey dropkicks the knee and Seth falls on the middle rope. Mysterio looks for the 619 but Seth moves and lifts him for a powerbomb but Rey reverses into a hurricanrana and a kick. Murphy comes in and drops Rey, but Dominik then hits him with a tornado DDT. Seth catches Dom with a slingblade, then Rey hits a seated senton but Rollins counters a tilt-a-whirl with a backbreaker and both men are down.

Dom and Murphy brawl on the floor, so Rey slides under Seth’s legs and suicide dives into Murphy. Rey goes up top and jumps at Seth but gets caught with knees to the gut. Seth hits Avada Kadavra for a near-fall. Rollins readies himself for The Stomp but Rey dodges, only to get caught with a wheelbarrow facebuster. Dominik breaks the pin attempt and throws Murphy to the floor.

Seth attacks Dominik and they take him outside and slam him into the barricade. Seth pulls Rey out and does the same to him. Rollins gets Rey back inside and lifts him up for a buckle bomb but Rey counters with a hurricanrana and Murphy inadvertently kicks Seth. Rey drops Murphy on the middle rope, makes a tag, and Dom throws Rey outside to sunset bomb Seth on the floor. Dominik hits the 619 and a frog splash to Murphy for the win!

Winners: Rey & Dominik Mysterio

Seth looks angry as all hell after the match and leaves Murphy standing alone at ringside.

We see The Hurt Business walking backstage, all in suits and all smiles with Lashley’s big title win earlier tonight.

WWE Universal Championship

No Holds Barred Match

(C) ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Braun Strowman

As Bray Wyatt is in the ring for his entrance he is attacked by Braun Strowman from behind and the referee rings the bell. Strowman beats him into the corner and hits the running powerslam for a two-count. The Fiend pops-up but Strowman punches him into the corner. Braun looks for a splash but Wyatt comes out with a body attack. The Fiend hits Sister Abigail for a two-count.

Braun rolls outside and The Fiend goes after. They brawl on the floor until Bray his a urinagi through the announce table! We see Alexa Bliss watching on a monitor backstage, looking glassy-eyed. Bray goes under the ring and pulls out his huge mallet but as he walks back towards Braun he gets one of the big leather chairs thrown in his face!

Braun clobbers Bray down onto the steel steps, then looks to hit him with the mallet but Wyatt kicks him away. The Fiend throws Braun into the barricade, then hits him in the chest with the mallet. The Fiend screams to himself and laughs, then smacks Braun into the steel steps.

Bray snaps Braun’s neck and removes the top from the steel steps and hits the big man with them. Again we see Bliss watching as Bray slams him into the barricade again. The fight moves up the ramp where The Fiend does the neck snap again. Strowman slams Bray into the LED Titantron and both men fall down.

Strowman fights out of Sister Abigail and tackles Bray off the stage through a table! Braun gets up first and drags Wyatt back down to the ring. Braun goes up top but Bray punches him and climbs up with him. Wyatt superplexes Strowman and the ring breaks! And that’s when The Big Dog chooses to make his entrance.

Roman comes down to the ring with Paul Heyman and a chair. Reigns signs the contract on the stage, then walks down to the ring and looks for a referee. An official runs down but Bray kicks out, so Reigns tries again. Roman then tries pinning Braun but he kicks out too. Roman grabs the chair and hits Braun with it half a dozen times for a near-fall!

Reigns looks baffled, so he lifts the chair and moves to Bray but gets caught with the Mandible Claw. Reigns swings a kick to low-blow Bray and both of them fall out of the ring. Roman gets back inside and hits Braun with a Spear for the win!

Winner and New WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns

Roman takes his Championship and walks up the ramp to rejoin Paul Heyman. Payback goes off the air with Heyman holding Reigns’ arm up on the stage. It’s a new era.

And that’s it for WWE Payback. Let us know what you thought of the show and come back tomorrow night for the fallout on Monday Night RAW. Until then, stay safe!