Sasha Banks & Bayley are no longer the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defeated Banks & Bayley at Payback tonight to win the Women’s Tag Team titles. The finish of the match was Baszler submitting Bayley with the Kirifuda Clutch while using Banks’ arm to help with the move.
Leading into the finish, Baszler tagged herself in when Jax was sent into the ropes. She went to apply a Muta Lock on Banks. When Bayley tried to stop her, Baszler put Bayley in the Kirifuda Clutch while still having Banks’ legs tied up. Baszler dropped to the mat and Banks reached to try and break up the Kirifuda Clutch, but Baszler grabbed her arm and used it to apply more pressure on Bayley.
During her post-match interview with the new champions, Charly Caruso said Baszler & Jax might not like each other personally but killed it as a team. Jax celebrated and told Caruso to shut up. Baszler admitted they weren’t best friends but said it was time to celebrate.
Banks also lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Asuka at SummerSlam last week. The story was that Banks helped Bayley retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Asuka earlier in the night but Bayley wasn’t willing to make the same sacrifice later.
Baszler & Jax are the fifth team to hold the Women’s Tag Team titles since they were introduced last year. Banks & Bayley, The IIconics, Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross, and Asuka & Kairi Sane are the previous champions. Banks & Bayley and Bliss & Cross have had two reigns with the titles.
Just one week after SummerSlam, WWE returns to pay-per-view with Payback tonight.
The show will be headlined by “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending his Universal Championship against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match. After The Fiend won the Universal title from Strowman at SummerSlam, Reigns made his return and attacked both of them.
It was revealed on Friday’s SmackDown that Reigns is now aligned with Paul Heyman.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre won’t be in action at Payback after the storyline where he was given three punts by Randy Orton on Raw. Orton will instead face Keith Lee tonight. Lee made his official Raw debut against Orton on Monday, but the match was interrupted by McIntyre.
The Women’s Tag Team titles will be on the line as Bayley & Sasha Banks defend against Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax. The United States Championship will also be up for grabs as Apollo Crews defends against Bobby Lashley.
In a rematch from Monday’s Raw, Rey & Dominik Mysterio will team up against Seth Rollins & Murphy. Plus, Big E vs. Sheamus and Matt Riddle vs. Baron Corbin round out the main card.
The pre-show begins at 6 p.m. Eastern time and will feature Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan vs. The IIconics. The main card will then begin at 7 p.m. Eastern.
**********
Pre-Show
The show opened up with the pre-show panel featuring Charly Caruso, Booker T, Jerry Lawler, JBL, and Pete Rosenberg. Caruso noted that SummerSlam was just one week ago in the same arena. Lawler said he’s the not so good looking replace for Renee Young. Caruso praised Young.
The panel then ran down the card for tonight. They focused on the triple threat match between Universal Champion The Fiend, Braun Strowman, and Roman Reigns. They recapped the feud, including the reveal that Reigns and Paul Heyman are aligned.
Caruso noted that Reigns hasn’t signed the contract yet and is on his way to the arena. She confirmed that Reigns is in the match. They discussed Regins aligning with Heyman.
JBL said Heyman is one of the worst human beings but is one of the greatest managers of all time.
The panel then discussed the Randy Orton and Keith Lee match. They recapped the Randy Orton and Drew McIntryre angle from last Monday night.
Caruso changed the subject to Sasha Banks & Bayley against Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler. They aired a good video package on Bayley and Banks. Booker praised Banks and Bayley but thinks Jax and Baszler have something special. Lawler and Booker pointed out that Jax and Baszler hate each other, but that might be their advantage. JBL and Rosenberg disagreed.
They briefly discussed Apollo Crews defending against Bobby Lashley. They recapped the arm-wrestling match and Lashley’s appearance at Raw Underground.
R-Truth interrupted and apologized for being late for Raw Talk. The panel had to explain to him that it’s the wrong show and night.
Back from the break, they recapped Big E’s comments from Talking Smack and his confrontation with The Miz. Rosenberg applauded Big E’s remarks, but Booker T disagreed. He thinks Big E needs to take things more seriously.
They recapped the Rey Mysterio & Dominik versus Seth Rollins & Murphy feud. The panel recapped and discussed the feud between Matt Riddle and King Corbin.
Caruso then introduced the Raw commentary team Tom Philips, Byron Saxton, and Samoa Joe.
Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott defeated The IIconics
They worked a slow pace, and it dragged a lot. They did try to tell a story that Morgan’s wary about trusting Riott.
Morgan had the early advantage, but Riott tagged herself into the match. Riott chased Peyton Royce around ringside but ran into a boot from Billie Kay. The heels isolated Riott and cut her off form Morgan.
Royce slowed the pace down and applied a chin lock on Riott. Riott fought back and crawled towards her corner. Kay tried to pull Morgan off the apron, but she held onto the top rope. Royce then knocked Morgan off to the floor.
Kay tried to convince Morgan that Riott was the one that hit her. Morgan teased leaving but changed her mind and got the hot tag. She ran wild on the heels. Mogan gave Royce a double foot stomp to the back for a near fall. The IIconics recovered and hit the Deja Vu for a two count.
Mogan dragged Riott to her corner to make the tag. Morgan fought off the heels and countered Deja Vu. The finish came when Morgan hit double knees on Kay, and Riott hit the Riott Kick for the win.
Morgan and Riott joined the panel right after the match. Morgan referred to the team as The Living Riott. Morgan pointed out that she thought Riott hit her, but Riott said that’s not her. The panel said it was a huge win and match for them. They praised Morgan and Riott.
They recapped WWE Champion Drew McIntyre against Randy Orton from SummerSlam and the angle from the next night. It also included Keith Lee’s debut on Raw and his match against Orton.
Main Show
Bobby Lashley (w/ MVP & Shelton Benjamin) defeated Apollo Crews to win the United States Championship
Lashley and Crews had a good opening match. It started at a slow pace but picked up towards the end.
Earlier today, MVP promised that Lashley is going to win the US title and make Crews a permanent stay at home dad.
They started with a lock-up. Lashley took Crews down with a waist lock, but Crews fought out. Crews followed up with a standing dropkick and tried to pick the pace up, but Lashley cut him off.
Crews avoided Lashley and hit a standing dropkick. He knocked Lashley to the floor and hit a standing moonsault off the apron.
MVP and Benjamin got in Crews’ face. Lashley recovered and dropped Crews on the top rope. Lashley ran Crews into the ring post and slowed the pace down with a chin lock.
Lashley followed up with a fallaway slam and a shoulder tackle in the corner. Lashley attempted a suplex, but Crews slipped out the back and hit an enziguri. Lashley quickly recovered and hit the Dominator for a near fall. Lashley was confident he had the win and became frustrated.
Crews fired up and made a wild comeback. He hit a splash in the corner and standing moonsault for a near fall. Crews attempted a press slam, but Lashley slipped out and went for the full nelson. Crews avoided and hit a German suplex. Lashley jumped right to his feet, but Crews hit a second German suplex. He followed up with a frog splash for a close near fall.
Lashley recovered and slammed Crews down hard. Lashley then locked on the full nelson to win the United States Championship.
After the match, the heels celebrated and posed with the title. Crews jumped the heels as they celebrated and promised to win the title back.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves recapped Roman Reigns aligning with Paul Heyman.
In the back, Kayla Braxton ran into Heyman. Braxton asked if Reigns is going to sign the contract. Heyman believes that he will, but Braxton has to ask Reigns. Heyman entered Reign’s locker room.
Braxton asked if she could ask Reigns, but Heyman said no.
Keith Lee was in his locker room, getting ready for his match later. JBL approached Lee. He noted if Lee wins, it’ll change his career, but if he doesn’t win, he shouldn’t feel bad.
They recapped Big E’s appearance on Talking Smack.
Big E defeated Sheamus
They worked at a very slow pace, and the match dragged.
Sheamus had the early advantage with a side headlock. He sent Big E to the apron and hit the forearms to his chest. Big E briefly fought back, but Sheamus regained control. Sheamus slowed the pace down and worked over Big E’s knee.
Big E tried to fight back, but Sheamus hit the Irish Curse backbreaker for a near all. Sheamus continued to work over the leg and applied a half-crab. Big E fought out of the hold, but Sheamus quickly took back over.
Sheamus jumped off the top, but Big E caught him and hit a belly-to-belly suplex. He followed up with a second suplex. He attempted the spear through the ropes, but Sheamus hit him with a knee.
Big E recovered but started dancing.
Sheamus took advantage and hit the Alabama Slam. Sheamus struggled to get Big E up for the move.
They traded shots in the middle of the ring.
Sheamus regained control and worked over Big E’s injured knee. Big E fired up and hit the running spear through the ropes off the apron. Big E attempted the Big Ending, but Sheamus went back to the injured knee.
Big E jumped to his feet, but Sheamus rocked him with a knee to the jaw for a close near fall. Sheamus attempted the Brogue Kick, but Big E countered with a powerbomb. He followed up with the Big Ending for the win.
In the back, Alyse Ashton interviewed Matt Riddle. He promised to defeat Corbin and take his crown. She asked for his reaction to a tweet from Corbin. Corbin’s tweet said Riddle would be a failure in the ring like he’s a failure at home. Riddle’s smile faded from his face, and he walked off.
In the back, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler argued and got into each other’s faces. They agreed to stop arguing for now and get ready for their match.
Matt Riddle defeated King Corbin
Riddle and Corbin had a fine match. They worked a slow pace, but it picked up towards the end.
Corbin jumped Riddle as he entered the ring, and his pyro went off. Corbin dominated Riddle and was firmly in control. Corbin slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Riddle fought back and went for the kimura lock, but Corbin fought back with a slam.
Riddle recovered and locked on a sleeper hold. Corbin fell backward to break the hold, but Riddle locked the sleep back on. Corbin tossed Riddle across the ring to break the hold and hit the around the corner clothesline for a two count.
Corbin slowed the pace back down. Riddle briefly recovered, but Corbin regained control with a back elbow for a near fall. Corbin attempted the around the corner clothesline again, but Riddle rocked him with a kick to the head.
Riddle hit running forearms in the corner, a broton, and running knee for a near fall. He caught Corbin with a kick to the gut.
Corbin recovered and hit the Deep Six for another near fall. Riddle fought back and applied an armbar. He followed up with the Bro To Sleep and the Floating Bro for the win.
In the back, Riddle felt good and said it was time to move on to brighter things. He was happy to be done with Corbin finally. Suddenly, Corbin jumped Riddle from behind and beat him down.
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defeated Sasha Banks & Bayley to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
This was a good match with a cool finish. All four worked hard and told a good story.
The story of the match was Jax and Baszler hate each other and can’t get along. Jax told Baszler to follow her lead, but Baszler tagged herself into the match.
Baszler trapped Banks in the corner and kicked her in the head several times. She then stood on Banks’ hand. Banks tagged in Bayley, but Baszler threw Banks to the floor.
Banks then grabbed at Jax’s leg, which caused a distraction. Bayley then threw Baszler into Jax. Jax grabbed her knee after falling to the floor.
The heels were briefly in control. Bayley attempted a pin, but Jax threw Banks into the ring to break the count. Jax then tossed Banks into the barricade.
Jax dominated the match until Banks hit Jax with a chop block. The heels took over and isolated Jax on their side of the ring. Jax recovered, but instead of tagging in Baszler, Jax tried to take the heels on her own.
Jax attempted a leg drop, but Bayley went back to the leg. Jax finally tagged in Baszler. She ran wild on the heels and hit running knees on both. Baszler and Jax got on the same page and agreed they could win.
Jax attempted a powerbomb, but Banks countered.
Bayley hit a flying elbow on Jax and knocked Baszler off the apron. Banks then hit a frog splash on Jax for a near fall.
The heels gave Jax a double back body drop, but Baszler made a blind tag.
The finish came when Baszler applied the Muta Lock on Banks and the Kirfuda Clutch on Bayley at the same time. Banks tried to help Bayley break the hold, but Baszler grabbed Banks’ hand to apply more pressure on Bayley to win the match.
After the match, Charly Caruso tried to interview Baszler and Jax. Jax celebrated like crazy, but Baszler pointed out they’re still not best friends. Bayley and Banks were devastated that they lost.
Keith Lee defeated Randy Orton
Lee and Orton had a fine match while it lasted.
Orton applied a headlock immediately to start the match. Lee took Orton down with a shoulder tackle.
Lee avoided Orton with a leapfrog and hit a crossbody block. Orton demanded Lee’s respect and rocked Lee with a series of chops.
Lee fought back and trapped Orton in the corner. Lee missed a charge and went shoulder-first into the ring post. Orton then gave Lee a huge back suplex onto the announce table.
Orton slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Lee fought back and launched Orton to the floor.
Lee then gave Orton a back suplex on the announce table. Orton recovered and caught Lee with the draping DDT as he entered the ring.
Orton was firmly in control. He attempted the RKO, but Lee hit the Spirit Bomb out of nowhere for the win. The announcers pushed this has the biggest win of Lee’s career.
In the back, Kalya Braxton approached Paul Heyman. She wondered if Reigns signed the contract yet. Heyman promised that Reigns would keep his word and win the Universal title.
Rey & Dominik Mysterio defeated Seth Rollins & Murphy
This was a really good tag team match and told a good story.
Rey teased starting the match, but Dominik ran in and jumped the heels. Rollins had the early advantage on Dominik. Dominik fought back and hit a springboard arm drag on Rollins. Rollins was frustrated and tagged in Murphy.
Rey competed with an eye patch and demanded Rollins get in the ring. Rollins tossed Rey to the floor, and he landed on Murphy’s knees. The heels took over and isolated Rey in their corner.
Rey fought back and tagged in Dominik. Dominik hit a flying crossbody, but the heels caught him, and Rollins hit the falcon arrow for a close near fall. The heels regained control and cut Dominik off from his corner.
Dominik fought back and sent Murphy into the barricade. Dominik avoided Rollins, and he crashed into the barricade. Dominik fought back, and Rey got the hot tag.
Rey hit a moonsault for a near fall. He attempted the 619, but Rollins avoided. He tried a powerbomb, but Rey followed through and scored a near fall.
Dominik caught Murphy with a tornado DDT, but Rollins took him out with the sling blade. Rey hit a seated senton, but Rollins countered with a backbreaker.
Dominik and Murphy brawled around ringside. Rey avoided Rollins and hit a suicide dive on Murphy. Rey attempted a flying crossbody, but Rollins hit double knees to the ribs. Rollins followed up with a superkick for a near fall.
Rollins attempted the curb stomp, but Mysterio countered. Rollins recovered and tried a pin, but Dominik made the save. The heels threw Dominik and Rey into the barricade.
Rollins attempted a running powerbomb into a kick from Murphy, but Rey countered with a hurricanrana, and Murphy kicked Rollins.
Rey hit the 619 on Murphy, and Dominik hit the frog splash for the win.
After the match, Rollins seemed upset with Murphy and walked away from him.
In the back, MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin were happy as they left the building.
No Holds Barred Triple Threat Match: Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) defeated “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman to win the Universal Championship
This was a good match, although they used a lot of smoke and mirrors. The Reigns and Heyman alliance has a lot of potential.
The story of the match was Reigns didn’t sign the contract and didn’t appear for the first half of the match. Strowman and The Fiend went one-on-one for most of the match, which dragged at times.
The Fiend made his entrance and posed when Braun Strowman suddenly jumped him in the dark. Strowman scored a near fall, but The Fiend fought back. He followed up with Sister Abigail for a near fall.
The Fiend then slammed Strowman through the announce table at ringside. He pulled a giant mallet from underneath the ring. Strowman avoided at first, but The Fiend nailed Strowman with the mallet in the chest.
The Fiend then rocked Strowman with the steel steps. In the back, Alexa Bliss watched the match and seemed like she was in a trance.
They fought up the rampway to the stage. Strowman tossed The Fiend into the screen on the stage. The Fiend attempted Sister Abigail, but Strowman fought back and tackled The Fiend off the stage.
Back in the ring, Strowman climbed to the top, but The Fiend cut him off. The Fiend then gave Strowman a superplex, and the ring exploded. The ring partially fell apart, and The referee even fell out of the ring.
Suddenly, Roman Reigns music hit, and he walked out with Paul Heyman. Reigns signed the contract and entered the ring. He attempted pins on both The Fiend and Strowman.
Reigns grabbed a chair and destroyed Strowman for a near fall. The Fiend locked on the Mandible Claw, but Reigns used a low blow to break the hold. Reigns jumped back in the ring and hit the spear on Strowman to win the Universal Championship.
After the match, Reigns and Heyman posed together on the stage to end Payback.
The next chapter in the heated rivalry between The Riott Squad and The IIconics will be written when they clash during the WWE Payback Kickoff show, tomorrow night at 6 ET/3 PT.
Ruby Riott found herself on the receiving end of mockery from Peyton Royce & Billie Kay in recent weeks, with the Australian duo claiming Riott had no friends. But after apologizing to her estranged partner Liv Morgan, The Riott Squad was back in action and the odds evened against The IIconics. But in several bouts pitting members of the two teams against each other, it seemed as though Riott and Morgan needed to get back on the same page, while The IIconics often had the last laugh.
Will The Riott Squad be able to shut The IIconics up, or will Billie Kay & Peyton Royce be laughing once again? Find out during the WWE Payback Kickoff, streaming tomorrow night at 6 ET/3 PT on the award-winning WWE Network, WWE.com, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and TikTok!
Riott & Morgan most recently faced off with The IIconics as part of a six-woman tag match on Raw this week. Bianca Belair, Riott & Morgan defeated Zelina Vega & The IIconics in that match. After Riott & Morgan took out The IIconics, Belair hit the KOD on Vega to get the win.
Here’s the updated card for Payback:
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley defending against Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Bobby Lashley
Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy
Matt Riddle vs. Baron Corbin
Big E vs. Sheamus
Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan vs. The IIconics (pre-show)
The card for Sunday’s Payback pay-per-view is now up to six confirmed matches.
It was announced on SmackDown tonight that Matt Riddle vs. Baron Corbin will take place at Payback this Sunday. It will be Riddle’s first PPV match since joining the SmackDown roster.
Riddle and Corbin’s feud has included Corbin offering a “King’s Ransom” to anyone who can prove that Riddle doesn’t belong on SmackDown. Riddle called out Corbin on SmackDown tonight, but Shorty G attacked Riddle from behind as Corbin was coming out to the ring. Corbin said he accepts Riddle’s challenge for a match — on behalf of Shorty G.
Riddle defeated Shorty G in their match tonight. When Corbin tried to attack him after, Riddle ducked out of the way. They fought and Riddle went for a kick, but Corbin avoided it and bailed.
Corbin later cut a promo vowing that he’ll prove at Payback that Riddle doesn’t belong in his kingdom.
Here’s the updated card for Payback:
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley defending against Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Bobby Lashley
In his debut match, Dominik lost to Rollins at SummerSlam. Rey & Dominik vs. Rollins & Murphy then headlined this week’s Raw. Rey and Dominik hit a double 619 on Murphy and Dominik was about to go for a frog splash, but the lights started to go out and Rollins pushed Dominik off the top rope. RETRIBUTION then hit the ring and interrupted the match. Rollins and Murphy bailed and RETRIBUTION laid out Rey and Dominik.
Here’s the updated card for Payback:
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley defending against Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Bobby Lashley
Keith Lee is set for his first pay-per-view match since being called up to Raw.
WWE has announced Lee vs. Orton for this Sunday’s Payback PPV. The match was set up during Lee’s official Raw debut tonight.
Orton facing Lee at Payback means Orton won’t be challenging WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at the PPV. On Raw tonight, Orton hit three punts on McIntyre
McIntyre opened tonight’s Raw after retaining his title against Orton at SummerSlam. He said it’s fine if Orton wants to get into the ring with him again. McIntyre vowed that he’ll do the one thing he didn’t get to do at SummerSlam — hit a Claymore on Orton. Orton then ambushed McIntyre on the stage and laid him out with two punts.
Orton came to the ring later and cut a promo before being interrupted by Lee. The segment set up a match between them for later in the night. As Orton was about to go for an RKO during the match, McIntyre attacked Orton. Orton bailed but later blindsided McIntyre as he was being interviewed backstage. He laid out McIntyre with another punt.
In a storyline injury update, WWE said doctors fear that McIntyre suffered a skull fracture that could be a career-threatening injury. McIntyre was taken out by ambulance as part of the angle. Lee did an interview saying he wasn’t happy with McIntyre interfering in his match, but watching his friend get loaded into an ambulance changes things. Lee said McIntyre is one of the toughest people he’s ever met and is going to be okay. Lee then issued a warning to Orton.
Lee lost the NXT Championship to Karrion Kross at TakeOver XXX this past weekend. On Raw tonight, Lee had new entrance music and wore a sleeveless shirt with his gear.
Here’s the updated lineup for Payback:
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley defending against Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Bobby Lashley
After returning to WWE television at SummerSlam, Roman Reigns is getting a Universal Championship shot at Payback.
It was announced on Raw tonight that new Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt will defend his title against Braun Strowman and Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match at Payback. The pay-per-view is taking place this Sunday (August 30).
A contract signing for the match will take place on SmackDown this Friday.
In the main event of SummerSlam last night, The Fiend won the Universal Championship from Strowman in a falls count anywhere match. Reigns then made his return, appearing on WWE programming for the first time since March. He dropped The Fiend with a spear and then continued to attack both The Fiend and Strowman. Reigns posed with The Fiend’s Universal title belt as the show went off the air.
Reigns had been set to challenge Goldberg for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 36 prior to pulling out of the event. Strowman instead took Reigns’ place and won the title from Goldberg.
Here’s the updated lineup for Payback:
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Bobby Lashley
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley defending their titles (opponents to be announced)
After retaining against MVP on last night’s SummerSlam pre-show, Apollo Crews is set to defend his United States Championship against another member of The Hurt Business.
Apollo Crews may have prevailed over MVP, but that doesn’t mean he’s seen the last of The Hurt Business.
Crews will have to go through The Hurt Business’ All Mighty when [he] defends his United States Championship against Bobby Lashley at WWE Payback.
Warring with MVP for months, Crews has become the primary target of his loquacious rival’s newly formed battalion. The fast-rising champion turned aside MVP’s best at SummerSlam, but Lashley represents an entirely different challenge with his unparalleled strength.
And few know of Lashley’s brute power better than Crews, who was out of action for weeks after being injured by The All Mighty’s Full Nelson.
Can Crews keep his first-ever title reign rolling, or will Lashley bring the gold home to The Hurt Business?
Don’t miss WWE Payback on the award-winning WWE Network, streaming on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
The Hurt Business’ Lashley and Shelton Benjamin were banned from ringside for Crews vs. MVP at SummerSlam. That was a stipulation of Crews defeating Benjamin on Raw last week.
Crews has been United States Champion since winning the title from Andrade on the May 25 episode of Raw.
Payback is taking place just one week after SummerSlam. Sasha Banks & Bayley defending their Women’s Tag Team titles has also been announced for the PPV, but their challengers have yet to be revealed.
One week after SummerSlam, WWE’s Women’s Tag Team titles will be on the line at Payback.
It was officially confirmed on SmackDown tonight that Payback is taking place on Sunday, August 30. Sasha Banks & Bayley will defend their Women’s Tag Team titles at the pay-per-view, though their challengers have yet to be revealed:
Listen up when The Boss is talking.
On Friday Night SmackDown, Sasha Banks revealed that The Golden Role Models will defend their Women’s Tag Team Championships at WWE Payback. Banks & Bayley’s challengers are currently unknown, but it was apparent that the champions are not backing down from any competition.
WWE Payback will stream live on WWE Network on Sunday, Aug. 30, one week after SummerSlam. Both The Boss and Bayley will defend their respective singles titles against Asuka in separate matches at SummerSlam following The Empress of Tomorrow’s big wins this past week.
Who will step up to The Golden Role Models at WWE Payback? And will the duo be bringing all their championship gold to the occasion after SummerSlam?
Catch WWE Payback on the award-winning WWE Network, streaming on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
On this week’s Raw, Asuka defeated Bayley in a match where the stipulation was that Asuka would get a shot at Banks’ Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam if she won. Asuka then won a triple brand battle royal on SmackDown tonight, also becoming the challenger for Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.
Banks & Bayley have been Women’s Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross on an episode of SmackDown in June. This is their second reign with the titles.
This will be the first Payback PPV since 2017. The event debuted in 2013 and was held annually until then.
After being dormant since 2017, Payback will return to the WWE calendar next month, set for Sunday, August 30 at the Performance Center, just one week after SummerSlam.
The news of the show on WWE’s internal calendar was first reported by PWInsider and later confirmed by Dave Meltzer. It’s unknown why they revived the name and why the event is happening so close after a major event.
WWE has not publicly announced its return.
Payback was a regularly scheduled PPV event from 2013 through 2017. The 2013 and 2014 editions were held in June, both in the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. John Cena defended the WWE Championship against Ryback in the main event in 2013, while Evolution vs. The Shield headlined in 2014.
The event was moved to May in 2015 and was held at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena. Seth Rollins defeated Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns to retain the WWE Championship in the main event.
In 2016 and 2017, the event was shifted to the first PPV slot after WrestleMania. The 2016 edition was as held on May 1, again at Allstate Arena, with Reigns retaining the WWE World title in the main event with a win over AJ Styles. The 2017 version was held on April 30 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, and was headlined by Reigns vs. Braun Strowman.
