WWE Payback 2020 Match Ratings, Notes From Sean Ross Sapp

Riott Squad defeated The IIconics
5/10

• Riott Squad has matching gear. Surely no way they’re splitting if that’s the case.
• IIconics have great gear too. This is the ninth match in the feud.
• Billie Kay tries to convince Liv that Ruby hit her.
• Peyton does a nice wheel kick.
• A conflicted Liv Morgan tags herself in and has a really good hot tag.
• Liv slipped on the second rope.
• Peyton SCREAMED in pain after a corner skateboard stomp from Liv Morgan. Peyton Royce sold me a ticket with that shoulder sell. Thought she was a GONNER.
• IIconics do the Deja Vu, but Liv breaks it up and RUNS WILD.
• Codebreaker into the Riott Kick. Riott Squad wins.

WWE United States Championship
Bobby Lashley (w/ The Hurt Business) defeated Apollo Crews (c) to win the title
6/10

• MVP and Shelton dressed in suits is a good touch.
• Lashley does a rope hung Flatliner and the ring post helicopter. Really great spots.
• Apollo Crews does a crossbody after having his midsection worked over. WHY?
• Apollo lands some German Suplexes without a bridge, and then a frog splash.
• If I’m Montez, I’m asking people to stop doing my finish.
• Apollo runs into a huge Spinebuster that’s more like a chokeslam.
• Full Nelson applied with the body scissors.
• Lashley wins.
• They do a weird photo filter. That was a decision.

Big E defeated Sheamus
6/10

• “Loves to have fun” is a description I could live without ever hearing on wrestling programming again
• This match is all Sheamus beating the shit out of Big E.
• Big E does a great YOLO Dive.
• Big E sells like 80 percent of his match.
• Pump knee from Sheamus.
• Big E hit a powerbomb out of a Brogue Kick and hits Big Ending.

Matt Riddle defeated King Corbin
6/10

• HALF NELSON CROSSFACE. UFC vet Matt Riddle doesn’t know how to get out of it.
• Corbin hits a body slam out of a double wristlock.
• These two have great chemistry.
• Corbin sells a liver kick like a MILLION BUCKS.
• DEEP SIX. Bro 2 Sleep.
• Riddle wins with the Floating Bro.
• Corbin attacks Riddle, this must continue.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defeated Golden Role Models (c) to become champions
6/10

• Bayley and Sasha start working over Nia’s knee.
• Nia misses a leg drop and Bayley applied a knee bar.
• I love Shayna’s gutwrenchbuster.
• Sasha Billy Kidmans a Nia Jax powerbomb.
• Shayna with a Kirafuda Clutch on Bayley, and a leglock on Sasha.
• Bayley taps out! Wow.
• Shayna already seems fed up with Nia Jax.

Keith Lee defeated Randy Orton
5.5/10

• I’d imagine Keith Lee vs. Orton at Payback would have a lot more buzz had they not done the non-finish on Monday.
• JBL approaches Keith Lee about a hedge fund. Lee says he doesn’t have those resources, but JBL says he will one day.
• Orton hit a draping DDT at one point.
• Lee POUNCES Randy Orton and Singh Bombs him into the table.
• Lee pins Randy Orton CLEAN AS A SHEET with the Spirit Bomb.
• It doesn’t get a lot better for a first win in WWE than a five minute clean as a sheet win over RANDY ORTON.

Dominik & Rey Mysterio defeated Buddy Murphy & Seth Rollins
6.75/10

• I said this on Raw, but Rey playing babyface in peril for Dominick’s tag seems like a huge endorsement of WWE’s belief in Dominick.
• The roles change, and Dom is selling his ass off. He’s pretty good at it, too.
• Rollins and Rey have an outstanding series that goes from huracanrana and powerbomb attempts to a Rey kick.
• Dom FLATTENS Buddy Murphy with a Tornado DDT. I’m a big fan of the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker Rollins did to Rey.
• Murphy accidentally kicks Seth Rollins.
• 619s on Murphy. Assisted sliding sunset flip bomb on Rollins.
• Dominik wins with a frog splash on Murphy.

WWE Universal Championship
Roman Reigns (w/ Paul Heyman) defeated Braun Strowman and the Fiend (c) to win the title
6.25/10

• Fiend out first, and Strowman shows up and beats the shit out of him. Big Powerslam, but a kickout.
• Sister Abigail to Braun’s bald ass, and a kickout.
• Fiend does a uranage through the table. Alexa Bliss is watching on backstage.
• Fiend hits Strowman with a mallet and the stairs. In between he does the Segal Special.
• They’re beating the brakes off of each other all around ringside. Strowman knocks Fiend off the stage.
• Reigns needs to show up and spear both and win.
• They do a ring break spot with Fiend and Strowman on a superplex.
• Same music, same titantron with the same logo. They gotta do better by Reigns on that. He signs the contract, and comes out with a chair, but throws the chair.
• Wyatt kicks out. Strowman kicks out. He takes a chair to both, but can’t get the win.
• Fiend applies the Mandible Claw and gets kicked in the nutsack.
• Spear on Strowman. Win.
• Strowman has been pinned by everyone, but Reigns needed to win.
• Excited to see where this reign and character go for Roman Reigns

Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor

Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a “star rating,” which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive “TV match” lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!