Payback 2020 | Review-ish

Hi and welcome back to the blog. If you are a new reader, I want to state that I am not a play-by-play blogger. I like to cut to the chase and talk about the end of the matches. I hope you enjoy the read. Here we go. Payback was LIVE! on Sunday August 30 from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Let's begin with the review-ish.

Kick Off Show Match
Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan defeated The IIconics.

Main Card
United States Championship Match
Apollo Crews (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
MVP and Shelton Benjamin were in Bobby Lashley's corner. It was a decent match to start the show, Lashley managed to force his opponent to tap out to the Full Lashley (aka the Full Nelson) after the match, all three members of "The Hurt Business" celebrated in the ring by posing for pictures, Apollo attacked Lashley and said he will win his title back, the match will probably be on RAW tonight or at Clash of Champions. Winner: and NEW United States Champion. Bobby Lashley.

Big E vs. Sheamus
I expected this match to be a very competitive and physical match, which is exactly whtat we saw last night at Payback. Big E picked up the win via the Big Ending. His momentum continues and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a rematch between these two on SmackDown Friday Night. Winner: Big E.

Baron Corbin vs. Matt Riddle
On the predictions blog, I said that this match could be a potential match of the night, was it? No. Also, no disrespect to Corbin and Riddle by the way. Riddle hit the Floating Bro to pick up the victory. I am looking forward to this feud ending so these two can move on to other opponents, Although, it looks like this one may continue after Corbin attacked Riddle backstage. Rematch on Friday? We shall see. Winner: Matt Ridde.

Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Bayley & Sasha (c) vs. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
Bayley & Sasha have been on the verge of splitting up for a while now but they keep on overcoming the odds which is why I picked them to win here. I believed they would win considering Nia & Jax are a makeshift team, towards the end of the match, Shayna applied the Kirifuda Clutch on Bayley, Sasha tried to break up the hold, however, Shayna used Sasha's arm to apply the pressure on Bayley who then tapped out. Winners: and NEW Women's Tag Team Champions. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax. We know we are going to see Bayley & Sasha break up now, it's inevitable, so the match for the SmackDown Women's Championship is more or less set, subject to change. Congratulations to Shayna & Nia, in regards to who will challenge them for the Tag Titles? I would say Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan.

Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee
Keith Lee's main roster pay-per-view debut ended in a win after he countered the RKO and turned it into a Spirit Bomb. That's pretty much all the important details you need to know to be honest. I was going to say more but I do not want to waffle on. This is a big win for Lee. Very much looking forward to seeing what he does on RAW. What's next for Orton? If I was to take a punt? (not litterally) I would say he would probably challenge Drew at Clash of Champions. Keith Lee would also have a say after his win against Orton here at Payback, making it a triple threat. Winner: Keith Lee.

Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy
I was looking at my predictions while the promo package prior to this match was playing and I noticed I did not make a prediction because I left out the match. Considering who the participants were, it shouldn't be a surprise that this was a great match. Dominik & Rey picked up the win, they got some PAYBACK after Rey lost to Seth at SummerSlam last Sunday. Winners: Rey & Dominik Mysterio.

No Holds Barred – Universal Championship Match
”The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns
Braun attacked "The Fiend" during his enterance. They fought all over the arena, with near fall after near fall, "The Fiend" put Strowman through the announce table. Alexa Bliss was watching this match backstage, she looked like Harley Quinn. Strowman was about to perform a Frog Splash on "The Fiend" who countered with a suplex off the top rope, causing the ring to implode, this was shades of Big Show vs. Brock from an episode of SmackDown. The referee flew out of the ring. Roman Reigns' music hit, He appeared with Paul Heyman, signed the contract and went to the ring, in the closing moments, Strowman was lying in the ring afer multiple chair shots by Reigns who then turned his attention to the champion, "The Fiend" put the Mandible Claw on Reigns proving unsuccessful because he was hit by a low blow. The former member of The Shield speared Strowman to pick up the win. Winner: and NEW Universal Champion. Roman Reigns.

Closing thoughts about this event, I thought this was a 6/10 event which is fine because there was less than a weeks build. I was looking forward to seeing what Retribution were going to do but they never made an appearance, perhaps they are saving this for the upcoming episode of RAW. This review-ish is now in the archives. Clash of Champions is on the 27th September, predictions will drop prior to the event. Until then, thanks for reading.

Payback 2020 | Predictions

Hi and welcome back to the blog. It is already that time to predict matches for a pay-per-view event. Payback will be LIVE! this Sunday from The Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Also known as, The Thunderdome. At the time of writing, seven matches have been announced for the show. There may be one more announced prior the event, which will probably be for the Intercontinental Championship. In the meantime, let's begin the predictions. Here we go!

Big E vs. Sheamus
The New Day has been on hiatus with Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston taking time off from TV. Big E has been left on his own to resume his singles career, he been sucessful by picking up wins on a regular basis, one person looking to dent Big E's dreams of further success is "The Celtic Warrior" Sheamus, the two faced off in a 6 man tag match on the past episode of SmackDown. Big E and his team were victorious. one versus one competition is a different game. After much consideration, I have made my choice. Predicted Winner: Big E.

Baron Corbin vs. Matt Riddle
Ever since Matt Riddle debuted on SmackDown from NXT. He has had issues with Baron Corbin, who has since placed a bounty on his opponent this Sunday. Chad Gable has even joined Corbin in an attempt to take out Riddle, a task they are finding difficult to complete. I expect more disappointment for Corbin, However, this could be a potential candidate for match of the night. Predicted Winner: Matt Riddle.

Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee
Going in to Payback, I thought Orton would be facing Drew McIntyre in a rematch for the WWE Championship after losing via a reverse pin at SummerSlam. However, that match is not taking place as "The Viper" punted the Scot on RAW numerous times. Keith Lee made his debut on RAW by interrupting Orton in the ring. They had a match which did not last long as McIntyre interrupted and took out Orton, or so he thought. I have no doubt that this will be a very good match and hopefully we will hear Keith Lee's NXT theme music make a return again at this event. Predicted Winner: Keith Lee.

United States Championship Match
Apollo Crews (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
Apollo has been a good United States Champion, continuing to thwart the challenge from "The Hurt Business" so far. Will he get the job done at Payback? No. The title will change hands, could Cedric Alexander play a role here? Maybe. Predicted Winner: And NEW United States Champion. Bobby Lashley.

Women's Tag Team Championship Match
Bayley & Sasha (c) vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
There hasn't been much build to this match as it has only been a few days since the last event, everytime I have predicted a loss for Bayley & Sasha, they have continued to pick up victories.Their breakup is on the horizon, when that will happen? I do not know. Nia & Shayna are a makeshift team who will shift their focus on individual championship gold after losing here. Predicted Winners: And Still Women's Tag Team Champions. Bayley & Sasha Banks.

No Holds Barred - Universal Championship Match
"The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns
Bray only won the title a few nights ago so logic states that he is remaining champion. However, Roman Reigns returned at SummerSlam in a heelish mood. He has since alligned himself with Paul Heyman, that is an instant game changer. This is a very easy prediction for me to make and I'm sure it is for you reading this as well. Predicted Winner: And NEW Universal Champion. Roman Reigns.

That is it for the predictions. Payback could be a entertaining show despite having only having a weeks build. I'll be watching to see what takes place. Enjoy the show if you're watching. The review-ish will drop on Monday PM time. Until then. Thanks for reading. Believe that!

WWE SummerSlam 2020 | Review-ish

Hi and welcome back to the blog. SummerSlam is now in the archives, let's dive right in to the review-ish. Enjoy. Before we start, I would like to apologise for the lateness of this review. Technical issues got in the way of the normal proceedings. Thank you for understanding. Let's begin the review.

As you may or may not know, I rarely watch the KickOff show because it's full of match previews that I've seen before on RAW and SmackDown in the build up. There was a match and it was for the United States Championship. Apollo Crews defeated MVP to remain champion.

Main Card
SmackDown Women's Championship Match
Bayley (c) vs. Asuka
One of the people on the WWE roster impressing me the most lately is Bayley, she has been a great heel, especially on the mic, that side to her game has been entertaining. To the match itself, It was a good show opener, Sasha was in Bayley's corner and played an important part towards the end of the match to cause a distraction to enable the champion to roll up the challenger for the win. Winner: and still SmackDown Women's Champion. Bayley.

RAW Tag Team Championship Match
Street Profits (c) vs. Angel Garza & Andrade
To me this felt like a TV match without the commercials, It became obiovus to me and perhaps other WWE fans that the Street Profits were winning here after it was revealed on RAW, Zelina Vega was the one that poisoned Montez Ford, speaking of Ford, he picked the win via an amazing twisted Frog Splash. is this feud finally over? I guess we will find out soon enough. Winners: and still RAW Tag Team Champions. Street Profits.

Kevin Owens, who joined the annoucers for the above match, revealed that the Kevin Owens show will be returning on RAW. His guest will be Aleister Black.

No Disqualification - Loser Leaves WWE
Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville
The stipulation to this match was changed on the SmackDown prior to this show, the No DQ rule, was also added to the match, in the closing stages, Rose hit Deville with four running knees to pick up the win. Otis joined Rose in the ring to celebrate. Winner: Mandy Rose.

Street Fight
Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio
One of the candidates for match of the night for me, we all know Seth is so good when wrestling on PPV's, Dominik was excellent, which shouldn't be a surprise. WWE bringing in a Mysterio family member in this match was nice. Seth and Dominik have built great chemistry as opponents and I wouldn't mind if they joined forces in the future, did I just spoil a prediction for Payback? I'll leave that one to you. While Rey was handcuffed to the ring, "The Monday Night Messiah" stomped Dominik for the 1,2,3. Winner: Seth Rollins.

RAW Women's Championship Match
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Asuka
Match of the Night right here people! I've said it before and I'll say it again, these two competitors have great chemistry. This was no exception. Asuka was weak going into this match having already competed earlier on in a losing effort, Sasha went after her straight away. As you know, I'm not a play-by-play blogger, I like to cut to the chase and go right to the match endings. some like that, some don't. It's all about opinions and I respect that. Bayley was on the apron, she avoided the hip attack and was met with a back fist which sent her down to the floor. Asuka put on the Asuka Lock on Sasha to pick up the win. While she was celebrating, Sasha was obviously unhappy, it's only a matter of time till the two break up and feud with each other, perhaps that will begin after they lose at Payback next week. Winner: and NEW RAW Women's Champion. Asuka.

WWE Championship Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
I'm going to break this down like D-Generation-X and say I enjoyed this match mainly because of the build up leading this, I went into this thinking there was going to be a surprise of sorts because of the tagline: "You'll Never See It Coming It Coming" I'm actually surprised they didn't go down the predictiable route and have Ric Flair make a "shock" appearance and help Orton win. McIntyre won the match via a backslide. Winner: and still WWE Champion. Drew McIntyre.

They showed a promo revealing that Keith Lee will be debuting on RAW.

Main Event
Falls Count Anywhere - Universal Championship Match
Braun Strowman vs, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt
No disrespect to the competitors in this match because I thought this was a weak main event, this was a falls count anywhere but they didn't really go anywhere besides backstage for a few minutes and then they went out towards the ring again, there was a toolbox involved in this match which gave be horrible flashbacks to the terrible hell in a cell main event finish last october. Strowman grabbed some sort of a night, went in the ring, for a second there, I thought he was going to cut off the "The Fiend's" mask, instead he cut up the ring and exposed the wooden floor. "The Fiend" regrouped, hit Strowman with a Uranagi Slam along with two Sister Abigails for the win. Winner: and NEW Universal Champion. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt.

When the match was over, I thought to myself surely that can't be it for the show. There wasn't an appearance from RETRIBUTION or anything surprising at all. But then Roman Reigns showed up and speared the new champion, (Did you see it coming?) Roman also speared Braun outside the ring, hit him with the chair, talked trash to him, went back into the ring to spear the new champion and then talked trash to "The Fiend" Roman had a new shirt saying: "Wreck Everyone & Leave" he picked up the title and the show ended there. It's nice to see Roman back on WWE TV after so long. I loved this return because he portrayed a vicious side, a side that we saw when he was in The Shield. By the way, for anyone wondering. Roman Reigns is NOT turning heel. I'll be back for the Payback predictions on Saturday. Thanks for reading.

WWE SummerSlam 2020 | Predictions

Hi and welcome back to the blog, Summerslam will be presented from the Amway Center, the first major event held outside of the Performance Center, there will not be any fans phsyically in attendance, fans will instead be able to attend and be seen virtually on LED boards in a new experience called: Thunderdome. It's time for the match predictions.

Hair vs.Hair Match
Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville
Looking at the match line up so far, I’ve chosen this one to go on first, this has been a long rivalry played out on TV that has been nice to watch. Rose and Deville have been really good in their respected Face & Heel roles. The slogan of “You’ll Never See It Coming” has been hyped up for this event and because of that, I see Otis running out with his Money in the Bank briefcase and tell Sonya that if she doesn’t cut Mandy’s hair then she can have the briefcase. Sonya agrees and she is given the MITB by Otis.

RAW Tag Team Championship Match
Street Profits  vs. Andrade & Angel Garza
On a recent episode of RAW thanks to video footage, it was revealed Zelina Vega had poisoned Montez Ford all those weeks ago. I had Andrade & Garza locked in as new tag champions and align them with Randy Orton at the end of the night to form Legacy 2.0 the aligning may happen but without the tag titles. Predicted Winners: Street Profits.

Hope you are enjoying the read so far, business is about to pick up!

RAW Women’s Championship Match
Sasha Banks vs. Asuka
Asuka won the battle royal on the past episode of SmackDown. I thought they were going to do a triple threat match with both titles on the line in separate matches which would’ve been a nice throwback to WrestleMania 2000, they could still do that stipulation but time is running out. Back to this match, there will be a new RAW Women’s Champion crowned here. Predicted Winner: Asuka.

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
Bayley vs. Asuka
I’m not sure if this match will go on straight after the RAW Women’s Championship because I, obviously do not know the order of the matches. Bayley will be counting on an upset Sasha to help her out if she gets into trouble in this match, I see a scenario of Shayna Baszler getting involved to try and cost Asuka which will backfire. Predicted Winner: Asuka. While Asuka is celebrating in the ring, Shayna attacks Asuka and says she wants the RAW Women’s Championship and then Sonya Deville’s music hits, she cashes in the Money in the Bank briefcase and becomes the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Did you see that coming? Goes along with the tagline of the show right? That was fun to write about.  

United States Championship Match
Apollo Crews vs. MVP
When “The Hurt Business” appeared on RAW Underground weeks ago I was interested in seeing where WWE Creative were going with this, however they haven’t appeared on that segment since then. MVP is great on the mic but as a challenger for the title? that should go to Bobby Lashley. Predicted Winner: Apollo Crews.

Universal Championship Match
Braun Strowman vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
I’ve been following this storyline from start to finish, it’s been entertaining, I like that they included Alexa Bliss here because we know that she and Braun are close, so the thought of Bray trying to cause friction between the two adds to the drama, we have also seen the two act differently ever since encountering “The Fiend” the consistency in character changes continue, Finn Balor and Seth Rollins are other examples of that. After much deliberation, I sense that the friction between Alexa and Braun is just a set up and they will be successful in fooling “The Fiend” Predicted Winner: Braun Strowman.

Street Fight
Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins
Dominik has impressed a lot during the “Performance Center era” and in this feud, he will put up a hell of a fight but in a losing effort. Tag Team match at Payback? Predicted Winner: Seth Rollins.

WWE Championship Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
It’s time to talk about the main event, We all knew this match was going to happen ever since “The Viper” won at Backlash against Edge. Since then, he has the momentum, taking out legends via the punt kick. Drew has unfortunately lost his since Wrestlemania, which goes to show how important the crowds are at events. One of the legends punted was Ric Flair (or was he?) if you remember, the lights went out on everytime Orton went for the punt which makes me believe that is was clever ruse orchestrated by the two former Evolution members. I see Flair making a “shock” appearance and help Orton win the title and then the commentary team would mention the tag line of “You’ll never see it coming” in some way. They could also say that line if Andrade & Garza join Orton. In regards to what “RETRIBUTION” do? I just want them to cause mayhem throughout the event.

The SummerSlam predictions are complete, whether they play out on television, we shall see. I’m very much looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds on Sunday night / Monday morning. Thank you for reading.