Payback is the first WWE Premium Live Event of 2023 that doesn’t have a little extra pizazz to it. Royal Rumble, WrestleMania and SummerSlam never need any help. Money In The Bank was in London. Backlash was in Puerto Rico. Elimination Chamber was in Montreal and featured Montreal native Sami Zayn in the main event. Payback is in Pittsburgh, and is missing many of WWE’s biggest stars. Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Gunther, Charlotte Flair, Bobby Lashley, Bianca Belair, Asuka and The Usos, among many others are all sitting it out. Cody Rhodes will be there but only in a segment that will likely set up his next feud.
Given that, there are plenty of reasons to be concerned this could feel a little more In Your House-ish than your average PPV. On the other hand, there’s also the potential here for some real bangers. Four titles are on the line. LA Knight is getting only his second premium live event singles match, and it seems likely all the Judgment Day internal dissension might finally come to a head. So, there’s a real chance this could be one of the more forgettable PPVs of 2023, and there’s a real chance this could be a really meaningful night.
