WWE Payback 2017: Full Results, Grades and Predicted Future Storylines

BRAUN strowman

WWE Payback 2017 was actually kind of, well, great, as unbelievable as that might have been to say of any RAW product earlier in the year. The matches were hard-hitting, the storytelling taut and intriguing, and plenty was set up for the next few weeks of Monday night programming.

It was a success. Well, apart from one thing, but we’ll get to that.

 

US Championship Match
Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens

Payback 2017

After the finger struck again, Jericho crippled Owens’ hand and locked in the Walls of Jericho for the win to become the new United States champion and newest Smackdown Live roster member.

Grade: B

Predicted future storyline: Jericho drops the title on his SD debut before going on tour with Fozzy. KO continues his run as the Face of America.

 

Cruiserweight Championship
Neville vs. Austin Aries

cruiserweight championship

The New Neville came out with his championship after more hijinks, pulling the referee for the DQ after looking like tapping to AA’s Last Chancery. Neville is looking like the perfect heel, almost too good to just be kept in the Cruiserweights.

Grade: B

Predicted future storyline: The pair feud on 205 Live before a No DQ match at the next Raw PPV.

 

Raw Tag Team Championship
The Hardys vs. Cesaro and Sheamus

After a “sandwich” Swanton Bomb gave The Hardy Boyz the win, Cesaro and Sheamus turned heel and attacked the veterans. A good match overall with plenty of decent spots.

Grade: B+

Predicted future storyline: Cesaro and Sheamus eventually capture the titles, leading to the full rebirth of the Broken One. It will be DELIGHTFUL.

Raw Women’s Championship
Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss

WWE continued to resent hometown crowds by giving Bliss the win after some nasty work to become the new Raw Women’s champion. Bliss became the first ever wrestler to win both Raw and Smackdown Live’s Women’s titles.

Grade: B-

Predicted future storyline: Hot potato championship swaps involving a heel Sasha Banks.

 

Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe

A solid but unspectacular bout saw Rollins make the best of a bad a situation by getting the pin while being held in the Coquina Clutch. Rollins’ bad knee was targeted throughout; who knows how long they’re going to use that.

Grade: C+

Predicted future storyline: One more match, possibly No DQ, between these two down the line.

 

House of Horrors
Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

Some kind of Uwe Boll nonsense preceded a quick tussle in the ring that was decided by interference from Jinder Mahal. Orton took the Sister Abigail to give Wyatt the win. Not great, especially as it made the resident WWE Spook Kook look weak.

Grade:
D-

Predicted future storyline: Hopefully nothing between these two ever again.

 

Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns

Braun Strowman Roman Reigns

A surprisingly split crowd watched an injured Reigns get broken by BRAUN and then beaten down after the match with stairs. Better than many would have expected, though it didn’t do much to garner sympathy from the crowd to have a weakened Reigns try his best.

Grade: B

Predicted future storyline: Reigns will take time off TV before a rubber match between the pair down the line. Possible a triple threat at Great Balls of Fire with Brock Lesnar?

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