{"id":103645,"date":"2020-08-30T18:58:08","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T23:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=103645"},"modified":"2020-08-30T21:02:51","modified_gmt":"2020-08-31T02:02:51","slug":"8-30-wwe-payback-kickoff-show-report-iiconics-vs-ruby-riott-liv-morgan-plus-final-interviews-and-panel-discussion-with-lawler-booker-t-jbl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/08\/30\/8-30-wwe-payback-kickoff-show-report-iiconics-vs-ruby-riott-liv-morgan-plus-final-interviews-and-panel-discussion-with-lawler-booker-t-jbl\/","title":{"rendered":"8\/30 WWE PAYBACK KICKOFF SHOW REPORT: IIconics vs. Ruby Riott &#038; Liv Morgan plus final interviews and panel discussion with Lawler, Booker T, JBL"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2852906882\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>WWE PAYBACK KICKOFF REPORT<br \/>\nAUGUST 30, 2020<br \/>\nAIRED LIVE ON WWE NETWORK<br \/>\nREPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR<\/h3>\n<p><em>Kickoff Panel: Charly Caruso, Booker T, Jerry Lawler, JBL, Peter Rosenberg.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>During panel introductions, Booker said he wished that James Brown, who has been deceased for 14 years, was here, \u201cso we could drop some funk on him.\u201d The panel ran down tonight&#8217;s matches.<\/p>\n<p>A video package was shown for Reigns \/ Strowman \/ Fiend. The panel speculated on the nature of Reigns&#8217;s relationship with Paul Heyman. JBL called Heyman a liar and a cheat, but perhaps the greatest manager in the business. Peter compared the Heyman reveal to when Andre the Giant surprised Hulk Hogan by aligning with Bobby Heenan. Lawler, as the sole panel member with firsthand experience, warned to not count the Fiend out tonight.<\/p>\n<p>A video package was shown for the women&#8217;s tag team championship. Booker said Banks and Bayley were an inch away from exploding, then compared the Jax \/ Baszler pairing to his own odd couple team with Goldust.<\/p>\n<p>The panel started to discuss Crews vs. Lashley, but was interrupted by R-Truth, who thought this was Raw Talk. Charly told Truth that he was a day early. When JBL told Truth that they were live, Truth signaled to \u201ccut\u201d the take. JBL asked Truth about his encounter with Lashley. Truth said, \u201cHe put me in Nelson from the Simpsons, and you never wanna feel that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A clip was shown of Talking Smack, where Big E spoke passionately about his levels of seriousness. On the panel, Booker said, \u201cMy next door neighbor is a nice guy too, but how many championships does he have?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Announce Team: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Samoa Joe<\/p>\n<p><strong>(1) RIOTT SQUAD vs. IICONICS<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1090639520\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The iIconics had mics on their way down the ramp. They implied to Morgan that Riott has sinister intentions.<\/p>\n<p>Riott chased Royce out to the floor at ringside, which led to Kay leveling Riott with Shades of Kay. Kay choked Riott against the bottom rope in the ring, then tagged in Royce. They landed simultaneous forearm shots to Riott&#8217;s back. Riott surprised Royce with a rollup, good for a two-count. Royce did the same for a two-count of her own.<\/p>\n<p>The iIconics double teamed Riott again, planting their heels against her throat in their corner. Kay tagged in and applied an arm bar. Royce screamed to Morgan across the ring, \u201cShe doesn&#8217;t care about you!\u201d Kay leveled Riott with a shoulder block, then covered for two. Royce tagged in and kicked Riott in the midsection. Royce blocked Riott from crawling toward her partner, then dropped an elbow and covered for another two-count. Royce applied a chinlock.<\/p>\n<p>Riott battled out and crawled again toward her corner. Royce ran over and knocked Morgan to the floor. Kay tried to convince Morgan that it was Riott who knocked her off the apron. The iIconics landed a double-team flapjack to Riott while Morgan looked on from the floor with an exaggerated sad expression. Morgan finally, reluctantly, ran back up the steps to accept a tag from Riott. Morgan executed a flurry of offense with the power of freshness.<\/p>\n<p>Morgan hit a double stomp to Royce&#8217;s back in the corner, then covered for two. Royce cried out in agony. Riott tagged back in but Royce battled out of a double team. Kay came in and iIconics hit the Deja Vu. Kay, now legal, covered but Morgan dove in to break up the pin.<\/p>\n<p>Morgan escaped a Deja Vu, then tagged in Riott. Morgan hit a double knee to Kay, then Riott followed up with the Riott Kick. Riott covered Kay for the three-count and victory.<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: Riott Squad by pinfall in 9:05.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Meyers\u2019s Analysis: Most of the match was nondescript action with lots of tags. The manufactured drama of Morgan not knowing who to believe was largely ineffective and unnecessary. The last minute or so was a well-orchestrated finishing sequence, and worked well.)<\/em><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1755490026\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Riott Squad joined the Kickoff panel immediately after their match. Morgan apologized to Riott, saying, \u201cI thought you hit me for a second!\u201d Riott said she wasn&#8217;t like that, and that the iIconics have been trying to tear them apart. Riott turned to the panel and said that this was the beginning, and the world needs to see this. They confirmed that Riott Squad is back.<\/p>\n<p>Charly asked about Keith Lee&#8217;s motivation tonight against Orton. JBL said that Orton isn&#8217;t a normal superstar \u2013 he&#8217;s a 13-time champ. He said Keith Lee is \u201cstepping in the deep end with a great white shark.\u201d Booker said that Lee was extraordinary, and suggested that he not trust anybody.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>UP NEXT&#8230; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/08\/30\/8-30-wwe-payback-results-kellers-report-on-fiend-vs-reigns-vs-strowman-sasha-bayley-vs-nia-jax-shayna-orton-vs-keith-lee\/\">8\/30 WWE PAYBACK RESULTS: Keller\u2019s report on Fiend vs. Reigns vs. Strowman, Sasha &amp; Bayley vs. Nia Jax &amp; Shayna, Orton vs. Keith Lee<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"vyEgP9K1QZ\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/08\/30\/8-30-wwe-payback-results-kellers-report-on-fiend-vs-reigns-vs-strowman-sasha-bayley-vs-nia-jax-shayna-orton-vs-keith-lee\/\">8\/30 WWE PAYBACK RESULTS: Keller&#8217;s report on Fiend vs. Reigns vs. Strowman, Sasha &#038; Bayley vs. Nia Jax &#038; Shayna, Orton vs. Keith Lee<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;8\/30 WWE PAYBACK RESULTS: Keller&#8217;s report on Fiend vs. Reigns vs. Strowman, Sasha &#038; Bayley vs. Nia Jax &#038; Shayna, Orton vs. Keith Lee&#8221; &#8212; \" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/08\/30\/8-30-wwe-payback-results-kellers-report-on-fiend-vs-reigns-vs-strowman-sasha-bayley-vs-nia-jax-shayna-orton-vs-keith-lee\/embed\/#?secret=W7AxyBUy81#?secret=vyEgP9K1QZ\" data-secret=\"vyEgP9K1QZ\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3002816941\"><div id=\"pwtor-10960294\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>WWE PAYBACK KICKOFF REPORT AUGUST 30, 2020 AIRED LIVE ON WWE NETWORK REPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR Kickoff Panel: Charly Caruso, Booker T, Jerry Lawler, JBL, Peter Rosenberg. During panel introductions, Booker said <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/08\/30\/8-30-wwe-payback-kickoff-show-report-iiconics-vs-ruby-riott-liv-morgan-plus-final-interviews-and-panel-discussion-with-lawler-booker-t-jbl\/\" title=\"8\/30 WWE PAYBACK KICKOFF SHOW REPORT: IIconics vs. Ruby Riott &#038; Liv Morgan plus final interviews and panel discussion with Lawler, Booker T, JBL\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,4349,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tvshowsandevents","category-wwe-ppv-kickoff-show","category-tv_wwetvreports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/08\/Screen-Shot-2020-08-29-at-1.40.34-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103645"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103648,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103645\/revisions\/103648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}