WWE Payback 2023 Results and Recap: One Title Changes Hands as Former Tag Team Champ returns

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Three titles were defended and one title changed hands as a former tag team champion made his return during the WWE Payback 2023 premium live event (PLE), which took place at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sunday (September 3).

World Heavyweight champion Seth Rollins, Women's World champion Rhea Ripley and United States Rey Mysterio defended their respective titles in clashes against Shinsuke Nakamura, Raquel Rodrigues and Austin Theory.

However, the undisputed tag team champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn dropped their title to Judgement Day's Finn Balor and Damien Priest in a steel city street fight. The new champions received an assist from their faction member.

Also during the event, Beck Lynch got the better of Hall of Famer Trish Startus, who lost despite getting someone to back her up inside the steel cage. Plus, John Cena played a role in The Miz's defeat to LA Knight before Cody Rhodes announced the return of a former tag team champ.

Here is a look at what happened when WWE Payback went down at the PPG Paints Arena, where two gimmick-based matches and four titles were on the line - WWE Payback 2023 Results and Recap:

Becky Lynch defeated Trish Stratus - Steel Cage Match

Both Superstars exchanged incredible moves to start off the contest inside the steel structure with Trish Stratus hitting a Widow's Peak and Lynch nailing not only a Twist of Fate, but also a back-breaking superplex.

However, Zoey Stark came to help Trish Stratus and got into the cage, but Lynch locked the cage door herself and proceeded to hit a Man-handle Slam on Stark and then a Super Man-handle Slam on Stratus to earn the victory. After the match, an irate Trish slapped Stark, who delivered brutal Z-360 to the WWE Hall of Famer.

LA Knight defeated The Miz with Cena serving as guest referee

WWE Payback host and "The Greatest of All Time" John Cena infuriated his old rival, The Miz, by announcing that he would be the Special Guest Referee in his match against LA Knight.

Miz landed his finisher after using a few tricks to get on top. Knight, however, kicked out of the Skull-Crushing Finale, and rallied by the WWE Universe, hit his signature elbow drop and then planted Miz with Blunt Force Trauma to earn one of his biggest victories yet.

Rey Mysterio defeated Austin Theory - US Championship Match

The legendary Mystrerio lived up his reputation as one of the greatest ever as he used his speed and agility to keep Theory off-balance, highlighted by an incredible sliding Tornado DDT to the outside.

After getting drilled by a 619, Theory expertly countered the following splash, but his attempt at A-Town Down went awry as Mysterio rolled him up to retain his title.

Mysterio assists Finn Balor & Damian Priest vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn - Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match

The champions Owens and Zayn were in control of the match until NXT North American Champion "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio appeared and got into the fray. The titleholders still fought off being short on numbers as Zayn hit a Helluva Kick on Balor.

But the extra man Mysterio cracked the title-holder with the Money in the Bank briefcase, allowing his Judgement Day ally Balor to pin Zayn to win the Undisputed Tag Title.

Cody Rhodes announces a superstar's return

"The Grayson Waller Effect" took place at WWE Payback 2023, but it wasn't the Aussie Icon who caught the WWE Universe's attention - it was The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, who announced the return of a former WWE Tag Team champion.

Jey Uso had seemingly cut his ties with the WWE, but the former tag champ returned to re-acclimate himself to the ring by superkicking Waller and hyping up the WWE Universe. He is now a Raw superstar, as per Rhodes.

Mysterio interferes again! Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez - WWE Women's World Championship Match

Both the champion and the challenger's power was on display as they dared each other to hit as hard as they could, and it was Ripley who blinked first as she was dropped by a clubbing blow from her challenger.

As Rodriguez picked up momentum, Dominik Mysterio arrived and he paid dearly for it as the challenger hit him with an incredible powerslam, but the distraction proved to be enough as Ripley gathered herself and hit a devastating Riptide to retain her title.

Seth "Freakin" Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura - WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

Nakamura targetted the champion's already injured back and executed his plan perfectly by smashing Rollins onto the monitors on the announce table. The champion, however, fought back in a big way.

But Nakamura continued his assault which included a top rope Landslide as well as a Kinshasa. However, both the moves were not enough to dethrone the champion, who later hit a Pedigree and a Stomp to retain his title.