WWE Payback 2017 Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades

WWE.com

Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins

Result: Seth Rollins defeats Samoa Joe via pinfall.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars

After two months and one big injury, we finally had Joe and Rolins go head-to-head. It was a fight for revenge, even though Triple H is off WWE TV and Kevin Owens, the ally to Joe, is on SmackDown Live.

This match’s storyline went straight to Rollins’ bad knee, which Joe targetted throughout. All different kinds of attacks to the injured body part were used, with Rollins barely sneaking in his own offense.

Anything Rollins tried to do saw him grab the knee. It’s a little much, but something that will likely continue as an in-match story for the next month or so. There were still impressive feats of strength, though, like with the Falcon Arrow. He even hit a splash.

Rollins snuck in the successful pin when Joe had a submission hold locked in. He pressed the Samoan Submission Machine’s shoulders down to get the pin. It leaves both “protected” with neither having to take a finisher for a successful fall. That may mean we’re getting a second part to this.