WWE: Payback 2013 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

WWE: Payback 2013 Blu-ray Movie Review

Payback isn't a you-know-what, but it's certainly not looking like the next great WWE PPV.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 7, 2013

Payback should be hell.

Whoa. Wait. What's this? A new WWE Pay-Per-View event? It's been a few years since the Sports Entertainment world has made a new addition to its annual pay event lineup. 2010 saw the additions of Money in the Bank and Elimination Chamber to the schedule, joining the prestigious lineup that includes longtime staples like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble and newer but mostly established programs like Hell in a Cell and Extreme Rules. Payback isn't an added event on the calendar, though; it replaces No Way Out, an event that survived more than a decade of fun before its ouster. "New," "rebranded," whatever it may be, Payback delivers a satisfying WWE pay experience. It's not in any way groundbreaking to be sure, certainly not a contender for year's must-see event. What it does offer is a standard wrestling experience, delivering some exciting matches and working through a few juicy story lines that will satisfy core wrestling fans but probably not attract any newcomers the way a Mania or a Rumble might and so often do.

That's...gonna hurt.

The inaugural Payback took place at the Allstate Arena on CM Punk's home turf of Chicago, Illinois on June 16, 2013 in front of a rabid audience of more than 14,000 strong. The event saw seven matches, six of which featured title implications from everything to the coveted Diva's championship and on up the line to the WWE title, the latter decided in an instant classic "Three Stages of Hell" match between warriors John Cena and Ryback. Only hometown hero CM Punk wrestled without hardware on the line in a singles match against veteran Chris Jericho in one of the night's best battles. The evening didn't lack in star power, featuring longtime fan-favorites like Wade Barrett, The Miz, Kane, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Alberto Del Rio, and Dolph Ziggler. A handful of relative newcomers also powered onto the scene with names like Curtis Axel, Dean Ambrose, and the other members of The Shield making a splash against more seasoned opponents.

Payback's "theme" is a riff on old 1930s mob-controlled Chicago. Eh, it doesn't really do anything for the wrestling but get in the way. Fortunately, it's also barely noticeable beyond the open. The event offers a pretty standard selection of matches and the basic upped intensity necessary to make a PPV event work. The matches follow up several interesting story lines but the theme of the night, beyond the Cena-Ryback and Punk-Jericho and Ziggler-Del Rio matches seems to be the rise of relative newcomers onto the scene and their efforts to defeat a handful of established Superstars on a rather large stage. The program offers a solid roster, then, and delivers some intriguing on-paper and well executed in-ring match-ups between the present and future of sports entertainment. Certainly, however, the best of the night comes from the matches pitting established stars one against another, the highlight certainly the "Three Stages of Hell" match in which Cena and Ryback, first, square off in a "Lumberjack Match" in which they'll be forced back into the ring by a cadre of mostly second- and third-tier wrestlers lining the apron. They'll then battle in a classic "tables" contest in the middle and the winner will ultimately be decided in a so-called "Ambulance Match" that stipulates one of them will leave the arena a broken man in the back of said ambulance. The match doesn't disappoint; it's gritty and highly entertaining, hard-hitting and exciting as the superstars give it their all across all three stages.

The following matches are included in Payback 2013:

• Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship: Wade Barrett vs. The Miz vs. Curtis Axel.
• Divas Championship Match: Kaitlyn vs. AJ Lee.
• United States Championship Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Kane.
• World Heavyweight Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio.
• Singles Match: Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk.
• WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton & Daniel Bryan.
• Three Stages of Hell WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Ryback.

WWE: Payback 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Payback 2013 features the familiar WWE HD presentation. In short, it looks quite nice but retains the usual flaws, including a somewhat hazy look, at times, though that certainly seems due in part to pyrotechnics exploding all over the place when a wrestler makes his entrance into the arena. A bit of background blocking is also evident throughout, but the image otherwise enjoys rock-solid clarity and screen presence. Details are usually excellent, particularly in close-up shots of basic skin textures, tattoos, and attire. Crowd visibility ranks highly; signs are legible even from a distance while faces appear distinct many rows back from the ring. Colors are bold and satisfying, particularly all the blinding digital signage near the entrance but also the handmade signs in the crowd, the red ropes, and multicolored wrestler costumes. All in all, this is a strong, albeit basic, transfer from WWE Home Video.

WWE: Payback 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Payback 2013 features, yes, the usual WWE Home Video Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. It satisfies the programs's basic needs as well as it's capable of delivering them. Generally, it offers solid stage presence from start to finish, whether wrestler entrances or music overlaying pre-recorded footage. Crowd ambience never rates as "electric" but it does come through thoroughly and sometimes robustly, invading the entire stage from front to back and side to side. Wrestler intro music blares loudly, at times, but at others feels a little more reserved than listeners would probably like. Ringside play-by-play and commentary comes through neatly and efficiently, as do in-ring announcements and backstage banter. There is a momentary dropout at the 3:44 mark, which was repeatable on every rewind. All in all, this is a good, balanced, and typical track from WWE Home Video.

WWE: Payback 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Payback 2013 contains several supplements. The first two in the list below are billed as "Home Video Exclusives" while the remainder are billed as "Blu-ray Exclusives."

• Payback Moment (HD, 0:40): CM Punk & Paul Heyman Discuss Payback. Payback -- June 16, 2013.
• The History of The Shield, Team Hell No & Randy Orton (HD, 3:04): A montage of highlights that fill in the backstory behind one of the Payback matches.
• RAW Match (HD, 9:36): Triple H vs. Curtis Axel. RAW -- June 10, 2013.
• RAW Match (HD, 13:49): Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns. RAW -- June 10, 2013.
• RAW Match (HD, 14:16): Daniel Bryan vs. Seth Rollins. RAW -- June 10, 2013.
• RAW Moment (HD, 9:42): John Cena & Ryback Face to Face. RAW -- June 10, 2013.
• SmackDown Moment (HD, 10:50): Daniel Bryan Distances Himself from Kane. SmackDown -- June 14, 2013.
• SmackDown Match (HD, 12:09): Team Hell No & Randy Orton vs. The Shield. SmackDown -- June 14, 2013.

WWE: Payback 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Payback 2013 isn't a particularly memorable Pay-Per-View event, but it at least doesn't let its core audience down. There's a strong roster that mixes current superstars with several up-and-comers in a handful of matches that offer upped intensity both dramatic and within the ring. There's not a dull match, necessarily, though only the Cena-Ryback contest really stands out from the pack, and only because of its somewhat unique series of stipulations. Otherwise, it's pretty basic PPV stuff, enough to please dedicated WWE fans but nothing more. WWE Home Video's Blu-ray release of Payback 2013 features the usual WWE quality video and audio. A few bonuses are included. Recommended to WWE Home Video completists.