WWE Payback sets viewership records
September 5, 2023
By Nik Roseveare
WWE has announced that Payback, which emanated from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on September 2nd, became the most-watched and highest-grossing Payback in company history. The premium live event set new records for viewership, gate and merchandise.
Viewership of Payback was up 36 per cent versus the previous record set in 2016. With 12,468 in attendance, it marked the largest gate ever for any Payback, up 13 per cent versus the prior record set in Chicago in 2016. Payback also became the highest-grossing WWE event ever held in Pittsburgh.
In addition, Payback broke the all-time event merchandise record. In partnership with special event retail partner Fanatics, merchandise sales were up 182 per cent versus the previous record set in 2017.
2023 Payback was also the most-viewed social Payback of all time with a combined 146 million social views, up 44 percent from the previous record set in 2020. The most-viewed moment across social platforms was Cody Rhodes announcing Jey Uso would be joining the Monday Night Raw roster which generated more than seven million social views across all platforms in one day.
The event was headlined by Seth Rollins defeating Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Other results saw Finn Bálor and Damian Priest besting Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to become the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, and LA Knight beating The Miz.