WWE ‘Payback’ 2017 Results: Chris Jericho Vs. Kevin Owens United States Championship Match Winner

During Sunday’s WWE Payback 2017, Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens faced off with the WWE United States Championship on the line. The two former friends clashed for the second time this month, as Owens previously defeated Jericho for the title at WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, Florida. A stipulation along with the match indicated that if Jericho were to win the championship match against Owens on Sunday, he’d also move over to the SmackDown Live roster. So who ended up winning the big Payback match?

According to ProWrestling, in their WWE Payback results, the opening of the U.S. title match saw Owens flee from the ring with Jericho tracking him down. Eventually, Jericho caught up with the champ, but once they were back in the ring, Owens took control. Later on, he was able to bounce Jericho off the ring post and then hit a cannonball against him at the crowd barrier outside. From there, Jericho barely beat a 10 count to get back into the match. Once he’d returned, Owens continued to control things until the crowd helped rally the underdog, Jericho.

Owens utilized several holds in the ring to keep Jericho grounded, but “Y2J” would try to fight back. After getting a boot up as Owens rushed him in the corner, Jericho rushed at Owens in the corner only for the champ to move away, and Jericho fell outside the ring again. Once again, the challenger would get back in before a 10 count could fully materialize.

Jericho would gain the advantage after successfully hitting a double axe handle off the corner. However, his attempt at Walls of Jericho was countered by Owens who flipped him away. Jericho responded with an enziguiri kick for a near fall before stomping away on Owens a bit in the corner.

Can @IAmJericho get the REVENGE of JERICHO or will @FightOwensFight retain the #USTitle & continue on as The #NewFaceOfAmerica? #WWEPayback pic.twitter.com/BGoDszzDin

— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2017

Once again, Owens gained control of things and hit a huge cannonball on Jericho in the corner. That resulted in a near fall that the challenger kicked out of just before the ref could count to three. With Jericho down, Owens picked him up and set up for a Popup Powerbomb, but Jericho countered it into Walls of Jericho right in the center of the ring. Owens had a bit of deja vu as he stretched his arm out towards the ropes and then put a finger on the bottom rope to break the hold.

Jericho took out his frustration by attacking Owens’ hand. On the outside, he put Owens hand between the steel steps and the ring before kicking it. Back in the ring, another Walls of Jericho was slapped on by Jericho moments later. As the champion tried to reach out his hand to grab the bottom ropes, Owens’ hand was too hurt to reach the bottom rope. From there, Owens had no choice but to tap out. With that, Jericho is the new United States Champion and will also become a member of the SmackDown Live roster.

There have been WWE rumors for months now that Jericho would be leaving WWE for a short time to go on tour with his rock band Fozzy. The speculation is that he would be away for at least a month, if not longer, before making another return to the squared circle.

As for Kevin Owens, his next scheduled opponent was supposed to be “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles for next month’s WWE Backlash pay-per-view. Will that mean that it’s now AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho at the next pay-per-view, or will it become a triple-threat match with Owens going for a rematch? There’s also that outside possibility that Owens calls out Jericho on Monday’s Raw to demand his rematch then.

WWE fans, when Jericho returns, who will his next feud be with? What will happen for AJ Styles’ championship match at next month’s Backlash pay-per-view?

[Featured Image by WWE]