Five Years Later: Raw That Still Echoes Today rewounded on August 31, 2020

Introduction: The Moment in Time of Capturing Raw.

On September 2, 2025, PWTorch presented a retroactively potent listening experience in the form of the “5 Years Ago Flashback” edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-Show, highlighting the August 31, 2020, episode of WWE Raw. Co-hosts Zack Heydorn and Brandon LeClair retold the story of the fallout following Payback, the triple-threat main event that wins the winner a new number one, the shocking break-up of The IIconics, the continued onslaught of Keith Lee, and all those events being the major turning points in the modern timeline of WWE.

1. The Aftermath of WWE Payback 2020

Raw following Payback always carries emotional ripples. On August 31, 2020, the show was no exception. The fallout from the event storyline seeds sown and rivals left unresolved set the tone for a dramatic night. While specifics aren’t detailed in the summary, the podcast reflects on how the consequences propelled multiple narrative threads forward, PW Torch.

Historic angle: Payback 2020 occurred amid the global pandemic, forcing WWE to adjust presentation, storytelling, and even venue usage. In that unique climate, every post-PPV continuation was more than just routine; it was a lifeline for momentum.

2. Triple-Threat Main Event: Who Gets the Shot?

The August 31 Raw headliner featured a triple-threat match to determine the next challenger to Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship. With the title hanging in the balance, the match armed the show with stakes, unpredictability, and a shake-up in the roster hierarchy, PW Torch.

Human commentary: These matches are psychological battlegrounds. The dynamic three men vying for the same goal create micro-narratives in the ring: alliances shift, betrayals sting, and momentary unity gives way to sudden ambushes. In 2020, with the brand blurred by a quasi-silent arena and pandemic overlay, such a match carried an emotional charge beyond the ring.

3. The IIconics Break Up An Emotional Pivot

The break-up of The IIconics, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce, was, perhaps, the most effective plot of the night. Their separation was the end of a significant chapter, the beginning of new lives, and the establishment of the personal identities of two artists, PW Torch.

Backstory: The IIconics made history since their introduction in 2016 with their comedic timing, in-ring chemistry, and empowerment shtick. Their squad had won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in May 2020, so their separation four months later was a shock but a natural development. It reflected the WWE culture of providing a creative departure point that frequently rejuvenates entertainers.

Personal comment- divorce in wrestling is like a transition in life. To the fans, it means more than losing a duo; it is saying goodbye to camaraderie. But these are also moments that can mark inward development. Reflectively, the night in August 2020 predicted the following chapters in the life of Billie and Peyton.

4. Retribution Returns: Chaos Reignited

Another bombshell of the night: the re-emergence of Retribution, WWE’s anarchic, masked faction known for disrupting authority and toppling norms. Their return injected a dose of unpredictability into a brand that had become a bit too procedural during pandemic booking, PW Torch.

Historical context: Retribution debuted in late 2020 as a group of disillusioned wrestlers discrediting WWE’s system, painting themselves as rogue disruptors. Their alignment with themes of chaos and rebellion echoed classic groups like the nWo in its heyday, but with a modern, edgy layer. This reappearance projected WWE’s hunger for edgy storytelling amid an otherwise sterile era.

5. Keith Lee’s Push: Ascension Amid Uncertainty

Keith Lee’s momentum was taking full tilt by late August 2020. His presence on that episode, as discussed by Heydorn and LeClair, underscored WWE’s commitment to positioning him as a dominant force on the main roster PW Torch.

Why it mattered: Lee’s charisma, power, and in-ring agility made him a rare triple-threat: entertainer, athlete, and personality. That push during a disrupted schedule highlighted WWE’s confidence in him and suggested a potential main event blueprint at a time when stability in star-building was essential.

6. Why That Night Still Resonates

Summaries like the one from the September 2, 2025 flashback are more than nostalgia; they’re channels to understanding how storytelling evolves. Looking back to that chaotic, transitional night in 2020 reveals how WWE navigated a storm: leveraging big names like McIntyre, honoring internal change with IIconics, embracing chaos with Retribution, and launching future stars like Keith Lee.

Wrestling is episodic history meets near-real drama. The overnight changes brokered amid COVID constraints carry layers of ambition, risk, and adaptation.

7. Podcast as Time Capsule: The Value of Flashbacks

This WKPWP episode is a compelling example of the power of flashback podcasts. By revisiting a five-year-old show, listeners get insight into booking decisions, hindsight context, and emotional resonance. As hosts rewind, we’re invited to feel how each storyline landed at the time and then ask how it shaped what followed.

Summary Table: Episode Highlights

Final Thoughts

The August 31, 2020, edition of Raw, as dissected in the September 2, 2025, flashback podcast, encapsulates a pivotal stretch in WWE’s modern era. It’s an evening that blended the fallout of a marquee event with fresh conflict, emotional separation, and star wrestling ascension all under the shadow of an industry upended by global events.