WWE Payback Predictions

Payback is tonight, and with WrestleMania 32 being a bit of a underwhelming display of questionable booking that was more-or-less completely retconned by the following evening’s episode of RAW, the Payback match card is shaping up to be a much better show.  In the terms of actual wrestling,  it could be one of the most entertaining WWE PPVs in quite some time. Also, the build-up for Payback has been great and the weeks leading up to the event has left us wanting answers to so many questions.

With a handful of former indie darlings and fan favourites squaring off against one another, the entire match card feels like we’re stepping into a new era. It’s also looking to contain a few surprises, with possibilities Finn Balor predicted to make an appearance and reform the popular NJPW faction Bullet Club and the announcement of who is officially going to run RAW by Vince McMahon when it comes to his two children. There are some things lacking from the show as well, such as there is only one women’s match leaving popular stars such as Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch off the card and that the New Day won’t be in competition defending their tag team titles.

So what should you expect from the event? Will Bullet Club debut? Will Dean Ambrose finally get a high-profile win over a veteran? Who will be left in charge of Raw tonight after Payback? Will we be given another brand extenstion? Will Zack Ryder come from under the ring and steal his IC Title and kiss Maryse to get his ultimate Payback? We don’t know yet, but here are my Payback predictions.

United States Championship
Kalisto (C) vs. Ryback
Personally, I don’t care for this match that much. There hasn’t really been much of a build up for the match, besides its rematch from Wrestlemania. Kalisto has not done much besides continuing to tag with Sin Cara as one half of the Lucha Dragons and been on the losing end of singles and tag matches. In my opinion, Kalisto has done nothing for the United States title. Therefore, I do see Ryabck bringing more the to the championship. Also, Ryback needs it more to continue to stay relevant, A heel US Champion is what we need moving forward to help put over some of the newer fan favourite talent. Imagine Ryback feuding with Apollo Crews for the US Title heading into the Summer, I can dig that.
Prediction – Ryback

Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
Corbin is new on the main roster and Corbin needs to look strong. Therefore, regardless how this match goes, Corbin must not look weak. I don’t see Corbin taking the loss, but I can see it not being a clean finish. There is a chance that Corbin might win by DQ or if he does lose it will be DQ. Ziegler is the perfect guy to make Corbin look good as well. Ziegler is great at selling, great at performing like he’s giving it his all and also manages to still have a large fanbase that sympathizes for him. Personally, Corbin has done nothing for me since his debut on the main roster. For instance if you ask me what he did on this previous weeks Raw, I would have to look it up, but I think tonight he might have the chance to show us a bit more of his aggression and why he is a force to be reckoned with.
Prediction – Regardless the actual match outcome Baron Corbin looks strong.

Image via WWE.com

This is the first battle between the two in this new rivalry, meaning I don’t think it’s going to be the last. The Miz had just won the title recently, the Raw after Wrestlemania from Zack Ryder. Basically, further showing that Ryder’s win was just a booking decision to give Ryder a Mania moment and not a push. It something they could have done without because it served no real important purpose other than getting Ryder airtime and that it maybe helped in the story to reintroduce Maryse, which I still think they could have done without Ryder actually winning the title. I want the IC title to have prestige, not just pointless reigns. Anyway, talking about Maryse, in my opinion, having her back and in her husbands corner, has given life back to the Miz’s character. Miz’s egotistical character has more reason to gloat confidently with his gorgeous French Canadian wife on his arm. I think her involvement in this match is what is going to keep this feud going. Cesaro also returned the Raw following Wrestlemania, to everyones excitement. Cesaro is one of the best wrestlers on the planet today and never fails to put on a classic match. I think Cesaro can even bring the best out of the Miz. In my mind, Cesaro not only deserves to be Intercontinental Champion, but he can bring the competitiveness back to the title by defending the title to all comers  However, for this feud to continue, I don’t see Cesaro winning the belt just yet. I see Maryse’s involvement by distraction having the Miz retain resulting to rematch against Cesaro at the next event.
Prediction – The Miz

Image via WWE.com

Instead of having the New Day defend their tag team titles on this event, we have the number one contenders being decided. When you look at these two teams, what do you see? You see one team that is extremely over and has the crowd singing a long and totally involved with their gimmick.  Then you have another team who had a lacklustre debut on Smackdown, and with a gimmick that the main roster casual fans are still trying to wrap their heads around. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the VaudeVillans and their gimmick worked masterfully on NXT, however its just not translating the same on the main roster. Maybe, if they built up their debut with vinnegtes for a week and had them debut on Raw, immediately apart of this tournament and then having them make it the finals that way, we’d think they’re more of a threat. Instead, the idea of them going over the super popular Enzo and Cass doesn’t make any logic to the casual fan.
The only way I see that happening is if the Dudley’s have unfinished business with Enzo and Cass and they cause them the loss by interfering or distraction. Which would lead to the VaudeVillians facing the New Day at Extreme Rules for the tag team titles. I believe the next PPV is Extreme Rules, which means I wouldn’t rule out a tables mach between the Dudleys and Enzo and Cass while the VaudeVillans get their shot at the New Day in a losing effort. This also keeps the heel/face and heel/face feuds still briefly going because if Enzo and Cass face the New Day it would be a face/face feud. I also think the New Day can bring the best out of the VaudeVillans when it comes to developing their characters on the main roster. Overall, I think the match will be good and throwback to NXT and I do expect the New Day to be involved somehow, possibly on commentary.
Prediction – VaudeVillans

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Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owen’s, the rivalry that should never end. For indie fans, this match is a dream come true, as their friendship and rivalry between the two goes all the way back to their early days in the independents. I don’t think anyone would imagine it would still be continued or rehashed in the WWE. I still strongly believe that this match should have been a one on one match at Wrestlemania for the IC title, and the US title should have been defended in a multi man ladder match, however I’m happy its just happening now anyway. As for the WWE, these two have been feuding since the night Owen’s made his debut on NXT, the same night Zayn finally won the NXT Title, and its nice to see they didn’t ignore their NXT history when building this feud. It basically carried over from it. Owen’s has forged his own identity on the main roster already and is one of the most interesting characters on the entire roster after the WWE audience became acclimatized to his unique heel work, which has me coining him as Mr. Entertainment. While Zayn has been putting on five star matches since his debut to the main roster but has lacked any real character development besides appearing as an underdog and as “that guy Kevin Owen’s doesn’t like”.
The feud has been built up with the two of them attacking each other, with the commentary filling us in with their history, a video package this past Raw and a few short verbal interactions. Therefore, I think Zayn picks up the upset win over Owens, to develop him more as a character on the main roster, and to get under the skin of Owens, which makes the feud continue. I believe they continue to have matches and this feud will boil over the next few PPV’s until it goes away for bit, until returning when needed, because Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn is the rivalry that should never end,
Prediction – Sami Zayn

Image via WWE.com

Im still trying to figure out if this feud is just over having a talk show on WWE television or about respect or both. Regardless, I’m looking forward to a match between two of my favourite characters on the roster today. Jericho left Wrestlemania, looking stronger than ever defeating the popular AJ Styles who is now the number one contender for the WWE Championship in a classic match. Ambrose on the other hand, left Wrestlemania on the losing end, in one of the most underwhelming Street Fights I have ever watched, gaining no credibility through storytelling against Brock Lesnar. Jericho is a veteran, a legend,  one of the hottest heels in the company today and has already cemented his legacy. Jericho has won the big matches. Ambrose is intriguing, a valuable asset, entertaining and full of potential to be a mega star if he was just booked correctly. In the end, Ambrose needs this win.
I know its starting to sound repetitive but this feud could continue following this PPV, but even if it doesn’t, Ambrose going over Jericho here, could help Dean gain back some credibility after totally not putting up a fight against Brock. It is crazy how over he was during the short feud with Triple H going into Payback and how Brock totally derailed that momentum with one match. Jericho doesn’t lose anything from losing, hell Jericho has been known for putting over younger and newer stars, its just nice he’s going into this match a bit more credible after the odd booking choice of him beating Styles at Mania. I guess it worked out after all.
Prediction – Dean Ambrose

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Disappointed with the lack of Sasha Bank and Becky Lynch being involved in the title picture after their tremendous triple threat match at Wrestlemania against Charlotte, this match actually makes up for it. (I still think there should be Women’s tag titles, so there could be a reason to have two Women’s matches on events like these and give more women time to shine) I have never watched a Charlotte vs. Natalya match that I haven’t enjoyed, if you read my Roadblock review on this site you know that. Im a fan of both women, adding father Flair and Uncle Bret, two of my top five all time favourites, to the mix just sweetens the deal. It’s a complete throwback to their NXT match when Flair and Hart were in the corners of their respective family member, I hope the match doesn’t get overbooked with Flair and Hart getting involved but I do expect some interaction between the two. Im kind of torn on who I want to win this match.
I think Natalya deserves a run as Women’s champion as she’s one of the most under-appreciated women’s wrestlers on the roster and has been for years now. Natalya, also has never gotten the win over Charlotte, even though she has been one of Charlottes biggest threats during her career. Maybe tonight could cause some more tension between Flair and Charlotte, with Flair botching his interference whether its by himself or because of Bret, leading to Nattie winning. Which would lead to a rematch between Charlotte and Natalya at the next PPV. I don’t see the harm of Natalya beating Charlotte and continuing the rivalry for the next couple of months until the Summer.
I’m still banking on my prediction that we’re going to get Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks or a Wrestlemania rematch including Becky at Summerslam but why not have a back and fourth between Charlotte and Natalya until then. The only reason I can see them not doing this would be because, they’re allowing Charlotte to build her legacy and that they really want to build her as the super athlete, whom with the help of her father, can back up her ego, all the way until she’s taken down. As a heel though, who we have seen lost or close to losing if it wasn’t for her fathers interference, I don’t see the harm in her actually losing once in a while. Throw us curveball in the Women’s division and lets have Natalya win. Its different then having to see Ric Flair help Charlotte win again, and with Bret Hart being the difference maker out there, it can happen. I don’t mind watching these two women wrestle again and again.
Prediction – Natalya

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It is 2016, and the McMahon family drama has sparked up yet again. Shane McMahon’s return to the WWE has really shaken things up, made things feel fresh and caused a commotion amongst the Authority’s evil empire. Making his match against the Undertaker at Wrestlemania completely irrelevant storyline wise, Shane McMahon was grated the opportunity to run Raw the night following Wrestlemania, up until now by Vince McMahon. Vince’s theory being that he wanted to see his son fail. Instead, we have seen quality show’s every week, that reek of a new era and change for the company that most fans are still trying to adapt too or can’t wrap their head around because its different then the usual crap we’ve become immune too the past years. That was until Stephanie returned last Monday, after her husband and her have been off the air since Wrestlemania, to reclaim her throne. Now Vince McMahon has to make the decision of who actually gets to run Raw tonight. The rumours have been spreading rapidly. Could we see co-owners of Raw? Could this be Shane’s farewell? Will we go back to normal with the Authority in charge? Will their be a brand split with Smackdown, now back on a valued network for the first time in years in the USA Network, becoming important again? I personally believe there is a chance of a brand extension again, maybe not separating the rosters but having Shane in charge of one show and the Authority in charge of the other causing chaos which may lead to a further extension in the future. There is only way to find out and thats by watching tonight. One thing is for sure though, that’s more McMahon family drama.
Prediction – Brand Extension

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If you told me a year ago, that AJ Styles was going to be facing Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship and that there was rumours of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson getting involved, thus reforming the Bullet Club in the WWE or even that Finn Balor would debut on the main roster to confront AJ Styles, I wouldn’t have believed you and quite frankly think you were booking like a child. Therefore, Im sorry, because all of those scenarios are either true or could quite possibly happen. Seriously though, who would have ever thought it could a year ago?
It pretty much universally accepted, whether we like it or not, that Roman Reigns is the top guy and our current reigning WWE Champion. It highly unusual for a World Heavyweight Champion to drop the belt on the PPV immediately following WrestleMania, the aftermath of this match is what has got so many people excited. With Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson having now debuted, there are now three members of NJPW’s famous Bullet Club on the main WWE roster, alongside AJ Styles. Its inevitable that Gallows and Anderson will have some sort of involvement in this match. Originally, I believed they were putting Reigns against AJ Styles, to build credibility for Reigns. Having Roman beat a beloved, popular wrestler like AJ Styles who is praised for his in ring work, in a classic match that makes Reigns look good. Now, I believe Reigns is just the backdrop to a larger story here between Styles and his former running buddies.
The weeks leading up to this event there has been tension with the three former Bullet Club members, which leaves us with a swerve regardless which way everything falls into place. There are so many rumours going around which shows this is the most intriguing angle with the most potential to cause boom in the wrestling industry for the first time in years. There is a huge question mark on how Payback will end. There’s a recurring suggestion that Finn Balor will become involved given his previous ties to the Bullet Club as the leader, a rumor that has been bolstered by the loss of his NXT title to Samoa Joe at an untelevised NXT event, along with him having told fans that he’ll see them “on Monday” in an Instagram video that swiftly went viral. If that’s not enough, some are even tossing about the idea that the Shield may reform in order to take on the Bullet Club in stable warfare.
As for Balor debuting, I think that will eventually happen, but it will slowly build to that. Where as tonight we just find out where AJ Styles loyalties truly lie, whether its towards being a good person or with his former friends. I’m just as clueless as anyone else, but if I were to guess, I’d be on the side of those who believe we’ll be seeing Balor teaming up with Gallows and Anderson in order to take on Styles, leading to a feud between the NXT star and The Phenomenal One. Howvever, I don’t see Balor being a factor and debuting until AJ Styles fully chooses to stay loyal to himself, after some more tension with Gallows and Anderson tonight. I don’t see Balor debuting tonight, but maybe tomorrow night when things come full circle? Tonight to me, is just the revealing of how their relationship is going to go moving forward. However never say never, I guess.
Anyway, besides all that the golden goose Roman Reigns will win and it’ll be covered up by the intrigue of the other storyline because you know, Roman’s a heel we’re supposed to cheer and they haven’t figured out how to fix that yet, so why not a distraction? LOL
Prediction – Roman Reigns

Those are my Payback predictions, and the official show starts in an hour. I hope everyone enjoys the show. Dig It?!