WWE Payback is this Sunday, and it is the first Pay-Per-View after WrestleMania 32. This means fresh faces, and fresh match-ups. There are several Superstars that are competing at Payback that weren’t on WWE television two months ago: Sami Zayn, Enzo Amore, Big Cass, The Vaudevillains (Simon Gotch and Aiden English), and Baron Corbin. Along with those Superstars are Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, who had their in-ring debut last week on Raw. They aren’t scheduled for a match tomorrow night, but they might interfere with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match to help out their friend, AJ Styles, whether Styles wants it or not.
Let’s take a close look at these matches, as well as who I think will walk out of Payback victorious.
Kalisto (c) vs. Ryback – United States Championship
I have not mistaken the Payback card for the WrestleMania 32 card; this match is really happening again, and it’s even still on the pre-show. Since Kalisto successfully ended his title defense saga with Alberto Del Rio, WWE has seemed to throw the United States Championship to the side. There has been no buildup for this match, other than one non-title victory Ryback had over Kalisto on an episode of Monday Night Raw. That alone, and absolutely nothing else, is why this match is happening. It’s almost as if WWE forgot about the title altogether, and scheduled this match just because of protocol.
Prediction:
Kalisto has had a pretty dull run as United States Champion, which is in no way his fault. Since WWE is giving Ryback another chance at the title, it looks like it is time to freshen things up for the mid-card. This also means, unfortunately, another Kalisto-Ryback United States Championship match. Winner, and NEW United States Champion: Ryback
Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler
Corbin made his main roster debut at WrestleMania 32, where he won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Since then, Corbin has made it his mission to attack Dolph Ziggler at any opportunity given since their match on the Raw after WrestleMania. Ziggler attacked Corbin before his match on Raw last week, but Corbin has been coming out on top on almost every occasion that these two have met.
Prediction:
Dolph Ziggler’s job as a professional wrestler, whether he means it or not, is to make his opponents look great. Corbin has just joined the main roster, and he’s the definition of a “Vince McMahon guy,” meaning that he should look as strong and dominant as possible, and this feud is perfect for that. Ziggler has no direction right now, so one more loss won’t hurt him. Winner: Baron Corbin
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. The Vaudevillains – #1 Contender’s Match (WWE Tag Team Championship)
Both of these teams made their debuts the week after WrestleMania, and have been successful at defeating already established tag teams to reach the finals of the #1 Contender’s Tag Team Tournament. Enzo Amore and Big Cass have been fan favorites since they made their first appearance on Raw, whereas the Vaudevillains have fallen flat with their “old time” gimmick.
Prediction:
The only problem with two new teams facing each other is that one of them has to take a loss. Considering that the winning team will go on to face The New Day, it makes sense that the heel team picks up the victory. The Vaudevillains need a win here to stay relevant, while Enzo and Big Cass have the charisma to be relevant no matter what they do. Winners: The Vaudevillains
Natalya (w/Bret Hart) vs. Charlotte (c) (w/Ric Flair) – WWE Women’s Championship
Charlotte has cheated to win almost every title defense she has had, thanks to Ric Flair interfering at ringside. Natalya has had enough of Ric Flair’s cheating ways, so she challenged Charlotte to a title match. Natalya would even the odds by having Bret Hart in her corner, which should hopefully cause a clean finish.
Prediction:
Natalya has been taking losses to Charlotte since Charlotte was the NXT Women’s Champion (and the same people were in their corners), with the most recent title loss at WWE Roadblock. Natalya will give Charlotte another great match, but with or without shenanigans, Charlotte will walk away with the gold. Winner, and STILL WWE Women’s Champion: Charlotte
Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho
This match is essentially here because Ambrose took over the Highlight Reel, and Jericho is just an angry guy nowadays. That’s pretty much it.
Prediction:
Normally, I would give Ambrose the win by default since Jericho would usually come back to put over younger talent. This run, however, seems to be different, where Jericho has picked up a win over AJ Styles at WrestleMania. This could just possibly be the beginning of this feud, so Jericho seems like a good pick for the victory. Also, Ambrose hasn’t won on a Pay-Per-View in quite some time. Winner: Chris Jericho
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
Owens and Zayn have been friends and enemies for over a decade, and at Payback, they are bitter enemies. Since they have joined WWE, Owens has made it his mission to put Sami Zayn on the shelf so his rise to the top can be easier. To be fair, it has worked, since Owens has won the Intercontinental Championship twice along with defeating John Cena in his main roster debut. Zayn has a lot to prove to himself and the WWE Universe, and this match is his perfect opportunity.
Prediction:
Just like on the independent circuit, this feud is destined to go on forever. With that in mind, it doesn’t matter who gets the victory in this match. However, Zayn has not won a major match since debuting on the main roster, and a win over Owens only increases his credibility. Winner: Sami Zayn
The Miz (c) (w/Maryse) vs. Cesaro – Intercontinental Championship
Cesaro returned from injury a few weeks ago on Raw, and immediately found some success by becoming the #1 Contender to the Intercontinental Championship. In the meantime, the Miz defeated Zack Ryder twice with the help of his wife, Maryse, at ringside to win his fifth Intercontinental Championship.
Prediction:
The Swiss Superman has had a great showing since returning, giving European uppercuts to almost everybody in sight. The Miz has not done much other than host MizTV since his title win, but it does not mean he is an easy feat. The Miz knows how to strategize a match, and I expect Maryse to help him keep his title in an underhanded victory. Winner, and STILL Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
Roman Reigns (c) vs. AJ Styles – WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns defeated Triple H at WrestleMania 32 to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the third time, and he has immediately found a high-profile challenger in AJ Styles. Styles defeated Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, and Cesaro in a fatal four-way match to become the new #1 Contender. Since Styles won the match, his friends from the Bullet Club in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, have shown up and attacked Reigns and the Usos (Reigns’s cousins). What is unsure going in to Payback is whether or not Styles is in cahoots with Gallows and Anderson, or if they are just trying to help a friend out. Either way, Reigns has quite the night in store tomorrow.
Prediction:
I expect Gallows and Anderson to interfere in this match, but in the end it won’t help Styles. Whether it’s a distraction, a swerve, or Reigns overcoming the odds, I expect Reigns to walk out of Payback the same way he walked in, WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Winner, and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns
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