Payback being the first pay-per-view after Wrestlemania makes it very exciting for WWE fans. Less than a month after Wrestlemania 32, where over 100,000 fans saw the event in person and millions (and millions) who watched it at home have high expectations from WWE Payback 2016. Payback is the platform to start some new storylines that would shape WWE going forward for the next year. The final match card is now set with 8 matches, that is excluding the most important “Decision Day” segment with the McMahon Family which would decide that who among Stephanie and Shane would run Monday Night Raw.
See the match card, match predictions, and possible results below.
Venue: Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois
Timings: Pre-Show (7 PM EST/4.PM PST) Main-Show (8 PM EST/5.00 PM PST)
Pre-Show Kickoff Match (United States Championship) – Kalisto Vs Ryback
This has been the least talked about rivalry in the past one month after Wrestlemania. Ryback’s half baby face half heel character has been booed in every arena he has made an appearance. Whereas, Kalisto is at the prime of his career and has the potential to be a cult-figure for WWE like Rey Mysterio. Kalisto retained his Championship at Wrestlemania 32 and this match is just a drag for the fans who are bored of Ryback’s gimmick. The guy just looks hungry all the time and nothing else. WWE is selling the match like a David and Goliath situation and it will be another boost for Kalisto if he goes over again. If Ryback wins which is unlikely, it will be bad for the fans as he will have more air-time.
Probable Winners: The best result would be a Salida Del Sol from Kalisto to Ryback for the pinfall.
Enzo & Big Cass Vs The Vaudevillians (Winner to fight The New Day for the Tag Team Titles)
This match would be a treat to all the NXT fans. Both the teams have been very promising in the past few weeks. Enzo and Cass being the awesome entertainers they are, and a treat on the mic should get a pop at their entrance. The Vaudevillians with their ‘ruthless aggression’ in the ring are classic examples of a heel.
This match is expected to be a classic high action tag team affair with The Vaudevillians going over. The Vaudevillians have shown great talent to be the next ‘heel’ in the tag team division. They would be expected to do so as The New Day have turned face.
Enzo and Cass would continue to be hilarious with their gimmick and should go on to a feud with the Dudleys (They might have a part to play at Payback)
Probable Winners: The Vaudevillians through an interference from The Dudley Boys.
Dolph Ziggler Vs Baron Corbin
Since Baron Corbin has made his debut on the main roster and won the ‘Andre The Giant’ Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 32, he has been undefeated. The guy has been menacing and has thrown Ziggler around like a football in the past few shows. Whether people like Kane, Big Show and Mark Henry should be the ones putting rookies over is a question for another day.
Dolph is a very talented wrestler and he needs another push. Dolph Ziggler being the never-say-die fighter that he is would put up a good performance and take Baron to the next level.
Probable Winners: The chances are that Baron would go over with the End of Days.
The Miz Vs Cesaro (Intercontinental Championship)
The King of Swing is back and is definitely headed for bigger things. WWE has hopefully realized his worth and with the Cesaro section increasing day by day WWE has to push Cesaro. But with the introduction of Maryse, and fresh storyline Miz might be the one going over. If The Miz wins, it will be by some kind of unwanted interference by Maryse and they will take their gimmick forward. In any way, we can expect a lot of high-intensity athleticism by Cesaro who is always a treat to watch in the ring.
Probable Winners: The Miz through a Maryse interference.
Dean Ambrose Vs Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho is an expert at pushing younger talent and he has given us some brilliant technical matches with AJ Styles in the past few months. Him picking up the win against AJ at Wrestlemania makes it highly unlikely for him to win against Dean at Payback. One gets the feeling that WWE is wasting Dean's momentum by pitting him against Jericho. Dean has already established himself well enough and should be put in the title mix soon as he is very hot with the fans. The only good thing about this rivalry Dean Ambrose getting his own talk show - The Ambrose Asylum.
Probable Winners: Dean Ambrose
Sami Zayn vs Kevin Ovens
These guys are best friends in real life. They are like family to each other but since their NXT days, they have sold their feud so well that it has become one of the best example of in-ring chemistry. The NXT fans would certainly know what they are capable of and this match should actually be of the Main Event. Both these superstars have had epic battles over the years no matter whichever promotion they have been with. They know each other so well that every move will make the fans go wow. In this particular match, Sami Zayn can be expected to win and take the feud ahead (maybe a backlash from Kevin Owens on RAW), as WWE would definitely want them to go at each other again at Extreme Rules. The promos that we saw last week sold their story more and the fans can expect a long battle. This match would definitely be one to watch for at Payback.
Probable Winners: Sami Zayn
Charlotte Vs Natalya (WWE Women’s Championship)
This match has become more special as Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart will be ringside with Natalya to even the odds. We can expect to see some awesome pro-wrestling moves by both Charlotte and Natalya. Natalya has been on and off the roster in the past year but she is the most senior in the Women’s Wrestling division of WWE. This is the time to give her the respect she deserves, as she also been a mentor to so many female superstars including Paige, Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks. With the introduction of WWE Women’s Championship, Natalya is expected to be crowned the new champion. It will be a memorable moment if after the match Bret Hart and Natalya both pull the sharpshooter on Ric Flair and Charlotte. Possibly, with Natalya becoming the champion Charlotte will break off from the daddy care of Ric Flair and finally will be on the same level with Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch. All the three would gun for the championship together and would give us some spectacular matches. Hope all this comes true as the fans are bored with Charlotte and Ric Flair gimmick.
Control of Monday Night Raw – The McMahon family segment.
Shane Mcmahon has been loved by the fans since his return to the WWE. We hear some never-ending thunderous chants like ‘Shane O Mac’ & ‘You Still Got It” the moment his music stops. But WWE would like to keep the love fresh and would take him off-air for a bit until his next big return with a new angle. Till then we will have to bear with the authority. Another possibility can also be a break-up of the main roster with Shane McMahon taking care of either RAW or Smackdown and Stephanie the other. This would refresh the RAW vs Smackdown wars and draft lottery system as well. This one can actually swing any side. We never know until it happens.
Probable Outcome: Shane to leave the product temporarily.
AJ Styles Vs Roman Reigns (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
This has been a very boring rivalry so far. The past two weeks has garnered some interest to the feud but that is only because of the introduction of Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. More than the feud their forceful brotherhood with AJ Styles has made the fans smell foul. The probability of a back-stabbing situation with the introduction of Finn Balor on the main roster is a mouth-watering prospect. Finn Balor has dropped the NXT title to Samoa Joe last week. Balor has also been teasing a reunion of the Bullet Club for months.
WWE is likely to keep AJ a babyface and Anderson, Gallows and Balor would cost him the championship taking the Balor – AJ feud to Extreme Rules. In any case, Roman Reigns is expected to go over via disqualification. WWE would like to keep the title on him as Seth Rollins can return anytime soon and this is no secret that he would go for the title he never lost. The Rollins – Reigns feud would be epic this time as the fans would cheer the Rollins and boo Roman Reigns. The absence of Seth Rollins has made the WWE Universe miss him and realize his value to the product. The match between Roman and AJ would be more about expected interferences rather the fight.
Probable Winner: Roman Reigns
We call all hope for all this to come true but we all know that WWE would never give you the expected. This makes WWE Payback 2016 a must-watch.
