WWE Payback is right around the corner, and as is the case every single year, we’re all coming down with the Mania blues. The Orlando extravaganza was one of the best editions of the Showcase of the Immortals in recent memory, and as such there’s a lot of pressure on Monday Night Raw to keep the momentum going.
Some would argue that the hype has already died down once again, but we’re already on the road to SummerSlam; and as such, there’s a lot to be excited about heading into this show. There are title matches, potential babyface and heel turns, and even a House of Horrors match – which none of us even remotely understand.
Still, it’s always nice to think of the many possibilities heading into a post-Mania show like this as they usually knock it out of the park more often than not. As such, we want to let our minds wander to a place where the impossible is indeed possible: although we’ll never allow ourselves to believe that John Cena is going to turn heel.
So with all that being said, here are five twists that can happen at Payback. Disclaimer: there’s a solid chance that none of these actually take place.
#1 The Family strengthens
It’s fair to say that The Wyatt Family have experienced more than their fair share of problems over the years, and as of late Randy Orton has been a massive thorn in their side. So huge, in fact, that their credibility has pretty much been shattered once again, following The Viper’s victory over Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 33.
Obviously, the return of Erick Rowan has helped to a degree, but something is missing – and that something is Bo Dallas. During the House of Horrors match at Payback, we’d like to see Bray’s real life brother Bo return and finally join The Wyatt Family as the uncontrollable psycho. It’d be a story that makes sense, and the back story is there to make it work long term.
Why Sasha why?
#2 Sasha screws Bayley
We’ve been doing this dance for a long time now, and it's finally time to cut the nonsense: Sasha Banks needs to turn heel, and it needs to happen pretty damn soon. The seeds were planted for the turn as far back as Fastlane, with Sasha continuing to assist Bayley when it comes to her Raw Women’s Championship matches.
At Payback, we’d like to see Banks finally give in and prove Alexa Bliss right – by turning on her former best friend Bayley and costing her the title. It’d add fuel to the fire for their eventual blow off match, probably at SummerSlam, and it would also boost Alexa Bliss as she’d be forever known as the first woman to win the women’s title on both the red brand and the blue. Well, unless Charlotte gets there first.
Poor old Jeff.
#3 Jeff gets caught
When The Hardy Boyz returned at WrestleMania 33, the roof came off of the Citrus Bowl and rightly so. The Attitude Era tag team are one of the most influential duos in the history of professional wrestling, and their impact on the business cannot be understated no matter how many people say otherwise.
However, their tenure as Raw Tag Team Champions should probably come to an end at Payback as it just feels like the natural progression for their story. You could have Jeff go up high to try and risk it all once again, only for his plan to come crashing down around him which ends up costing them the title. It would create a comeback story going forward that makes the belts feel that much more important.
Poor old Roman.
#4 Reigns snaps
It hasn’t exactly been the best few weeks for Roman Reigns. First, he retired The Undertaker in what was a sombre conclusion to WM33, then he was booed out of the building on Monday Night Raw, then he was systematically taken apart by Braun Strowman and finally he had to endure the passing of his real life brother and former WWE Superstar Rosey.
So doesn’t it make all the sense in the world for Roman to snap at Payback? Think about it. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a heel turn, but getting revenge on the man who tried to end his career can’t happen with a simple spear and a superman punch. We need Reigns to go above and beyond when it comes to brutalising Braun, even more so than he did against Triple H back at TLC 2015. It would make him feel like a literal killer and it would be quite the twist moving forward.
Drink it in, man.
#5 Jericho shocks Owens
Nobody, and we mean nobody is expecting Chris Jericho to capture the United States Championship on Sunday – which is the exact reason why WWE would choose to catch everyone off guard by putting the title back on Y2J. It wouldn’t be the smartest of ideas, and it wouldn’t even make a whole lot of sense, but when has that ever stopped them before?
Also read: Why Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens’ break-up was booked perfectly
It would seem from an outsider’s perspective looking in as if Owens winning would be the perfect conclusion to this story, but that’s not how things work around here. Jericho shocking Owens with a lucky roll-up or something along those lines sounds exactly like something Vince would do. After all, he did book Kalisto to defeat Strowman in a Dumpster match, so anything is possible.
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