Payback is coming to us live on the WWE Network from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The whole show is taking place 25 minutes away from the windy city of Chicago, the hometown of CM Punk. With that being said, get ready to hear a number of “WE WANT PUNK” chants throughout the night. During this Sunday’s event we are going to be seeing two distinct teams that will be finishing the battle that begun back during Extreme Rules. Not only that, but we will also see “The Eater of Worlds” Bray Wyatt go up against the Cenation leader, John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match and see what the future holds for Daniel Bryan as WWE World Heavyweight. Here are the predictions I have for Sunday night’s Payback event, which I hopes fulfills its tagline, “Payback is a bitch.”
Kickoff: Hair vs. Mask Match
Competitors: Hornswoggle vs. El Torito
After the well-done “WeeLC”, it seems that the WWE and its fans can’t get enough of the midget wrestlers going at it. In fact, it’s going so well they’re going to kick-off Payback with a ‘Mask vs. Hair Match’. If El Torito wins, Hornswoggle will be forced to shave his head; If Hornswoggle prevails, Los Matadores’ corner man will be unmasked. I’m actually ok with this match and its setup. I wasn’t really a fan of the “WeeLC,” but after a few days and re-watching it again, due to the fact I was there live. I think it’s best for the WWE to give us the comedy portion of its wrestling within the pre-show/kick-off. Hey, if they’re smart enough they should start a whole midget division (I’ve said this before) and have them do matches on the per-show. That way, we can laugh our collective buts off and then once the PPV starts, we get the good old serious wrestling matches. As for the predication of this match, well, I think it’s easy to say that Hornswoggle is going to get a haircut (He needs it).
Prediction: El Torito
Divas Champion Match
Competitors: Paige vs. Alicia Fox
The Divas division has been shinning these past few weeks, Alicia Fox specifically with her latest win against Paige (The current Divas Champion). Due to that result, she is granted a title shot at Payback this Sunday. I’ve been very impressed with the way the WWE has been pushing Alice Fox lately. Yes, she might be gone and forgotten within the month, but right now she making me very interested in the Divas division, especially with the IWC calling her “Stone Cold” Alice Fox (Yes there a video with the theme song and a whole video on YouTube). Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Paige and her run with the title and I think this would be a good step up for her in the spotlight. This should be an exciting match and not your typical “bathroom break” sort of match. As for who going to win, Paige will keep the title, but I have the feeling the match will be so good that it won’t be the end of “Stone Cold” Alice Fox.
Prediction: Paige retains title
Single Match
Competitors: Rusev vs. Big E
This match was just recently announced during the taping of Smackdown this week and honestly, we all saw this coming. Rusev has been a wrecking ball of destruction against those who dare to go toe-to-toe against him. The same thing can be said for Lana and her beauty. Big E has been focusing his latest attacks on Rusev after moving on from attacking other superstars, and because of this pressure he now gets his wish to go up against the Russian. This is a much needed match for both Rusev and Big E, one that can help both of them out in rising up in the roster, hopefully. That being said, I would place my chips on Rusev for winning this one, but I wouldn’t be all that shocked if Big E pulls off a win. If however he loses, there have been rumblings of making him go heel. Either way, Big E will come out of this match looking strong, same goes for Rusev. Two Superstars with a promising future if booked right.
Prediction: Rusev
United States Championship Match
Competitors: Sheamus vs. Cesaro
Watching the May 13th match that ended in a double count-out and had both continue to fight, to the point that WWE officials struggled to separate the two, we all knew that this wouldn’t be the last time these two meet up in the ring. This build up has left us on the edge of our seats with Cesaro attacking Sheamus with a steel a steel chair, The Dublin-born fighter rebounding in kind with a Brogue Kick, and Cesaro taking down Sheamus and mocking him with a handshake.
This has the potential to be the match of the night overshadowing the main event; the tension between these two has been really good. So good in fact, I won’t mind them having a whole feud throughout that goes through the summer that hopefully leads to a double turn. What I mean is seeing Sheamus turning to a massive heel and Cesaro turning to a Face along with Paul Heyman! Yes, it sound impossible as of now, but trust me it would be good.
As for who will become the new United States Champion, it doesn’t really matter. The real winner of this match is the United States title itself, as these two men are going to make it look prestigious. If I do have to pick a winner, I would go with Cesaro, but in all honesty I hope it ends in a no contest so they can expand more of this feud.
Prediction: Cesaro wins United States Championship
Will Daniel Bryan Give Up The WWE World Heavy Championship or Have Brie Bella get Fried?
This past Monday Night we saw the return of Daniel Bryan, after having successful neck surgery. With WWE officials saying that Bryan might not be back until ‘Money in the Bank’ or perhaps ‘Battleground’. Stephanie though has taken it upon herself to take matters into her own hands saying If Daniel doesn’t give up the title she will fire Brie Bella on the spot.
The whole storyline they have going is getting really dull, but I did enjoy how much stronger, as a champion, Daniel Bryan looked this past Monday. I can’t really see him ever giving up the title after what he has been through just to get it. I’m pretty sure neither of the two outcomes will happen, instead getting something else entirely. A mystery third option or perhaps a surprise appearance from Vince himself hiring a GM that can’t be fired by Stephanie, thus overruling any decision she makes. We shall see! Some crazy and far out predictions have Cm Punk coming back, or even the return of the great John Laurinaitis. Something will happen, and it won’t end in Bryan giving up the title or Stephanie Firing Brie.
Intercontinental Champion Match
Competitors: Bad News Barrett vs. Rob Van Dam
Intercontinental Champion, Bad News Barrett will face off with the six-time champion, Rob Van Dam. RVD earned the right to face Barrett by winning a Beat the Clock
Challenge featuring past Intercontinental Champions. Unfortunately, this is a match I don’t have much hope for. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of RVD, and Bad News is growing on me, but we know the winner of this match will be Bad News.
Prediction: Bad News Barrett
Last Man Standing Match
Competitors: John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
Here we go again, “The Eater of Worlds” Bray Wyatt will be going up against the Cenation leader John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match. I’m not sure why they’re still doing this feud when we already know who won already. John Cena’s win during WrestleMania, which I still don’t understand as he didn’t need to win, effectively should have ended all of this. To this day I haven’t came across someone who agrees that John Cena needed to win at WrestleMania. What does he have to lose? The man already had one of the most successful runs as champion and a single wrestler.
Why doesn’t he just go up to WWE and let them know that he believes that Bray Wyatt should be the next big Superstar; I haven’t seen a Character who speak and wrestles like Wyatt in years. Last month’s match between them was such a let down. Yes, he won the match, but it wasn’t as powerful as his win over Bryan during the Rumble. I’m going to stand by my prediction and stay with my choice of Bray Wyatt. Not only because I am a fan, but for the simple fact that I am a supporter of hard working wrestler, and the amount of work Bray Wyatt has been putting in Cena should be honored to lay down for the 10 count.
Prediction: Bray Wyatt
No Holds Barred Elimination Match
Competitors: The Shield vs. Evolution
After toppling Evolution in a hellish brawl that had a raucous capacity crowd shouting “This is awesome,” at Extreme Rules (which I was at, and was a row across from Seth Rollins diving), The Shield will have another opportunity to prove themselves when they meet Triple H, Randy Orton & Batista at WWE Payback in the ultimate battle of attrition; a No Holds Barred Elimination Match. This feud has been building up to be one of the best faction feuds of all time.
Evolution is a team full of some of the most prestigious superstars that has ever walked in the ring, going up against the most rebellious superstars we have seen in WWE. This feud has made members of The Shield get better and even get some on Evolution get back into their wrestling groove (Yes, I’m talking about you Batista). This has been a feud that has been helpful for both sides, no matter who wins this match.
My young heart is rooting for Evolution to take it all, but I know my wise older mind is rooting for The Shield. Either way, get ready for memorable spots, dives, and some shouting of “Holy Shit”, “ECW”, and of course “This is Awesome”, because Evolution & The Shield are going to give us a show that we won’t soon forget!
Prediction: The Shield
What do you think of these predictions? Love them, Hate them? I am always excited to talk wrestling.
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