WWE Payback 2017 will take place this Sunday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. It is the first PPV after Wrestlemania 33.
Kickoff Show:
Miz TV with special guest Finn Balor
The Miz is currently in a feud with Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose. The Intercontinental Championship is not being defended on this show. I expect Ambrose to get involved in this segment and ruin it for The Miz.
Enzo & Big Cass vs Gallows & Anderson
Gallows and Anderson lost their RAW Tag Team Championships at Wrestlemania 33. They then lost their rematch for the titles to The Hardy Boyz the following night on RAW. Since then, Gallows and Anderson have been out of the title picture. Enzo and Cass haven’t been in the title picture since the Fatal 4-Way Ladder match at Wrestlemania 33.
Predicted Winners: Gallows & Anderson
Main Card:
Cruiserweight Championship: Neville (c) vs Austin Aries
Neville and Aries had a hard fought battle during the Wrestlemania 33 Kickoff Show. In the end, it was Neville that picked up the victory by hitting the Red Arrow. Neville has referred to himself as “the King of the Cruiserweight” ever since he won the Cruiserweight Championship. Austin Aries has been a thorn in Neville’s side the entire time and made a statement Tuesday night on 205 Live by locking Neville in The Last Chancery on the entrance ramp. I think Aries will capture his first title in WWE and defeat Neville to become the new Cruiserweight Champion at Packback. If Neville were to retain, it may be due to TJ Perkins showing up and costing Aries the match.
Predicted Winner & New Cruiserweight Champion: Austin Aries
RAW Tag Team Championship: The Hardy Boyz (c) vs Sheamus & Cesaro
In the past two weeks, Jeff Hardy has defeated Cesaro and Matt Hardy has defeated Sheamus. After each match, the two teams shook hands. On this past week’s episode of RAW, Matt Hardy seemed rather reluctant to shake Sheamus’ hand. Sheamus unnecessarily shoved Jeff Hardy outside the ring during his match with Jeff Hardy. There is no reason to take the RAW Tag Titles off of Matt and Jeff right now. Matt and Jeff win and Sheamus and Cesaro get pissed off. Sheamus and Cesaro beatdown The Hardys after the match as the crowd boos them out of the building.
Predicted Winners & Still RAW Tag Team Champions: The Hardy Boyz
Seth Rollins vs Samoa Joe
Seth Rollins barely made it to Wrestlemania 33 after he sustained a knee injury during an attack from Samoa Joe. Rollins wound up defeating Triple H at Wrestlemania 33 and during that match, Stephanie McMahon also fell through a table. Samoa Joe was brought to WWE by Triple H to destroy people. Joe wants to beat the hell out of Rollins for embarrassing Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. I think this feud continue after Sunday’s PPV, so I see this one ending in a DQ. Joe attacks Rollins with a chair and is eventually taken out of the arena by WWE security. Rollins and Joe have stated that this feud has become personal. I’m guessing the hatred between the two Superstars will increase after Payback.
Winner via DQ: Seth Rollins
United States Championship: Kevin Owens (c) vs Chris Jericho
Owens and Jericho were best friends for a long time. That all came to an abrupt end when Owens attacked Jericho at the Festival of Friendship on WWE RAW. Jericho got his revenge by showing up right as Owens’ match with Goldberg at Fastlane began. Goldberg then quickly defeated Owens and captured the Universal Championship. Owens went on to defeat Jericho at Wrestlemania 33 and took the United States Championship from him.
Jericho is about to release a new record with his band Fozzy and his current run with WWE might be coming to an end. Owens and Jericho will put on a solid match, but Owens ultimately retains. Owens then turns his attention to AJ Styles on SmackDown and Jericho finishes up one of the better runs of his WWE career.
Predicted Winner & Still United States Champion: Kevin Owens
RAW Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) vs Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss did whatever it took to remain at the top of the SmackDown women’s division. WWE’s Superstar Shake-Up brought Bliss to RAW and she immediately won a match to become #1 contender. Bliss tricked Bayley on this past week’s episode of RAW and attacked her from behind. Alexa Bliss will certainly become RAW Women’s Champion down the line, but I don’t think it will happen this Sunday. Bayley defeats Bliss with a Bayley to Belly to retain her title.
Predicted Winner & Still Raw Women’s Champion: Bayley
House of Horrors Match: Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt
It was one of the better feuds heading into Wrestlemania 33, but it wound up being one of the worst matches at the event. Randy Orton captured the WWE Championship from Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania 33. In the weeks proceeding Wrestlemania 33, Orton burned down Bray Wyatt’s compound that contained the ashes of Sister Abigail. I’m guessing that most of this match will be pre-taped and then it will eventually make it’s way to the ring. There could be a Sister Abigail sighting, worms and goblins. I have no idea what to expect from this match.
Bray Wyatt was moved to RAW after the Superstar Shake-Up. This match was originally scheduled to be for the WWE Championship, but that is no longer the case. Wyatt concluded this past week’s episode of RAW by taking out Dean Ambrose and Jericho. Wyatt also hit a Sister Abigail on The Miz. Since it is no longer for the WWE Championship, Bray Wyatt should pick up the win at Payback. It won’t be by simply hitting Orton with a Sister Abigail. There will be some sort of interference or event that costs Orton the match. All I know is that I will have a smile on my face after this match because it will mark the end of this feud.
Predicted Winner: Bray Wyatt
Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman brutally attacked Roman Reigns on the April 10th episode of RAW. Reigns has not appeared on RAW since. With Reigns not being there, Strowman has been attacking random Superstars backstage. On this past week’s episode of RAW, Strowman lost to Kalisto in a Dumpster Match. Strowman then proceeded to beat the hell out of Kalisto, lock him in the dumpster and push the dumpster off the entrance ramp.
Reigns was interviewed by WWE.com about his brother’s passing and his plans for Strowman at WWE Payback. Reigns stated that he was physically and emotionally beat up. Reigns claimed that he has never experienced a beatdown like the one Strowman gave him a few weeks back. I have a feeling that the announcers during Payback this Sunday will continuously point out that Roman Reigns has still not recovered from the attack.
WWE spent a lot of time building Strowman up as a monster and there has yet to be a payoff. Strowman was barely a part of Wrestlemania 33 and was eliminated early in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. I’ve got to believe that Strowman will pick up the win in this match. Reigns will not be diminished in any way and WWE can play up the fact that Reigns is not at 100%. Strowman had a stare down with Brock Lesnar the night after Wrestlemania 33. WWE clearly wants to make Braun Strowman a star. The best way to do that is to give him a big win over Roman Reigns this Sunday at Payback.
Predicted Winner: Braun Strowman
What are your predictions for WWE Payback 2017? Let us know in the comments below.
