At least on paper, WWE Payback looks like it will actually be better than WrestleMania 32.
This year's edition of the WWE's marquee event was lackluster in both build and execution, but the influx of talent from NXT over the past few weeks to make up for the rash of injuries on the main roster have made this Sunday's event very interesting.
Newcomers are all over this card, which is headlined by Roman Reigns defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles.
Here are our predictions and a preview for Payback, which emanates live this Sunday from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. To view this article in slideshow form, CLICK START at the top right of this page.
WWE United States Championship: Kalisto (c) vs. Ryback (Pre-show)
This is of course on the pre-show because that's what the WWE thinks of this title these days. John Cena's run with it did a lot to restore the prestige, but it's all but evaporated now. Not many people care too much about this feud and it's uncertain why Ryback is still No. 1 contender if he already lost at WrestleMania, but perhaps a change is coming.
The Pick: Ryback.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: The Miz w/ Maryse vs. Cesaro
It's so great to have the "Swiss Superman" back on WWE television and hopefully the WWE takes him seriously now that he's back. It's disappointing that Zack Ryder's run was short-lived, but Cesaro is one of the best in the game right now, so it makes up for it a little bit. Though it would be great to see Cesaro have a run with the title, it's unlikely the WWE will take it off The Miz this quickly and with "Total Divas" exposure looming soon, Maryse will likely factor into the decision, helping her husband retain.
The Pick: The Miz.
Singles Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
"The Showoff" hasn't quite been making a huge impact as of late, but at least he's a game veteran for the "Lone Wolf" to take on in his first major program. Corbin's Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal victory was one of the best surprises of WrestleMania and a great way to start his career. Ziggler is still one of the best in-ring talents the WWE has and will likely make the former NXT star look like a million bucks. As for a winner, it makes sense for Corbin to pick up the victory and keep his momentum going.
The Pick: Baron Corbin.
WWE Tag Team Tournament Finals: Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. The Vaudevillians (Simon Gotch & Aiden English)
These two teams were a much-needed addition to the stagnant tag team division on the main roster. The WWE could seriously put on a three-hour show of just Amore talking and I'd gladly fork over my $9.99 for this event. Amore and Cass have already captivated the audience, so the WWE has big money in them as the face of the tag division going forward. The back-and-forth between them and The New Day would just be scintillating in a long-term program.
The question is, will the WWE pull the trigger on them this quickly? With The New Day being babyface, it would make sense for The Vaudevillians to get the nod here and feud with the entertaining trio. Then Amore and Cass can do what they do so well by playing the underdog role en route to an eventual run with the gold. While that all makes sense, the WWE has heard the crowd pop for Amore and Cass, so it's hard to pick against them at this juncture.
The Pick: Enzo Amore & Big Cass.
Singles Match: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
This is dripping with Match of the Night potential and there's no doubt these former NXT standouts will live up to the hype. Both of these stars are poised for breakout nights, but only one can emerge victorious. The best part about this clash is the back story of these two being friends and going through the Independents together before feuding at NXT and eventually on the main roster, which the WWE summed up nicely in the video above.
Another compelling aspect of this clash is that both Superstars need a win badly. Owens hasn't quite been as high-profile a star since his initial main roster feud with John Cena and certainly lost some steam after dropping the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 32. Zayn, meanwhile, is still looking to prove he can go on the main roster, though his victory over Rusev on "RAW" was big and he's put on some great performances early on in his WWE career.
This one can truly go either way and either man standing tall would suffice, but Owens will protect the main roster from this newcomer and brag about it for weeks on end in classic heel fashion.
The Pick: Kevin Owens.
Singles Match: Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose
Another potential show-stealer on this card. "Y2J" had a great match with AJ Styles at WrestleMania and continues to be one of the most consistent in-ring veterans on the WWE roster. Jericho also works so much better as a heel and will be a great foil for Ambrose. Speaking of guys who really could use a win, "The Lunatic Fringe" is very in need of a victory.
Ambrose has received great exposure in his programs with Triple H and Brock Lesnar over the last month, but lost both of those feuds. Out of the three Shield members, he has undoubtedly been booked the weakest over the last two years. Ambrose showed he can stand in there with two of the best in the business and it's time for the WWE to build some momentum for him -- especially since Jericho got the upper hand on "RAW" this week.
The Pick: Dean Ambrose.
WWE Women's Championship: Charlotte (c) w/ Ric Flair vs. Natalya w/ Bret Hart
Right off the bat I have to say I'm still a bit upset over the Sasha Banks push seemingly coming to an end. "The Boss" seemed primed to have her moment at WrestleMania 32, but it seems she'll wait for SummerSlam. Becky Lynch also should be pushed stronger. Complaining aside, Charlotte has really come into her own as a heel and may be the most athletically gifted athlete on the roster.
The legends were brought in to give this bout a big match feel, even if Hart hilariously admitted he doesn't really want to be there. It's nice to see Natalya finally factor into the revamped women's division, but it doesn't appear as though she'll leave Illinois with the gold. Charlotte should have a dominant run over the next few months, while the WWE builds up Banks in the background -- heading to "The Boss'" true crowning moment at Barclays Center -- the same place she captivated the audience with Bayley.
The Pick: Charlotte.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. AJ Styles
The most interesting part of this match is that as good as it has the potential to be (if Reigns can hang with Styles), it's the ending that is the most compelling part. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows are likely to factor into this contest in some capacity which will either mean an end to the much-maligned Roman Empire, or a swerve to shock the world.
It's nice to see the "Phenomenal One" get his first crack at the richest prize in the game, but it's hard to fathom the WWE taking the belt off Reigns so quickly after putting it on him at WrestleMania 32. If the WWE went through all of that -- ignoring the fans, changing plans for WrestleMania 31 -- just to give Reigns a third very short run with the belt, what was it all for?
The hope here is that they'll just cave into the boos and make Reigns a full-fledged heel, forming Shield 2.0 with Anderson and Gallows. Given the beat down they gave him two weeks ago and the way he responded on Monday, that move seems highly unlikely and hard to explain, as awesome as it would be.
There is also hope that Anderson and Gallows will help Styles overcome Reigns, forming The Bullet Club in earnest giving Styles a run with the title, but it's likely any outside interference from them will be thwarted off by The Usos. One awesome scenario could see Anderson and Gallows take out Reigns only for a returning Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose reforming The Shield in defense of the champion.
Given his recent surprising NXT Championship loss, Finn Balor is also a wild card when it comes to Sunday's ending.
The possibilities are endless and thus more interesting than the actual match and definitely more compelling than anything WrestleMania 32 had to offer.
Reigns certainly has his doubters, they are plentiful and boisterous, but the WWE hasn't shown any signs of abandoning the man they hitched their wagon to as the next big star in the company. The boo birds will be out, but the smart money -- swerve or not -- is on the Roman Empire continuing on after Payback.
The Pick: Roman Reigns.
Last Call: This seems like it has the goods to deliver a tremendous show. With the tag division flourishing, two potential show-stealers in Owens-Zayn and Jericho-Ambrose and all the intrigue surrounding the main event, this should definitely be one of the best shows of the year when all is said and done.
