WWE Payback 2016 looks to be the best Payback event since its inception.
WrestleMania 32 was a pretty fun event overall. And of course, the RAW afterwards was an entertaining episode. Usually, the next RAW’s tend to fall pretty hard as far as new feuds are concerned. But 2016’s installment of post-Mania RAW’s have built up to a Payback worth tuning in for. AJ Styles will take on Roman Reigns for the big one, plus AJ’s former NJPW stablemates will probably be close by. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will finally battle it out on a main WWE PPV. Chris Jericho will butt heads with the crazed lunatic known as Dean Ambrose. And the returning Cesaro will contend with the new IC Champion Miz (with his alluring wife Maryse in tow).
There’s so much to talk about when it comes to Payback 2016. Here’s our full lineup of match predictions.
Kalisto (c) vs. Ryback (WWE United States Championship)
Predictions & Winner: Sigh…WWE doesn’t seem to care too much about the US Title anymore, do they? After Cena’s awesome run as champ, the title has taken a downturn since it changed hands to Rio right onto Kalisto. While we enjoy Kalisto’s work, we haven’t enjoyed much of his title run. WWE hasn’t really given him any good angles or rivals to work with, so there’s not much to care about when it comes to the US Championship these days. His match with Ryback at ‘Mania 32 was the very definition of underwhelming. They’re gonna do it again at Payback and…we still don’t care. Our money says the title changes hands here. Ryback wins, but it won’t really matter much.
Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady vs. The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) (Tag Team Match to Determine the #1 Contender for the WWE Tag Team Championship)
Predictions & Winners: Look how far these two NXT tag teams have come. The Vaudevillians are the only ones who actually captured the NXT Tag Team Championship, unlike their adversaries. It’s pretty easy to see that Enzo and Cass are looking for redemption by winning this tournament and going on to win the main roster’s tag team titles. After the two squared off on the mic on SmackDown in the UK, we got even more excited about this bout. This should open the PPV and we hope it proves to be just as good as their NXT matchups. Our gut tells us Enzo and Cass are going to become the victors of this match and go on to face The New Day. Expect plenty of hilarity when The New Day trade insults back and forth on the mic with Enzo and Cass afterwards.
Charlotte (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. Natalya (with Bret Hart) (WWE Women’s Championship)
Predictions & Winner: This Women’s Championship feud has now turned into a family quarrel. Charlotte’s dirty wins due to her legendary father’s assistance has pissed of Natalya Neidhart for the very last time. Natalya has decided to call upon the assistance of her Hall of Famer uncle Bret Hart to even the score. Both ladies put on two amazing matches – one in NXT and one that took place in Canada during WWE Roadblock. Charlotte has taken the win both times and she’s currently in the middle of running the newly reinstated Women’s Division. But we think WWE’s gonna go for the shocking surprise win here. Prepare to see Natalya finally get her due and give the Flair clan an L. She’s going to capture the Women’s Championship with Bret by her side. But here’s the kicker: we think WWE’s gonna give her the “WrestleMania 32 Zack Ryder” treatment. Natalya’s gonna win the title on Sunday and lose it right back in an immediate rematch the next night on RAW.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Predictions & Winner: This ongoing war has practically taken place everywhere. Zayn and Owens have beaten each other senseless in ROH, PWG, NXT and now they’re doing it on the main WWE roster. We thought this bout was going to take place at ‘Mania 32, but we’re fine with it getting some shine at Payback 2016 instead. Over the past few weeks Zayn has put on some awesome performances, but he’s taken the loss in a lot of them. Owens has been getting more wins lately and his stock is rising. We think both men’s fortunes are going to switch around during this matchup. Both Superstars will put on one of, if not the best match of the entire evening. Zayn will get the win via some type of shocking roll-up pin, which will cause Owens to get in some cheap shots after the final bell rings. This war shall continue. Zayn vs. Owens with some type of hardcore stipulation will most likely take place at Extreme Rules 2016.
Head on to the next page to see more of our match predictions and vote in our poll for Payback 2016’s main event winner.
