WWE Payback 2015 Preview: Matchups & Predictions

Curtis Axel and Damien Sandow vs. The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor)

Predictions & Winners: The Mega Powers are back…in the form of Curtis “Axelmania” Axel and Macho Mandow. We had much higher hopes for both those Superstars doing something other than mimicking past wrestling legends. But alas, we’re just happy to see them featured prominently on WWE TV. Both men will be going against a team that looks straight out of the Golden Era – Konnor and Viktor, The Ascension. This bout harkens back to the type of bouts we used to watch on Saturday’s Night Main Event. And just like Hogan and Savage used to do, they’ll power up and prevail over their Demolition look-a-likes. Axel and Mandow are heading straight towards those tag team titles soon (maybe at Elimination Chamber 2015?).

Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus

Predictions & Winner: Again? Yep, again! But we love both guys and they’re always putting on awesome matches together. After Sheamus forced Ziggler to plant a kiss on his bum, Ziggler made it his mission to get revenge. We have a feeling that Ziggler won’t be able to fully carry it out in this match, though. Evil Mohawk Sheamus FTW here! We get the feeling that they’ll both end up in each other’s faces once again during that planned Elimination Chamber match for the IC Championship.

The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) (with Xavier Woods) (c) vs. Tyson Kidd and Cesaro (with Natalya) (2-out-of-3 Falls Tag Team Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship)

Predictions & Winners: Color us surprised at how more entertaining The New Day have turned out to be since winning the tag team titles from Kidd and Cesaro. Over the past few weeks, they’ve become the annoying and easy to hate trio of the WWE. Kidd and Cesaro were moving along pretty strong during their championship reign, which is why we were so shocked to see them lose the titles at Extreme Rules. We envision this 2-out-of-3 Falls Tag Team Match going like this – Kidd and Cesaro will capture the 1st win, The New Day will grab the 2nd pinfall and finally…Kidd and Cesaro will capture the WWE Tag Team Championship on the 3rd pinfall! Yep, we think a hotshot title switch is gonna go down. This feud will continue in the Elimination Chamber. Trust us on that prediction.

Naomi and Tamina vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella and Nikki Bella)

Predictions & Winner: We’re confused. So all of a sudden we’re supposed to cheer the Bella Twins just because their opponents went all heel mode on them? See, stuff like this is why we stick to good women’s wrestling feuds on NXT. While we actually care about Naomi, we certainly don’t give two you-know-what’s about the other ladies involved in this tag team bout. Since the bad gals have gotten the upper hand so much lately, we think they’ll get their comeuppance by the Bellas on PPV this time. Expect this storyline to continue (sadly…).

King Barrett vs. Neville

Predictions & Winner: We were pleasantly surprised at how awesome this match was at Extreme Rules. Daniel Bryan was unable to compete and defend his IC Championship against Bad News Barrett. Neville took his spot in the match and ended up defeating Barrett. Then during the King of the Ring finals, Barrett got his win back after vanquishing the high-flyer. It’s time for them to go to war once again in this planned rematch. The newly christened King Barrett is going to win once again, in our opinion. Our gut tells us these two men will make a play for the IC Championship alongside Sheamus, Ziggler and another competitor in the Elimination Chamber.

Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt

Predictions & Winner: We’re pretty familiar with Bray Wyatt’s method of targeting his next victim – throw out a few subliminal quotes in promos, confuse the fans and then exact his beatdown on the target in question. This time, he’s set his sights on bringing down the behemoth known as Ryback. For two Superstars that are still on the come-up, we’re excited about the possibilities of this feud and 1st-time matchup. This match will be one of the most-hard fought battles on the PPV, of course. Ryback is back to being a popular beast again and Bray is always his creepy, entertaining self. We get the feeling this one may go just like Bray’s past beef with Dean Ambrose – Bray will prevail in this 1st match, but the war will certainly continue.

John Cena (c) vs Rusev (“I Quit” Match for the WWE United States Championship)

Predictions & Winner: Rusev is pissed! So much so, that he decided to make a run-in during Cena’s US Championship open challenge match against Neville. After losing to Cena in a Russian Chain Match, Rusev has made it quite clear that he’s ready to tear into Cena once more. But there’s one factor that the Russian brute probably won’t even consider during this “I Quit” match – the beautiful Lana. Rusev and Cena will put on another grueling contest, but we think Lana will get fed up with Rusev’s harsh treatment and find some way to cost him the title. Cena will win the war thanks to some type of interference from Lana and keep his US Championship reign going strong for the summer.

Seth Rollins (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton (Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. If Rollins fails to retain the Championship, Kane will be fired from being Director of Operations)

Predictions & Winner: Rollins is gonna have some huge problems to contend with at Payback. His two former Shield mates, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, are coming for his neck. Randy Orton is still looking for revenge after his loss at Extreme Rules. Plus there’s another added stipulation – if Rollins loses, Kane will lose his role as Director of Operations. Even though the stakes are incredibly high for Rollins and his WWE Championship, we think he’ll find a way to keep the title around his waist. All the rumors of Ambrose and Reigns turing over to The Authority to reform The Shield won’t happen, if you ask us. And we think Orton will eat the final pinfall once again. Rollins retains, but it will fall under nefarious means once again.