WWE Payback 2016 Preview: Matches & Predictions

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.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin

Predictions & Winner: Corbin’s reign of terror has been interesting to watch since he made a surprise debut at ‘Mania 32. The tall, tattooed brute captured the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy and he’s been on a tear ever since. Ziggler got a sample of his brute force the next night on RAW, but that match ended in DQ. Their issue will finally come to a conclusion during this PPV rematch. Ziggler’s gonna bump around like a pinball (as usual) and Corbin’s gonna showcase his amazing strength once again. One End of Days later and Corbin’s winning ways shall continue.

Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho

Predictions & Winner: Now this is one marquee match we’re really looking forward to. Jericho has been feeling himself way more than he usually does lately since he beat AJ Styles at ‘Mania 32. Y2J is back to his ‘ol super-ego self and has been nabbing more wins as a result. While Ambrose wasn’t able to finish Heyman’s monster at ‘Mania 32, he’s gotten right back to being the entertaining nutcase we’re all used to seeing. Him and Jericho’s back-and-forth banter has been one of the highlights of the past few RAW’s and SmackDown’s. This bout’s gonna be fun to witness since it could go either way. But we’re leaning more towards Ambrose finally getting a worthy win over the legendary Jericho. Ambrose could really use a win right now and we think WWE will actually bless him with one on at Payback 2016. This match is going to help rebuild Ambrose’s credibility and push him towards winning the Money in the Bank briefcase this year. Bank on it.

The Miz (c) (with Maryse) vs. Cesaro (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

Predictions & Winner: The Miz is such a douchebag. But he’s such a lovable douchebag. While we were heartbroken to see Ryder drop his IC Title so soon to Miz one day after winning it, we still have to commend Mr. Mizanin. His heelish ways have become magnified now that his real-life wife has returned to accompany him. But another return has us equally entertained these days – Cesaro is back and the “Cesaro Section” is quite pleased. Both men are equally hot right now, so this once could go either way as well. This one’s gonna end on a DQ, though. Maryse is the one who’s going to cause that DQ somehow, someway. This feud will continue at Extreme Rules 2016 in some form that will involve another lady. Cesaro’s gonna have to employ a ringside equalizer next time.

Mr. McMahon will announce who controls Raw at WWE Payback

Prediction: So even though Shane took the loss at ‘Mania 32 during his HIAC match with The Undertaker, he still got the chance to run RAW. Which doesn’t make much sense considering the stipulations of his ‘Mania match. But we don’t care too much about the specifics since Shane’s run as the ruler of RAW has given us some great episodes. At Payback, Vince will determine who will permanently control WWE’s flagship show – Shane or Stephanie. Our Vince Russo meter is kicking in so hard right now. Vince will tease us before he finally decides who will take control of RAW. After some back and forth promos between all three McMahon’s, Vinnie Mac will appoint himself as the man who will run RAW from now on.

Roman Reigns (c) vs. AJ Styles (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Predictions & Winner: We didn’t think we’d see these men go head to head so soon. We got a sample of what these guys can do in a one-on-one situation back at the 2016 Royal Rumble. AJ’s already managed to become the #1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and he practically just got here. Reigns is finally back at the top of the mountain and The Authority is no longer a thorn in his side. But here’s the kicker – AJ’s former running mates, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, are now a part of the WWE. They’ve aided AJ several times, but AJ’s made it clear that he doesn’t need their assistance. We think those two men aren’t gonna take too kindly to AJ’s concerns. Anderson and Gallows are gonna turn on AJ and cause him to take the loss during this main event. Reigns will continue to reign as champ (no pun intended), while AJ will duke it out with his former Bullet Club buddies soon after. Don’t be shocked to see AJ actually call on Reigns to help him face Anderson and Gallows at Extreme Rules 2016.

Make sure you vote in the poll below and pick your chosen winner for the main event of WWE Payback 2016.

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