WWE Payback 2017: Matches & Predictions

WWE Payback 2017 happens to be one of the more interesting match cards of the year.

What was once thought to primarily be a Raw focused event has now turned into an inter-promotional PPV. Thanks to the post-WrestleMania 33 Superstar Shakeup, members of the Raw and SmackDown Live rosters will engage in contests that will determine which championships change hands and brands. Raw’s Chris Jericho will try to exact his revenge on SmackDown Live’s United States Champion Kevin Owens, plus Raw’s Bray Wyatt will face SmackDown Live’s Randy Orton in a House of Horrors Match for the WWE Championship. These two Raw vs. SmackDown Live bouts will also be joined by a myriad of other big time matchups.

It’s about time we broke down all the matches going down at WWE Payback 2017 and give our predictions on how they’ll all unfold.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

Predictions & Winners: These two teams seem like they’ve been trading wins and losses a lot more than usual lately. Every other week, we’ve watched both teams butt heads on the mic and in the ring or get into some solo bouts while the other team member looks on. Enzo caught a savage thrashing at the hands of the 2 Sweet brothers on that last Raw, so it only seems right that Enzo and Cass get the revenge they’re seeking here. This Kickoff Match will be short, sweet and simple. Once it reaches its end, Enzo and Cass will walk away with the win.

Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries (WWE Cruiserweight Championship)

Predictions & Winner: WE WERE RIGHT ON THE MONEY! Didn’t we tell you “Double A” wouldn’t capture the Cruiserweight Championship on his 1st try against Neville? We got the feeling that Neville would retain since his heel run is still as hot as ever. We also figured that Austin Aries would get the rematch he deserves due to how he fell to Neville (Neville took some liberties, scratched out AA’s eyes and took him down with a Red Arrow). But now, we think the tables have turned. Neville’s enjoyed an entertaining run as champion of the Cruiserweight Division since he defeated Rich Swann in January. It’s gone on long enough, which is why we think this is the moment where Austin Aries finally captures the Cruiserweight Championship. But of course, this feud will continue since they’re one apiece with wins now.

Randy Orton (c) vs. Bray Wyatt (House of Horrors Match)

Update: so now this match is no longer for the WWE Championship! That was quite the unexpected change up. We’re still going with Bray Wyatt as the winner of this specialty match, though. Maybe due to Jinder Mahal’s interference, perhaps?

Predictions & Winner: We’re really intrigued about how this match will be set up. A “House of Horrors” Match? What exactly does that entail, really? Will it be some type of hardcore brawl that takes place within the confines of some creepy setting? We’re guessing both these guys will go all the way in one of the most gimmicky matches the WWE has recently concocted. So here’s the thing – Bray Wyatt is now a member of the Raw roster, while Randy Orton still resides on SmackDown Live as the WWE Champion. Brock Lesnar captured the Universal Championship at ‘Mania 33, but he’s not going to be on Raw as much due to how his contract works out. So Raw’s going to need some type of main champion to rule the roost while Lesnar is gone for a while. We think WWE’s going to shock us all by giving Bray Wyatt the big championship win here and take Lesnar’s place as the #1 title holder on the Red Brand. Bray will run around with the WWE Championship for a while, feud with Finn Balor when he fully recovers and eventually drop the title back to a SD Live superstar once Lesnar shows back up to reclaim his spot atop the Raw roster. We could totally see AJ Styles being the guy to bring the WWE Championship back to the Blue Brand.

Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman

Predictions & Winner: ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BRAUN STROWMAN! Maaaaaaaaaaaan! Braun is someone who’s all about holding a grudge until the focus of his hatred is defeated. Ever since Braun caught a dual spear from Roman Reigns and Goldberg, Braun has went on a rampage against the former Shield member. Now we were pleasantly surprised by the match both men had at Fastlane this past March, which is a bout that Reigns walked away from victorious. While Braun has gotten back to his rampaging ways and we’re pretty sure he’ll put on another impressive contest against Reigns, we think he’s going to lose once again. Roman Reigns is the man that defeated The Undertaker. At WrestleMania. And retired him! There’s no way Reigns will take a huge loss on PPV so soon after committing such an amazing feat. Roman Reigns will get the victory here and finally end his war with the monster known as Braun Strowman.

The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) (c) vs. Cesaro and Sheamus (WWE Raw Tag Team Championship)

Predictions & Winners: We wish they were “broken,” but we’re still pleased with the return of Matt and Jeff Hardy to the WWE. We think a slow burn will occur and eventually blossom into the Broken Hardy Boyz gimmick fans want to see so badly. Here’s what we think’s going to happen – both teams will fight tooth and nail for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship. But at the end of this meeting, Cesaro and Sheamus will shock the world and capture the titles. It’s easy to see that The Hardy Boyz captured the titles at ‘Mania 33 to get the big nostalgia pop and end the ladder match on a satisfying (yet still predictable) note. They’ll take the loss here, which will set the wheels in motion for their “broken” state. Losing the titles so quickly after winning them should be the catalyst for their eventual mental breakdown. This war will continue, but Matt and Jeff Hardy will slowly deteriorate into their broken states and give this feud another interesting wrinkle to follow.

Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe

Predictions & Winner: Rollins vanquished his former mentor at ‘Mania 33 in one of the best matches of the entire event. We figured Samoa Joe would try to intervene during Rollins’ bout against Hunter, but that never came to pass. But now Samoa Joe is ready to get revenge on HHH’s part by facing off with Rollins in a one-on-one matchup. It seems as if Rollins is still in a rebuilding phase now that’s he’s gone full blown babyface. Coming off of one of the biggest victories of his career has aided Rollins in getting him back to a good spot on the Raw roster. Samoa Joe is still in the middle of a strong push that classifies him as an unstoppable killer. So in our eyes, it would be suck if any one of these guys ate the final pinfall. But alas, someone has to win and someone certainly has to lose. We’re placing all our winning bets on Rollins since he’s a bit hotter at the moment. Expect this to piss off Joe beyond belief and cause him to put hands on Rollins after the match concludes. This will set up another match between the two and keep their grudge going until HHH/Stephanie McMahon come back for revenge. HHH might even select someone new to do his dirty work against Rollins or even pair that new bounty hunter up with Joe for some stable hijinks. But yeah, Rollins will get the big win here nonetheless.

Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)

Predictions & Winner: With a few roster changes resulting from the Superstar Shakeup, the Raw Women’s landscape got the reboot we’ve been praying for. Charlotte and her wars against Sasha Banks and Bayley got tiresome over the course of a few months due to constant title changes. Charlotte has moved onto SD Live and now Raw has the talents of Alexa Bliss and Mickie James to call upon. Miss Bliss enjoyed a great run over on the Blue Brand that gave her way more validity in the fans’ eyes. She gained the #1 contendership spot for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship and is now set to take on the reigning champion, Bayley. We love Bliss, no doubt. But it’s too early for her to get her hands on the Raw Women’s Championship. Sasha Banks will pop up once again to keep Bliss from cheating her way to victory. This will lead to Bayley overcoming Bliss to retain her title. This of course will continue Banks’ slow burn into a heel turn against her best buddy. Banks obviously wants Bayley to keep the title so she can take it from her herself. This match is more of a page turner within the book of Heel Banks vs. Babyface Bayley. We’re sure the match will be good, anyways.

Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho (WWE United States Championship; The Winner Will Transfer to SmackDown Live)

Predictions & Winner: A clean shaven Owens who’s still a Class A douchebag is pretty fun to watch. He showed up on SD Live with the United States Championship in tow and is seemingly changing up his appearance, but not his approach to winning. While AJ Styles became the #1 contender for the US Championship, we think Owens will manage to retain and go right on to face his former best friend. Chris Jericho looks like he’s ready to take another hiatus and go on tour with Fozzy. So we think Owens is definitely going over on Y2J in their big US Championship rematch. Owens just moved to SD Live and it just wouldn’t make sense for Raw to have both midcard titles. So yeah, Owens will keep the US Championship and continue to reign as an unbeatable badass on SD Live.

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