WWE Raw: Payback 2013 Results, Rumors, News and Preview for June 17

After one of the wildest pay-per-views in a long time, the WWE knows that following Payback up with an amazing episode of Raw is imperative to making sure that the fans understand the full grasp of all that happened Sunday night.

Not only did John Cena retain his WWE Championship in spectacular fashion against Ryback, but there were also several great matches from start to finish during this PPV. While Payback is viewed as a secondary show, the company did a great job making it feel important.

The excitement surrounding the WWE just a few hours before Raw is through the roof, and the company will do everything in its power to use Monday’s edition of its flagship show to tie up any loose ends and continue to lay the groundwork for several other marquee storylines.

Monday’s Raw is must-see television.

Where: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich.

When: Monday, June 17, at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: USA Network

2013 Payback Results

WWE Champion John Cena defeated Ryback (Three Stages of Hell Match).

Alberto Del Rio defeated Dolph Ziggler to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

CM Punk defeated Chris Jericho.

WWE Tag Team Champions Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins defeated Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan.

Curtis Axel defeated Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett and The Miz.

United States Champion Dean Ambrose defeated Kane via Count-out.

AJ Lee defeated Divas Champion Kaitlyn.

Sheamus defeated Damien Sandow (Payback Kickoff Match).

Potential Spoilers

Despite being teased to return as a monster, several cryptic tweets from Mark Henry have fans genuinely interested in what the World’s Strongest Man has to say about his future and his stance with the WWE:

Love or hate Henry, his character has never been more interesting than it is right now, and with his tweets suggesting either retirement or a face turn—his retirement speech could be interrupted by a heel—the WWE Universe will have no choice but to be interested in what Henry does Monday.

If it’s a face turn, as is being reported by F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc.), expect it to come to fruition on Raw Monday night.

Payback Fallout

While the expectations for the June PPV were low—mostly because of the lackluster build to the event and the history of mediocre shows during the month in recent years—the WWE put on an amazing event that has fans across the world talking about the results. With so much focus on what’s next for the top stars in the company like Punk, Cena and The Shield, Monday’s edition of Raw will be must-see TV. 

Question on Everyone’s Mind: Will Money in the Bank Live Up to the Hype?

July’s Money in the Bank PPV is just a month away, and while the company will have to address the results of Sunday’s show, the build to the next show will begin immediately.

The WWE has some serious explaining to do about the booking of some of the top matches on the card—Dolph Ziggler’s loss comes to mind first—but with the groundwork laid for several very intriguing storylines, Raw will be one of the most action-packed episodes of the three-hour program to date.

Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Must-See Episodes of Raw

Sunday’s PPV was one of the best in a long time for the WWE, and it goes beyond just the match outcomes and what they mean for the company moving forward. The WWE did an amazing job building interest in almost every match following Sunday’s show. And with a huge Money in the Bank PPV approaching, how Monday’s episode of Raw is handled will depict just how great June's PPV will be remembered.

With the fallout from Payback and the build to MitB, Monday’s Raw should be great.

WWE Rumors: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Wrestling Inc.) shares the reported main event plans after Payback.

Trouble on the Horizon Between Paul Heyman and CM Punk

During Sunday’s match with Chris Jericho, a returning CM Punk almost lost due to the interference from manager Paul Heyman. In a backstage segment after the PPV went off the air, Punk chastised Heyman and teased tension between the two men.

With Punk and Heyman not on the same page and the manager also working with both Curtis Axel and Brock Lesnar, this could be the end of the business relationship between the powerful duo. 

Question on Everyone’s Mind: Will CM Punk Turn Face?

While leaving Heyman would normally indicate an eventual face turn, the WWE and Punk are smart enough with the writing and storyline development to leave both men as bad guys and make the eventual split mutual.

Later on down the line, the storyline can be revisited, with Punk making the face turn, but for the immediate future, the former WWE champion is much more valuable as a renegade heel who does whatever he wants.

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 New Paul Heyman Guys

Punk is great on the mic and flat-out one of the best promo men in the business today. Heyman is just as talented with his words as Punk, and when they work together, magic happens.

The problem is that Punk doesn’t need the help, and there are plenty of others that really do need the tutelage of Heyman. With Rob Van Dam scheduled to return in July, according to WWE.com, maybe Heyman’s future involves going from the Best in the World to the Whole F’N Show.

WWE Rumors: F4WOnline (via Wrestling Inc.) wonders if CM Punk could be getting a new theme song.  

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