WWE Payback 2015: Examining Entertainment Potential of Recently Added Matches

Just days before WWE Payback 2015, the lineup has swelled. 

As the pay-per-view's match card has more than doubled, fans can now expect Dolph Ziggler, Bad News Barrett and Bray Wyatt to attempt to steal the show. There will be little to build on story-wise, but a few of these combinations have the potential to result in fun in-ring action.

On Monday's Raw, WWE announced that Ziggler would face Sheamus in an Extreme Rules rematch and that the tag team champs would have to face the men they recently dethroned. 

Then news of who Wyatt would face broke on WWE.com.

Payback coming together so late means less hype and less time to build toward each bout. It doesn't mean fans should give up on all the night's new offerings, though. Chemistry, talent and the state of current rivalries help bolster some of the bouts on tap.

The Ascension vs. Damien Sandow and Curtis Axel

Chances of Stealing the Show: Very Slim

If you missed Monday's Raw, you are sure to be confused once the bell rings for this match. Damien Sandow is now working a Macho Man-imitation gimmick. He joined forces with Curtis Axel (who has borrowed liberally from Hulk Hogan in recent weeks), to form a comedy version of The Mega Powers.

Pitting that new squad against The Ascension, who have struggled to gain any traction, has little potential.

Expect a few goofy moments and for a feel-good victory from the silly babyfaces. Beyond that, there will be little to savor here.

The Ascension haven't been showcased much at all. Their tepid ring work hasn't helped them convince WWE to change that. As for Axel and Sandow, they are both talented guys, but not enough to make this anything special. 

The pre-show bout feels like something fitting for an episode of Raw. 

Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt

Chances of Stealing the Show: Minimal

From a style perspective, there's a lot to like here. Ryback and Wyatt both employ a hard-hitting style. The match promises to be heavy on power and aggression.

This is likely to be just the first chapter of a longer story, though, so don't expect much more than an appetizer.

Wyatt had been taking aim at a mystery opponent in veiled speeches for weeks. The Eater of Worlds has since moved on to attacking Ryback with his fist rather than his words, but the violence hasn't reached a high level yet.

There's more animosity to come. There are surely future collisions ahead for these two men. That points to this feeling like a warm-up.

It's a safe bet that there isn't a definitive conclusion and that it doesn't last long before things get out of hand. The better matches between them will come in the summer.

Neville vs. Bad News Barrett

Chances of Stealing the Show: Decent

For a rubber match, this doesn't have much of a big-fight feel. 

Neville knocked off Bad News Barrett in his pay-per-view debut. Barrett won the rematch during the King of the Ring finals. There should be more excitement leading up this third clash, but WWE has done little to increase the amount of bad blood between the two.

They have met in tag team action a few times since, but there's a lack of a personal element to their rivalry, there's only minimal story beyond the ropes.

That will hurt how good this will be and likely means it won't get much time. That being said, Barrett and Neville have had excellent chemistry together. Both of their previous bouts have been good.

This promises to be something that appeals the die-hard fans out there, thanks to Neville's high flying and how good the two rivals work together. Beyond that, this will feel hollow in terms of spectacle and story.

The New Day vs. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd

Chances of Stealing the Show: Good

The New Day is just beginning to catch fire as heels, so the best is yet to come from them as characters. Before that, they take on Cesaro and Tyson Kidd in a rematch from Extreme Rules. Their previous bouts have all been solid.

The teams have good chemistry and work an exciting, fast-paced match against each other.

The 2-out-of-3 Falls stipulation will only add to that. There are more chances to create drama thanks to the extra falls, and it likely means a longer match.

The chances of Cesaro and Kidd ending The New Day's reign so quickly, however, are slim. That hurts the bout some as it makes it somewhat more predictable. Having more of a story to work from would elevate the match as well, but the short window between Extreme Rules and Payback left WWE little time to do that.

Should The New Day turn up the volume on their current characters, and the two squads don't rely as much on pre-planned spots as they have in the past, this is poised to be the talk of Payback. 

Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus

Chances of Stealing the Show: Very Good

Dolph Ziggler's motivation is clear here. Sheamus embarrassed him at Extreme Rules by rubbing The Showoff's unconscious face into the palest part of The Celtic Warrior's body.

Sheamus, meanwhile, will be looking to prove that the loss at the last pay-per-view was a fluke.

That setup creates an easy story for these men to tell. One rival seeks revenge; the other looks to assert their dominance. It's one of the clearer and most effective narratives on the Payback undercard.

Add to that how good these wrestlers work together and you have a chance at something special. Ziggler and Sheamus jelled last time out. They have also had some standout matches together in the past, including at No Way Out 2012.

Their opposing styles mesh well. Ziggler has a penchant for extracting the maximum potential out of any bout, in spite of any lack of hype. 

All this adds up to high expectations for one of Payback's most promising offerings.