WWE Payback 2016: Match Card, Potential Spoilers, Predictions and More

Beginnings will be at the heart of WWE Payback 2016.

Cesaro is poised to begin his first reign as Intercontinental champion with a win on Sunday's pay-per-view. Payback is sure to just be the first major chapter in the Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho feud. And Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson will form a new alliance in the chaos that unfolds in the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

The first PPV after WrestleMania features a number of compelling feuds, but many of them don't feel ready to climax. Instead, Payback will be a way to lead into Extreme Rules on May 22 and then into the summer.

In addition to finding out who will be champion during that journey, fans are set to discover who will be in charge of WWE's marquee show. Vince McMahon is set to decide live on the air who will control Raw.

Whether it is his son, Shane, his daughter, Stephanie, or a surprise name who gets the nod, they will be at the helm at a time when fresh faces, from AJ Styles to Enzo Amore, stand on center stage. Payback has the potential to be the launching point for those wrestlers and more, serving as the catalyst for a move into the new era Shane-O-Mac has promised.

News, Potential Spoilers

The issues between Charlotte and Natalya don't appear to be ending on Sunday. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc), WWE reportedly plans to have Charlotte and Natalya do battle at both Payback and Extreme Rules, while Sasha Banks will challenge for the title at SummerSlam.

One would assume, then, the idea is build toward Charlotte vs. Banks by first having the champion outlast Natalya two more times.

Speculation about Finn Balor's future has many wondering whether he will show up at Payback, likely to aid his old comrades from the Bullet Club. Balor recently stirred up some of that by posting this tweet after losing the NXT title to Samoa Joe:

Kevin Owens had fans buzzing further over the possibility of Balor moving homes with his own tweet:

"

@wwebalor See you soon, buddy.

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) April 22, 2016"

WWE itself toyed with the idea when Cathy Kelley addressed the possibility in a recent video:

This could all end up being a series of teases, such as Balor telling fans "See you all Monday" before a recent episode of Raw.

Payback will feature some changes when it comes to backstage personalities. 

Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet noted Wednesday that "WWE announcer Rich Brennan has been released." Then, on F4WOnline.com, Dave Meltzer reported "WWE has released another announcer today, Arda Ocal, a longtime fan and MMA and pro wrestling announcer, who used the name Kyle Edwards."

Expect new hire Cathy Kelley to play more of a role at the PPV, especially on the Kickoff.

Match Card

• Kalisto vs. Ryback (United States Championship)
• Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
• Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
• The Miz vs. Cesaro (Intercontinental Championship)
• Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho
• The Vaudevillains vs. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady (No. 1 contender for Tag Team Championships)
• Charlotte vs. Natalya (Women's Championship)
• Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Quick Predictions

• Ryback over Kalisto.
• Corbin over Ziggler.
• Owens over Zayn.
• Cesaro vs. Miz.
• Ambrose over Jericho.
• Amore and Cassady over The Vaudevillains.
• Charlotte over Natalya.
• Reigns over Styles.

Kalisto's Run Ends

WWE has shown little interest in Kalisto as U.S. champ.

Sunday will mark the third time in a row he will be defending the title on a PPV pre-show. While The Miz has been on TV plenty in the past few weeks, Kalisto has received far less of the spotlight. All that points to WWE likely making a move with the belt.

Ryback is poised to get another shot at garnering momentum. WWE seems more interested in seeing whether he can catch fire than telling Kalisto's story, which has solely been that he is an underdog.

It should be a quality contest regardless of the result. These rivals have solid chemistry together.

Corbin's Next Conquest

Baron Corbin is about to go on a tear. From the onset of The Lone Wolf's run on the main roster, it's been clear the company is behind him.

He has followed a victory in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania by battering Ziggler in the stands and dominating his opponents.  

A big push is on the way. A dominant win over The Showoff will be a part of it.

Owens Continues Dominance over Zayn

The better story for this feud is to make it a steeper climb for Sami Zayn. Having Owens fling Zayn around here and get a win would help further the story of Zayn seeking payback. Delaying gratification makes more sense, as this rivalry would be better off climaxing at a bigger show, perhaps SummerSlam. 

Owens was undefeated in both their meetings in NXT. Expect that pattern to continue.

The babyface will triumph at some point, but Payback is too early for that to happen.

Cesaro Becomes Champ

The Miz feels like a transitional titleholder, a way to move the belt from Zack Ryder to Cesaro without fan favorites clashing.

The Miz doesn't create the kind of buzz Cesaro does. He's been a midcarder and placeholder for several years. Cesaro, meanwhile, is a man on the rise. A run with the IC title would catapult him forward, and that's the direction WWE will go.

Count on The A-Lister's time as champion concluding on Sunday. Cesaro will claim his crown as WWE takes advantage of his popularity.

Ambrose Wins 1st Round 

This promises to be a long feud. Its pace so far suggests there will ample ups and downs along the way.

This first collision will belong to Ambrose. Jericho may not lose the rivalry overall, but he has dropped the first bout in a handful of recent feuds including against Fandango and Styles.

And with both Jericho and Ambrose on a streak of big-time performances, look for this to steal the show. Ambrose will provide more evidence that WWE should push him up to the main event level. Jericho will produce another 2016 highlight. 

The Realest Guys Move Closer to Gold

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady are the stars of this story. They are the ones fans chant along with. They are the ones getting huge reactions every time they arrive.

It only makes sense, then, to slide them into title contention. A rivalry with The New Day would be a magical. The same can't be said for the champs battling The Vaudevillains.

Simon Gotch and Aiden English are a long way away from connecting enough to be champions or even challengers.

Look for WWE to have The Vaudevillains drop this bout to make room for the surging train that is Cassady and Amore.

Charlotte Clings to the Title

Bret Hart will be in Natalya's corner to offset Ric Flair's presence. But as those who watched NXT TakeOver in 2014 know, that won't assure Nattie a victory.

Charlotte has been the focus of the division for months. That will remain true after this matchup. The champ has a bigger, newer challenger on the horizon in Sasha Banks.

This feels like WWE's way to have the audience more flustered with Charlotte's reign, setting up that showdown with Banks down the road.

Reigns Retains but with Some Swerves

Gallows and Anderson will most certainly play a part here. They have been lurking around the fringes of this story for weeks. Styles' old buddies, though, won't reform the Bullet Club with Styles.

They will turn on The Phenomenal One. That could include Balor debuting and leading the way for that crew or Reigns end up being the man in charge of the two bruisers.

Either way would allow Reigns to continue to stand atop the WWE rankings. The company has invested too much time and energy into getting Reigns to this spot to dethrone him. He'll likely move closer to heel status while keeping hold of his gold.

This will be The Big Dog's first big test, not the end of his time as champ.