WWE Payback 2016: Possible Returns that Could Shake up WWE Programming

WWE Payback is an important pay-per-view for WWE as it endures a familiar trend of historically low ratings, according to PWTorch.

With ratings bottoming out sooner than usual during the post-WrestleMania lull, WWE Payback needs a newsworthy angle that will drive fans to Raw the following night.

A strong wrestling card won't be enough. A high-profile return will add some much-needed energy to WWE's product. Whether it's Randy Orton or Vince McMahon himself, WWE needs a big return accompanied by a major storyline or ratings will continue to erode.

Vince McMahon

Monday on Raw, Stephanie McMahon announced that Vince McMahon will decide between Stephanie and Shane as to who the permanent Raw GM will be. Vince's return could also be permanent. There's no guarantee that Vince will simply choose between Stephanie and Shane. There's really nothing climactic about a choice between Stephanie and Shane.

It's possible McMahon could pull a swerve and announce somebody other than Stephanie or Shane as the Raw GM moving forward. Maybe the choice will be Vince himself. Vince's return to television as a weekly character will only be a temporary solution to WWE's current ratings crisis.

McMahon's return back in December brought in huge ratings per ShowBuzz Daily (h/t WrestlingInc.com) as Raw's viewership jumped 27 percent. Not much time has passed since McMahon's previous appearance on WWE programming so a return this time around won't produce as big of a number, but at this point anything helps.

Randy Orton

Randy Orton recently appeared at the Hall of Fame in a sling, and during an interview with AfterBuzz TV, he was very cryptic as to when he would return.

Said Orton about his return, "a couple months, maybe 3-4, 2 weeks. Maybe there's an RKO out of nowhere (in Dallas). I'm not quite ready to be back on the road."

Orton has been out of action since October with a shoulder injury, and despite his vagueness, it's fair to think that his return date will be sooner rather than later. Orton comes with versatility as he could either go after the WWE World Heavyweight Championship or bolster the midcard.

Orton would be a perfect opponent for the Miz should he retain his Intercontinental Championship against a one-dimensional Cesaro, who lacks the mainstream star power that Orton brings.

Triple H

There has been radio silence on the Triple H front since losing at WrestleMania. With the McMahon family slowly creeping back into the product, it's only a matter of time before Triple H makes his presence felt.

WWE pretty much overdosed on the McMahon power struggle angle leading up to WrestleMania, so reinstating wrestling's first family on WWE programming won't exactly shake things up on its own merits.

If WWE uses creative methods to use the McMahons in a high-stakes storyline, fans will have no choice but to be intrigued.

Perhaps Vince McMahon uses his platform to announce a match to decide who controls Raw, with Stephanie McMahon and Shane each getting to choose a wrestler. Triple H would be an obvious choice for Stephanie, while Shane's choice could bring in either another returning wrestler or an intriguing new face or call-up who could use the spotlight. 

Mick Foley 

Mick Foley is among one of the most outspoken voices when it comes to criticizing WWE's product. Despite his brutal honesty, Foley still maintains a good relationship with the promotion. In fact, Foley will be appearing in an upcoming reality series on the WWE Network.

Foley returning to WWE as an onscreen character is an effective method of promotion, especially considering his affinity for cheap pops and plugs.

Foley is a prime choice for Raw GM should Vince McMahon decide to go with a surprise choice. As a weekly television character, Foley could use his influence to finally attempt to insert some of the ideas he incessantly blogs about.

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report and Forbes. Like him on Facebook.