WWE Payback 2015 Matches: Full Predictions for Entire Match Card
Despite coming hot on the heels of Extreme Rules, a compelling card has been assembled for Payback 2015.
The emphasis here seems to be squarely on pairing that will produce great work between the ropes. Expect to see some great quality matches tonight, especially from some tried-and-tested pairings.
If there's a drawback to that strategy, it's that we've seen enough of the rivalries involved to predict where things are going. However, there are enough question marks on the card tonight to make for an element of the unexpected.
Here's your complete guide to the likely winners tonight at Payback.
Pre-Show: Curtis Axel & Damien Sandow vs. the Ascension
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Here's a bout that could go one of two ways; it could be a comedy match filled with pratfalls and character gags, or it could be the genesis of a new pair of contenders for the Tag Team Championship.
Neither team has been presented as much of a threat, thus far—both are throwbacks that are being pitched as inferior versions of the classics. There's lots of potential there for a funny five-minute contest that warms up the crowd ahead of the main card.
However, there's a lot of talent here. The Ascension aren't the biggest prospect in the ring or on the microphone, but they managed to establish a partnership that worked down in NXT, and they could do the same on the main roster given a decent opportunity to.
Similarly, Sandow and Axel are both athletes who have been underutilized thus far. Sandow in particular is too good for the mimicry he's been preoccupied with for so long.
The tag division is growing quickly at present, and both of these two teams could be a potent part of it. However, each team has such low standing that whoever picks up the loss will have a mountain to climb if they're to regain their legitimacy.
Given that Sandow was so popular with audiences in the build to WrestleMania, he's the one who needs a win most out of the four. For that reason, expect the Midcard Powers to snag a win tonight.
Winners: Curtis Axel & Damien Sandow
The New Day vs. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd
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Here's a safe prediction: This bout will be one of the best on tonight's show.
The New Day won the titles in an excellent tag match at Extreme Rules last month, and various configurations of both teams have been involved in top-tier contests on television since. There's chemistry here, and it's doing a world of good for the tag division.
The 2-out-of-3 Falls match—which is becoming something of a speciality for Cesaro—is sure to add an extra layer of intrigue to this bout. There's certainly a lot of potential for the three members of The New Day to swing the stipulation in their favour.
However, here's hoping that three falls means that this will be a lengthy match, if nothing else. There'll be six supremely talented athletes present for this one, and it would be a shame if any one of them were marginalized, as they all contributed to the match last month.
All this being said, it's not too difficult to see where this bout is going. The New Day are excelling as champions, and it would be a real shame to see their run end so soon. Cesaro and Kidd have got the fans behind them, so they're in a prime position to do something new.
Winners: The New Day
Naomi & Tamina vs. the Bella Twins
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The recently forged partnership between Naomi and Tamina seems to have given both women some much-needed direction—at Payback, we'll see whether the association has a future.
Tamina seems to be occupying a similar role to the one she played alongside AJ Lee, but the fact that Naomi is just as vicious as her bodyguard gives their relationship an extra wrinkle. The pair's beatdowns of the Bella Twins have demonstrated a ferocity we don't often see from the Divas division.
That would suggest that we're going to see Naomi and Tamina pick up a win to put some momentum behind them, particularly if one or the other is going to challenge for Nikki Bella's Divas Championship in the near future.
On the other hand, this feud could simply be playing out to firmly re-establish the Bellas as fan favourites. A convincing win after weeks of being outmatched would seem to be a straightforward way of doing so.
However, Naomi and Tamina have been great over the past few weeks, so it would be a shame to see them used simply to propel the Bellas further. That may happen at a later date, but the match at Payback is theirs to lose at this point.
Winners: Naomi and Tamina
Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
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Despite both men's best efforts, it's hard to describe this feud as anything other than meandering.
It's had its fair share of memorable moments—the King of the Ring run-ins, that surprisingly vicious pull-apart brawl, the constant commentator mispronunciations of the phrase "Kiss Me Arse"—but it's somehow resulted in a rivalry that's less than the sum of its parts.
The problem is, it's a feud that's in a vacuum. Even when it's colliding with the Bad News Barrett vs. Neville confrontation, it's difficult to place where Sheamus and Ziggler are in the grander scheme of things; they're just locked into fighting one another.
There's nothing wrong with that in theory, but this feud no longer has any stakes. Ziggler has already beaten Sheamus fair and square, and Sheamus has looked dominant outside of that win. In a sense, it's as if the issue between the two has already run its course.
Still, it seems pretty clear that Sheamus will be the winner. It's unclear what Ziggler's role is within WWE at this point, which is a shame as he's a great wrestler. Sheamus is deserving, though—he's made strides towards bringing his character up to the high standards of his ring work, and now he needs a few wins.
Winner: Sheamus
Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt
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This one has been brewing for some time, but it was only officially added to the card this week. The build hasn't been anything astounding, but the match itself could be a pleasant surprise.
Ryback and Wyatt are two big bruisers who are set to bring a lot of intensity to Payback. Both are in a sink-or-swim situation at present, and hopefully they can each use that to bring the best out of their opponent.
It's easy to see the appeal of both men, as they're modern iterations of two well-worn wrestling archetypes. However, they've consistently been unable to get the job done as they've risen up the card. A lack of bigtime victories has undoubtedly hurt this pair, but they're still very salvageable.
A great match tonight will do a lot to kickstart that process. In fact, we might be about to see a lot more of the duo together—Ryback seems like an odd target for Bray following his battle with the Undertaker, but it makes a lot more sense if he's planning to brainwash the Sin City Silverback into being his new heavy.
A Ryback-Wyatt partnership would perhaps be a potent way of utilizing these two talents, but it's a longshot at best. Still, the odds don't look good for Ryback, whatever happens after the bell.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
King Barrett vs. Neville
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Coming off the back of great matches at King of the Ring and Extreme Rules, fans should be very excited about the latest instalment in this budding rivalry between two talented Northerners.
With each man having claimed one win apiece thus far, the field is open for the third match in their series. While Barrett has the momentum as the reigning King of the Ring, you can bet that Neville is eager to avenge his loss in the finals.
We know that the Intercontinental Championship is set to be contested inside the Elimination Chamber two weeks from today, and this pairing will both likely be present inside that structure. Barrett has a claim to the title he lost at WrestleMania—but so does Neville, given that he's pinned Barrett in the time since.
As such, you can expect this feud to continue for at least a little while longer—and why not? In a time when the roster is stacked with top-tier talent, these two have met in matches that have demonstrated that both men can compete with the very best WWE has to offer.
Still, Barrett's reign as wrestling royalty is still young, and he needs to amass a few victories to stop his crown from slipping. Neville can take a few losses at this early stage of his time on the main roster, and the Jumpin' Geordie looks like an early favourite to become the next Intercontinental Champion.
Winner: King Barrett
John Cena vs. Rusev
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The last couple of months have shown just how palatable John Cena is when he's not the centre of attention.
When the leader of the Cenation is focussed on putting on great matches with rising stars and rebuilding the reputation of the United States Championship, he's allowed to flesh out the card rather than dominate it. It's revealed a side of him that many fans had perhaps forgotten.
Still, as much as he's done for the division he's wrestling in, it's been at the detriment of Rusev. The Super-Athlete has been outfoxed at every turn by Cena, and it's time for him to gain some measure of revenge.
How that plays out will be interesting to see. A win puts Rusev back in the shoes of United States Champion—a fine role, but something of a step backwards considering his recent five-month reign. It's more important that he makes Cena submit.
Love him or hate him, Cena has given a lot of himself to his opponents, particularly as of late—when was the last time you saw him wrestle a match where someone didn't kick out of the Attitude Adjustment? However, his tendency to "never give up" remains steadfast.
The only way for Rusev to come out of this feud with any momentum is to break Cena's will and make him submit to the Accolade. As unlikely as that scenario may seem, it would be enough to make the Bulgarian Brute a fearsome contender at any position on the card.
Winner: Rusev
Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton
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Tonight, we'll see the Shield reunion many thought would take much longer to materialize—with Randy Orton getting in on the fun for good measure.
Continuing the trend of multi-man matches for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that we've seen throughout 2015, the talent involved here should have it earmarked as a potentially amazing main event.
There are two men who don't seem likely to come out on top. The first is Randy Orton, who's been embroiled in a rivalry with Rollins for months at this point. It's been a great feud, but to see Orton get his final victory in a four-way would seem rather anticlimactic.
Roman Reigns shares similarly low chances of walking out with the gold. He's on his way to a main event role, but he's not quite there yet—although he's set to put on a great performance in this bout. Reigns excels when there are plenty of other bodies in the ring, and he'll do just that tonight.
While many would pitch him as a rank outsider, Dean Ambrose seems the best bet to snatch the title from his former brother Seth Rollins. Ambrose as champ would be an unexpected but welcome twist to kickstart the summer, and a feud with Rollins for the belt would do wonders for both men.
However, it seems that Rollins has the best chance of getting the job done. With three enemies in the ring with him, that might sound unlikely—but the Architect is a master manipulator. Between him and the Authority, there'll be some sort of plan in place to protect Rollins' reign.
Winner: Seth Rollins
What are your predictions for tonight's show? Share your forecast for the evening's action in the comments section below.
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