WWE Payback 2015: Match Card, Potential Spoilers, Predictions and More

Don't be surprised if WWE Payback 2015 feels like a transitional show.

The event marks the beginning of a string of pay-per-views bunched together. That and a short build has Payback lacking buzz and not feeling special despite featuring a Fatal 4-Way for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

It will be up to the talent involved to make up for the shortage of hype.

Dolph Ziggler is set to face Sheamus again. The New Day have a rematch of their own, taking on Cesaro and Tyson Kidd in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match. Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, meanwhile, both look to become WWE champ for the first time in a four-man scuffle at the top of the card.

Any one of those bouts may end up being a thriller. WWE will be counting on it. Payback is part of the company's sales pitch to potential subscribers to the WWE Network.

Who will end up the victor in all these contests? Who may show up unannounced? Backstage reports and a look at the hints WWE has planted provide those answers.

News, Potential Spoilers

Daniel Bryan is no longer the intercontinental champ and is not medically cleared. WWE continues to be vague about what injury is keeping him out of action. All that being said, he may show up at Payback.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports that "Bryan is booked for the Payback PPV."

This would presumably be a situation where Bryan spoke to the crowd, provided guest commentary or did something else that didn't require him to take a single bump. 

In the match that promises the hardest hits, it's looking more clear that the champion will retain.

If you needed any extra incentive not to bet against John Cena in his I Quit match, WWE seems to have provided it. When the company announced on its official website that the Elimination Chamber would return, it possibly gave away the result of the Cena vs. Rusev match. The previews note that "U.S. Champion John Cena will compete" at the event on May 31.

Credit: WWE.com

That would, of course, mean that he kept the title at Payback. That's the outcome most fans expect anyway. 

WWE.com also offered a hint of who may be storming into the building on Sunday. In an article about the Intercontinental Championship situation, the website speculates, "Perhaps a Superstar who knows that he is not in the running for the Chamber Match will step up and make the powers-than-be take notice of him."

The vacant IC title is set to be decided in the Elimination Chamber. It's not clear who would be considered for the six spots in that match, but one has to assume that whoever comes out on top in Neville vs. Bad News Barrett and Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler would have a strong case for inclusion.

The speculative article about the Chamber bout seems to point to someone like Stardust trying to make an impact despite not having a match. 

Match Card

• Damien Sandow and Curtis Axel vs. The Ascension
• The Bella Twins vs. Naomi and Tamina Snuka
• Cesaro and Tyson Kidd vs. The New Day (2-out-of-3 Falls match for Tag Team Championship)
• Neville vs. Bad News Barrett
• Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
• Rusev vs. John Cena (I Quit match for United States Championship)
• Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt
• Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Bleacher Report's Dan Pecoraro believes that Rusev will dethrone John Cena. Check out his other predictions before viewing my own thoughts:

Quick Predictions

• Sandow and Axel over The Ascension
• Naomi and Tamina over the Bellas
• The New Day over Cesaro and Kidd
• Neville over Barrett
• Sheamus over Ziggler
• Cena over Rusev
• Wyatt over Ryback
• Rollins retains

The Mega Powers 2.0

This is likely just a means to create a feel-good moment.

Look for WWE to push the babyfaces and make them a hot act, at least for a few weeks. Sandow and Axel will have more buzz than their opponents even though they are sure to be a comedy team.

The Ascension haven't won anything important. WWE seems intent on making them roadkill. That continues here.

The Bad Girls Come Out on Top

This late addition to the lineup is hard to call. One would assume that WWE wouldn't want to hurt Naomi and Tamina's momentum, but a win by the babyfaces here could anger their foes, setting up something bigger down the road.

The safest bet is that WWE tries to drum up sympathy for the Bella sisters. If the rowdy pair of Naomi and Tamina cheat to win here, there's motivation for Nikki and Brie going forward. 

With as late as this joined the card, it feels like a low priority. Don't expect these women to get much time to work with.

The New Day Hangs On

It's too early to take the title away from The New Day. They are just getting rolling as heels. The belts help their characters—it gives them something to gloat about.

WWE is going to give them a longer reign to see if they can continue to generate more heat.

The three-man dynamic will come into play as well. Perhaps Woods gets inserted for the final fall or provides a cheap shot or two.

Neville's Rise Continues

The last thing Barrett needs to capitalize on his King of the Ring win is a second pay-per-view loss to Neville. WWE, though, doesn't seem to like to keep Barrett's momentum going.

Neville has been doing well, putting on great matches. Expect another one here and for him to get a big win. 

The fact that he's faced John Cena and Seth Rollins so early in his rookie year is a sign of how high the company's opinion is of him. Look for him to pick up the victory and find his way into the IC title picture soon.

Sheamus Overpowers The Showoff

Ziggler got his win, fluky as it may have been, at Extreme Rules. Now it's Sheamus' turn. WWE is not going to have this wrecking ball stumble again.

It has made such an effort to portray him as a big, dangerous foe since his return from injury. That points to him beating Ziggler badly and moving up the ladder.

If the feud features a third match down the road, Sheamus' chances are even better here. There is more drama in the series being tied 1-1 than there would be if The Celtic Warrior was down 2-0.

Cena Never Quits

Cena battled The Miz, Batista, John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Randy Orton in I Quit matches. He won every single one of them. It goes against the fabric of his character to give up.

That's not going to change here.

It makes sense to elevate Rusev, but WWE has always resisted having Cena lose to rising monsters. 

A Lana face turn looms as well. She has begun to play to the crowd and resist Rusev's control. Chances are she plays a vital role here, her departure from Rusev leading to his defeat.

Wyatt Wins Round 1

WWE has painted Wyatt as the hunter and the monster in this story so far. If Ryback is going to win, it will be after struggling more and hurting at the hands of The Eater of Worlds.

It's too early to have the hero vanquish the beast. If that's coming, it's likely to be at Money in the Bank or Battleground. For now, it's Wyatt's turn to celebrate.

Expect him to rebound from his loss to Undertaker with a cheating-aided victory. 

Rollins Survives 

The title stays on Rollins. 

A showdown with him and Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam makes too much sense to pass up. And Rollins is doing too well as the top heel for WWE to change things up now. That means that Rollins will find a way to keep his championship here.

Kane is sure to figure into the decision somehow. Triple H told him that if Rollins lost, Kane would lose his job. That will lead to him going out of his way to make sure the champ remains the champ. 

The company has issued some heavy-handed foreshadowing pointing toward Rollins winning. There have been so many mentions of Ambrose's inclusion in an effort to make us believe that he has a chance. 

Meanwhile, Rollins keeps falling on his face. That's just to get fans to lower their expectations of the self-proclaimed future of WWE. All the moving parts of this bout, Kane included, will work in Rollins' favor, allowing him to leave Baltimore with gold in hand.