WWE Payback 2016: 8 Matches to Ensure Successful PPV

AJ Styles became the new No. 1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on Raw, but WWE has not confirmed the date for his title shot as of this writing.

It's likely he will face Roman Reigns at Payback on May 1, but that's the only match that seems like a guarantee at this point. This means WWE needs to fill several spots on the card.

Most of the feuds from WrestleMania 32 are over, so WWE needs to start some new storylines. Raw and SmackDown set a few programs in motion, but those potential matches will only fill so much time.

This slideshow will look at some possible additions to the Payback card that would make the pay-per-view worth watching.

The Miz vs. Kevin Owens vs. Zack Ryder vs. Sami Zayn (IC Championship)

Kevin Owens lost the WWE Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 32, but he has yet to receive any kind of rematch for the title.

Zack Ryder immediately lost the belt to The Miz the following night on Raw, and he failed to win it back on SmackDown in what ended up being a great match.

We already know Ryder and The Miz work well together, and Owens can put on a great performance with just about anyone. With KO already embroiled in a feud with Sami Zayn, putting all four men in the ring together would address two different feuds and get Owens' rematch out of the way.

Zayn and Owens will almost certainly be fighting for a few months, so waiting until Extreme Rules to put them in a singles match would help extend the storyline without making it feel repetitive.

And let's face it, Ryder and The Miz don't need to have another singles bout, so a Fatal 4-Way is the best option.

Kalisto vs. Sin Cara (United States Championship)

The tag team division is getting more crowded by the week. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady and The Vaudevillains debuted on the main roster following WrestleMania, and it looks like Goldust and R-Truth will form another team in the near future.

The Lucha Dragons aren't needed right now, but individually, they are too talented not to use them. Putting the two luchadores in a match for the U.S. title would almost guarantee some of the most exciting action at Payback.

They wouldn't even need to break up for this to work. The situation could be written as Kalisto respecting his partner enough to grant him a title shot.

Few people on the roster can do the high-flying maneuvers these two can pull off, and having two babyfaces wrestle each other is always a nice change from the usual face vs. heel storylines.

The Colons vs. New Day (Tag Team Championships)

Video packages have been playing for a repackaged Epico and Primo recently, and the best way to push them as quickly as possible would be to put them in the hunt for the WWE Tag Team Championships.

Dropping the matador gimmick was the best thing WWE could have done for these two talented wrestlers. WWE has misused them for years, and it's time they were allowed to show the world what they are capable of.

The New Day has gone through just about every team WWE has to offer. It's time the group had a fresh storyline, and Epico and Primo could be the answer.

The storyline practically writes itself. The New Day could brag about beating every team on the roster before Epico and Primo come out and challenge them for the titles. It's as simple as that.

If WWE really wants to push The Colons right away, putting the titles on them would be the best way to do it.

Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho

There was a quick moment on Raw where Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose crossed paths, but they didn't have any kind of physical confrontation.

Since AJ Styles is busy chasing Roman Reigns and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and Ambrose is no longer feuding with Brock Lesnar, it opens up the possibility for Y2J and The Lunatic Fringe facing each other at Payback.

They have fought on the same side in team-based matches before, but they have never faced each other inside the ring.

Jericho is still performing like he's in his 20s, and Ambrose is one of WWE's most consistent talents. Putting them in a singles match has money written all over it.

WWE has already planted the seeds for a storyline from a simple glance, so all management has to do is pull the trigger and give them a reason to fight.

Charlotte vs. Natalya (Women's Championship)

After what happened on Raw during Charlotte's championship celebration, it's practically a guarantee she will defend the women's title against Natalya at Payback.

We have seen them square off several times, and they always manage to put on incredible matches as long as they have enough time.

Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks have been in the title picture for months, so it's time to give some other women a chance to steal the show.

WWE underutilized Natalya for the second half of 2015, but it looks like she is beginning to see more screen time, which is best for business.

Charlotte insulted Natalya's family by saying the Harts will never be as good as the Flairs, so there is a more personal feel to the storyline than if they were just fighting over gold.

When the two women fought in NXT, Bret Hart and Ric Flair were at ringside to provide support, and since Flair has resorted to cheating in order to keep the title around Charlotte's waist, it would make sense to bring Hart in for the bout to bring things full circle.

Becky Lynch vs. Emma

Emma has become a tremendous heel, and now that she is back on the main roster, it opens up a whole new variety of storylines for her.

She has had a few interactions with Becky Lynch to indicate a showdown may be on the horizon, and Payback would be the perfect place to do it.

They could have the best match at the PPV and don't need a title to fight over. All WWE needs to do is continue having Emma mock The Lass Kicker until she snaps and a fight breaks out.

Despite having overlapping runs in NXT, these two have barely been in the ring together, so it presents WWE with an opportunity to create another original feud.

If Vince McMahon wants to prove he is taking women's wrestling seriously, having this match in addition to a women's title bout at Payback would help show he is committed to restoring the division to its former glory.

The League of Nations vs. The Wyatt Family

Following The League of Nations' failed attempt to win the WWE Tag Team Championships on Raw, The Wyatt Family attacked the group, signaling a possible face turn.

If Bray Wyatt and his clan of bearded brawlers end up focusing on other heels, putting the two trios in a six-man tag match at Payback would make for some great action.

Sheamus has tussled with the Wyatts before, but Alberto Del Rio and Rusev have never been in the ring with the group outside of a Royal Rumble match.

If WWE intends to turn The Wyatt Family into good guys—or at least tweeners—The League of Nations could help them make the transition while producing a brutal encounter.

Many fans criticize WWE for how it has handled Wyatt, but if he were to start fighting bad guys, it could lead to him getting the push he deserves.

The Dudley Boyz vs. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady are already in a feud with The Dudley Boyz, and they haven't even wrestled a match on the main roster yet.

It's almost a lock that these two teams will face each other at Payback, but it shouldn't be a standard tag team bout. There should be some kind of hardcore stipulation to make things more exciting.

Bubba Ray and D-Von just had a tables match with The Usos, so that doesn't need to happen again. Something along the lines of a Texas Tornado or cage match might be more appropriate.

Amore and Big Cass are already popular with the WWE Universe, but if WWE wants to make sure the fans who don't watch NXT take to them right away, putting them in some kind of specialty match against a legendary team like The Dudley Boyz is the best way to go about it.

Many of the matches on this list will likely end up on the card, but everyone has their own ideas. What would you like to see added to WWE Payback?

Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter: @BR_Doctor.