Ringside - WWE Payback Predictions
SHOCKWAVES from the fallout of Wrestlemania 33 and the Undertaker's retirement is still being felt by the WWE Universe, the new WWE season's RAW only pay-per-view Payback has a lot to live up to.
theSun's new column Ringside - The Most Electrifying Column In Sports Entertainment - will focus on the monthly WWE pay-per-view events.
Malaysian WWE fans are invited to join theSun's intrepid team of jabroni beatin, pie eating, trail blazin, eye brow raising panelists Paul 'Yokozuna' Ng, Adrian 'LovelyDude' Phung and The Game, Amar Shah as we take a closer look at the monthly pay-per-view events starting with Payback.
The Raw-branded event will take place live from San Jose, California, on Sunday, April 30 beginning at 8pm ET ( Chanel 840 WWE NETWORK 8.05am, Monday )
WWE Payback matches WWE Championship "House of Horrors" Match
Randy Orton (c) vs. Bray Wyatt:
The conclusion (hopefully) to the seven-month feud between the Viper and the Eater Of Worlds. Will Randy survive the House of Horrors or will the new face of fear Wyatt have the last laugh?
P: Personally, I never bought Orton's whole "you cant beat em, join them" angle. Anybody who has followed Randy's career knows the legend killer bows down to no one.
- Randy to retain the belt with an RKO outta nowhere.
AP: As the name suggest, I am predicting that this match will be a combination of gimmicks from stipulation matches such as no holds barred and falls count anywhere.
- Randy Orton defeating Bray Wyatt with a RKO from out nowhere like how he always managed to execute it
AS: Payback it may be, but it's really hard to see Bray Wyatt winning this one. If he does, it could either mean he goes back to Smackdown, just over two weeks after joining RAW in the Superstar Shakeup, or RAW holding two of the WWE's biggest titles, with Brock Lesnar already with the Universal champion.
-Title to stay on Smackdown. Orton with the RKO.
Update May 2, 2017: The title was not on the line during the Payback live event.
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman:
AS: This, for me, would be the match of the PPV, and it may very well turn into a classic. It just looks like RAW has been building up Payback for this particular match, and understandably so after Strowman's sneak attack on Reigns.
Although I would have loved to see the both of them and Undertaker in a Triple Threat match at Wrestlemania, this would suffice.
- Roman to rain a succession of spears on Strowman. Reign with the payback
P: I'm looking forward to Strowman to lay another beatdown on the so called 'Big Dog'.
- Strowman to beat Reigns
AP: This match is a hard one to call with two of Raw's biggest Superstars going head to head. Roman will never back down from any challenge and after months of being on the receiving end of Strowman's attacks, The Big Dog, will stop at nothing to ensure he gets some Payback from The Monster Among Men.
- The Big Dog claiming his yard
Raw Women's Championship
Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss:
AS: What better way to mark your RAW arrival than to win the title on your first PPV. Bayley may be likeable, and huggable but it's hard to see WWE letting her honeymoon period go on any longer.
- Bliss with a sneaky win.
P: With Charlotte moving to Smackdown, you'd think Nia Jax will finally get a shot at the Raw women's title but we have The Hugger vs 5 Feet Of Fury instead.
- Little Miss Bliss to win to set up a rematch on Raw
AP: Good will prevail against evil or in other words, the Hugger will be able to retain her championship against the Wicked Witch.
- Bayley to retain the women's title
Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe:
AP: The Kingslayer vs the Samoan Submission Machine is sure to be a match to watch especially after the epic feat Seth did in Wrestlemania 33 where he managed to dethrone The King aka Triple H. Vengeance will definitely on Seth's mind particularly after what Joe have put him through in weeks leading towards Wrestlemania 33. However, I am sure Joe will bring his A game into the match to further exert his place and fear in the Raw roster.
- The Kingslayer outlasting the Samoan Submission Machine
AS: This one is a bit tricky. We all remember when stars like AJ Styles and Finn Balor made their debuts on the WWE main roster and they were an instant hit with major push for a title run. Joe looks set to go down this route well, but is somewhat restricted due to ongoing storylines with potential foes. His breakthrough will come come soon though.
- I would have gone for a draw if possible ... Joe to win this, after some ringside interference.
P: Oh boy, this one is gonna be awesome. They've been building and building Joe up as invincible for months now and I really don't see Rollins getting the better of the big Samoan just yet, especially when Payback is such a good opportunity for a certain "Billion Dollar Princess" and her man to make an appearance. I Expect this feud to go on to Extreme Rules in June.
- Joe to KO Rollins with the Kokina Clutch after outside interference.
United States Championship
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho:
This will be the second SmackDown title defended on a Raw PPV after KO got drafted to the blue brand. No matter who wins the match, the US title will remain the property of SmackDown live.
P: The KO/Jericho bromance has been a hit with with WWE Universe and now the 'ex-best friends' have the opportunity to settle things for good.
- KO to win and Jericho to remain on Raw to make fun of someone else. The Miz, maybe?
AS: Ahh, the best friends-turn-enemy back at it again. This should be the end of it though, shouldn't it? Hard to see Jericho winning, as it would mean him joining Smackdown and prolonging the rivalry (yawn).
- Owens to retain his championship.
AP: KO taking down Y2J to take the US title to Smackdown as the "New Face Of America."
Raw Tag Team Championship
The Hardy Boyz (c) vs. Sheamus & Cesaro:
AS: Having won the title in Wrestlemania, it would be unthinkable to lose it at the first hurdle. And with this match a normal tag team match, expect more table matches in the future. Extreme Rules PPV perhaps?
- The Hardy Boyz to win
AP: No doubt the team chemistry between Sheamus and Cesaro had gotten way better compared to a few months ago. However, it might not be enough to take down the Extreme Brothers and their experience.
- The Hardy Boyz to win
P: The Hardyz basically got handed the title at Wrestlemania 33 and it's hard to see them losing the belts this early into their return. I really hope the WWE has something special planned for the tag division at Extreme Rules. I want TaBLeS
- The Hardy Boyz with a Swanton on Cesaro for the win
Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries:
They had one hellova match at the Mania kickoff show and they've been building momentum for Neville vs Aries Part 2 right off the bat. This is going to be one of the better matches of the night with both competitors having the skills to pull off another memorable performance.
P: This one is hard to call. One one hand, Neville is a spectacular heel and the WWE might keep him as champion to keep the spotlight and interest on the cruiserweight division. On the other hand, I can't see Aries losing two in a row after his well received return to the ring.
- Neville to win with an assist from that punk, T.J. Perkins
AS: Neville seemed like exactly the person who was made for the Cruiserweight Championship. And I see him holding on to it just a little bit longer.
- Neville with the victory. Not without T.J. Perkins' interference though.
AP: Neville will do whatever he can to retain his hard fought title.
- Neville
That's it, WWE Fans of Malaysia ... Our Payback Analysis and Predictions.
Look out for our post Payback review on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. Till then, drop us a comment and share your predictions on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/thesundaily/