Hey there wrestling fans I am “The Fallen Angel” Tom Robinson and here are my predictions for this Sunday’s PPV – WWE Payback. To be honest, PPV has been poorly promoted. Only three matches have had proper promotion leading up to the event, with 5 of the matches being ann0unced on the last RAW before PPV. Even still, there are some great matches on the card. The Internet Wrestling Community’s God CM Punk makes his triumphant return in his hometown of Chicago. The in-ring return of Dolph Ziggler. And we’ve got 3 Stages Of Hell as the main event for Payback!
Sheamus vs Damien Sandow
Background: Typical Brute vs Intellectual feud. Intellectual Damien Sandow gives Brute Sheamus some intellectual challenges. Sheamus responds with violence. Match announced for Payback.
What I think should happen?: Damien Sandow wins.
What I think will happen?: Sheamus wins.
The Shield Vs The World – United States Championship: Dean Ambrose (c) vs Kane/Tag Team Championship: Seth Rollins (c) and Roman Reigns (c) vs Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton
Background: The Shield reigned supreme at Extreme Rules with each member of the team capturing gold. Dean Ambrose defeated Kofi Kingston to win the US title, and Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins won the tag titles from Kane and Daniel Bryan. The loss of the tag titles hit Daniel Bryan the hardest. Daniel started to wonder whether he was the weak-link of Team Hell-No and was determined to prove himself. This cause Daniel Bryan to snap and at times was even able to take out all 3 members of The Shield by himself. However on the 7th of June episode of SmackDown!, Kane was getting fed up with Daniel’s craziness and walked out on Daniel, splitting up Team Hell-No. Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton vs Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns was booked for the main event of that SmackDown! During the match Daniel Bryan inadvertently drop-kicked Randy Orton in the corner but recovered and looked like he was about to win the match for the team. However, after Dean Ambrose got involved, the match ended in a DQ. After saving Daniel from a beating post-match, Orton RKO’d Bryan in retaliation for the dropkick. Kane, Orton and Bryan eventually settled their differences last week on RAW, with Kane getting a DQ victory over Dean Ambrose, and Bryan beating Rollins. “Managing Supervisor” Vickie Guerrero would put Bryan and ORTON in a Tag Title match at Payback against Rollins and Reigns due to their DQ victory on SmackDown! Because of his DQ victory over Ambrose, Kane was given a US title match for the PPV.
What I think should happen?: ORTON TURNS HEEL! PLEASE! Turn him heel like right now! If the tag title match ends with Orton planting Bryan with an RKO and costing them the match, it’d be a quality way to get Bryan super-face and Orton super-heel. So I say, Rollins and Reigns win the tag title match. As for the US title match, I’m going with Ambrose. It’s good that Ambrose is getting some legit competition for the US Title.
What I think will happen?: The Sheild win both matches. There’s no way Kane is getting a US Title run. And there’s NOT A CHANCE IN HELL that Orton and Bryan will get a run at the tag titles.
Intercontinental Championship: Wade Barrett (c) vs The Miz vs Curtis Axel – The Concussion Strikes Back!
Background: On the RAW after Extreme Rules, Wade Barrett and Fandango teamed up to take on The Miz and Chris Jericho in a tag team match. However, Fandango opted to dance than help Barrett out, who went on to lose the match for his team. A one on one match was booked on the next RAW with Fandango facing Wade Barrett in a non-title match. The Miz was voted in as the special referee and hit the Skull-Crushing finale on Barrett to help Fandango win. Post-match, Miz kicked Fandango’s ass (literally booted him in the backside) which prompted Miz vs Barrett vs Fandango to be booked for the IC title at Payback. HOWEVER the menace known as the concussion would strike again, as Fandango gained a concussion during a match with Zack Ryder on SmackDown! This meant he was OUT of the IC title match… and was replaced with Paul Heyman’s newest client Curtis Axel.
What I think should happen?: As much as I don’t want Wade Barrett to lose the IC title, it’d make no sense for Curtis Axel to not win it. I think with Paul Heyman on board, Axel can build up a really good title reign with Heyman being his mouthpiece. I will actually cry if The Miz wins the IC title. 😦
What I think will happen?: Axel will probably win, whether I like it or not.
Former Best Friends Collide In Chicago – Divas Championship: Kaitlyn (c) vs AJ Lee
Background: The history between these two is well documented. AJ and Kaitlyn entered the WWE around the same time, entering NXT Season 3 and forming the “highly-successful” divas tag team The Chickbusters. At around the end of 2011, AJ and Kaitlyn’s relationship started to go sour with Kaitlyn taking a distaste towards AJ’s new boyfriend Daniel Bryan. After AJ and B-Bry’s break-up in April 2012, Kaitlyn attempted to console the heartbroken AJ. She instead got slapped in the face – two weeks in a row. AJ soon became an emotional wreck, engaging in relationships with the likes of Kane and CM Punk, and being heart-broken by both. Her reign as RAW General Manager also came to an end at October 2012 after accusations of fraternizing with WWE Superstar John Cena. After being re-instated as a wrestler, she soon took a more sinister approach to life and started a relationship with Dolph Ziggler at the end of 2012. In 2013 Kaitlyn would have enough of AJ’s craziness, and was attacked numerous times by AJ over the next couple of months. Just before Extreme Rules, AJ became the number one contender for the Divas Championship held by Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn and AJ would have a confrontation at Extreme Rules, which would result in Kaityln attacking AJ this time. AJ would then play with Kaitlyn’s heart in relation for Kaitlyn “not being there for her” during her emotional roller-coaster in 2012. She would have a “secret admirer” harrass Kaitlyn with messages of love. This would lead to this last Monday on RAW…
What I think should happen?: AJ Lee wins the title!
What I think will happen?: I think they’ll have AJ win the title. It’ll sort of provides shades of the “McMahon-Helmsley” era with boyfirend and girlfriend reigning as champions of their divisions. Speaking of which…
World Heavyweight Championship: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs Alberto Del Rio
Background: On the RAW after Wrestlemania 29, Ziggler cashed in Money In The Bank on Alberto Del Rio to win the World Title. Then Ziggler got a concussion and was unable to defend her championship at the Extreme Rules PPV. At Extreme Rules, Del Rio made Jack Swagger in an I Quit Match to become the number one contender for the world title. The World Title match between Ziggler and Del Rio was announced for Payback last week on RAW, when Ziggler made his return.
What I think should happen?: Dolph Ziggler retains.
What I think will happen?: CONCUSSION… err.. I mean Dolph Ziggler retains.
The Return Of Punk – “The Internet Wrestling Community’s God” CM Punk vs “Y2J” Chris Jericho
Background: 2 weeks after losing to The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 29, CM Punk was supposed to address his loss on RAW. However, Punk was speechless and left the ring and said farewell to manager Paul Heyman. On the May 27th edition of the Highlight Reel, Chris Jericho asked Paul Heyman where CM Punk was. Heyman refused to answer that but did accept Jericho’s offer of a match between Jericho and Punk at Payback on Punk’s behalf.
What I think should happen?: I think there should be a double cross of some kind. I think CM Punk should have the momentum in his hometown crowd and then Heyman distracts Punk allowing Jericho to win. Something like that which sees Jericho FINALLY get a win over Punk, turns him heel and also doesn’t harm Punk. I’d like to see this scenario go down, but I don’t think it will.
What I think will happen?: CM Punk wins for the THIRD time in a row. I don’t think WWE want CM Punk losing to Jericho in Chicago in his comeback match.
The 3 Stages Of HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLL – WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs Ryback
Background: At Extreme Rules, Ryback and John Cena’s Last Man Standing match ended in a no contest when Ryback drove Cena through the stage “incapacitating” both men. The next night on RAW, Ryback challenged John Cena to an Ambulence match. In response, Cena proposed a match that has only ever appeared 3 times before in WWE history… the 3 stages OF HELL! The first fall would be a lumberjack match… 30 superstars surrounding the ring to pick up the scraps if one or both Ryback or Cena goes outside the ring. The second fall would be a tables match… whoever puts his opponent through a table wins. And the third and final fall if needd… well then the Ambulence match comes into place.
What I think should happen?: A little bit on the fence with this one. I don’t want Ryback to lose his 8th PPV match in a row (And yes, I am counting the no contest at Extreme Rules as a loss since he didn’t win the title). On the other hand, I wouldn’t want the championship to change hands 2 months into Cena’s reign. Also I want Cena to be champion for when Daniel Bryan fights for the title this summer. So it’s the case of character development vs championship presitge. And I’ve got to chose the championship prestige. Cena wins, but Ryback needs something big after his feud with Cena ends.
What I think will happen?: Cena wins.
Anyway, that’s the Payback predictions. I’m Tom Robinson. This is the Armbar Express. And let us all enjoy Payback!
The Armbar Express 