WWE Payback 2017 Match Card and Predictions

With Wrestlemania 33 now in the rear-view mirror, and Brock Lesnar more or less AWOL until WWE (inevitably) decides to pair him with Roman Reigns or Braun Strowman, it’s time for Monday Night Raw’s newer draft signings and other midcard titles to step into the spotlight.

Many of WWE’s fans cancel their subscriptions to the Network after ‘Mania. This show could be a make-or-break in terms of how many remain loyal to the WWE, so it will be important that they nail this one.

Who will get their Payback (see what I did there)? Let’s take a look at our predictions for WWE Payback 2017:

 

KICKOFF

Enzo & Big Cass vs Gallows and Anderson

Before The Hardyz returned last month, there was every possibility that Enzo and Cass were supposed to win the Raw Tag Team Titles. It’s not a matter of it, it’s when.

This should be a fun match to start the show, and I realistically see no reason why the chicken-loving Enzo and Cass won’t win here.

Prediction: Enzo and Big Cass

 

WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Neville (c) vs Austin Aries

This has all the potential to be a show stealing match. In their first bout at WM33, it was a great match in which Neville had to resort to dirty tactics (i.e. an eye rake) to escape Aries’ Last Chancery submission, before pulling out a Red Arrow to retain.

This time round, expect all the fun from the first match to step up a gear. Of course, this time Neville has a now-turned TJ Perkins in his armoury, but not many have had return matches for the Cruiserweight title at this point.

Aries will be wise to Neville’s tricks, and if he has ‘Gentleman’ Jack Gallagher at his side, I would expect Aries to finally dethrone The King of the Cruiserweights.

Prediction: Austin Aries

 

WWE Raw Tag Team Championship

The Hardy Boyz (c) vs Sheamus and Cesaro

After many an issue with Anthem/Impact, The Hardy Brothers made a DELIGHTFUL return to WWE at Wrestlemania 33, when their #ExpeditionOfGold culminated in them capturing the Raw Tag Team Championships.

Until The Revival are back as a fully healed unit, Sheamus and Cesaro certainly offer a most challenge to the acclaimed tag team. It is a bit odd that WWE have decided to opt for an babyface-vs-babyface dynamic here, but at this stage, there really is no reason right now for The Hardyz to lose the straps.

Prediction: The Hardy Boyz

 

Seth Rollins vs Samoa Joe

With Seth Rollins emerging victorious over Triple H at Wrestlemania 33, he still has unfinished business with ‘The Destroyer’ Samoa Joe – the man who reinjured his leg prior to WM33.

In a surprise to almost everyone, Joe made no appearance whatsoever during the Rollins/HHH match, nor at ‘Mania 33 entirely. It wasn’t until an episode of Raw after that The Samoan Submission Machine’s current path of destruction was back on track.

Rollins has recently abandoned using the Pedigree finisher, instead adopting a new ripcord knee-strike finishing manoeuvre. I don’t expect Joe to be kicking out of this so soon after it has been debuted, and a win over the so-far dominant Joe will do wonders for Rollins’ post-Mania momentum.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

 

United States Championship

Kevin Owens (c) vs Chris Jericho

One of the stand-out storylines from the past few months finally reaches its conclusion, in this Wrestlemania 33 rematch for the United States Championship.

Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho have since been split, thanks to the Superstar Shakeup, and Kevin Owens already has a tantalising rivalry in the very-near future over the belt with the Phenomenal AJ Styles.

Owens’ promos on Smackdown are already branding him as the ‘Face of America’, and it has already been reported that Chris Jericho will be absent for pretty much all of May, owing to touring commitments with his band Fozzy.

For those reasons alone, Kevin Owens is pretty much a lock to retain the belt on Sunday.

Prediction: Kevin Owens

 

Raw Women’s Championship

Bayley (c) vs Alexa Bliss

Thanks to the Superstar Shakeup, we have a fresh match-up here, as Bayley defends against the 2-time Smackdown Women’s Champion, Alexa Bliss.

Bliss, who has been pushed well of late, earned her shot, winning a Fatal Four Way match on Raw, at the expense of the dominant Nia Jax, and has been a consistently impressive performer.

However, you just can’t ignore the fact that WWE have been slowly but surely positioning Sasha Banks for a heel turn, and will very much want that to go ahead in a programme with Bayley. So until that time, expect Bayley to hold on to the championship for a few more months.

Prediction: Bayley

 

‘House of Horrors’ Match

Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt

So, it seems that, very quietly, this match is no longer for the WWE Championship. Because…WWE?

And as of this writing, approximately nobody has any damn idea about what a ‘House of Horrors’ match actually is? Is it a cage match with worms? A street fight with maggots? A spooky graveyard Yu-Gi-Oh card game winding up with Orton and Wyatt re-enacting the famous dance/lift scene from ‘Dirty Dancing’?

Your theories below. Please.

That aside, the fact that the WWE Championship stipulation has been removed could indicate a Wyatt win, but the cynic in me knows that, deep down, the WWE writing staff have little faith in Bray, and will have him do what he eventually always does – lose.

I can’t see that changing going into this PPV.

Prediction: Randy Orton

 

Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman

OK, let’s be honest here – if at this stage you don’t love BRAUN* Strowman, then you are lying through your teeth.

Last time we saw Roman Reigns, he was being essentially murdered by BRAUN, leaving him with cracked ribs and an injured shoulder, followed by Strowman putting The Hulk to shame when he single-handedly tipped over an actual ambulance.

Surely then, ‘The Big Dog’ will be coming into this match injured, and for WWE to spoil Strowman’s current monster push would be a catastrophically unforgivable misstep. Whilst Reigns already has a victory over BRAUN, Strowman needs this win.

A victory here will surely see him enter the WWE Universal Championship picture, whenever Brock Lesnar decides he wants to defend it. But that being said, if WWE is set on having Lesnar/Reigns 2 at Wrestlemania 34, they need to do what they can to keep them separated for the time being.

Besides, just try and tell me Strowman vs Lesnar isn’t a match you want to see.

Prediction: BRAUN Strowman

*All mentions of BRAUN Strowman must have the first name capitalised by decree of the editor.