WWE: Payback Predictions

This Sunday’s PPV has already started rustling quite a few leaves as people are expecting some heel turns to happen at Payback. With CM Punk making his return to WWE TV after taking some time off, expectations are at an all time high, with his match against Chris Jericho being the most anticipated match on the card. Without further ado, I lay out my predictions for this Sunday in this article.

Sheamus vs Sandow – Pre show

It’s almost a no-brainer. Sheamus will pick up an easy victory over Sandow. I don’t know why Sheamus has been left off the card, but I guess his next feud is with Randy Orton. Sandow and Cody need a solid feud, but this match is to work up the crowd and make the babyface go over his opponent.

Winner: Sheamus

Wade Barrett vs The Miz vs Curtis Axel (With Paul Heyman) for the WWE Intercontinental championship

Fandango was slated to win the title from Barrett, but since he suffered a concussion, Axel replaced him on the card. This would be a perfect opportunity to elevate Axel by putting the IC title on him. His father, Mr. Perfect was one of the greatest Intercontinental champions in the history of the WWE, so it would be a nice tribute to hand over the title to his son. It’s almost guaranteed that Wade will lose the title, seeing his dismal losses on TV almost every week. The Miz might pull off an upset victory, but I don’t see him going anywhere from there, so WWE might not go in that direction.

Winner and the new Intercontinental Champion: Curtis Axel

Kaitlyn vs AJ Lee for the WWE Divas championship

This week on RAW, AJ was revealed to be the ‘secret admirer’, who was playing around with Kaitlyn. For good or bad, that would make this match interesting at the PPV. With AJ making things personal, Kaitlyn would be looking for retribution, and even though AJ got inside Kaitlyn’s head, expect an easy win for Kaitlyn at the PPV.

Winner and still the Divas champion: Kaitlyn

Dolph Ziggler (With Big E and AJ) vs Alberto Del Rio (With Ricardo) for the World Heavyweight championship

Ziggler finally returns to in-ring competition after his concussion few weeks ago, as he takes on the number 1 contender, Alberto Del Rio. Alberto has been on a roll these past few weeks, defeating Ziggler’s henchman Big E Langston. Come Sunday, the World title will be on the line, and Alberto would look to win the title back, but Ziggler has a better chance of retaining the title. This has all the elements to be a great match, and we’ll have to wait and see if these two can deliver.

Winner and still the World Heavyweight champion: Dolph Ziggler

Dean Ambrose vs Kane for the WWE United States championship

I have to say I’m a little disappointed with this match up, as I was hoping for an Ambrose – Daniel Bryan match this Sunday. But Kane is a solid worker, and he would look to put on a good match with the fastest rising star on the show, Dean Ambrose. Expect Ambrose to retain the title and move on to feuding with someone else after Sunday.

Winner and still the United States champion: Dean Ambrose

The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) vs Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan for the WWE tag team championships

Orton and Bryan team up to take on The Shield for the gold, and although Orton and Bryan had their differences, they will look to put their differences aside and win the tag titles. As per the rumors, expect a heel turn from either of these two performers, as The Shield would work as a unit and retain their titles come Sunday.

Winners and still the WWE tag team champions: The Shield

John Cena vs Ryback for the WWE championship in a Three Stages of Hell match

This match will likely end the Cena–Ryback feud, as Cena needs someone else to feud with. Rumor has it that Cena will be facing Daniel Bryan through the Summer, which can only be good news. Come Sunday, expect Cena to win the first fall, Ryback to win the second, and in the third match, Cena will miraculously recover to put Ryback into the ambulance, thus winning the match and retaining the WWE title. Does Ryback have a small chance to win the WWE title? No.

Winner and still the WWE Champion: John Cena

Chris Jericho vs CM Punk (With Paul Heyman)

This is arguably the most anticipated match on the card. CM Punk will make his return in front of the home crowd, as he takes on Chris Jericho. The management knows that Punk will be cheered on, irrespective of being a face or a heel, and hence, the best way to capitalize on this situation is turning Heyman against Punk, aligning himself with Jericho. That would not only create shock waves in the industry, but would shake things up in the WWE, which it direly needs.

Winner: Chris Jericho

Those are my predictions. Let us know if you agree with them, or give us your own outcomes in the comments section below.