Payback 2016 Predictions

As go down the road to Wrestlemania 33, WWE makes its first stop in Chicago with Payback, the 4th event under the lineage. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the best thought out card in the history of the event and according to WWE, is the start of a new era. This is definitely an era I can get behind. 7 of the 8 matches involve NXT alumni, some are even making their PPV debuts. There's also a return and one of the most accomplished stars in professional wrestling getting his first chance to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Let's talk matches!

For whatever reason, for the 2nd straight time Kalisto, who still has the US Title for whatever reason, will defend it against Ryback on the pre-show. This is stupid. Both guys aren't even featured on the Raw before the PPV. Since Cena lost it to Del Rio back in October, the title has dropped from it's former glory. Cena spent half of 2015 trying to make it a title worthy of winning by having meaningful feuds and by defending it weekly but that's a thing of the past now. I'm guessing Ryback wins since they're doing a rematch, otherwise, why put the WWE Universe through it again? Ryback as US Champion is not interesting and shouldn't be a thing at all. I'm sorry.

Baron Corbin will make his PPV singles debut when he faces Dolph Ziggler. Cobrin burst onto the main roster with his shocking win at Wrestlemania, winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. I'm a huge fan of Corbin and I have been since NXT. He has the look WWE likes and needs at this point. There needs to be a new monster heel around WWE and he fits the bill. This will be a match to show just how dominant Corbin is. That being said, I don't see him taking a loss here. Corbin wins.

The New Day will apparently NOT defend their tag titles at Payback but two tag teams from NXT will clash to determine the #1 contender. Enzo and Cass, who I'm sure will get a massive pop in Chi-Town, will face former NXT Tag Team Champions The Vaudevillians. I saw this live at the last NXT event in Philadelphia. That was more of a comedy match and there's nothing funny about this now that a shot at the tag titles is up for grabs. Let's be honest, it doesn't matter who wins this or whoever wins the match with the New Day, Gallows and Anderson are coming for the belts so just keep them warm for them. New Day is still an entertaining act, as is Enzo and Cass but Gallows and Anderson didn't leave NJPW for nothing. I think The Vaudevillians will go over, mainly because Enzo and Cass VS New day will divide the fans and New Day just became faces. Vaudevillians win, will lose to New Day and will probably join The Ascension as NXT Tag Team Champions that were misused on the main roster.

Charlotte VS Natalya doesn't make sense. Yes, it will be an amazing women's championship match and one that will further the division but it's one that just doesn't sit right with me. Natalya is one of the most hard working women the WWE has and next to Charlotte, the most technically sound. I just can't overlook Wrestlemania. Charlotte made Becky Lynch tap out BUT the other superstar in the match, Sasha Banks, didn't take a loss. In fact, she STILL hasn't been pinned or made submit on the main roster since JULY. That's 10 months if you're counting. How the hell does she just go to the back of the line? Reports say she'll have her moment at SummerSlam and to be honest, Sasha Banks VS Charlotte at the event would make it a big time PPV but she's back to where she was during the winter months, gone from TV. This infuriates me as a fan. Same with Becky. I want to see her too. She's too talented to do nothing. And Paige and Emma. Start doing a tournament or something. You have the women!

Anyway, this is a straight rematch from NXT Takeover I that happened almost two years ago. That match was amazing and this will be too. Bret Hart will stop the Flair Factor so the two ladies should be able to have the wrestling match we deserve. After 15 minutes, Charlotte will retain and probably face Nattie at Extreme Rules in a Submission match. After that, who else? There's not a lot of face women left for her to wrestle is there? Just saying, you put the title on Banks, and you open up Sasha/Emma, Sasha/Paige, Sasha/Natalya, matches that would definitely be show stealers but I understand, keep catering to Ric Flair's daughter.

Cesaro makes his PPV return as he challenges The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship. I like The Miz. He plays his movie star villain role very well and his wife is hot. He's got a lot going on for him. He won his 5th IC Title on the Raw after Wrestlemania, ending Zack Ryder's 1 day reign. It's time for somebody to hold the title and start having meaningful matches and feuds again. Cesaro is just that guy! There's a lot of matches he could have that would elevate the division. Zayn and Cesaro have a deep history and that could definitely be a match to watch. With Maryse back though, I think Miz will hold onto the title for just a little bit longer. Cesaro wins by DQ due to Maryse.

Hey, it's a scraped Wrestlemania match happening on a different PPV! Dean Ambrose, the guy who fought Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 32 if you remember that, will face Chris Jericho in a most random match that came about after Jericho's Highlight Reel was cancelled for Ambrose's new show, The Ambrsoe Asylum. I can't make this up. Regardless of the way it came about, it should still be a good match between the two. A match between Ambrose and Jericho was teased all the way back at Night of Champions 2015, where a disgruntled Jericho was disrespectful to Ambrose, following a loss to the Wyatt Family. It was also a match in place for WM before they fed Ambrose to Lesnar. This should be a good match between two great stars. This is a match to continue to put Ambrose over as a top face. There's no real for Jericho to win here and he won't. Ambrose wins.

Another planned Wrestlemania match sighted! This one is another rematch from a  NXT Takeover event and it will see Kevin Owens take on Sami Zayn. Two best friends, former NXT Champions and of course rivals will do battle in their first of what will probably be many matches. Here's another that could've happened at Wrestlemania but Payback will reap the benefits of this amazing match. I felt like the two never had the match they deserved in NXT. Their first match was a one sided affair and the other one was short because of Zayn's injury to his shoulder. Now that they're on the main roster, hopefully this will be the match where they will showcase all of their moves. I don't think Owens needs a win here, as I'm sure they will have a trilogy of matches at the next couple of events. Maybe even having an I Quit match at Extreme Rules. More likely a Steel Cage but whatever. Give Zayn the win here and move on. Owens won't be hurt by a loss here as I'm sure he's a frontrunner for the Money in the Bank briefcase. Him, Ambrose and Cesaro right? Could we add a title to this feud? Seriously.

Roman Reigns' first challenger for his newly won WWE World Heavyweight Title is phenomenal. His challenger is a star who's won a World Title in almost every promotion he's been at. He's a former PWG, NWA, TNA and IWGP Heavyweight Champion. He is getting his first shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Title and he's only been in the company for 14 weeks. It's AJ Styles. What a turn of events huh? This match has all the makings for a classic. Let's see; raucous crowd filled with Internet wrestling fans sure to boo Roman Reigns? Check. Big match feel? Check. Wonky finish sure to take place? Check. When the title match was announced, we were all dreading the fact that Styles was given to Reigns to make him look good. When Gallows and Anderson made their shocking, but expected because we knew they signed, debut, we all thought about the possibility of a Bullet Club reunion. When Gallows and Anderson actually beat up Reigns in London, everything changed. THEN, Finn Balor loss his NXT Title at a house show. A HOUSE SHOW, days before the event. Is this all coincidence or is this classic WWE trolling its fans? Although Styles has said he didn't call on Gallows and Anderson to attack Reigns, they'll solely behind him and have his back. The Usos, of course, will support their cousin Reigns.

Let's make something clear; whatever happens in this match, it's not going to end clean. There's too many parties involved for this to go right down the middle and besides, the Chicago crowd will not have it. If Reigns is to pin AJ CLEAN,  oh Lord. The crowd will riot. This may be a stretch, but I'm expecting the crowd reaction to be similar to Cena/Punk from MITB 2011. Not as loud but definitely akin to that. Another thing, someone has to walk out heel. WWE is currently without a top heel. Triple H was that figure but he's gone for now. Jericho is the best heel they have but who knows when he'll go away again. Wyatt is out on injury so he's no good right now. With no top heel established, they need to make one. They have the opportunity here. There's three different guys you can push as the heel; Roman Reigns, AJ Styles and Finn Balor. Reigns could align himself with Gallows and Anderson who would screw AJ out of the match. You could go the obvious route and form WWE's version of The Bullet Club, which would help AJ win the title. While Reigns and AJ are down and Gallows/Anderson and The Usos are fighting on the outside, Balor can run in, do a shotgun dropkick in the corner, hit Cuop de Grace on Reigns and AJ can take advantage. The last situation is to make Finn Balor the top heel. Balor just loss his NXT Title so a call-up to the main roster is inevitable for him. With Joe, Aries, Nakamura and a returning Hideo Itami eventually, the brand will be fine. Balor could do one last Takeover in June then call it quits. He does deserve a rematch for the title anyway. Balor could come out just as Gallows and Anderson come out. They would make their way to beat up Reigns but then point their hands like a gun to Styles and beat him down, allowing Reigns to pick up the scraps and win, effectively establishing the Balor Club, Balor as a top heel and Reigns as what he says he is. He's not a good guy, he's not a bad guy, he's THE guy.

For me, this is the most anticipated WWE Title match in a long time. Don't think I've been this excited since Bryan/Cena at SummerSlam 2013. Seriously. I don't want to get my hopes up but I can't help it. The fact that WWE MIGHT due a Bullet Club stable is getting me excited. The fact that AJ Styles, who is 98 days in the company come Sunday, could walk out with the top prize in WWE is getting me excited. The fact that for once, the main event is so chaotic and crazy that I don't know what will happen is getting me excited. THIS is why I watch pro wrestling. Obviously, I want AJ Styles to win, become heel and team up with his buddies. This could lead to them VS Reigns and The Usos and even better, The Bullet Club VS The Shield. It also has a chance to bring up Balor a little quicker and really start off this new era right. It would definitely put more emphasis on the lesser events, like Battleground, if you have a major feud like this going. Reigns having ANOTHER short reign looks unlikely though as WWE will not give up their quest to make him the face of the company. Either way they go, I think John Cena is the destination. Cena will be back in a month's time and a big time clash at SummerSlam with the title on the line would be great. Styles/Cena! Need I say more? I really want a heel Reigns though. This is such a tough decision. I mean, I would be happy with heel Reigns but AJ Styles as WWE Champion? Don't make me choose!

I'm going with the obvious WWE led choice, which is AJ Styles will win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship thanks to Gallows, Anderson and Balor. Styles will become the first man to hold the PWG, NWA, TNA, IWGP and WWE Heavyweight Titles.

The first PPV of a new era will not disappoint as I believe Vince will announce Shane as the permanent leader of Raw. I'm sure there will be some type of stipulation involving a match with Triple H but we'll see. If these first four Raws under Shane are anything to go off of then I'm all for Shane running Raw, even if he has to beat Triple H to get it.

Payback is THIS Sunday. Don't miss out on a chance to witness history!