Payback is here! The first post Mania, post Superstar Shakeup PPV is a Raw exclusive event. Kind of. Two current champions from the Smackdown brand will be competing on the card. 7 matches will take place, 3 rematches from Wrestlemania. Let's talk!
Current WWE Champion Randy Orton will compete at Backlash in a House of Horrors match against Bray Wyatt. A match that was suppose to be Wyatt's contracted rematch for the WWE Championship but it seems like it's just for the hell of it now. Orton and Wyatt's Mania clash was lacking and I'm sure this will be better since there will most likely be weapons or something involved, it's pointless. Regardless of the winner, they won't face each other again. With Orton having a scheduled WWE Title match against JINDER MAHAL at Backlash, I can see Orton winning, while Wyatt starts his feud with Wyatt.
The Hardy Boys made their shocking return at Wrestlemania and won the Raw Tag Team Titles and now they will defend the titles against Sheamus and Cesaro at Payback. I like the Hardys but without the Broken gimmick yet, I could care less about them in WWE. For me, they took away what was suppose to be Enzo and Cass' big moment on the grand stage so until either the Hardys become Broken or Enzo and Cass become champions, I don't really care about the division. The Hardys win.
Neville and Aries were the very first match on the Wrestlemania pre show and it was a hell of a contest, one that neither World Title match on the main card could follow. They will do battle again at Payback in a huge rematch. The Cruiserweight division is still struggling and it's baffling why with all the talent they have. I wish they would just unleash them and have them wrestle like they did at the CWC. Neville and Aries will probably steal the show in another great 15 minute match. TJ Perkins just turned heel and it fits him much better. I don't think Aries will dethrone the King of the Cruiserweights with Perkins at his side so thanks to some outside interference, I'm going with Neville to retain. Kalisto is on Raw now so it's only a matter of time before he gets a shot and what about Gran Metalik? You know, the runner up of the CWC? He's way too talented to not be pushed to the top of the division. We'll see. Neville has plenty of challengers though.
Bayley continues her dream run as Raw Women's Champion as she faces new Raw star Alexa Bliss for the title. This will be a nice little match. Alexa was one of the top names who benefited from the draft and now being on Raw makes her the top heel of the women's division. This obviously can go either way. Bliss could win here, eventually drop it to Sasha in June/July, Sasha turns heel while Bayley chases her for the title because face chasing heels is much better on a bigger stage or Bayley could retain and then go through Nia and Emma before the eventual Sasha turn. With both Charlotte and Alexa getting title shots this week, they're both chasing history, to become the first woman to win both brands Women's Titles. I like my scenario better so I'm going with Alexa Bliss to win her first ever Raw Women's Title on Sunday.
Kevin Owens makes his last Raw appearance for awhile when he defends the United States Championship against Chris Jericho in a rematch from Wrestlemania. Jericho is just about on his way out on this current and perhaps final run. Obviously it will be another great match between the two but the winner is obvious. Kevin Owens will retain his championship and head to the Backlash main event against AJ Styles, because Lord knows Orton/Mahal won't close the show.
Seth Rollins got his revenge on Triple H but not the man who put him on the shelf and almost cost him the match against HHH, Samoa Joe. This will be the first meeting between the two in the WWE. It will be a barn burner. certainly a match to watch out for, one that could potentially steal the show. I like both guys, both former NXT Champions, both former ROH Champs and two of the top stars of Raw. It's a compelling match up, one that I hope gets a decent portion of time. Rollins is coming off of his huge victory over The Game at Mania but they need to continue to build Joe as a major ass kicking machine, especially for whenever Lesnar comes back with the Universal Title. Lesnar needs monster heels ready for him between his sporadic appearances. That being said, Samoa Joe needs to win here in convincing fashion. Rollins should and will put up a hell of a fight but Joe will win in the end.
The main event is the much anticipated rematch between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman. Strowman has been the biggest star post Wrestlemania. His showdown and future set up match with Brock Lesnar, his complete destruction of the roster and his ownage of Roman Reigns. Strowman flipped over an ambulance with Roman in it. I don't think I need to explain any further. This is one of the harder matches to call on the card. Reigns needs the win to back up the biggest win of his career. Strowman needs the win to continue his crazy dominant push. I think Strowman/Lesnar will be happening at the next Raw PPV. If that's the case, Strowman needs the win. Strowman goes over in the main event.
Payback should be good. Aries/Neville II, Owens/Jericho II, Joe/Rollins and Reigns/Strowman II highlight the event. Rematch City yes but at least rematches of good matches. Backlash will be a PPV with more original matches as already we have The Usos VS Breezango and Jinder Mahal VS Randy Orton. The land of opportunity!!
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