It’s me! It’s me! It’s AOB!
Hello, everyone! Welcome to my final article before I take some much-needed time off from SLTD Wrestling to sort out some personal stuff and take a trip around Europe. I will be back on the first Sunday in July, but until then, my predictions for this Sunday’s WWE Payback Pay-Per-View will have to do!
For those of you who do not know, Payback takes place this Sunday on the 1st of June 2014, from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, and will feature a confirmed 6 matches, as well as a decision from Daniel Bryan which could very well shake the foundation of the WWE as we know it.
I reckon they may also add Adam Rose against Jack Swagger (with Rose picking up the win) and/or Rusev against Big E (win Rusev picking up the win). If they have time, I think the Usos could even successfully defend the WWE Tag-Team Titles against Luke harper and Erick Rowan, but I don’t see them fitting that in. The card itself is looking very good, with several matches worth watching, including a huge 6-man tag main event, and a few exciting mid-card match-ups.
So without further ado, let’s jump right in with our predictions!
Mask vs. Hair Match: El Torito vs. Hornswoggle
I know we were all pleasantly surprised by the WeeLC Match at Extreme rules, but don’t hold your breath if you’re expecting this to top that. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried, but I’m not getting my hopes up.
I can appreciate the comic value of this rivalry (if you want to call it that), but I can’t get over the fact that Drew McIntyre will likely never get out of the grave that 3MB has dug for him. He was so good! What the hell happened?! I actually can’t recall how things got to the point of his career where he was losing to a dwarf on Monday Night Raw.
They say any TV time is good TV time, but in this case, I wouldn’t be so sure. You think Zack Ryder has it bad? I still believe that McIntyre is a fantastic wrestler, but he’s got a snowball’s chance in hell at redemption after this gimmick. The WWE have truly fucked over one of their potentially brightest stars, and all for the sake of a few laughs!
And let’s face it, 3MB, Los Matadores and this whole dwarf-war isn’t even funny. Sure, Torito is athletic, and yeah, Hornswoggle is kind of cool, but maybe it would work if this whole thing wasn’t done to make Americans piss themselves laughing “’cause the li’l people are wrasslin’ on the TV machine”. It’s a waste of time and talent, and you’d think we get enough of this shit with the Great Khali. Don’t even get me started on him.
El Torito’s going to win, two grown men are going to hold a dwarf steady so another dwarf in a Bull costume can shave his head, and nobody’s going to give a shit.
Winner: El Torito
United States Championship: Sheamus (c) vs. Cesaro
I’m really looking forward to this one. I know we’ve seen these two square off a number of times over the last few weeks, but things are a lot different when the lights are on bright on Pay-Per-View (and when a title is up for grabs). According to numerous sources, Sheamus and Cesaro put on a classic here in Dublin last Thursday on the 22nd of May, and whether you chalk that down to the fact that there was a hometown hero involved, or the fact that both men have more than enough talent to pull out the ‘match of the night’ any night, I reckon they can do it again this Sunday.
Sheamus and Cesaro are two of the WWE’s brightest talents, in fact they were even listed in my last article as some of the most promising non-American wrestlers in the WWE. Give that a read when you’ve finished here (shameless plugs for the win)! Cesaro has been one of my favourites to watch for the last 2 years, and his recent allegiance to Paul Heyman has been an exciting development. One thing to consider, however, is the fact that Cesaro really doesn’t need the United States Championship right now, as opposed to Sheamus.
I said this last week and I’ll say it again; With Daniel Bryan likely leaving for a while after Payback, whether or not he gives up the titles, the guy that I would consider for the next push to the top is Cesaro himself. He’s an extraordinary talent who can do more than hold his own in the ring, and with Paul Heyman by his side, he can truly become the next ‘Next Big Thing’.
How long was Brock Lesnar in the WWE before winning the Championship? A few months? Cesaro’s been in the WWE for about 2 years, and it would perfectly fit in with Heyman’s “my client, Brock Lesnar conquered The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania” business if his other client managed to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship just 2 months after they joined forces. And needless to say, it would also put Cesaro in a position that everyone wants to be in.
After several months of well and truly being lost in the shuffle, Sheamus has found his comfort zone in the mid-card scene with the United States Title, and I think he should stay put. Unless it’s to become the new heavy in Evolution when Batista leaves to be a Super Villain, Sheamus is not in the position to be making a beeline for the main event just yet. Give him time to really dominate any challengers for his title first, starting with a swift kick to the skull of the ‘King of Swing’.
Winner and still United States Champion: Sheamus
Divas Championship: Paige (c) vs. Alicia Fox
I’m really looking forward to this one, and not just because Paige is in it. I’ve enjoyed the rampages that Alicia Fox has been going on at ringside for the last few weeks, and while I don’t agree with the nature of her victory over Paige from two weeks ago, it does add a sense of unpredictability to this match.
Like I’ve said before, one person is not enough to shape an entire division, which is why I can appreciate them developing Alicia’s character a bit. Without Paige, there really isn’t anyone interesting on the Divas roster, because they don’t have enough time to develop.
That’s why I love NXT, because you get to know who the Divas are, and they have time to put on good matches (how friggin’ cute is Alexa Bliss though?). The Bellas, Natalya and Eva Marie are always thrown into random matches based on WWE’s assumption that we all watch Total Divas, and it doesn’t work at all. So developing Alicia Fox’s character a bit was a step forward.
(I also enjoyed seeing Emma compete (and win a match) without Santino Marella in sight this week. She does not need the burden of having him by her side.)
However, and I’ll try to refrain from sounding biased due to my love for the Divas Champion, Paige is not finished by a long shot. She can really do a lot in the WWE (revitalising the Divas division for a start) with the Championship. She’s a Godsend to the company and she isn’t losing this Sunday by a long shot.
Winner and still Champion: Paige
Intercontinental Championship: Bad News Barrett (c) vs. Rob Van Dam
I can’t get enough of Bad News Barrett. The guy is sensational in every sense of the word. Whether he’s knocking someone’s teeth out with an elbow or delivering some bad news with that exceptional catchphrase of his, Barrett has found his calling as part of the WWE roster.
He’s entertaining, he can work to an extremely high standard in the ring, he’s having the time of his life and most importantly, he’s back in a big way after an extended period of time away from TV. Like I said last week, he’s managed to crawl himself out of a hole in the WWE, and you have to admire his ability to do so.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have really been enjoying Rob Van Dam’s matches since his return (not just the night after WrestleMania, but last year too)! In fact, I went back and re-watched the All-Star Money in the Bank Ladder Match from last year a few days ago, and it’s truly amazing how RVD managed to be in such good shape after so much time away.
I know he was wrestling in TNA, but a lot of people I know who watch regularly have told me that his standard wasn’t exactly up to scratch while he was down there. So I was pleasantly surprised to see him come back to the WWE with a heap of energy and a work rate much akin to that of his prime.
One thing I’ve been loving about RVD’s return is what I predicted would happen last summer. ‘The Whole F’n’ Show’ has been playing the role of Chris Jericho, getting great matches out of his opponents (such as a fantastic match with Cesaro this week on Raw), and not being pushed to the moon just for being a big name. I know he’s got a championship match here at Payback, (and I’ll surely eat my words if he wins it), but a clean loss to Bad News Barrett at a PPV is going to do a world of good for the champ.
I’m expecting nothing less than a top tier match between these two on Sunday. They’re great talents, and the fact that there is no underlying story or message behind this match, no interferences or managers to truly fuck things up, means that these guys can just go out there and give it their all, and put on a heck of a match.
Barrett will surely be taking a step up to the main event scene within the next few years (maybe even towards the end of this one!) but like I said, I think it’s Cesaro’s turn to do so first. With that said, let Barrett take on at least 3 or 4 more challengers before he drops the strap and moves onto bigger things. Or better yet, how does Mr. Money in the Bank sound? Now that would be some good news!
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Bad News Barrett
Last Man Standing Match: John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
As much as I’ve enjoyed this rivalry in the past, I think it’s safe to say that it has gotten way too repetitive at this stage. I know, it’s hard to imagine with Bray Wyatt’s ingenious, often poetic approach to a promo, but it has gotten stale, ever since the two men had their second encounter at Extreme Rules.
I fail to see what the reasoning behind this match is, or the underlying storyline trying to be addressed. At WrestleMania, it was about John Cena trying to keep his morality in check as he battled the one man who could (apparently) bring out his dark side. At Extreme Rules, inside a Steel Cage, it was about whether or not John Cena could prevent Bray Wyatt’s message from spreading to the masses (which it had been doing already, and still does now).
So here’s my question; is this really about seeing who the better man is between Bray Wyatt and John Cena? Sure enough, Wyatt has made it a priority to let everyone know that John Cena is a liar, whose ‘Hustle, Loyalty, Respect’ message has been nothing but garbage, pumped through our television screens by guys like Jerry Lawler for 10 years so we’d go out and buy a t-shirt. Ask the majority of people in a WWE crowd, and they’ll tell you the same thing!
To be perfectly honest, I feel like they’ve been tossing the story behind this rivalry around like a hot potato, and right now I don’t think anyone really gives a shit. What I do care about, however, is the fact that the WWE needs to find a way to have Bray Wyatt lose on Sunday without looking any worse for wear, and I just don’t think they can do that.
This whole thing would’ve gone a lot smoother had Wyatt won at WrestleMania, because despite winning at Extreme Rules, he used a child to do it after Cena had already laid out all three members of the Wyatt Family. In my eyes, while Wyatt may be going into this match with bucket-loads of talent, charisma and the ability to kick Cena’s teeth down his throat, the one thing he lacks right now is credibility against John Cena.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be fantastic if Wyatt won this Sunday, but the sad thing is that it would be seen as an upset. Wyatt looks big and tough, but he’s got a lousy track record against John Cena on Pay-Per-View. And the only way he’s going to win is if the Wyatt family helps him, and I don’t think a 3-on-1 victory is much to brag about.
I would love to see Bray Wyatt get a believable win on his own here at Payback, but I really don’t see it happening. Expect Cena to either pull off an impressive spot with an Attitude Adjustment off a Tractor or some shit, or take the coward’s way out by duct-taping his opponent’s feet together, because WE’VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.
Winner: John Cena
Daniel Bryan’s Decision
Okay, so some of you may not know that this Sunday, Daniel Bryan has been given a choice. He can either surrender the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, or his wife will be fired. And today I’m going to try to guess what he does.
At first I thought he definitely would, because it’s the noble thing to do, and like so many have said before, no one man is bigger than the WWE. It’s an ongoing cycle, some get lucky, some don’t, and unfortunately for Daniel Bryan, injury has cut his title reign short. Trust me, if it was someone like John Cena, we’d be screaming “the title belongs with someone like Bryan or Cesaro, this is so unfair!”
But then I remembered CM Punk keeping the title when he was injured for a month, and that turned out alright in the end, so maybe it could work. I don’t like the idea of championships not being defended on Pay-Per-View, and a ladder match at Money in the Bank to crown a new champion would be interesting.
This is quickly becoming a storyline in the WWE, going back to the roots of Daniel Bryan constantly being screwed by WWE management. But now you can’t blame them. Punk was out due to an injured shoulder. This is Bryan’s neck we’re talking about here! I’m not sure about the legitimacy of the injury, but I reckon it’s not nearly as bad as they let on. I guess we’ll know if he hands over the gold.
Another spanner in the works was that I read online about Brie Bella considering retirement “soon”. Why stick around for a few extra weeks or months if you plan on giving it up? I’m pretty sure she could live off Daniel Bryan’s royalties alone, so it’s not like she needs to get money together before she retires. Maybe this whole thing is to get her off TV.
Then, what would make Daniel Bryan so selfish, as to actually sacrifice his own wife to hold onto the Championship? It’s quite a confusing matter, but I think he’s going to do it. He can have his rematch when he returns, but if he wasn’t going to be away for a while then this entire thing would be pointless.
It’s in Bryan’s best interest to rest up, heal to 100% and then return better than ever before, because we saw with Edge in 2011, what a neck injury can do to you, even several years later. It’s the most dangerous part of the body, and Bryan needs to take that into consideration.
I don’t know what the fate of the title will be, but up to me, I’d have Cesaro win it at Money in the Bank. And when Bryan comes back, they can have a few classic matches together before Bryan reclaims it.
Will Daniel Bryan give up the WWE World Heavyweight Championship…? Yes! Yes! Yes!
No Holds Barred Elimination Match: The Shield vs. Evolution
Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are an example of everything WWE does right. The company may screw a lot of stuff up, but some things they get spot on, and The Shield has proven time and time again that they are the best thing going in the WWE today. Months ago, we thought the Shield wouldn’t make it past Elimination Chamber without breaking up, but they’re still going strong as the top babyfaces we see each week.
Evolution on the other hand, while they may seem cool, calm and collected as they saunter to the ring in their suits and their shades, are some of the WWE’s most impactful guys in the last decade. Each with multiple world championships under their belt, Batista, Randy Orton and Triple H have shown that they are quite possibly the most destructive faction to ever set foot in a WWE ring… That was, until The Shield came along.
The impact that Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns made during their debut year was phenomenal, laying waste to guys like The Rock and The Undertaker, each winning a championship belt at last year’s Extreme Rules event. They’ve undoubtedly matched the chaos that Evolution brought to the table back in 2003 and 2004. Maybe they’ve not been as successful yet, but one cannot deny the sheer annihilation that follows The Shield into each and every episode of Raw or Smackdown.
And since we’re on the topic of Extreme Rules, when these two larger-than-life teams collided for the very first time, they left it all in the arena and pulled out the match of the night by far. The best thing about this rivalry is that it has transcended what’s best for business, or power, or control, or being the best at anything. These 6 men want to tear each other apart, ripping flesh from bone at any given opportunity, because they simply hate each other. The emotion in this feud has been remarkable!
And now, with no disqualifications, no count-outs and no strings attached, these guys will go at it for what I can only assume to be the final time. Each member of a team needs to be eliminated for that team to lose, which makes me think that this Sunday will be reminiscent of Survivor Series. Roman Reigns, as the last man on his team, took it to his opponents with a few emphatic spears and overcame the odds to be the sole survivor.
I reckon (although I hope I’m wrong), that Reigns will end up on his own after a gruelling contest in which his buddies are pinned, and will have to fend off Evolution all on his own. But this time I think Triple H will have the last laugh. I have a feeling this won’t be over after Sunday, although I’m not sure considering Batista’s situation, but I it continues, then I’m sure Evolution will want to bring it to a tie before their final encounter.
So making my prediction, I reckon Roman Reigns will be able to overcome 2 of his opponents with jaw-dropping, rib-crunching spears, before walking head-on into a sledgehammer and a pedigree for good measure. Evolution get their first win since returning, and The Shield have even more of a reason to be pissed. I like the sound of that.
Although with Money in the Bank next month, I reckon each member of The Shield will want to be involved in the race for that special briefcase, so perhaps this will be the final chapter in the story of Evolution and The Shield. Either way, I see Triple H coming out of this one with his shovel, eh, hand held high… hand.
Winner: Evolution
Sole Survivor: Triple H
And that does it! I want to thank everyone who’s stuck with me, not only by reading this whole article, but throughout the last few months or so. It’s been hard to write every week, what with stuff going on, but I’ve managed to get something up most of the time.
So thanks a lot. And I am looking forward to returning refreshed and revitalised in July, but until then, be sure to check out all the other fantastic writers here at SLTD Wrestling. They work so hard to get content out each week, and I have a lot of respect for them. It’s not as easy as it looks!
Also, the guys at SLTD Radio and MFX Podcast work their asses off trying to bring their podcasts to the site, so please do check those out. They’re always brilliant, hilarious and their collective knowledge of pro wrestling astonishes me.
If you happened to enjoy this article, feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter, and leave your comments down below. Any feedback is good feedback, even if you think I’m an idiot. I like to know these things. I often get people I know coming up and complimenting me on my work with the site, and I don’t even know where they find the articles, so it makes me happy to see people actually care about my passion for wrestling, and see it come through in my columns.
You can also go ahead and follow me on Twitter as well, @AdamOB_SLTD, in case you want to talk wrestling, my writing or anything at all. I’m almost always about!
Thanks very much for reading, and I will see you all in July!
Self-Professed Conversational Wizard.
Admin, Editor and Writer for SLTD Wrestling.
Creator of 'Under the Spotlight'.
Studying Computing in Games Development.
Recent Comments