WWE Payback Preview

After a three year absents, Payback returns to the WWE Network on Sunday. This will be the sixth event in Payback chronology and it will take place inside the ThunderDome - at the Amway Center, in Orlando Florida. The pay-per-view was only announced two weeks ago and takes place a week after SummerSlam.

Despite the show being hastily announced the card looks good and features the in-ring return of Roman Reigns, The Big Dog's first match February 28th.

Payback will be the fifth event inside the ThunderDome, the virtual fan viewing experience, and the shows have become more of a spectacle since the WWE moved out of the Performance Centre - nine day ago. The pyro, fan screen and entrances have given the shows a freshness - the rating for Raw and SmackDown have increased since WWE switched venues.  

The event is on the award winning WWE Network and the pre-show will begin at 23:00, British Summer Time, with the main card starting a hour later.

Apollo Crews (c) Vs. Bobby Lashley (United States Championship Match). 

The issues between The Hurt Business and Apollo Crews have gone on since July - when the United States champion declined MVP's offer to join his faction. 

Since then - Crews has beaten Shelton Benjamin and MVP, on several occasion, with his most recent win over the latter occurring on the SummerSlam pre-show. The one man who Crews hasn't beaten is Bobby Lashley and it seems The All Mighty has Crews' number, he's put him in the Full Lashley submission and left him laying on several occasions. Lashley once again got the better of the United States champion, on the August 17th edition of Raw, when he pinned Crews to end a Six Man Tag Team Elimination match.

Both of these men are powerhouses and on the last Raw before Payback - they wanted to see who the stronger of the two is. They met in an Arm Wrestling contest, hosted by WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, and Crews outsmarted his foe to win. After getting his hand raised, Lashley attempted a sneak attack on Crews but the United States Champion was alert and managed to fight him off. As the other members of The Hurt Business made their way to the ring, to ambush Crews, he took them out with a dive over the top rope.

At SummerSlam, The Hurt Business was banned from ringside, but that is not the case this Sunday and they will come into play at the finish of this match. 

MVP has been trying to get Cedric Alexander to join his stable for weeks and he will finally be convinced at Payback - Alexander will turn heel and cost Crews the title.

Winner: Bobby Lashley. 

Dominik & Rey Mysterio Vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy.

After having his first match, in the WWE at SummerSlam, Dominik Mysterio will have a third contest in a week this Sunday. 

Dominik was brilliant on his debut and his match with his dad, against the same opponents on Raw last week, was interrupted by the group know as RETRIBUTION - hence this rematch.

This history between these four men is well documented - Seth Rollins removed Rey's eye, at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, while The Monday Night Messiah and his Disciple brutally beat Dominik with a kendo stick on the August 10th episode of Raw. The Mysterio's got some revenge on Rollins and Murphy, seven days later, when they used a kendo stick to fend off their rivals. 

Rollins and Murphy have had the better of this feud - Rollins has beaten father and son in singles matches and left them laying on occasions. The Mysterio's are due, excuse the pun, some 'Payback' and that should come at this event. I expect Murphy to be pinned by Dominik and maybe a blow off match between Rollins and Rey as this feud has been going on since May and all involved could do with fresh opponents.

Winners: Dominik & Rey Mysterio. 

King Corbin Vs. Matt Riddle.

The issues between King Corbin and Matt Riddle began after Riddle was on of the WWE Superstars who attacked The King - after he made disparaging comments about The Undertaker on The Deadman's appreciation night, on the 26th June episode of SmackDown.

A week later - Corbin interrupted Riddle, while he was cutting a promo, and told The Original Bro that his actions were "disrespectful" and he should "bow down to the king". Corbin let Riddle know "he didn't like him" and "nobody wanted" on the blue brand. No one to be patronized, Riddle offered to fight Corbin there and then but the former United States champion wasn't fond of the idea and left the ring.

On the July 17th episode of SmackDown, Riddle lost to AJ Styles, and after the match - Corbin attacked him from behind and left him laying with a End of Days. This rivalry was heating up and Corbin had the upper hand.

After that beatdown, Riddle was irate, and called Corbin out a week after being blindsided. Corbin came out to the entrance way, while Riddle was in the ring, and told him "he doesn't know how things work in his kingdom" and he "needs to be sent back to NXT for more seasoning". Riddle said "he wasn't one of Corbin's subjects in his made up kingdom" and wanted to fight right now. Corbin was hesitant and offered a "king's ransom" to anyone who took Riddle out. Tony Nese, who had just lost to The Bro Who Runs The Show, tried to collect but was taken out with a roundhouse kick.

Shorty G was the next wrestler to try and get the King's Ransom, him and Corbin set a trap for the former NXT Tag Team Champion and Corbin assaulted Riddle from behind with his scepter.

On the last stop before Payback, Riddle beat Shorty G and fought off a sneak attack from Corbin to stand tall before their match this Sunday.

This feud has been booked well but I'm ready for this match to be a one and done. This is Riddle's main roster singles pay-per-view debut, he should go over.

Winner: Matt Riddle.

Big E Vs. Sheamus.

Both of these men consider themselves 'leaders' of the SmackDown lockeroom and have different ways of countering the threat of the group know as RETRIBUTION. Big E wants to go toe-to-toe with them while Sheamus wants to play the long game.

After the renegades attacked Big E and John Morrison, on the August 14th episode of SmackDown, the powerhouse of The New Day and Sheamus had words backstage with the latter telling the former Intercontinental Champion that he was "nothing" with Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston and he was "vulnerable" without them. Big E said he "wasn't alone" as he had the backing of the SmackDown superstars. 

The two went one-on-one, a week after their verbal confrontation, and Big E won a back and forth match after surprising his rival with a roll up.

WWE likes 50/50 booking but Big E is in the middle of a singles push - while Sheamus has no real direction at the moment. Big E should win here and go onto a new feud.

Winner: Big E

Sasha Banks and Bayley (c) Vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (WWE Women's Tag Team Championship). 

The cracks in the partnership between The Golden Role Models have appeared more and more since Sasha Banks lost the Raw Women's Championship to Asuka - at SummerSlam. When Bayley faced The Empress of Tomorrow, on that show, she won due to Banks "taking a bullet" for her best friend however when it was time to return the favour - the SmackDown Women's Champion did not.

Banks and Bayley defending their titles, was the first match announced for Payback, but their opponents were revealed on the go-home Raw before the pay-per-view. On that show, Baszler went one on one with Bayley and Jax interfered to cost The Queen of Spades the match. When The Irresistible Force was about to put a beating on Baszler, Banks and Bayley egged her on, but the former Raw Women's Champion doesn't take directions from anyone and she turned her attentions to the tag team champions. Baszler joined her and they stared Banks and Bayley down - the champions did not want to get physical and retreated to the backstage area. Later in the night, Jax admitted she wanted the titles and told Baszler to "follow her lead" and pushed the former NXT Women's Champion. Baszler responded with a hard slap to the face.

If you look for the word 'random' in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. The two women have been engaged in a physical feud lately and suddenly find themselves as the number one contenders for the Women's Tag Team Championships. Baszler tapped out Bayley, when she teamed with Asuka, two weeks ago but this match has come from left field. 

Despite clear distention between Sasha Banks and Bayley - they will find a way to retain their titles at Payback as Jax and Baszler will imploded from within. The Golden Role Models will face off soon but the more immediate rivalry is between their opponents.

Winners: Sasha Banks and Bayley.  

Keith Lee Vs. Randy Orton.

Less than seven days after making his Raw debut, Keith Lee will go one-on-one with Randy Orton - on his main roster pay-per-view debut.

These two paths first crossed when Lee confronted Orton on last week's Raw, due to the punt kick's The Viper hit on Lee's friend Drew McIntyre, earlier on that show. Lee stuck up for the WWE Champion and challenged the former 13-time world champion for a match - there and then. Orton did not respond immediately but they did face each other later that night, with Lee making a good impression until McIntyre interference caused a disqualification. 

After the Lee Vs. Orton match, The Scottish Psychopathy was being interviewed backstage, and Orton struck again with a third punt kick. An incensed Lee vowed to get 'Payback' on his friends behalf and the rematch was made official.

This match is intriguing as The Limitless One has just been called up to the main roster and Orton is in the middle of a fierce rivalry with McIntyre - it's a contest that could go either way. Lee could lose and look strong in defeat, a defeat to a star like Orton won't be damaging in the long run. Other than his loss to McIntyre, at SummerSlam, Orton has been stacking up wins - another one will follow this Sunday, with an inevitable rematch with McIntyre on the horizon.

Winner: Randy Orton.

'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt (c) Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Braun Strowman (No Holds Barred Triple Threat Match for the Universal Championship).

When Roman Reigns returned to the WWE, for the first time since March at SummerSlam, nobody saw it coming. Reigns destroyed 'The Fiend' and Braun Strowman, after the former had recaptured the Universal Championship and held the title above his head as the show went off the air. The Big Dog made his intentions clear - he wanted the title he was forced to relinquish, in October 2018, back.

On the go home SmackDown before Payback, Mr. McMahon told Adam Pearce his job for the night was to get all three men to sign the contract for this match. 

'Postman Pearce' managed to locate Bray Wyatt's Firefly Funhouse and got his signature. After Strowman made quick work of Drew Gulak, he also signed on the dotted line. Pearce knocked on Reigns' lockeroom several times but he didn't  answer until the last five minutes of the show. When he finally did - Reigns looked at the document and said he would sign it "after a few changes were fixed" and declared he would "be at Payback and wreck everyone and leave as the new Universal Champion". Reigns added "that is not a prediction, that's a spoiler" and the camera panned to Paul Heyman - The Big Dog is now a Paul Heyman guy. 

                              

These three man are no strangers to each other - Reigns and Wyatt had a long feud in 2015 ("anyone but you Roman"), Reigns and Strowman beat the hell out of each other throughout 2017 and Wyatt and Strowman have been embroiled in a bitter battle since May this year. This match will be brilliant, it will be non stop action from bell to bell, the No Holds Barred stipulation makes the contest exciting.

'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt won the Universal Championship, five days ago, I can't see him losing the title so soon after re-capturing it. Strowman was a good champion but it's clear Reigns and Wyatt is the long term plan, it was the scheduled feud before The Big Dog went on hiatus, so I expect Wyatt to pin The Monster Among men and him and Reigns face off for the title.

Winner: 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt.

 

WWE Backlash Preview.

After a two year absents, Backlash returns to the WWE Network this Sunday. It will be fifteenth event in Backlash chronology and will emanate from the WWE Performance Center, in Orlando Florida.

The show will feature Randy Orton against Edge - a showdown the WWE are calling "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever", Drew McIntyre defending his WWE Title against Bobby Lashley and The Miz & John Morrison challenging Braun Strowman for his Universal Title.

To ensure their match was the best it could be, The Viper and The Rated R Superstar filmed their contest earlier this week - the rest of the card will be broadcast live as it happens.

The WWE Network will show the event and it is also available on BT Sport Box Office for £14.95 - the pre-show begins at 23:00 (British Summer Time), 7pm Eastern and 4pm Pacific.

Not much is expected from the show, it feels like a filler event, hopefully the superstars pull out all the stops to make it a night to remember.

Asuka (c) Vs. Nia Jax (Raw Women's Championship Match).

When Asuka won the Money In The Bank Ladder Match, everyone wondered when she would cash in her title shot on Becky Lynch - little did we know that The Man was about to become a mum and Asuka had won the Raw Women's Championship instead of the opportunity to challenge for the title.

A week after becoming champion, Asuka held a title celebration but she was interrupted by Nia Jax - who claimed The Empress of Tomorrow "lucked her way into the greatest temp job ever", because of Lynch's pregnancy, and she "didn't deserve the title." Asuka is a woman of few words and hit Jax with a barrage of kicks that sent the Irresistible Force out of the ring. That wasn't the last time things got physical between the two as later that night, Asuka attacked Jax backstage in retaliation for Jax ambushing Kairi Sane earlier that evening.

Seven days later, Jax won a triple threat number one contenders match to become the first challenger for Asuka's title.

While cutting a promo on the June 1st edition of Raw, Jax reiterated her belief that Asuka "didn't earn" the Raw Women's Championship and claimed she was the "victim" of multiple attacks from Asuka and her tag team partner Kairi Sane. Jax beat Sane in a match later that night and looked like she was going to attack The Pirate Princess afterwards but Asuka made the save and Jax backed off however that wasn't the last time we would see her during the show. In the middle of Asuka's match with Charlotte Flair, Asuka's music was played and Jax came down to the ring in the Raw Women's Champion's mask and face paint. Jax, clearly angered by Asuka getting involved in her business earlier, left her laying after a vicious attack.

On the last Raw before their encounter at Backlash, Jax once again got the better of Asuka, when she hit her with a Samoan Drop - after costing her a match against Flair.

Since returning from injury, WWE have done a great job of building Jax up as a the dominate woman she is and she has got the better of Asuka the last two weeks however the two time women's champion has only been had the title for 32 days and has been one of the red brands most valuable players during the 'Empty Arena' era. After being without a singles title for a year, Asuka deserves a long reign and will retain her championship this Sunday.

Winner: Asuka.

Sasha Banks & Bayley (c) Vs. The IIconics Vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross (Women's Tag Team Championship Match).

Four teams have captured the women's titles since they were introduced at Elimination Chamber last year and three of those team are in this match.

Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross were in the middle of their second reign until the June 5th edition of Smackdown, where they lost the titles to Sasha Banks and Bayley in the main event of that show. They held the titles since WrestleMania and will want to become the first ever three time women's champions as soon as possible.

After being off television for six months, The IIconics made their long awaited return to the WWE on May 11th, and immediately positioned themselves in the title picture with a win over Bliss and Cross who were champions at the time. Peyton Royce and Billie Kay want to be taken seriously, now they have comeback, and there is no bigger way to make a statement than becoming women's tag champions again.

Despite Bayley's overzealous nature, that usually results in Sasha Banks being booked into matches she has no desire to be in, The Boss has had her partners back and has helped The Role Model retain the Smackdown Women's Championship on several occasions. Banks pinned Cross to win these title and will not want to lose them so soon after gaining her first piece of gold since last year's WrestleMania. The women's division needs long term tag champions, so it makes sense for Banks and Bayley to retain on Sunday.

Winners: Sasha Banks & Bayley.

Apollo Crews (c) Vs. Andrade w/Zelina Vega (United States Championship Match). 

It seems like Apollo Crews and Andrade have been feuding forever, this will be their sixth match (including tags), in the last two months.

Crews defeated Andrade for the United States title, on the May 25th edition of Raw, and the Tranquilo one gained this opportunity after winning a triple threat match - that included Kevin Owens and Angel Garza.

Even before he won the US title, Crews was gaining momentum, he qualified for the Money in The Bank Ladder Match only to miss out due to a 'injury' caused by Andrade and he hasn't loss a match since returning. Crews has been on the main roster since 2015 and this is the first time he's been pushed like the tremendous athlete that he is.

Andrande has been in limbo recently, his issues with stable mates Garza and Zelina Vega seems to have distracted him from what really matters and that's the US Title.

These two have good chemistry together, this will be another fine match between them. Crews will keep hold of his title with a feud with Owens on the horizon.

Winner: Apollo Crews.

Braun Strowman (c) Vs. The Miz & John Morrison (Universal Championship Match). 

When Braun Strowman decided to team with Otis, against The Miz & John Morrison on the post Money In The Bank episode of Smackdown, he upset the duo - who vowed to make The Monster Among Men life "hell" for getting involved in their business.

The following week, The Miz & John Morrison "roasted" Strowman in a edition of  'The Dirt Sheet' and Strowman defeated The Miz in a one-on-one match later in the show. After that match, Morrison challenged the big man to a Handicap Match at Backlash, a challenge he promptly accepted.

Once and a while, WWE like to try their hand at comedy and this was evident on the 5th June edition of Smackdown.

Throughout the show, The Miz & John Morrison played several 'pranks' on the Universal Champion including tampering with his protein shake, attempting to slime him and destroying his car. However, as the saying goes, he who laughs last, last best, and Strowman got his revenge on the self-proclaimed "Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century" by flipping over the van they were in.

All three men have made the best out of this situation but it's not ideal. Strowman shouldn't be feuding with a tag team when Smackdown have heels like Cesaro, Nakamura, King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler on the brand - but that goes to show WWE have done a poor job in building credible opponents for the champion.

Strowman will win this match and hopefully have a rematch with 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt when the latter returns to television.

Winner: Braun Strowman.

Jeff Hardy Vs. Sheamus.

While WWE were showing Jeff Hardy 'redemption' videos, ahead of his comeback, Sheamus was irate at the fact the company were showcasing a "junky" rather than the Irishman himself. When Hardy did return, on May 8th, he called Sheamus out and the two brawled - with Hardy getting the better of his foe by hitting him with a Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb.

More verbal back and forth occurred between the two until they finally met in the ring on 22nd May, where Hardy beat Sheamus in the first round of the Intercontinental Title tournament.

Things took a spectacular turn the following week when Smackdown began with the Performence Center car park resembling a scene from the television show Cops as The Charismatic Enigma was taken away in handcuffs after his rental car was involved in apparent hit and run. The officers accused Hardy of being "drunk" and he was arrested however while in custody - Hardy passed several sobriety tests and was released. He returned during the main event of the show - costing The Celtic Warrior his match against Daniel Bryan. A groggy Hardy briefly attacked Sheamus but he managed to escape before any severe damage was done.

When given the chance to explain what had happened the week prior, Hardy said he didn't "slip" into his "old ways" and claimed he was "framed". Hardy said eyewitness accounts stated that the person who caused the crash got out of his car and ran - the man had "red hair and a red beard". Sheamus interrupted and said Hardy was "doing what he always did", blaming others, and Hardy's wife and daughters were used to him "disappointing them". The two came blows and Sheamus hit Hardy with a Brogue Kick then proceeded to throw him into the plexiglass that surrounds ringside - Sheamus stood over his rival as the show went into the commercial break.

On the last stop before Backlash, Hardy and Sheamus were scheduled to sign the contract to make their match official. Sheamus, who still doesn't think his adversary has conquered his demons, claimed he would only face Hardy if he had "assurances" that the former three time world champion was "clean" of all substances and demanded he provide a urine sample immediately. Hardy obliged with Sheamus' request but threw the sample in his foes face. Later in the night, the two had a pull a part brawl backstage.

This has been a well drawn out feud, with WWE bringing Hardy's real life issues into it, to give the rivalry extra spark. Both men have recently returned to television and could do with a win, as Hardy beat Sheamus in their last encounter, it would be just like the WWE's 50/50 booking to have the latter win this time and end the feud at the next pay-per-view - which is Extreme Rules.

Winner: Sheamus.  

Randy Orton Vs. Edge.

After their brutal Falls Count Anywhere match at WrestleMania 36, you would think Edge and Randy Orton would be done with each other but that is not the case.

On May 11th episode of Raw, Edge made his first appearances since defeating Orton on the Grandest Stage of Them All, and was going to up date the WWE Universe on what his future plans were until he was interrupt by the master of the RKO. The Viper gave Edge credit for his win but questioned if had the "guts" to face him again and challenged the 11 time world champion to a "straight up wrestling match" at Backlash. Carly Courso, who was conducting the interview with Edge, asked him if he accepted the challenge but he did not respond. Courso than claimed if Edge did agree to the match, it could possibly "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" - a tag line we would hear constantly over the next four weeks.

A week later, Orton cut a promo saying that he didn't need weapons to defeat Edge because he is the "superior athlete" and his former tag team partner's "grit" and "passion" has faded away and been replaced with "doubt". Orton explained that "wrestling" in the essence of everything he does and he will "prove he is the better man" at Backlash. Edge made his way to the ring and responded to Orton's verbiage - saying Orton was "resting on his laurels" and "collecting a paycheck". After further baiting from Orton, Edge accepted the challenge and Orton left the ring with a smug look on his face - he got what he wanted.

           

As Backlash drew closer, the war of words continued between the two, with Orton vowing to "embarrass" Edge and send him home to his wife and children a "broken man". On Christian's 'Peep Show', Captain Charisma questioned if Edge was ready for this Sunday and claimed The Rated R-Superstar couldn't have The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever "in his prime". Edge reassured his best friend that he was ready and would defeat Orton at Backlash.

This will be a great match between two of the best ever but expectations are so high, due to "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" tagline, that Edge and Orton are in a no win situation. This match has been filmed already, so it should be a flawless encounter that everyone can sit back and enjoy. Edge will win and hopefully move on to feud with fresh opponents like Seth Rollins or AJ Styles (Brand to Brand Invitational).

Winner: Edge.

Drew McIntyre (c) Vs Bobby Lashley (WWE Championship Match).

Since aligning himself with Montel Vontavious Porter, Bobby Lashley has been on a rampage on Raw. MVP has got inside the head of The Almighty and reminded him how dominate he could be with a little focus and let him know that it had been 13 years since he last competed for the WWE Championship.

While the current champion, Drew McIntyre defeated King Corbin, Lashley and MVP were scouting the Mayor of Claymore Country from the entrance way. While celebrating his win, McIntyre spotted Lashley and told him he's been waiting for him to become a "killer" and to "step up" if he wants a shot at the title.

On May 25th, MVP invited McIntyre into his VIP Lounge and promised the Scotsman that he would be personal responsible for him losing the WWE title. Sick of all the talking, McIntrye hit MVP with a Claymore Kick as Lashley made his way towards the ring. McIntrye begged Lashley to get inside the squared circle but the former Intercontinental Champion was more concerned with getting his advisor backstage. Later that night, after Lashley and MVP lost to The Street Profits, McIntyre and the number one contender for his title engaged in a wild brawl that was eventually halted by Performance Center trainees - who were acting as member of the WWE Universe.

The following week, McIntyre beat MVP in short order but was ambushed by Lashley after the match. Lashley applied a Full Nelson on the WWE Champion - who could not break the hold as Raw went off the air.

On the go home Raw before Backlash, McIntyre was once again a guest on MVP's VIP Lounge and put over the Full Nelson, saying he was "still feeling the effects" of the move seven days later. He told MVP that the only way Lashley was going to get his title was to "pry it from his cold dead hands".

Later that night, Lashley would use the aforementioned Full Nelson to gain victory for him and MVP against The Viking Raiders, but he refused to release the hold after the bell had rung. McIntyre, who was at ringside for that match, jumped into the ring and hit Lashley with a Claymore Kick - that sent him sprawling towards the entrance way but didn't not knock him off his feet.

Lashley has been impressive recently but McIntyre has won his last 25 singles matches and that run will continue this Sunday. Lana may play a role in this match, her distraction could cost her husband and that could prompt him to finally get rid of her.

Winner: Drew McIntyre.