My predictions for WWE Payback

Another pay-per-view, another predictions blog entry. Let's do this.

Kick-off

Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow

They're calling the pre-show the "kick-off" now. I guess "pre-show" just didn't have good connotations to it anymore. Regardless of whatever it's called, this match is in the perfect slot to put Sheamus in a feud just because while Damien Sandow trudges around in the mid-card yet again. Give one of these guys a title shot already, sheesh.

Winner: Sheamus. They're just going to make him the super-warrior they always do in WWE.

Three Stages of Hell Match
for the WWE Championship

John Cena vs. Ryback

Extreme Rules could have been the place and time to end all this, but it ended in controversy instead. Ryback challenged Cena to an ambulance match, but Cena one-upped it all with a Three Stages of Hell match.

The first match will be a Lumberjack match. The second will be a Tables match. If both men are tied after the Tables match, the third stage will be the Ambulance match Ryback is clamoring for. There will be ambulances. Trust me.

Winner: Ryback. He had Cena where he wanted him last time. He can do it again. If the belt is to go around his waist, now would be the best time.

Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk

CM Punk finally returns to in-ring action for the first time in two months in front of a healthy Chicago crowd...and who better to do it with than Chris Jericho, who asked for this match directly from Paul Heyman to see who is truly "Best In The World."

Winner: CM Punk. I like both guys...honest! But CM Punk will be better than he was before the wear and tear on his knee that he finally had to fix. He needed the break after six years of breaking every rung on the wooden ladder he climbed to the top on. Now he needs the win to re-assert himself.

Triple Threat Match
for the WWE Intercontinental Championship

Wade Barrett vs. The Miz vs. Curtis Axel

No Fandango? Blame a concussion he suffered in the last few weeks on SmackDown for his absence here. It was then going to be just Barrett and Miz, but then Paul Heyman showed up to say that his newest client Curtis Axel is now in the running as per Vickie Guerrero. Michael McGillicutty, we hardly knew ye.

Winner: Curtis Axel. Barrett's done nothing but lose, and while I'd like to see Miz win, WWE has the perfect opportunity to push Axel to superstardom and give him the belt his father "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig made famous. Axel it is.

For the WWE Tag Team Championships

The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns)
vs.
Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan

You were expecting D-Bry and Kane? Sorry, but Vicki Guerrero gave it to D-Bry and Orton for beating The Shield on SmackDown...by disqualification. Meanwhile, Kane has to face Dean Ambrose for the United States title, which I'll go over later. The three men beat The Shield in six-man action on the SmackDown before Payback. Can they keep this going? We'll see.

Winner: The Shield. This will be a fun mach to look forward to, if you like Daniel Bryan. The Shield will get this one by hook or by crook somehow, even if it means having to bend the rules.

For the WWE United States Championship

Dean Ambrose vs. Kane

See the last match I mentioned. That pretty much sums this up.

Winner: Dean Ambrose. He's too over. While winning this could put Kane in the "all current belts" club with Big Show, it wouldn't make much sense to end Ambrose's reign as US champ so soon.

For the WWE Divas Championship

Kaitlyn vs. AJ Lee

Finally, finally, finally. The match we've been wanting to see ever since The Chickbusters broke up in 2012 and starting going at each other's throats due to AJ going cuckoo and having a screwed-up love life. We've had it before, but at least they'll do it right this time (I hope).

Oh, and the "secret admirer" going for Kaitlyn's affection was Big E Langston, who in turn was doing this with AJ Lee to play mind games with Kaitlyn, causing her to smack a referee and get fined $10,000. SWERVE!

Winner: AJ Lee. They've done nothing with Kaitlyn since she won it from the departing Eve Torres (besides this). Meanwhile, everyone wants AJ to have the belt. Let her have it. Let her eat cake.

For the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio

The stage is focused firmly on Ziggler and Del Rio, now that Swagger is suspended for 30 days following the pre-WrestleMania weed bust down in Mississippi, explaining the lack of Zeb Colter-ing on WWE programming while I save enquiring minds 99 cents on a psychic hotline (or an enormous four-figure tab on 1-900-909-9900, take your pick).

Winner: Ziggler. He hasn't even defended it once. Why end it now?

And there you have it...my predictions for Payback! Whaddya think?