WWE PayBack 2023 is next month, and WWE has already built up a plethora of potential blockbuster matches for this “premium live event.” In fact, there are already ongoing Raw feuds, such as Gunther vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Title and LA Knight vs. The Miz.
However, those feuds in particular are unlikely to make it on PPV, as they are quite predictable. Although it would be nice for Chad Gable to win the title in Kurt Angle’s hometown of Pittsburgh, Gunther won’t lose that belt until he surpasses the Honky Tonk Man Record, and LA Knight will obviously beat The Miz not only because Miz loses almost every match nowadays but also because LA Knight needs to continue his momentum from his SummerSlam Battle Royal victory, if he wants a chance at a future title opportunity, preferably U.S. or Intercontinental.
As for the potential PPV matches themselves, if anyone truly has the clairvoyance to predict this entire match card correctly from beginning to end, it’s the almighty Mark Justice, who correctly predicted that Roman Reigns would bury Jey Uso and that Iyo Sky would cash in at SummerSlam.
With that being said, the following will provide some rapid-fire match card predictions for what should be a decent fallout PPV from SummerSlam: WWE PayBack 2023.
WWE PayBack 2023 is scheduled to take place on September 2, 2023, live on Peacock. Here are some rapid-fire match card predictions for WWE PayBack 2023.
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura [World Heavyweight Championship]
It would be wise for Shinsuke Nakamura to solidify his heel turn on Seth Rollins and finally win his first world title in WWE. However, since Rollins barely has any heel challengers left, it seems that WWE will milk this storyline into a trilogy of sorts for the fall. These two wrestled on two separate occasions: (1) WWE Survivor Series 2018, and (2) WWE Fastlane 2021. Seth Rollins has Nakamura’s number because he won both of those matches, and it is likely history will repeat itself here, as Rollins is still on his journey to battling Roman Reigns at Survivor Series.
WWE will need a babyface champion to battle the heel Roman Reigns at Survivor Series, so expect Rollins to get his revenge for Nakamura’s attacks and prevail against the nascent heel, Nakamura, in what should be a compelling opener to this B-level PLE. It is also possible that Nakamura could win this match via DQ after playing mind games with Rollins. As mentioned earlier, this would be a feasible way to stretch out this feud into October and assure that Nakamura gets a rematch at FastLane, a PPV where both superstars already have a history of competing against each other.
Prediction: Seth Rollins
Becky Lynch & Shayna Baszler vs. Trish Stratus & Zoey Stark [Tag Match]
Becky Lynch was originally scheduled to battle Trish Stratus at SummerSlam, but that match is instead taking place next week on Raw in Winnipeg, Canada. However, that would put Becky and Trish at 1-1. They still need to settle the score. While it would make sense for Lita to return, reunite with Becky Lynch, with whom she won the tag titles, and wrap up this storyline by avenging Trish Stratus for her backstage attack, it seems that Shayna Baszler joined this storyline somehow by defeating Zoey Stark on Raw and confronting Becky Lynch about a future match up.
As the old adage says, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Becky and Shayna have a history from their WrestleMania 36 title feud. Ever since that day, Baszler has been on a downward spiral. Now, Baszler is finally back on track after getting a huge win over Ronda Rousey at SummerSlam. Once she and Lynch co-exist to get Trish and Zoey out of their hair, they will feud once again in their quest for gold. Both Baszler and Lynch would be top babyfaces to challenge Rhea Ripley in the near future, so they will win here and move onto title contention.
Prediction: Becky Lynch & Shayna Baszler
Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, & Sami Zayn vs. Judgment Day [6-Man Tag Match]
Cody Rhodes is back to feuding with Judgment Day and Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn still have unfinished business with that same faction. It is likely that the WWE Universe will see Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn reunite for one more night against Judgment Day. However, Judgment Day will defeat them because they have lost way too much as a faction on Raw and need to earn a tag title rematch with a big victory here. Cody will be protected in defeat as long as he’s not pinned, and he can always get his win back in a singles match against Dirty Dom later.
Finn Balor and Mr. MITB Damian Priest, on the other hand, need to learn how to co-exist, and winning the tag titles together would help ease the tension they have due to the MITB Briefcase, as pointed out by JD McDonagh. This victory will lead them down that journey.
Prediction: Judgment Day
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez [World Women’s Championship]
Rhea Ripley was originally scheduled to battle Raquel Rodriguez at SummerSlam, but Ripley will likely defend her World Women’s Championship against Rodriguez at PayBack instead. Ripley was upset that Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were getting involved in her business by running in to save Natalya from her post-match attack. As payback, she screwed them out of their tag titles against Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville by attacking and even injuring both Rodriguez and Morgan. Ripley will run through Rodriguez first and then Morgan whenever she returns.
Before, Ripley had no challengers. But now, her path as a dominant champion looks a lot brighter. Once she is done running through Morgan and Rodriguez, she will have Baszler and Lynch to deal with by the end of 2023, going into the beginning of 2024 for WrestleMania season.
Prediction: Rhea Ripley
Iyo Sky (c) (w/Bayley) vs. Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Shotzi Blackheart vs. Zelina Vega [WWE Women’s Championship: 6-Pack Challenge]
As Raphael Garcia expressed, WWE has a major opportunity with Iyo Sky as the new champion of the SmackDown Women’s Division. The possibilities are endless. Asuka has a rematch clause after losing her title to Belair at SummerSlam. Bianca Belair also has a rematch clause after losing her newly won title to Iyo via the MITB Cash-In at SummerSlam.
Charlotte defeated Iyo Sky three weeks ago on SmackDown and still has an argument for a title shot. Zelina Vega also defeated Iyo Sky last week on SmackDown and thereby has an argument for a title shot. Shotzi Blackheart would be the shot in the dark here but she will eventually defeat Bayley as payback for shaving her head and have an argument for a title shot too.
If this 6-pack challenge happens, Iyo Sky will retain the title because she just won the title and needs to solidify her MITB cash-in with a huge win over all of these formidable contenders.
Prediction: Iyo Sky
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso [Grudge Match]
Jimmy Uso will defeat Jey Uso to solidify his heel turn and more importantly his betrayal of his brother. It is baffling that this Bloodline storyline is going through so many twists and turns just for the sake of stretching out the best storyline and probably the only good long-term storyline WWE has told in the past five years. However, it’s like beating a dead horse here. It is safe to say that the storyline has already gone stale. The honeymoon period of this storyline was gone ever since Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn won the tag titles at Mania.
This Bloodline dissension was on the verge of making sense until Jimmy Uso irrationally turned on Jey. Yes, there is an argument that Jimmy wanted to be the real tribal chief and was jealous that Jey was chosen by Roman, as Paul Heyman articulated months ago. However, Jey sacrificed that spot to reunite with Jimmy, and WWE just broke up one of the greatest tag teams of all time just so they can both lose to Roman Reigns in world title matches. That does not sound productive at all, and it will be even more counterproductive when Solo Sikoa inevitably carves out his own path.
This is no longer a riveting baseball game at the end of the 3rd inning. This has now become a directionless Soap Opera that airs on ABC at 3 pm in the afternoon. As Michael Cole has famously said in commentary, “Stop the pain.”
Prediction: Jimmy Uso
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