10 Early Match Predictions For WWE Payback 2023

WWE’s next upcoming PPV is Payback, a show which is making a return to the schedule for the first time since 2020. That was a historic event looking back, with it marking the start of Roman Reigns’ record-breaking Universal Championship reign. This will be the seventh event, and going in there are many potential matches.

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When looking at WWE’s current landscape on Raw and SmackDown, there are various feuds that could well make the PPV, though, with WWE’s events under Triple H featuring smaller cards, some of these matches could well miss out. It will be interesting to see which of these match predictions end up making the show.

10 Bianca Belair Vs. Charlotte Flair

WWE have been under a lot of criticism in recent months with the booking of the women’s division, and to bounce back from that they need to build some strong non-title women’s feuds which can be represented on PPV.

Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair have been at each other’s throats since Flair’s return from a break, and it would make sense for their animosity to continue outside the WWE Women’s Title scene. It would also be fresh to see Flair outside the title picture for once.

9 Edge Vs. Grayson Waller

Edge is set to return to WWE soon for his 25th Anniversary Celebration, though there isn’t anyone who could be a clear opponent for him if he sticks around for Payback. Grayson Waller is the most obvious choice, continuing the bad blood they built up not long back.

A big major PPV match for the young star against a veteran like Edge would be beneficial for both men, with it giving Edge something new to do and providing Waller’s first steps in his climb up the card.

8 LA Knight Vs. The Miz

On the post-SummerSlam Raw, The Miz and LA Knight clashed in an electric promo, kickstarting a rivalry between the pair. The Miz may not be the most star-studded opponent for Knight, but as Miz has shown so many times over the years, he can build a great story that can be paid off on PPV.

Giving LA Knight two PPV wins a row would be a smart move in his ascent up the card, continuing to build upon his recent momentum in which he has become one of the most over stars on the whole roster.

7 Bobby Lashley & Street Profits Vs. The O.C.

Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits recently aligned on SmackDown, and on their first night together they targeted the likes of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. If this trio wants some momentum, a PPV match against The O.C. would be a great call, and it may be the direction Triple H goes in.

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This could easily be a feud that stays on SmackDown, with perhaps a singles match between Bobby Lashley and AJ Styles being the PPV direction, but either would help with establishing the new group.

6 Iyo Sky Vs. Asuka

Iyo Sky recently cashed in her Money in the Bank contract, dethroning Bianca Belair to win the WWE Women’s Championship. However, it would make sense to hold off on a Belair match given that they fought on PPV recently at Backlash, with instead a match against Asuka being the choice for Payback.

Asuka will still want a rematch for the gold she lost, and a bout between the pair could well steal the show. The pair have yet to have a singles match on WWE programming, so this would be something new and exciting.

5 Gunther Vs. Chad Gable

The wheels are well and truly rolling on a big title match between Gunther and Chad Gable, with fans really getting behind the Alpha Academy member in a big way, with him now being the official number one contender.

Gunther is incredibly close to being the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, and one more show-stealing PPV defense would be the best way to get one step closer to making history.

4 Cody Rhodes Vs. Finn Balor

WWE needs to keep finding ways to keep Cody Rhodes busy ahead of an expected push towards Roman Reigns again next year, and with Judgment Day as the top heel faction on Raw, it would make sense for Rhodes to fight Finn Balor.

Balor is on the back of a big loss to Seth Rollins so he is out of the title scene for now, opening him up for a short-term program with Rhodes at Payback. Rhodes has been involved with the Judgment Day off and on this year, and now feels like the time that a full-on feud will develop.

3 Rhea Ripley Vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez have been feuding since before the SummerSlam 2023 event, and due to the pair missing out on the recent big show, it feels like a certainty that the pair will make it onto the Payback card instead.

This rivalry has developed and become more personal in recent weeks with a lot of backstage attacks and brawls, so expect a showdown for the PPV.

2 Seth Rollins Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura has been picking up wins and recently solidified a heel turn when he attacked Seth Rollins on the post-SummerSlam edition of Monday Night Raw. Whilst no one is expecting Nakamura to win, a feud and match with Rollins will no doubt be fun.

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It will give Rollins another strong name to add to the list of those who he has faced during this title reign as the World Heavyweight Champion. It isn’t the most star-studded match, but it looks like the direction WWE is headed for Payback.

1 Jimmy Uso Vs. Jey Uso

WWE has two options, they can either hold off and stretch out this feud until WrestleMania or instead make it a series with several matches. The latter seems like the most obvious choice for WWE, with it being a long time until WrestleMania still.

WWE may decide to write Jey Uso off TV for a little while, but if the pair remain on television over the coming weeks, then this match will likely be the main event of the show, even with world title matches elsewhere on the card.

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