Hi guys, my name is Johnny Whyte and will be previewing and reviewing WWE PPVs for Wrestling Rambles from now until whenever Ray decides to ban me from the site. But before I get started previewing WWE Payback let me tell you a little bit about myself. To start things off, I’m 19 years old, I live in Ireland and most importantly I am a fan of professional wrestling, so enough of the chit chat, let’s get started.
Pre-Show: Sheamus v Damien Sandow
This feud has been mainly on Smackdown. It has been based on Sandow’s brain v Sheamus’ brawn. It’s disappointing and surprising that this match is on the pre-show. Disappointing because it has the potential to be a good PPV match and surprising because Sheamus is one of the top faces in the WWE and he’s on the pre-show. I like Sandow a lot and think he’d be worth a mid-card championship but he’s basically a jobber and that won’t change here sadly.
Prediction: Sheamus to win.
Wade Barrett(c) v Curtis Axel v The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship
This match was originally meant to be Wade Barrett v Fandango v The Miz but Fandango was removed from the match after suffering a concussion. My pick for this match is Curtis Axel, he has been on a role lately since his name change and more importantly Paul Heyman becoming his manager. I think it would be good for Barrett to lose the belt as well. It really has done nothing for him except he’s become a jobber to the main event guys.
Prediction: Curtis Axel to become the new Intercontinental Champion.
Kaitlyn(c) v AJ for the Divas Championship
This match has been expected for a while now. AJ has been the best diva in the WWE for about a year and I think it’s time she got the championship.
Prediction: AJ to become the new Divas Champion.
Randy Orton & Daniel Bryan v Romen Reigns & Seth Rollins(c) for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Two of the most entertaining things in the WWE are in this match and that would be Daniel Bryan and The Shield. Daniel Bryan has been on fire of late and is so over with the crowd and The Shield has been fantastic since they debuted at Survivor Series. I think WWE hinted at a possible Randy Orton heel turn when Orton RKO’d Bryan on last week’s Smackdown. This match could be match of the night in my opinion.
Prediction: The Shield retains the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Kane v Dean Ambrose(c) for the United States Championship
This match also has the potential to be match of the night. Kane has been doing some of his best in ring work in years since he started teaming with Bryan last year and Ambrose is just awesome in every aspect. I expect Ambrose to retain and The Shield domination of the WWE to continue.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose retains the United States Championship.
Chris Jericho v CM Punk
I really enjoyed the segments between Paul Heyman and Chris Jericho in the build-up to this match. This is the most interesting match on the card in my opinion. What’s most interesting is whether or not CM Punk shows up or not. Since the PPV is in Chicago, my guess is that CM Punk will show up but I doubt he will have the match with Chris Jericho because the match seems a bit thrown together and I think WWE are building to Paul Heyman and CM Punk splitting up which means we could see Punk v Lesnar at SummerSlam and that’s a match I would love to see.
Prediction: CM Punk walks out on the match.
Dolph Ziggler(c) v Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship
It is good to see Dolph Ziggler back because I’m a big fan of his. This feud has been interrupted because of the concussion Ziggler suffered against Jack Swagger. While Ziggler was out, Del Rio had a good 5 match series with Ziggler’s bodyguard Big E Langston. I don’t see Ziggler losing this match as I think WWE will turn Big E face and have him feud with Ziggler for the championship.
Prediction: Dolph Ziggler retains the World Heavyweight Championship.
John Cena(c) v Ryback in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWE Championship
As you can see I have written 2 out of 3 falls instead of 3 Stages of Hell because there is nothing hellish about this match whatsoever. The stipulations for this match are bland at best. The 1st fall is a Lumbarjack match, the 2nd fall is a Tables match and the 3rd fall is an Ambulance match. I fully expect Cena to walk out of Payback with the WWE title by 2 falls to 1. I predict Ryback to win the first and then obviously Cena to win the next 2. Hopefully this will be the end of the feud and we get to see Daniel Bryan pushed into the main event scene.
Prediction: John Cena retains the WWE Championship.
Well that’s all for now. I think the Payback card is pretty good and has the potential to be a good PPV. I will post a review of the PPV sometime next week. Please leave your comments and predictions below. You can follow me on twitter @JohnnyWhyte93 and site @WrestlinRambles.
Ringsidehustle.com 
Just don’t do a Gerry Pee and I won’t ban you from the site! haha.
I agree with all of your predictions except I’m not sure Punk will walk out on the match. I don’t see why he would. If he is to move away from Heyman, all he has to do is hit him or cut a pipebomb promo on him. I see him turning face and facing Lesnar with Heyman of course now against Punk.
Nice preview/predictions JW!
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The match contract has been signed for the match so technically doesn’t that mean the match has to happen? Couldn’t Jericho or Vince or whoever kayfabe fire Punk or Heyman for breach of contract?
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Gerry Pee?
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http://wrestlingrambles.com/2012/05/31/what-is-the-best-wrestling-company-in-the-world/
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Oh, I thought it was a porno act or something…
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Nope! Haha. He created a buzz that week but can’t tarnish the sites credibility.
That’s just some tweets we’ve gone from readers but trust me… It ain’t easy getting credit like that and I’m proud we have over the last two years. It’s because we were careful choosing writers and kept the site spoiler/bullshit free. We write/read/discuss something we love…that’s all that matters for WR. I can’t have writers making up figures like he did.
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Today, Wrestling Rambles. Tomorrow…still Wrestling Rambles, but with more fans.
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I’m confused…what did this Pee guy do (Pee…what an unfortunate last name)?
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I doubt that was his name! It was an online name I’d say. He reported false figures and presented them as facts.
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Probably…like I’m not really named after a beer keg. Just an odd name to pick.
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I have a different theory about the Sheamus-Sandow match. Everyone assumes this is bad for them because they are on the “pre-show”. I don’t think that. I think WWE wants people to care more about the pre-show and that’s why they added this match. They changed the name too…it’s “Kickoff to [insert PPV name here]” now. I think this match is more important now. It’s not just a mid-card match on the PPV now…it’s the main event of Kickoff to Payback and it might get more time now. And they got an important job: getting Chicago ready for Payback. This is good for WWE. I expect an entertaining 10 minute match that makes people want to watch the pre-show more often and makes some people decide to order Payback at the last minute.
Interesting that you think Kane vs. Ambrose is a possible MotN contender. I’m not expecting a great match, but I’m looking forward to seeing what Ambrose does in his Chicago PPV debut. If he wins, that’s a bigger win than his win over Kofi and it will be the biggest singles win of his WWE career so far.
As for the Punk walks out thing, all PPVs have three main event matches. A Punk walk-out would mean this PPV only has two main event matches so that’s not going to happen. There’s no one of top quality who could replace Punk unless Lesnar makes a surprise appearance.
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Agree about the Sheamus/Sandow match.
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Can’t see Punk walking out in Chicago. I doubt he’d ever wanna do that.
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Tony – I read one of your keg stand columns again a few weeks back at your site, you should do one every now and then!
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