Countdown to Payback 2020

The end of Banks and Bayley begins here with them losing the belts so that Vince McMahon can run his dysfunctional tag team angle for the 1001st time. Winners:  Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax.

WWE has a long history of mismatched tag team partners where the two wrestlers don’t get along, but somehow win the Tag Titles.  Jax and Baszler look like they may be continuing with that tradition here.  Plus losing the Women’s Tag Team Titles would be another step towards the Bayley vs. Banks program that has been slowly building over the last year.  All of that equates to Jax and Baszler winning the Women’s Tag Team Championship and eventually coming up with a name for their new tag team.

Shayna Bazler & Nia Jax – 150. Bayley & Sasha Banks +110. Winners: Shayna Bazler & Nia Jax

I’m going with the delayed inevitability factor here: Banks and Bayley will continue on their slow path of self-destruction, but it won’t culminate tonight. The very odd couple of Baszler & Jax will push them and the champs will nearly break, but will retain. Winners: Banks & Bayley

I am really enjoying this run by Apollo Crews as he is living up to the potential he always had in WWE. Lashley is the next to fall to Apollo. Winner: Apollo Crews

This is the match that should have taken place at SummerSlam.  It is almost certain that the Hurt Business will get involved in this match and somehow I have an inkling that Lashley will be the new US Champion by the end of this bout.

Apollo Crews + 200. Bobby Lashley -300. Winner: Bobby Lashley.

There’s no need to pull the rug out from under Crews’ feet here. He’s going strong and should be given the opportunity to get past Lashley in a clean fashion. Whenever I write a prediction that sounds sensible such as this one, though, I get really worried that the creative decision will go in the opposite direction. Winner: Apollo Crews

This is probably going to be the best match of the night, and Apollo will come out on top by using his speed and agility on top of his power to run circles around the strength-centered Lashley.

You can cross Strowman out of the picture so that leaves The Fiend and Roman Reigns. Would they just bury Bray Wyatt once again? You know the answer. Winner: Roman Reigns

The way Roman Reigns went after Wyatt and Strowman at the end of SummerSlam was more what a heel would do rather than the babyface that Reigns has been presented as for years.  If WWE keeps that up Reigns may finally have the chance to show a more well rounded persona to the WWE Universe.  The question though is who walks out of this match as Universal Champion.  If Wyatt doesn’t appear as “The Fiend” than it seems likely the Big Dog will be the one walking away with strap at the end of this one.

Roman Reigns -200. Bray Wyatt +150. Braun Strowman +500. Winner: Roman Reigns -200.

It was too bad seeing Wyatt have only a few moments to bask in a championship win before being interrupted by Reigns’ absurd claim that the belt has always been his. If they really are toying with a heel-ish Reigns, then a win by him here would only serve to turn The Fiend face by default and that makes no sense. Strowman, by the way, is just there to fill the ring. Winner: The Fiend

Since they’re developing a storyline with Alexa Bliss going a little crazy and being obsessed with The Fiend, I think they’ll keep him in the spotlight as champ for a while longer. Winner The Fiend

They changed his music and they changed his gear. Why WWE? Why? None of that takes away from Lee’s extraordinary, if only he didn’t cut promos like The Genius or a medieval knight. Lee should be the next big thing. Winner: No contest or DQ

There is absolutely no way Drew McIntyre doesn’t interfere in the outcome of this one.  In fact it seems pretty likely that McIntyre hits a Claymore on Orton allowing Keith Lee to put up his first victory on the main roster much to the Viper’s chagrin.

Keith Lee – 130. Randy Orton -110. Winner: Keith Lee.

Oh, just go all in and give Keith Lee the Funkasaurus gimmick and let Orton give him five RKOs – all of them outta nowhere. Or, book him in a way that honours his accomplishments in NXT along with his potential as a Monday night performer. Let’s put it this way: he had better win. Winner: Lee

I’m calling Lee as the winner simply because I don’t know what I’d do if he didn’t. Probably lose all hope in Vince McMahon. At least the little I have left. Winner: Lee

Bro, the King doesn’t stand a chance. Winner: Matt Riddle.

 This is a case of both Corbin and Riddle needing a victory and momentum going forward.  While I expect the majority of people to pick Riddle to win I’ll go with Corbin for the upset.

Matt Riddle – 170. King Corbin +130. Winner: Matt Riddle.

Against all odds, Corbin has grown on me a little bit lately. He has certainly shown more range in his character and ring-work than I ever expected from him. That being said, he doesn’t have “future superstar” affixed to him like Riddle does, so his job will be to look great at losing – which he’s pretty good at doing. Winner: Matt Riddle.

This whole storyline has been about whether Riddle belongs on SmackDown or not, and his win here will permanently cement him as a worthy and dangerous Friday night competitor. Winner: Matt Riddle

Big E as the WWE Universal Champion? I don’t see it. Not a fan of his promos and not a fan of his limited arsenal in the ring. Winner: Big E.

Now we see how serious WWE is about Big E’s single’s push.  A victory over Sheamus would certainly help Big E going forward and I think it just might happen at Payback.

Big E – 400. Sheamus +250. Winner: Big E.

Okay, this feud needs to end with a solid family moment for the Mysterios and enough with the cult leader gimmick for Rollins. Having one desciple doesn’t make you a movement. Winners: The Mysterios.

Rey & Dominik Mysterio – 200. Seth Rollins & Murphy +150. Winners: Rey & Dominik Mysterio.