NZPWI Roundtable: WWE Payback 2020 predictions, preview

by NZPWI

August 31, 2020

NZPWI Roundtable: WWE Payback 2020 predictions, preview

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Braun Strowman’s rivalry with Bray Wyatt became a whole lot more complicated at SummerSlam with the addition of Roman Reigns.

The Big Dog returned to WWE and immediately set his sights on the Universal Championship, currently around the waist of The Fiend.

After a tense contract signing on SmackDown, Reigns, Strowman, and Wyatt have all agreed to a No Holds Barred Match for the Universal Championship.

Will The Fiend tighten his grip on SmackDown’s top title? Can Braun Strowman be reunited with the Universal Championship? Or, will The Big Dog become The Big Champ?

Join the NZPWI Roundtable as we break down the card for WWE Payback 2020!

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Universal Championship, No Holds Barred:
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns

David Dunn (59% accurate for 2020):
Heading into SummerSlam weekend, Retribution and WWE ThunderDome dominated the conversation. Coming out of SummerSlam, it’s been all Roman Reigns. The Big Dog is back, and that’s bad news for anyone standing between him and the Universal Title he’s been craving since before WrestleMania.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Grady Hooker (56% accurate for 2020):
Three of the strongest on SmackDown going head-to-head in a No Holds Barred Match! I’m going to take the most supernatural…
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Steve McCleary (50% accurate for 2020):
The Big Dog is back to pee in his yard! And now that he’s no longer pretending to be a nice guy, he can finally achieve the greatness he feels he’s owed.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Women’s Tag Team Championship:
Bayley & Sasha Banks (c) vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler

David:
Cracks are starting to show in the foundation of Banks and Bayley’s friendship. The Golden Role Models seem ready to crumble under the slightest sign of pressure, which is all Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler bring.
Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler

Grady:
Bayley and Sasha Banks are on a collision course with disaster. Things have been getting more and more tense, and this is where I expect them to finally explode and lose the gold.
Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler

Steve:
Combustible elements within each team to say the least, and while one team has more experience in dealing with that many times, maybe it’s been one time too many.
Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler

Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton

David:
It won’t be easy for either, but with both men coming off major losses over SummerSlam weekend, Lee and Orton will do anything not to go 0-2. In these situations, you’ve got to go with the man with 20 years experience.
Winner: Randy Orton

Grady:
New music, new gear, new brand for Keith Lee to dominate. I expect Lee to come out of the gates on Raw with a bang.
Winner: Keith Lee

Steve:
Hopefully Drew McIntyre can rest up his noggin and not ruin this for Lee a second time. Orton is venomous but Lee is limitless.
Winner: Keith Lee

United States Championship:
Apollo Crews (c) vs. Bobby Lashley

David:
The Hurt Business seem stretched a little thin, between Raw Underground and this constant quest to dethrone Apollo Crews. Ask MVP how easy that task is…
Winner: Apollo Crews

Grady:
I said MVP was going to win last week for The Hurt Business, but my magical sense was a week off as it will actually be Bobby Lashley that wins it.
Winner: Bobby Lashley

Steve:
This could go either way, but I’m predicting Lashley finally gets his due. Then maybe Apollo can wise up and see that he’s on the wrong side of business.
Winner: Bobby Lashley

Dominik Mysterio & Rey Mysterio vs. Murphy & Seth Rollins

David:
Seth Rollins got the win at SummerSlam but now it’s time for Payback in both a literal and metaphorical sense.
Winners: Dominik Mysterio & Rey Mysterio

Grady:
It really is time for payback for the Mysterios. They had to both endure an absolute beating on Dominik last week and now they’re going to get their revenge.
Winners: Dominik Mysterio & Rey Mysterio

Steve:
Even though I believe Rollins has always acted for the greater good, perhaps this whole “eye for an eye” thing might come back to bite him with a bit of the “do unto others”.
Winners: Dominik Mysterio & Rey Mysterio

King Corbin vs. Matt Riddle

David:
King Corbin has been very vocal since Matt Riddle first arrived on SmackDown, but the time for talk is over.
Winner: Matt Riddle

Grady:
It is about time for Riddle to get his payback on Corbin as well. After the entire “King’s Ransom” stuff I am really looking forward to seeing Riddle kick Corbin’s ass.
Winner: Matt Riddle

Steve:
I wish Riddle was facing Chad Gable again. I don’t see how he gains anything by beating Corbin, outside of hopefully not having to face him again.
Winner: Matt Riddle

Note: Big E vs. Sheamus had not been announced at the time NZPWI Roundtable picks were made