When Payback made its debut in the
Pay-per view calendar in 2013, many fans saw it as yet another ‘B’ Level
Pay-per view which the company had sandwiched tight into an already bulging
schedule. It’s fair to say there wasn’t much interest in it as the eventual buy
rate pointed to but on the night, where it mattered, it did deliver in the ring
and boasted the return of C.M Punk after just a few months of absence.
Thanks to the feud carrying over from
Extreme Rules in May, Payback 2014 promises to be at least memorable for some
thrilling in ring activity. However, as it’s emanating from Chicago for a send
time many are speculating on the return of Punk in 2014 after he walked out
twenty four hours after the Royal Rumble in January. Regardless of whether C.M
Punk will return home at Payback for a second time is yet to be seen, however
this is what we can expect from 2014’s outing.
On June 1st 2014 from the Allstate Arena
in Chicago, Illinois this is WWE Payback 2014.
No Disqualification Match
Elimination Match
The Shield vs Evolution
This was possibly the best idea for a
feud for The Shield after they had done away with The Wyatt Family quarrel
which in your Wrestling God’s opinion should have lasted much longer. I voiced
my disapproval last month at how WWE have readily thrown Evolution back
together because they have no more plans for Batista or Randy Orton in early
2014. However after seeing The Shield rise in stature and image by defeating
Evolution at Extreme Rules 2014 I retract that opinion and as long as the
company use the well worn trio of Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista to elevate
The Shield and maybe others only, then they will be a welcome commodity in WWE
in 2014.
There aren’t that many other trios who
either exist or could, within reason be cobbled together to battle Reigns,
Rollins and Ambrose so for now I imagine most will be happy with the feud which
presents itself right now. Of course, the success of this feud all rides on
Triple H and his two cohorts who both have more power in the company than The
Shield and WWE locker room put together. Just because The Shield triumphed at
Extreme Rules doesn’t necessarily mean they will at Payback and should Triple H
or his stooges, which the pair have become, decide to go on one of their power
trips then Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will suffer greatly.
Saying that, an Evolution victory at
Payback would be best for business as it were. WWE have designs on this feud
going into SummerSlam which means another Shield victory would all but put this
rivalry to bed. Two victories over Evolution would hold no further interest for
the audience and WWE would find it difficult to drum up another huge pay-per
view buy for a third bout between the six men at either Money in the Bank or
SummerSlam. So what’s the best course of action for WWE to take? Allow me to
enlighten you for a moment. Let’s be honest you don’t have a choice. Because if
we all had anything better to do we’d be doing it right now.
One option could be for WWE to tie in
the possibility of a C.M Punk return. We all known Punk is his own man and even
he admits that his return at Payback 2013 came too soon and didn’t afford him
enough time to rest and heal, part of the reason he left in 2014 maybe? Well,
we won’t know that for sure until Punk comes out and speak about it but getting
back to the point, Triple H could begin to run down those who come in, take
what they want and run again, citing C.M Punk as the worst of these people
before stating his belief that The Shield will do the same. Then, at the finale
of the bout should Punk agree to a return, his music could blare, he could make
his way to the ring only to turn heel on The Shield which would be a shocking
move, or at least it would have been if I hadn’t have telegraphed it here
first.
A Punk heel turn on The Shield would be
a great move should Punk return. The Shield are staunch favourites with the WWE
Universe and Punk works better as a heel than face, a role he seems bland in.
That way WWE could book a diversion and to hint at a Shield break up two of the
three men could be entered into the Money in the Bank Ladder Match next month
whilst Roman Reigns battles Punk in another stature enhancing match. Punk
doesn’t mind losing to fellow up and comers if it helps the future generations.
It’s jobbing to those who won’t profit from a victory he objects to.
Then there’s the scenario that WWE could
and really need to take should Punk not return, which I don’t believe he will.
If Evolution goes over, which they must to keep things interesting, it has to
be by fluke. None of The Shield can go down to a finishing move or without a
fight. The best bet would be to have Roman Reigns felled by a sledgehammer shot
and all three finishing moves before being pinned by Triple H. After that,
Reigns is entered into the Money in the Bank Ladder Match where it comes down
to him and the field of play is clear. As Reigns reaches for the briefcase with
one hand on it, Triple H runs in and belts him with another sledgehammer shot
thus setting up The Shield’s momentous victory at SummerSlam before the six go
their separate ways or maybe find a way to carry on until Survivor Series.
Triple H would be the perfect opponent
to elevate Roman Reigns into singles competition. I don’t see many other
candidates stepping forward and even Randy Orton, judging by his reign as
Champion before Mania XXX isn’t in any position to make a star at the moment.
The Shield vs Evolution could be the best feud of the year but more than that,
Triple H has a chance to atone for all those he could have helped in the ring
and didn’t during his time on top. Like Ric Flair with Sting, Triple H should
make Roman Reigns his pet project and make a star of him as those above Triple
H in 1998 and 1999 did to him. Then we can all agree to hail the King. The King
of Kings.
Winners Prediction: Evolution
Last Man Standing Match
Bray Wyatt vs John Cena
I wasn’t dazzled by their somewhat
lacklustre effort at WrestleMania but then I’ve always said that you can’t
polish a turd and maybe we have to take part of the blame because it seemed as
if the audience ruined the most tense moments by singing ‘He’s Got the Whole
World in His Hands’ every time Bray Wyatt went to do something. Extreme Rules
was a little better with a innovative finish which you rarely see in a John
Cena match so credit goes to them there for at least bothering to come up with
something different. However, I can’t the shake the feeling that this feud no longer
matters anymore.
You see, Wyatt needed to go over John
Cena at WrestleMania XXX. It was imperative to his future and his career that
he pick up that victory on that night, over that man. The world watches
WrestleMania which means the younger stars should be placed as priority. All
those who watched WrestleMania and not the rest of the years events will have
seen, to their eyes at least, is another inferior wrestler who WWE either don’t
have the balls to book correctly when it matters or someone else who doesn’t
have the talent to rise through the ranks. The latter certainly isn’t true. The
former though maybe and WWE went a long way to proving it on the grandest stage
of them all.
Vince knew, he had to have known that
Bray Wyatt needed that victory to cement his standing with the fans. John Cena
didn’t and was never going to benefit from beating someone lower than him on
the ladder and despite what the hacks say, his legacy wouldn’t have been
tarnished one bit. The opposite in fact. He’d have been lauded for making a new
star and not just thinking about himself. But that’s not the way with WWE or
John Cena. He has to be protected at all costs and they wonder why we hate him
with a vengeance. If they’d take the protective bubble wrap off of him for ten
seconds and let him roam free I think everyone would be pleasantly surprised.
Even at Extreme Rules WWE couldn’t allow Bray Wyatt a clean victory and that’s
where the problem lies.
I won’t go on too much more on this
subject because there isn’t that much to say. After WrestleMania I doubt anyone
would have been bothered about this feud again. Had though, Vince had the
grapefruits to hand Wyatt a victory at bother Mania and Extreme Rules it would
have been a mammoth statement by the company of their future intentions. No
longer would they have been accused of favouring one man above the rest because
he’s good for their bank balance. WWE would have been known as the company
which is constantly thinking about its future, for the first time in a very
long time.
Of course, John Cena would have had to
get his Payback and that would come here after two consecutive losses as we
head towards Money in the Bank, but it would have been much better for him had
he come into the event without a win over Wyatt. A face can’t attain payback if
they win two of the three matches contested against a heel, that’s not the way
it works. The hero has to look defeated and demoralised before he can extract
his final revenge and that’s not John Cena. In fact, it hasn’t been John Cena for
a very, very, very long time. I just hope WWE begin to give us some payback on
June 1st and once again put Wyatt over Cena as they head into their final
confrontation at SummerSlam.
Winners Prediction: John Cena
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Match
(c) Bad News Barrett vs Rob Van
Dam
Many people have been debating whether
the latest gimmick is the correct one to carry Wade Barrett forward in the
wrestling industry. Some believe that the outspoken character along with
Barrett’s English accent will eventually be enough to assert him as legitimate
main event heel in the company should Vince decide going through with the push
is a good idea. Other believe that this is just another flash in the pan which
is going to end the same way it has several times before with Barrett being
buried in the under-card. This time however, there can surely be no way back.
If this fails then the Brit is all but done in WWE. The company have other,
younger and more relevant stars to push; time is beginning to run out for Wade
Barrett who has had ample chances to connect with the audience.
I don’t care if you believe that WWE are
responsible for Barrett not occupying the position he was forecast for in 2010
because the booking team have buried him mercilessly, some of the blame has to
lie with the man himself. His performances under his ‘Barrett Barrage’ gimmick
were worse than lacklustre. He looked like someone out of his depth and with
his last memorable performance being one year ago at Payback in the triple
threat opener, it simply isn’t good enough. One has to believe that had Barrett
bothered to put the effort in week in and week out then the WWE Universe would
have voiced their opinion to the company that he deserved a push whether it
worked or not. That though didn’t occur and because he wasn’t seeing any reward
from his little effort, Barrett all but switched of.
It’s no coincidence that his
performances have been much better since he was told of his push and concurrent
Intercontinental Championship reign, supplanting Big E as the man at the top of
the division. I know what it’s like to see no reward for hard work, not that he
put any in, but finally when he saw a light at the end of the tunnel he began
to believe that maybe he could become something in the company again. Whether
he can or will fail remains to be seen, however now, with the Intercontinental
Championship around his waist it certainly seems like history repeating itself.
His previous reigns have been awful with nothing happening to elevate him into
the main event. This must be different.
There are many different paths WWE can
take Barrett down though I don’t think this tried and failed gimmick is going
to be the answer. The character that preaches bad news to wrestlers and
audiences alike could have succeeded had WWE scripted Barrett with something
decent to say, however as we saw at Elimination Chamber and on Raw and
Smackdown week in and week out, most of Barrett’s dialogue is simply dire. If
WWE want this to succeed and it’s in their best interests to have another
option they could maybe turn to should injury play a factor later in the year,
then they need something dynamite. Barrett needs to become enjoyed even if
still treated as a heel.
One option could be to take a chance and
have Wade Barrett deliver constant bad news about how the company is failing to
make new stars or its running. C.M Punk did this and it propelled him into the
stratosphere. Included in this could be cheap shots at John Cena and then how
the company would rather hire Hollywood stars to sell its biggest event of the
year rather than put faith in talent already on the roster. It would be huge if
Barrett took aim at the company and he would be able to then pass himself off
as a rebel who even though acts like heel does have the audience’s best
interests at heart. If you like, that Barrett character would resemble a
watered down Steve Austin who whilst heel was treated as a face. I don’t know
how they’d do it, but what Barrett really needs now is a huge victory followed
by a promo which would go down in immortality.
It’s a lot, granted, but something has
to be done before WWE loses interest in the guy again. He has talent when he
wants to show it and here against Rob Van Dam is a decent place to start. As I
have noted before, RVD is now best used when elevating younger talent. He’s not
going to win the title here but he could go a long way to bringing out the best
in Barrett which in turn could then set the Englishman up for a place in the
Money in the Bank Ladder Match next month. Right now, Wade Barrett needs to
look indomitable as champion and wrestler. It’s the only way he’s going to
succeed. If WWE want to continue that then a victory at SummerSlam over a big
name is a must as is exposure as we head into the last 6 months of 2014.
I know it seems unlikely now but by the
time we reach the Royal Rumble, with the right backing and right creative team
behind him, Wade Barrett could be a contender for a main event spot at
WrestleMania. Champion vs champion is an option should Barrett succeed. That
though is just theory. If WWE are using Barrett as a caretaker champion until
they find their next flavour of the month it could end his career totally. A
reign which should make him notable again could end up pushing him further
towards the exit door. That would be bad news indeed.
Winners Prediction: Bad News
Barrett
WWE United States Championship
Match
(c) Sheamus vs Cesaro
I would hate to believe that WWE think
by placing the WWE United States Championship around the waist of Sheamus, that
is solves all their problems regarding the image of the title. For too long now
has the gold in question been unimportant to all who witness the defences,
usually by nameless faceless nobodies who are going nowhere in the industry; I
can’t even remember the last time the gold was defended on pay-per view thanks
in part to belonging to Dean Ambrose of The Shield. But then you have to ask
yourself if we missed the title at all. The answer would be a firm no.
There’s a horrible stigma attached to
the gold that whoever possess it will find their career going downhill quicker
than Aretha Franklin in a wheelbarrow and there is some truth in that. Thanks
its colourful array of holders over the past few years which include Santino
Marella, which is enough to kill off any Championship immediately, no one has
really been allowed to step forward and run with the gold. Of course it hasn’t
helped that the title is viewed as secondary to everything else going on within
the company and that includes Pre-Show matches. Therefore I regret to say that
I just don’t see any future for the gold in the company and the nicest thing to
do to it would be merge it with the Intercontinental Championship as soon as
possible. That way the company and its fans will only have one main tier title
to deal with and one mid-card title. Maybe that way WWE can focus their efforts
of restoring the Intercontinental Championship to what it was.
Many would argue that all the title
needs is a solid holder and some backing from the company. To those people I
would say simply this. Sometimes, too much water has passed under that
proverbial bridge. Fans have too many bad memories of the gold for it to be
rescued now even if John Cena were to take up the mantle of champion. WWE can
do whatever they think best with the gold but no matter how hard they try to
restore it now, it’s just too late. Which confounds me as to why you’d have two
of your brightest stars compete for it when there is clearly no call for the
gold to exist in 2014, that is unless WWE hope that the presence of a fan
favourite in Cesaro and someone that really needs a heel turn in Sheamus can
turn around its fortunes.
It’s a bad move by WWE. By throwing both
men into the deep end here and hoping they can swim may only end up doing more
damage than good and its not something either man needs. Sheamus has been dull
at best since returning from injury at Royal Rumble and there was no praise of
thanks given to the company when the Irishman dethroned Dean Ambrose of the
gold who really needed to jettison it. It was probably the best thing WWE have
done for Ambrose’s singles career yet. What Sheamus needs now is a red hot
storyline and a major heel turn which will grab people’s attentions. Otherwise
you may as well demote him to the under-card and mark him down as a lost cause.
Which appears is what WWE are doing with this title reign.
Cesaro on the other hand isn’t viewed as
already had his time as Sheamus is. After winning the Andre the Giant battle
royal at WrestleMania XXX and joining Paul Heyman which many didn’t believe was
the right move for him, the former Ring of Honor star has gone from strength to
strength and is even considered an option to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania
XXXI in 2015. Cesaro needs the confidence of the management. He already has it
from the audience which is why he’s such a hot property. WWE fans see a future
main event star in him which is why we back him so readily. In fact it’d be so
simple to make Cesaro a main event player that surely even WWE cannot mess this
up. All that is required for success is an indomitable face character and to
avoid the pitfall that is John Cena.
WWE should be putting its efforts into
making Cesaro the next star and not trying to flog a dead Irish horse to us
that we have no interest in riding. Nothing good can come from a Cesaro United
States Championship reign in 2014 so I doubt many people will be bothered if he
loses here, as long as he’s a strong contender for Money in the Bank in July
then everything will be right with the wrestling world again.
Winners Prediction: Sheamus
WWE Divas Championship Match
(c) Paige vs Alicia Fox
This isn’t the kind of beginning I had
in mind for Paige and if you look closely enough at her reign, it is beginning
to resemble that of A.J Lee’s. A promising beginning and then a sudden downturn
as WWE fail to book any decent opposition against its newest prospect making
her just another face in the crowd. To stand out, Paige needs competition that
is just as good as her but sadly WWE don’t have anyone that resembles that
statement with the closest match being Emma who came through the NXT ranks with
the Brit.
I know we’re used to reading a lot with
these segments but there really isn’t much more I can or want to say about this
that I haven’t banged on about before. Except for the fact that I have been
distinctly unimpressed by Paige’s push and WWE’s handling of her. When she won
the belt it seemed like they were more bothered about her NXT title than the
Divas Championship, stripping her of the former when it would have been much
more of a stature enhancer for the next big female talent to defeat the now
Divas Champion to claim the gold. But of course that wasn’t though about and
Paige has been rushed through her paces without been allowed time to acclimatise
to her surroundings or allowing WWE’s creative to come up with a killer first
storyline for the beautiful seductress.
Of course, there is a reason the lack of
storyline where Paige is concerned and why her pay-per view matches seem to be
slung onto the card without thought or care. WWE are waiting for A.J Lee to
give them the green light for her return where upon she and Paige will clash
again in what should be a defining moment for the young Champion and the
division as a whole. If the pair are able to contest two or three stunning
pay-per view bouts do WWE really believe we’ll be fine going back to the usual
calamity they call a women’s division afterwards? We did that after A.J and
Kaitlyn’s series and look where it got everyone. It cannot happen again.
If this is going to work for Paige then
she needs something better than WWE are giving her right now. Otherwise there’s
a real chance the diva may be lost in the shuffle again. WWE can’t sit back and
pass up this opportunity they have again. They’ve done it too many times and
we’ve seen it too often to stay quite about it happening again. If Paige was to
fall at the first hurdle it would be catastrophic for the division. How could
we take anyone else coming through seriously if we’ve seen those before treated
like dirt? Just when it looked like WWE were about to revolutionize a much
fallen part of it product, it stands on the verge of rotting away again. In the
words of Bad News Barrett, that’s very bad news indeed.
Winners Prediction: Paige
WWE Payback Kick Off Match
Hair vs Mask Match
Hornswoggle vs El Torito
I’ve had enough of this to be honest.
Extreme Rules was bearable because we thought it would be the first and last
time the pair fought on pay-per view. A second time though when the first
wasn’t even that entertaining, it’s taking the piss to be honest. As if it
wasn’t bad enough having a second event being almost an exact run of Extreme
Rules, we have to endure this as well.
I’m even going to bother going to detail
for this because it’s going nowhere, just like my life at the moment. So
here’re the facts. The match will border on okay and El Torito will win because
without his mask the bull character is pointless. End of.
Winners Prediction: El Torito
Payback 2014 looks a little bare without
Daniel Bryan defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the top of the
card (at least there was no match announced on the Thursday this was poasted)
but fingers crossed, his journey will resume at Money in the Bank later this
month with a bang. The main focus of this year though is firmly on whether C.M
Punk will make his much anticipated return to the company after leaving in
January. The stage is perfect, his hometown crowd but it’s hard to envisage
where he’d fit in with no friend to save or turn on.
The good news however, is that with the
absence of Daniel Bryan, The Shield get a chance at the main event which could
propel them into the stratosphere should the trio be able to overcome
Evolution. If the Triple H lead team decimate the young guns when it matters
then it won’t only be the dumbest move since Vince McMahon decided to open his
own American football league, but we may find that it’s payback on us for
wanting to see something different when the company have no intention of being
proved wrong.
Onwards and upwards...
