Just one week after SummerSlam, WWE is returning to pay-per-view with its Payback event. The show goes down on Sunday night, and it’s looking like another stacked summer event from inside the ThunderDome at Orlando’s Amway Center. With little time to build to a new pay-per-view, WWE used Raw to set up half of the card while SmackDown on Friday should be poised to fill out the rest of the event. 

Payback will begin at 7 p.m. ET with the show expected to last approximately three hours, not counting the kickoff show, which starts one hour prior to the main card at 6 p.m. Crumpe Sports will be with you the entire way on Sunday with live results, highlights and analysis.

Let’s take a closer look at who our Crumpe Sports experts predict will come out on top at WWE Payback.

2020 WWE Payback predictions

Riott Squad vs. The IIconics (Kickoff Show)

The IIconcs have won consecutive singles matches over Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott, but after having so many chances in the women’s tag team division, it is clear to me that The IIconics are here to put over the rehashed Riott Squad, who should be elevated to No. 1 contender status for the titles. Considering I am of the belief that Bayley and Sasha Banks will surprise many by retaining later in the show, I am going with the Riott Squad winning here and taking the titles from the Golden Role Models in short order — perhaps as early as Raw on Monday night. Pick: Riott Squad wins

Big E vs. Sheamus

Big E is getting the long-awaited run as a singles with the rest of New Day sidelined. There seems to be a real willingness by WWE to let Big E actually succeed in the role and Sheamus is a wonderful first big challenge on his journey. The two showed good chemistry in a Big E “big meaty men slapping meat” showdown on SmackDown, and hopefully they’re given time to expand on the potential shown there before Big E gets the win to continue his march toward bigger and better things. Pick: Big E wins — Brent Brookhouse (also Adam Silverstein)

Matt Riddle vs. King Corbin

WWE seems committed to Riddle as a top-tier player. And if that’s the case, then you don’t have him lose his first big pay-per-view match. There could be plans to extend their feud through shenanigans by Corbin, but I just don’t see it happening. An angry Corbin trying to continue to pay off people to take out Riddle after a loss just makes more sense. Pick: Matt Riddle wins — Brookhouse (also Silverstein)

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

Credit to WWE for booking Crews strong during most of his U.S. title run. But if he’s just going to run through the entire Hurt Business, what’s the point of the group? Crews outsmarted Lashley in the arm wrestling contest, beat MVP twice clean and now faces the man who nearly took down Drew McIntyre for the WWE title a couple of months ago. Crews’ reign ends here. Pick: Bobby Lashley wins the title. — Silverstein (also Brookhouse)

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

While I initially expected this to be the spot where the Golden Role Models lost their straps, I also expected to see Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan as the ones contending at Payback. Why WWE would throw Baszler and Jax together for this when Baszler already made crystal clear her intentions to be Asuka’s No. 1 contender makes no sense to me. The only way I can see Baszler and Jax winning is if WWE’s goal is to have a “stronger” team be the ones to defeat Bayley and Banks only for Baszler and Jax to implode in a week or two and drop the titles. But that’s bad booking because the goal of a more established team beating Bayley and Banks would be to put them over in the first place. So I’ll err on the side of retention here. Pick: Bayley & Sasha Banks retain the titles — Silverstein

I don’t love the idea of Baszler and Jax winning the titles, especially when there are other, established tag teams who should be getting the shot. But it’s clear that we’re heading to Bayley vs. Banks, and leaving Bayley with the only title after their team held all the gold sets that up well. Meanwhile, Baszler sharing the titles with Jax will only play into their feud. I can certainly see Bayley and Banks retaining while still building to bigger issues as the teamwork between Baszler and Jax falls apart. But it just feels like the trigger is getting pulled here on the title change. Pick: Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax win the titles — Brookhouse

Rey et Dominik Mysterio contre Seth Rollins et Murphy

Il y a un moment où les Mysterios doivent remporter une victoire pour continuer à avancer. Rollins a tourmenté Rey de toutes les manières imaginables, notamment en enlevant son globe oculaire et en brutalisant son fils alors que Rey était assis impuissant et menotté aux cordes. Ensuite, les Mysterios ont été attaqués par Retribution. Il doit y avoir un moment où les Mysterios obtiennent une victoire, sinon il n’y a nulle part ailleurs pour cette histoire. Choix: Rey et Dominik Mysterio gagnent – Brookhouse (également Silverstein)

Randy Orton contre Keith Lee

Il y a peu de décisions pires que de faire perdre Lee ici. S’il doit être un joueur de la liste principale, il ne devrait pas encore perdre de matchs – même contre Orton. Il y a un chemin facile vers la victoire ici avec Drew McIntyre aidant Lee à voler la victoire. C’est un problème en soi, avec Lee “ayant besoin d’aide”, mais c’est la meilleure voie à suivre pour protéger toutes les personnes impliquées et continuer à progresser vers le match revanche Orton / McIntyre. Choix: Keith Lee gagne – Brookhouse (également Silverstein)

Championnat universel: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (c) contre Roman Reigns contre Braun Strowman (aucune prise interdite)

La WWE a eu une énorme opportunité de repenser et de réorganiser le personnage de Reigns quand il est revenu courageusement de sa bataille contre la leucémie. Pas seulement en ce qui concerne la façon dont cela l’a réservé mais aussi le look de son personnage (le gilet, la musique d’entrée, etc.). Bien qu’il ait trouvé une certaine retenue en ne réservant pas Reigns dans l’image du titre pendant des mois, l’objectif était finalement de le mettre à WrestleMania. Avec Reigns se retirant au milieu du COVID-19 et maintenant de retour, la WWE pourrait ressentir le besoin de le remettre dans la position qu’elle avait prévu de prendre il y a quatre mois. Espérons qu’ils font preuve de la même retenue étant donné que Wyatt vient de remporter le titre il y a une semaine, il s’agit d’un match à triple menace (ce qui signifie que Reigns n’a pas à être impliqué dans la fin pour perdre) et qu’il appartiendrait à la WWE du point de vue de la réservation de construire un match plus long. , une querelle interminable avec Reigns chassant Wyatt. Choix: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt conserve le titre – Silverstein (également Brookhouse)