Final Picks for Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and WWE Payback 2023 Match Card

Following an interesting string of arena programs and worldwide occasions, WWE Payback this Saturday, Sept. 2 fades in contrast on paper however still boasts an appealing lineup.

The World Heavyweight Championship will take spotlight for the very first time on pay-per-view for the very first time because its creation when Seth Rollins prevents the renewed Shinsuke Nakamura, whose brand-new mindset makes him more of a risk to the title than some might believe.

Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus will likewise settle their rating at last when they clash for a last time. In spite of their fight disappointing fan expectations, they have an opportunity to redeem themselves with a hot benefit within a steel cage.

The occasion does not have the exact same buzz behind it that others have this year however can surpass expectations if carried out correctly. If absolutely nothing else, it’s practically ensured to provide from an in-ring viewpoint.

The late addition of John Cena as host makes matters more interesting.

Ahead of Payback 2023, these are the last-minute choices that matter the majority of.

Fresh off winning SummerSlam’s Slim Jim Battle Royal, LA Knight is being plainly included on WWE television week after week and truly so.

The Megastar is on the fast-track to extremely fame and is getting raucous crowd responses to accompany his push. WWE has actually been smart to not hurry him to the main-event scene and rather have him work his method through the ranks.

The Miz has actually been the best individual for him to deal with as Knight continues to develop himself with the audience and acquire wins. The previous WWE champ is a simple challenger for him to beat and construct trustworthiness while doing so.

It’s possible Miz takes the success to keep their bad blood alive for a minimum of another match where Knight can avenge the loss, however it makes more sense for Knight to win on the huge phase and put their competition to rest.

From there, Knight can lastly set his sights on champion gold, specifically the United States Championship.

Prediction: LA Knight wins.

Despite being all over Raw for lots of months now with the remainder of the Judgment Day, Rhea Ripley hasn’t had the most unforgettable reign as Women’s World champ due to her spectacular absence of defenses in the previous 5 months.

Part of the issue has actually been the absence of depth in Raw’s females’s department, however more can unquestionably be done to produce reliable competitors for Ripley. Her current competition with Raquel Rodriguez has actually been a strong start.

Rodriguez hasn’t existed as anybody uncommon on the primary lineup approximately this point, however the story of Ripley dealing with somebody physically bigger and possibly more powerful than her makes this match interesting, specifically provided the history and chemistry they share from their NXT days.

This program is still in its early phases and therefore it would be early for Rodriguez to take the title at Payback. It’s really most likely Ripley stays champ through WrestleMania season as a story with Becky Lynch integrates in the background.

Prediction: Rhea Ripley keeps.

The United States Championship was mainly dealt with like an afterthought throughout the reign of Austin Theory, and as an outcome, under no situation ought to it go back to his ownership.

Of course, Rey Mysterio barely gain from holding it at this phase of his storied profession, however it’s clear that there’s a larger endgame in mind with him and his LWO accomplice Santos Escobar. It’s the only description for why Mysterio substituted Escobar versus Theory last month when Escobar wasn’t legally hurt.

Theory is simply a placeholder challenger for Mysterio prior to it’s time for Escobar to lastly betray his coach and start his own once again. Saturday is prematurely for him to cost Mysterio the title, so The Master of the 619 keeping is a sure thing.

If absolutely nothing else, the star-spangled reward being safeguarded on its very first pay-per-view because Backlash in May is a motivating indication for its future. Mysterio can be the champ to bring back worth to the belt while Theory is restored in other places on the card.

Prediction: Rey Mysterio maintains.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn saw their hot momentum as Undisputed WWE Tag Team champs stalled at the end of July when Owens went down with an injury. This Steel City Street Fight is an exceptional chance for them to get back on the best track.

Dissension has actually teased been within the ranks of The Judgment Day for months and all indications indicate it lastly capping at Payback. Finn Bálor and Damian Priest unsuccessfully competing for the twin titles must be the driver for one switching on the other.

On Monday’s Raw, Rhea Ripley declared that whichever members of the group who do not leave of Payback with gold will be at threat of being booted, which might mean Priest moneying in his Money in the Bank brief-case on the World Heavyweight champ at the end of the night.

Either method, Bálor and Priest gain absolutely nothing from ending up being champs together, whereas Owens and Zayn still have a lot of challengers waiting in the wings to resist. That consists of the newly-repackaged Street Profits, who they quickly crossed courses with on Friday’s SmackDown.

Prediction: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens keep.

The highly-anticipated program in between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus started all right with Stratus betraying Lynch to seal her heel turn, however the follow-up was far from excellent. A bulk of their matches and promotions so far have actually been uninspired, at least for 2 stars of their quality.

They merely have not clicked in any capability. Zoey Stark has actually taken advantage of being included and getting as much tv time as she has along with Stratus, however the fight itself hasn’t measured up to the lofty expectations fans initially set for it.

That does not always suggest their Steel Cage clash at Payback will likewise fail, specifically if they’re figured out to end their angle strong.

Regardless, Lynch winning is possibly the most foreseeable result on the whole card– and the proper one. Stratus currently got one over Lynch in the evening of Champions and this is where Lynch will show she’s exceptional to Stratus by beating her decisively.

The Man requires the momentum heading into an ultimate champion clash with Rhea Ripley.

Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.

Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura barely felt deserving of headlining a pay-per-view a month earlier, however to the credit of WWE and the Superstars themselves, they’ve done a good task of producing authentic interest in this World Heavyweight Championship match.

The discussion of Nakamura as a heel has actually been picture-perfect and the vignettes WWE has actually produced for him have actually assisted enormously. Rollins has actually been a great foil for him as a babyface as well as a strong supportive figure with his genuine back injury being the focal point of their program.

Nakamura targeting Rollins’ injured back will provide him more of a possibility than he would otherwise, however Rollins will keep his title in the end.

The seeds have actually been planted for Cody Rhodes vs. Rollins, and if Damian Priest is going to money in his Money in the Bank brief-case at some point quickly, it needs to be on Rollins. His time on top isn’t over rather.

Prediction: Seth Rollins maintains.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham “GSM” Matthews, has actually concentrated on sports and home entertainment writing because2010 Visit his site, WrestleRant, and register for his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related material.