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WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TONIGHT: THE WWE PAYBACK TIP SHEET

WWE will present Payback 2023 this Saturday from Pittsburgh, PA. Here is our take on what will happen.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.

Dave: Both companies have big events this weekend.  One costs a Peacock membership and the other costs $50.  This one is way more interesting to me, and it's clearly just a holiday weekend B show.  As such, Rollins needs to retain here.  I love Nakamura but he isn't in the realm of the top of the card.

Mike: Seth retains, but does Damian cash in here?  That my friends, is the question.  Beyond the MITB cash-in possibly going down, if Nakamura gets to have a top notch performance with Rollins, it builds him up even if he loses to the stomp.  If thet get Nakamura a little higher in the eyes of the fans, that's a victory for all involved.

Richard:  This match has had a decent build with Nakamura talking about focusing on Seth's back injury.  The question is whether Nakamura will work a match that focuses on the back.  Will we see back breakers, bear hugs, Boston Crabs, and other moves that focus on the back or will it be a standard match where the back is not the focus?   Seth will fight through the assault by Nakamura and be able to get the victory with the Stomp.  Who is next for Rollins after this?  Will Cody make a challenge on the Grayson Waller Effect?  Also, Nakamura has to remember he is wrestling Seth and not AJ so no kicking the ding ding.  

WWE Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez.

Dave: Rhea needs to retain but they have to keep Raquel strong in the process.  Rodriguez is one of the few people out there who has the size advantage on Rhea.  They can't lay her to waste here.  My hunch is Dom helps Mami retain.

Mike: I like Raquel a lot but there's no way I see Rhea getting beaten when she has SO MUCH momentum.  They will probably do some spots where even powerhouse Rhea is puzzle trying to content with Rodriguez's strength.

Richard:  While it is nice that they have had Raquel get the upper hand at times against Rhea, Rhea is the number one person in WWE right now (sorry Roman) and she needs to continue to control the women's division on Raw.  Like with Seth, who is the next person to challenge Rhea after Saturday night?  Does she face the winner of the Trish/Becky feud?   Raquel is one of the few in WWE who will not look miniscule next to Rhea so that should add to the match.  It also allows Raquel to have moments where she can dominate Rhea, only to fall short.

Steel Cage match: Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch.

Dave: These two, and Zoey Stark, killed themselves on Monday, stiff, stiff abuse.  Getting in the cage five days later?  I have nothing but respect.  Becky needs to go over but damn, props to Trish for how hard she has work on her comeback tour.

Mike: My guess is Zoey causes Trish to lose, allowing Becky to exit, then we move onto babyface Trish vs. Zoey.  This is my pick for best match of the night. 

Richard:  I like that Becky Lynch is outside of the title picture and is giving Zoey a bit of a rub to help elevate her and make the women's division stronger.  We saw some tension between Zoey and Trish on Monday night, but will that roll over to this match?  They say that a cage match keeps people from getting in the cage, but when did that stop someone in professional wrestling?  I am 52/48 that Zoey won't get involved because why should she help Trish after being hit in the face with a freaking chair?  Thank You Trish for what you have done, but Becky gets the win in this match.

United States Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory.

Dave: Theory still needs seasoning so I would have Rey return and his that to further wherever they go with him and Santos.  Personally, I would love to see them have the two honorably face each other to see who the better man is.  Face vs. face can work really well.  Or, Theory cut cheat to win, hurt Rey afterward and have Santos go for revenge.

Mike: I don't see the need to move the belt back to Theory when the money is Rey vs. Santos down the line.

Richard:  Austin Theory has been given a lot of chances in the ring to get to that next level, but it feels like he is still between floors.  This can be a good match, but I think we will get a lot of shenanigans with Dom and the LWO.  Theory will appear to have things won, but Rey will find a way to get out of whatever trouble he is in and hit a 619 and beat Theory.

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs, Finn Balor & Damian Priest - Pittsburgh Street Fight.

Dave: The Judgment Day isn't The Bloodline.  They can't slow pace this one the way they can on Friday.  I think part of the recent drop in the Raw rating is the repetition of this.  It's time to pull the trigger on the issues between Finn and Priest.  It it's me, I have Priest refuse to cheat and it costs the JD the match.  Then Finn and JD jump Priest afterward and they pair up.  Rhea and Dom can go on their own.  I want to see what Priest could do as a kick ass babyface.

Mike: I'm calling a title change here.  Judgment Day needs something to remind everyone why they are such a threat.  Having the Tag Belts, even for a short time, makes sense to me.   You can even do the Freebird thing

Richard:  Finn and Priest don't get along now.  Kevin and Sami didn't get along last year.  Whoever can get along wins this match.  Since Rhea gave the ultimatum that they better leave this pay per view with gold, they are going to lose.  I would rather see the revamped Street Profits be the ones to take the titles from Kevin and Sami at this point (maybe with the debut of Trick Williams [since he mentioned he talked to the Street Profits on Tuesday night at NXT]).  This will be a very fun match to watch and if we can find a way to get Alan May and Jay Caufield involved, I will love this match.  Since that won't happen, they will beat each other up and Owens and Sami will take advantage of something that JD McDonagh does to piss off Priest (it is a street fight so he can do stuff).

The Miz vs. LA Knight.

Dave: Miz did an awesome Knight impression on Raw.  With that said, it's LA Knight's time and he needs to go over.

Mike: This is all designed to build Knight.  He has to win here.  A loss cools him off and even a loss followed by a win later on cools him.  Knight has to win here.

Richard:  Since this is the Survivor Series, the only night of the year when Raw Superstars face Smackdown Superstars, this will be a big deal.  The Chicago crowd . . . (wait, this is Payback in Pittsburgh?).  Miz is the stepping stone for everyone to get to the next level so he should be looking at the lights after the YEAHple's Elbow and Blunt Force Trauma.

Cody Rhodes appearing on The Grayson Waller Effect.

Dave: It will be interesting!

Mike: I predict John Cena comes out and they tease Cody vs. Cena before they both beat up Grayson.

Richard:  I hope Cody starts it off by asking Grayson what does he want to talk about.  Maybe Grayson will ask Cody about what happened in London.  Will we find out what is next on the Cody Rhodes Road to Finish the Story?  Maybe Cody announces something big for Labor Day Raw?  I think this will be the better of the two 'talk show' segments on shows you need to pay to watch this weekend, even if the bar for 'better' is very low.

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