WWE Payback is all set to take place tonight (Sat., Sept. 2, 2023) from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It begins at 7 pm ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 8 pm ET on Peacock in the U.S., WWE Network everywhere else, or your local cable pay-per-view provider.
Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
Let’s get to it.
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Geno Mrosko: Triple H is big on longer title reigns making belts meaningful, and Rollins really hasn’t been champion long enough to lose the strap just yet. Then again, I think there’s a good story to tell with Damian Priest winning the world heavyweight title and it furthering The Judgment Day’s issues. So I’m going to go out on a limb here. Pick: Seth Rollins, but Priest cashes in right after
Sean Rueter: Had juuuust about talked myself into a Nak win, maybe just as a quick transitional run to get to Damian Priest. But I can’t see WWE doing a change until Seth goes at least a few weeks with that new sideplate on his belt. Pick: Seth Rollins
Kyle Decker: This has been a good story. Simple but effective. Perfect for a B PPV. But I feel that Damian Priest has a better chance of walking out of Payback with the world title than Nak does. Pick: Seth Freakin’
Claire Elizabeth: Um, y’all. Seth Rollins’ back is literally broken in two places. Man doesn’t stand a chance! Pick: Shinsuke Nakamura
Cain A. Knight: I’m really enjoying Nak’s work in this story, but I don’t see him as a serious threat to beat Rollins. Pick: Seth Rollins
Marcus Benjamin: I dig all of this. Nakamura showing how dangerous he is when he wants gold. Seth showing vulnerability and cutting through that seemingly impenetrable Joker facade. While I don’t see Nak winning, I do think this match lays the ground for Seth’s eventual defeat. This has potential for some cool longform storytelling if done right. Pick: Seth Rollins
Steel Cage Match: Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus
Geno Mrosko: There’s a very clear winner here, and it