WWE Payback 2023: Full Predictions

The 2023 WWE Payback will be aired live from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 2, 2023. This is the seventh edition of Payback premium live event, and the first Payback since 2020 (as it was discontinued for two years). Six matches have been scheduled for the event, which includes four championship matches (three from Raw and one from SmackDown). Here is a complete prediction on the match card for the 2023 Payback premium live event at the Steel City.

Match Card & Predictions

WWE United States Championship

The New United States Champion Rey Mysterio is said to defend his title for the first time against the former champion Austin Theory in a rematch. This is the only match from the SmackDown roster and is expected to kick off the show. 

Predictions: Rey Mysterio will defeat Austin Theory and retain the United States Championship. After the match Theory might attack Rey and Escobar to continue the feud until Survivor Series.

LA Knight vs The Miz

The Miz is frustrated by LA Knight's sudden popularity and fame after a single major win at SummerSlam. He was stopped backstage for minutes as Knight was in a photoshoot. He expressed his frustrations on him in the center of the ring, by stating him a "Attitude Era Fanboy" and the man with “CatchPhrases”. Knight hit him with a BFT and initiated the fight at Payback. Both cost each other's match in the following weeks and The Miz had even impersonated LA Knight on the last episode of Raw..

Predictions: LA Knight will win the match, proving his potential. Since LA Knight is in a push, Knight losing to a big pay-per-view match is unlikely to happen.

Steel Cage Match- Becky Lynch vs Trish Stratus

Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus has a long rivalry since WrestleMania 39 after Trish turned on Becky after losing the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. Trish explained her actions the following week, by claiming herself as the Greatest Women’s Wrestler of all Time and Becky must thank her because she is the reason for the boom of the Women's division. 

They had their first match at Night of Champions, where Trish won the match with the help of Zoey Stark, who attacked Lynch with a Z360 when the referee was distracted. Lynch then challenged for a rematch, but Trish refused stating her Broken Nose as a cause. Adam Pierce booked a match on Raw in Canada (home country of Trish) by banning Zoey from the ring side, but ended in a double count out as they took the fight to the backstage. A Steel Cage match was then booked for Payback to avoid Zoey Stark from being involved in the match.

Predictions: Becky Lynch will win the match despite Zoey's interference. Lita is more likely to return to help Becky win.

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship 

The Judgment Day has been in feud with all the babyfaces and champions in the Raw roster which includes the Undisputed World Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens, who assisted Rollins against the brutal attack. When Zayn challenged Dominik for the North American Championship, other members of The Judgment Day attacked Owens, which distracted Zayn and eventually cost his opportunity.

They then developed a great feud and started fighting weak after weak. Which made into a tag team championship match at Payback, but Zayn and Owens turned the match into a Steel City Street Fight match.

Predictions: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will win the match and retain their championship despite the  involvement of the other members of The Judgment Day and JD McDonagh. Cody Rhodes might be involved in this match to help Zayn and Owens as there is no disqualification in a Street Fight. This might develop a big internal tension in the stable and make Priest in a pressureful situation to cash in his contract the same night.

Women’s World Championship

Rhea Ripley had a feud with Natalya and continued to attack her on Raw, where Raquel Rodriguez came for the aid of Natalya. Rhea warned her not to cross her line, but got pissed off and attacked Raquel and Liv, which caused Raquel leg injury.

She returned to the Raw before SummerSlam with the injured leg and worsened her situation as Rhea attacked her injured leg again. She then returned after weeks to attack Rhea and inform that she is medically clear and challenged her for the Women's World Champion at Payback.

Predictions: Rhea Ripley will retain the championship and continue her reign with the help of Dominik Mysterio. However, the feud will continue for the upcoming pay-per-views.

World Heavyweight Championship

Seth Rollins joined Shinsuke Nakamura to his team as a replacement for Sami Zayn to take on The Judgment Day in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. Although Cody, Rollins and Nakamura won the match, Nakamura attacked Rollins with a “KinSasha”. Nakamura said that all he wants is to be the World Heavyweight Champion and that was the reason behind his attack. 

Rollins accepted him as his next challenger and agreed to defend his championship at Payback. Nakamura started playing mind games with Rollins and attacked him from behind on a couple of occasions. He teased that he knows about Rollins’ back injury and will target that to win the championship.

Predictions: Seth Rollins will defeat Nakamura and retain his championship. However, after the match Priest might cash-in his Money in the Bank contract and lose his briefcase and championship opportunity by the involvement of Balor and McDonagh. Which might end in Priest being kicked out of The Judgment Day and McDonagh being replaced in his place.

WWE Payback Telecast Details

WWE Payback is broadcasted live on September 3, 2023, Sunday Morning at 5.30 AM on Sony Ten 1 and Sony Ten 1 HD. WWE premium users can stream the show live on the WWE Network. For those who wish to watch it without premium subscription, online platforms such as Sony Liv, Jio Tv,  and Airtel Tv provide space to watch the live action for free. The 2023 Payback is telecasted exclusively on Hindi Commentary in Sony Ten 3 and in Telugu and Tamil Commentary in Sony Ten 4 HD and Sony Ten 4.