WWE Payback preview

Read on for how I'd book tonight's Raw special event.
-- Kickoff:
- Club vs. Enzo/Cass:
Before this match, Karl and Luke have a moment backstage where they reflect on how they were such a dominant team in Japan but haven't been able to have that same level of success in WWE. They should want to prove they don't "need" AJ or Finn to be great. So, they make a statement with a clean win here, and then focus on getting their titles back. I wouldn't mind them expanding The Club in the weeks and months to come, because they're really just floating around right now. Samoa Joe would be a pretty natural addition given their work together recently.

- Balor on MizTV:
The last thing they need to do is try to mold Finn into being the stereotypical WWE babyface with scripted catchphrases, jokes, etc. It should be OK to have some characters the teens like but their moms don't "get." Finn could be legitimately cool if they play their cards right. So here just have Miz do his thing, bringing up Finn's background and how he's never been in a movie and yadda yadda yadda. Finn hits Slingblade and we get a match either later in the night or on Raw that Finn wins. If they do have to have Finn talk, talk about how he didn't lose the Universal Title in the ring and how he's keeping an eye on the House of Horrors match. Miz can counter that he should be focused on the former Wrestlemania headliner in front of him.

-- Payback:
- Bayley vs. Alexa:
This is something of a tough one. I don't want Bayley to have a short title reign, but I'm balancing that with Alexa needing to look like she can belong in the Raw title picture. She needs to keep her momentum as the new face. So, Alexa tries to win with her feet on the rope, but Sasha comes down to stop that from happening. This leads to Banks inadvertently costing Bayley the match. Alexa escapes with the title, and we're up for a triple threat match next month after Bliss stirs the pot between her fellow NXT alumnae.

- Neville vs. Aries:
Neville needs this win more than Aries does. Aries will be fine without holding the title, and they could move him up to Raw or Smackdown if they wanted to. Neville wins and we eventually get Neville vs. TJP when Perkins refuses to be a subject to the King. But first, how about Neville vs. Kalisto?

- Hardys vs. Sheamus/Cesaro:
Hardys win over some game opponents. No heel turn or team splitting up or anything. Ideally this will bring out the best in both sides.

- Rollins vs. Joe:
Joe needs to look like a threat and move things forward from the Rollins/HHH feud. He gets the win here. I'm liking the Joe leading Karl and Luke idea, but I don't think we're there just yet. Rollins unfortunately can't really go higher on the card with a part-time Universal Champion, so we might as well continue this to Extreme Rules.

- Y2J vs. Owens:
Jericho gives Owens a big rub and then goes off to be a rock star. As far writing him off the next night, Braun destroying him is the obvious route and I don't see anything wrong with it.

- Bray vs. Orton:
Bray needs this win more than Orton does, especially in his signature match. In one of the craziest matches in WWE history, Wyatt gets the win and emerges as a big threat on Raw. I wouldn't mind them giving Randy an out by saying he's got his hands full with Jinder and the Singhs, so he can't focus on the match.

- Roman vs. Braun:
I'm thinking Brock vs. Braun at the July PPV that will hopefully be renamed, so these two are pretty much destined to have a no. 1 contenders match at Extreme Rules, presumably in one of the biggest brawls in WWE history. As for here, both men beat the absolute hell out of each other to the point the referee loses control. Execution will be key to set up a "there must be a winner" aspect next month without short-changing fans here. It needs to be absolute chaos where refs and security are part of the carnage.

More wrestling coming up.