WWE World Heavyweight champion Roman Reigns will be putting his title on the line for the first time since re-claiming it at Wrestlemania against arguably the most accomplished wrestler today in A.J Styles in the main event of WWE Payback on Sunday at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Preview
Reigns vs. Styles: On the line is the most coveted belt in wrestling entertainment, the WWE World Heavyweight championship which is currently in the hands of Reigns. For the current champ, scoring a victory against a formidable opponent like Styles would validate his status as the top cog in WWE in the eyes of fans.
On the other hand, Styles has already won almost all world championship belts today, except the WWE World Heavyweight championship. The well-traveled superstar has been a force to reckon with in every promotion he competed in, blowing away his foes with a complete package of hand-to-hand combat, submission moves and aerial stunts. Now, after years of waiting, he finds himself in the precipice of hoisting the championship.
Prediction: In the fight of this magnitude, your money should always be on the guy who has already proven capable of rising up to occasion. Reigns did that several weeks ago when he demolished the Authority's top man Triple H in the main event of Wrestlemania 32.
Unfortunately, the champ is facing a far different animal at Payback. Unlike the aging Triple H, Styles is at the peak of his prime. Worse, the looming threat of a sneak attack from Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows would certainly come into play here for Reigns after experience firsthand how destructive the duo is. There have been speculation Styles knew the Anderson and Gallows' M.O all this time. In fact, he might eventually be the man behind all these attack on Reigns.
One way or another, this is going to be an all-out battle that would live up to the hype. Styles might be the crowd favorite in the match, but I don't see Vince McMahon and co. handing him the title. As what I heard, the McMahons remain firm in their belief that Reigns is the future of the franchise and all the superstar needs is to pile up exciting victory over worthy opponents to win over the WWE universe. Reigns pinning A.J styles to retain title.