WWE Payback 2017: The Hardy Boyz vs. Cesaro & Sheamus full match preview

Cesaro & Sheamus vs. the Hardy Boyz (c)

Raw tag team title match

Matt and Jeff Hardy made an immediate impact upon their return to WWE. They were a surprise entrant in the Raw tag team ladder match at WrestleMania and walked out with the titles. They successfully defended them against former champions Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows the next night.

Here’s the video of them returning to WWE because it’s so dang good it’s worth re-watching:

On the same night that the Hardys defended their title against the Club at Raw, Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Enzo and Big Cass to become number one contenders to the Hardys’ tag titles. The match was set.

The relationship between the the challengers and champions can be described as apprehensive respect. One night they teamed together to face the Club and Shining Starts and were victorious. They raised each other’s arms in victory.

The following week Cesaro and Jeff Hardy had a one on one match where the Charismatic Enigma earned the win. There was a handshake post match but you could feel the tension rising.

Last week, it looked like their mutual respect was going to go out the window during a match between Matt Hardy and Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior shoved Jeff Hardy on the outside and Jeff followed up by jumping on the apron to jaw at the Irishman. Cesaro then pulled Jeff off the apron and the men started arguing. All of this led to Sheamus becoming distracted and taking the loss.

The events angered Cesaro and it looked like he was ready to fight the Hardy Men then and there, but surprisingly, it was Sheamus who was the cooler head. There was another handshake between the teams, but the truce feels tenuous at best.

Perhaps Cesaro and Sheamus will have enough of the Hardys this Sunday and snap if things don’t go their way. Sheamus is a hot head and Cesaro showed that he is getting tired of the tag champs. Will a vicious side emerge?

On the other side, if anyone has cornered the market when it comes to breaking, it’s Matt Hardy. Too many losses to his brother last summer in another promotion caused Matt to lose his frickin’ mind. This lead to Deletions, drones, massacre prepared gardeners, and so much more. Could that happen again if he and Jeff lose their precious tag titles so soon after winning them? Or even if they retain them but they are ambushed by the challengers post match? Matt Hardy may not be broken currently, but his condition sure seems fragile.

The teams aren’t friends and will give it their 100%. But will that mutual respect that’s been there the last few weeks remain? Or will one of these teams end up breaking by the end?

Tune into Payback on the WWE tonight at 8 EST to find out. And keep it here at CagesideSeats.com for all of your Payback coverage.