WWE Payback 2013 match card and rumors (Updated)

WWE will return to the pay-per-view (PPV) airwaves on Sun., June 16, 2013, with its inaugural Payback event at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The concept of the show is something like what Backlash used to represent except it occurs after the show after WrestleMania, Extreme Rules.

Plus, "Payback" just sounds cool.

Here's the current match card and rumors:

- John Cena vs. Ryback (3 Stages of Hell match for the WWE championship)

So these two managed to go to a No Contest in a Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules, the worst booking ever, before Ryback suggested an Ambulance match -- even incorporating it into his entrance and throwing random jobbers in the back of it before driving off, presumably kidnapping them, though they all show up on TV the next week -- before Cena countered with a 3 Stages of Hell match that will go as follows: First fall: Lumberjack; Second fall: Tables; Third fall: Ambulance (only if it's necessary). The idea is that even if the third fall isn't necessary, someone is going out in the ambulance anyway. Whatever. The only interesting thing about this match is how WWE will get out of actually booking someone to lose.

- CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho

Nothing about the build up to this match suggests Punk will actually show up for it next Sunday night. He's having a gay old time following the Chicago Blackhawks run to the Stanley Cup Finals, which will still be going on come the PPV, even if they sweep the Boston Bruins (which they hopefully will, screw you, Boston). So the prevailing thought is that Punk might make an appearance at the show but he won't actually wrestle, instead having Curtis Axel take his place, seeing as Axel is now a Paul Heyman Guy. Or maybe they introduce a new Paul Heyman Guy. Or maybe this is the start of Punk's break from Heyman because he signed a contract for Punk to wrestle without Punk actually being there and it's never been made clear on TV that Punk ever gave his consent for such a thing, which is kind of funny, if you think about it. I wouldn't recommend thinking about it, though. So this match is scheduled but may not happen.

- Wade Barrett vs. The Miz vs. Fandango (Intercontinental championship)

This is being touted amongst pundits (if there is such a thing in pro wrestling) as not so much a match as a ceremony to crown Fandango the next Intercontinental champion. Barrett has done next to nothing with the title, other than lose it to Miz at WrestleMania only to regain it back the very next night on Monday Night Raw. Miz has actually been doing some decent work with WWE, but only in non-wrestling capacities, like commentating on Main Event and playing an insincere babyface talk show host on MizTV. Plus, Fandango is still a pet project who is doing rather well with his character and actually has a chance at drawing money someday.

That's the card as it stands now, Cagesiders. We're just one week away with only three announced matches. That sounds about right, actually.