WWE Payback 2017: Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe full match preview

Singles Match

Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe

Seth Rollins was finally at peace after slaying the king, but the king’s enforcer quickly reminded him that this war is far from over.

The Road to Payback

Samoa Joe debuted with a bang at the end of January when he appeared as Triple H’s enforcer and ambushed Seth Rollins, leaving the Architect in a broken heap of agony due to snapped knee ligaments.

Seth Rollins eventually overcame this knee injury to miraculously defeat Triple H in an unsanctioned match at WrestleMania 33, where Seth earned the “Kingslayer” moniker.

In the aftermath of WrestleMania 33, the brand new Raw general manager Kurt Angle defied Stephanie McMahon’s wishes by keeping Rollins on Raw in the midst of the chaotic superstar shakeup between the red and blue brands.

Samoa Joe immediately pounced on this opportunity to attack Seth Rollins, sending a clear signal that the Destroyer was looking for payback after what Seth did to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 33.

The following week, Samoa Joe defeated Chris Jericho and then called out Seth Rollins to explain that he was dead set on popping Seth’s knee ligaments again; Seth was in for a world of pain at Payback. Seth responded with equal intensity when he said that this was very personal and it was time to pay Joe back for almost ending his career back in January.

What’s at stake?

Both men have very personal reasons for going to war at Payback. Samoe Joe is seeking revenge after the humiliation that Seth inflicted upon Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 33. Meanwhile, Seth Rollins still needs to gain a measure of revenge on Joe for the knee injury that Seth suffered at his hands back in January.

We were told that no doctor in the world would clear Seth to compete in a match at WrestleMania 33, yet even after taking a sustained beating for the better part of 25 minutes from Triple H, Seth was somehow cleared for a match the very next night on Raw. Nearly one month later his knee is still not fully recovered, and the Kingslayer fully expects the Destroyer will target his vulnerable knee at Payback.

Tune into Payback 2017 and keep it here on Cageside Seats to see which superstar will walk out of this grudge match with a win.