WWE Payback 2023: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True

Double whammy alert.

How sh*t would it be if Austin Theory became United States Champ again and Santos Escobar turned on Rey for the sake of it? Something doesn't feel right when Santos is gladly stepping aside so his mentor can scoop up all the glory and headlines. WWE would typically start a resentment story here.

Maybe that's the plan, which is fine. However, they shouldn't rush through it! Turning Escobar at Payback would be too hasty, and it'd burn through weeks (if not months) of storytelling on TV in just a few short PLE minutes. Besides, that LWO merch is probably still raking in the cash.

Mysterio is defo a temp placeholder for the US division rather than a long-term solution, but that doesn't mean for one second the writers need to scramble on Saturday. They 100% can't go backwards to Theory, and they must not trick themselves into thinking a Santos heel turn is needed.