WWE Payback 2023: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True

8. And Santos Escobar Is Responsible

WWE Payback 2023 Kurt Angle Chad Gable
WWE.com

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.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.