Ahead of Sunday’s WWE Payback at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, here are some predictions on what to expect from the action.
Roman Reigns to beat AJ Styles to retain the WWE World Heavyweight title
Now, this should be interesting. This will be a good match, with the excellent Styles being paired with Reigns to help give the new champion a strong match.
I have liked the characterisation of Reigns since he won the title at WrestleMania 32. Neither a face or heel, just very confident in himself, with no attempt to force himself down audiences throat as a top babyface.
The intriguing element here is the role Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson will have, given their link to Styles and fact they have attacked Reigns in the build-up.
The swerve here is I think the duo will attack Styles during the match, not out of association to Reigns but for their own agenda and whoever else they are working with.
Reigns will capitalise and take the win, maintaining the darker edge to his character. He has done nothing wrong, but he does not help Styles, and this should serve the purpose of giving him a good start to what should be a long title reign, while keeping Styles strong.
I do not think there will be a reveal on who they are working for on Sunday, as the WWE would be wise to tease that out, though it is no coincidence that Finn Balor has just dropped the NXT title to free himself up in theory to make a move to the main roster.
Video: Cesaro on the WWE coming to Dubai, Daniel Bryan's retirement and his recovery from injury
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Dean Ambrose to beat Chris Jericho
Ambrose, judging by the manner in which he lost to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32, is not going to be world champion anytime soon, no matter how over he is with the crowd.
There was no surprise that he lost to Lesnar, and that was the right result, given the WWE wants the Beast Incarnate kept strong for the inevitable rematch with Reigns that he will likely lose, but for Ambrose to lose so quickly and with little resilience has hurt him.
Jericho is a great foil for him, and since turning heel last month, has really become a force on the roster.
Hopefully this is the start of a long feud, but Ambrose needs a winning start to give himself some fresh momentum.
The Miz to retain the Intercontinental title in a disqualification finish against Cesaro
The Miz is doing a great job as the Intercontinental champion, his heelish antics with his wife Maryse one of the highlights of WWE programming right now.
Cesaro has just come back from injury and he will get the title off the Miz, just not yet as this feud feels like it has only just started.
Expect some nefarious behaviour from The Miz to ensure that he may lose on the night by getting disqualified, but that he leaves with his title still around his waist.
Kevin Owens to beat Sami Zayn
I expect this feud to run all summer between two guys who have a long history together from their days in the independent scene, and most recently when they fought over the NXT title.
This could be match of the evening and I expect Owens to prevail here, with nefarious tactics, to build on Zayn being the underdog to create the situation where when Zayn does pick up thewin it will mean that much more.
Charlotte to retain the WWE Women’s title against Natalya
The WWE have done their best to put over Natalya as a threat to Charlotte, having her pin her in both tag and singles matches in recent weeks.
But Charlotte is going to be champion until at least SummerSlam when a likely rematch with Sasha Banks awaits, and she will win out in a match that should have outside interference with both Ric Flair and Bret Hart due to be at ringside.
Baron Corbin to beat Dolph Ziggler
Corbin has been promoted from NXT after winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32, and the WWE has big hopes for him.
Ziggler, whose stock has fallen since he won the World Heavyweight title in 2013, is there to make him look good, and this should be a competitive match that ends with Corbin standing tall.
The Vaudevillains to beat Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady in a tag match to become No 1 contenders for the WWE Tag Team titles
Enzo and Cass have been strongly over with the crowd since debuting the night after WrestleMania 32.
I am not sure the WWE will want them to feud with the New Day just yet, considering the New Day have just turned face and the meeting of these two teams, who are both great in the ring, and superb on the microphones, should be held off.
Expect the Dudleys to interfere, given their past history with Enzo and Cass, to give Vaudevillains the win/
It is a win-win scenario. The Vaudevillains get main event exposure in the tag division, while Enzo and Cass look strong in a feud with the Dudleys, before getting a title shot at SummerSlam.
Ryback to beat Kalisto to win the United States title
This feud has spluttered on since WrestleMania 32 and Ryback badly needs to win here if his attempt at reinventing himself as a frustrated man, taking matters into his own hands, is not to simply be frittered away.
The WWE have done little to develop Kalisto’s character since he first won the championship in January, and a title switch could be good for both men here to move things forward.
WWE Payback will be televised on the WWE Network, which is available through OSN, on Monday morning in the UAE from 4am.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Packages which the US Secret Service said contained possible explosive devices were sent to:
- Former first lady Hillary Clinton
- Former US president Barack Obama
- Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
- Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder (delivered to former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
- California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
MATCH INFO
Confederations Cup Group B
Germany v Chile
Kick-off: Thursday, 10pm (UAE)
Where: Kazan Arena, Kazan
Watch live: Abu Dhabi Sports HD
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
