With the WWE Draft come and gone, this Sunday’s WWE Battleground pay-per-view marks the final event before the Brand Extension goes into full effect. The show takes place at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., with nine matches scheduled, three of them title bouts, and one talk show segment. Headlining Battleground is the much anticipated triple threat match featuring former Shield stablemates.
Who is the standout of "The Shield"?
At Money in the Bank, Seth Rollins surprisingly pinned Roman Reigns clean after hitting the Pedigree, capturing his second WWE Championship. Moments later, Dean Ambrose, who won the Money in the Bank ladder match earlier in the night, whacked Rollins from behind with the briefcase. Ambrose immediately cashed in his title shot and one Dirty Deeds later, earned his first heavyweight championship. The next night on RAW, Ambrose basked in his title victory until Reigns came out, showing some heelish tendencies in the process. After Rollins came out and demanded a rematch, Shane McMahon danced his way down to the ring, announcing a number one contender's match between Rollins and Reigns for the main event, in which both men failed to answer the referee's ten count. Ambrose, who sat in on commentary, declared his intention to face both men in a triple threat match at Battleground. A couple days later, WWE suspended Reigns for 30 days for his first violation of the Wellness Policy.
The proceeding weeks focused on Rollins denigrating “The Guy” and plead for his removal from the Battleground main event. This came to a head on the June 11 RAW where Rollins “interviewed” the suspended Reigns, similar to Kurt Angle's "interview" of The Rock 16 years prior. “The Lunatic Fringe” came out and cut a great promo, declaring he and Rollins have the title match then and there. Rollins pusillanimously backed down, saying the match would happen on his time.
On the last RAW before the draft, Rollins delivered a superplex, but Ambrose cradled the challenger, leading to a double pin and a title retention for the Cincinnati native, facilitating a rematch for SmackDown. The next night on the first live SmackDown (which also hosted the Draft), RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and General Manager Mick Foley chose Rollins first overall, while SmackDown counterparts Shane and Daniel Bryan took Ambrose. Steph and Foley selected Reigns later in the show. The Ambrose/Rollins rematch ended with the same superplex spot only this time, Ambrose popped up and hit Dirty Deeds for the clean win. This match is likely to be the match of the night given the talent involved. A title change would not be out of the question here either.
Destined to do this forever
Continuing the trends of the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, and Extreme Rules, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens’ abhorrence for one another cost both men a chance to be called Mr. Money in the Bank. Heck, their hatred for each other could not be set aside in the Fourth of July tag match on RAW. On the June 27 RAW both Zayn and Owens were guests on Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel. Both men accused the other of ruining their friendship, and Zayn challenged Owens to one more match at Battleground, wanting to face him before possibly splitting up before the draft. Owens accepted, after which the two shut up Jericho with their boots to his face. On SmackDown, both Owens and Zayn ended up on RAW, possibly meaning this match won’t be the blowoff as originally thought.
Cena's got backup
At Money in the Bank, A.J, Styles defeated John Cena after interference from Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. The following night, Anderson, Styles, and Gallows offered feigned apologies for their actions in the “dream match”. Cena did not buy the apologies and faced Anderson in singles action. Cena won the match by disqualification, but The Club’s stood tall. On the June 27 RAW both Cena and “The Phenomenal One” had matches to gain entry into the Battleground main event. Styles and the Club cost Cena his match with Rollins. Styles lost his match to Ambrose due to the “Face that Runs the Place’s” interference. Styles and company beat down Cena to close the show. On Independence Day, The Club decided to beat up Cena every chance they got, theorizing that no one would come out to help him. As Styles, Anderson and Gallows closed in on Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass ran down to even the odds. Later on a six man tag match between all parties was announced for Battleground. On the July 11 RAW Styles and his henchmen tried to cause dissension between Enzo, Cass and Cena, saying Cena was in Los Angeles preparing for the ESPY’s. After the Club/Enzo and Cass tag match ended in a no contest, The Club took out Cass and circled Enzo. Seconds later, Cena sprinted down and helped the “Realest Guys in the Room” clear the ring of the New Japan standouts. On the July 18 RAW, Styles pinned Enzo in a 12 man tag match that involved his stablemates, The Wyatt Family, Cena and The New Day. On SmackDown, Cena pinned Gallows with Enco, Cass, Styles and Anderson at ringside.
Becky loses another ally
After losing a tag team match to WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke, Natalya turned on her friend and partner Becky Lynch, peppering her with mounted punches and limped to the back. The next night on RAW, Natalya attacked Lynch from behind during a backstage interview, with “The Queen of Hearts” saying she’s looking out for herself now. On the June 27 RAW, Lynch attacked Natalya, who sat on commentary, before the “Lass Kicker’s” match with Summer Rae. On the July 4 RAW, Lynch vs. Natalya was announced for the pay-per-view. The same night, Lynch defeated Summer Rae with Natalya watching on a backstage television. Three nights later on SmackDown, Natalya attacked Lynch as she made her entrance for a match. The former Divas Champion locked Lynch in a Sharpshooter before refs separated the two. Natalya attacked Becky during her tag match on July 18. The two had one more pull apart brawl on the July 19 SmackDown.
Who is Sasha's partner?
On the June 20 episode of RAW, WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte pinned Paige to retain her title. After a post-match beatdown, Sasha Banks made her return, blasting Brooke with a forearm shot, dropping the champion with a backstabber and held up the Women’s title. The next week, Banks and Paige teamed up to defeat Charlotte and Brooke. On the July 4 RAW Charlotte and Sasha exchanged words, leading to a brawl. Banks applied the Bank Statement to Charlotte, before the champion's protege made the save. Sasha beat Brooke twice on the July 11 Raw and three nights later on SmackDown. Later on the Thursday broadcast, Charlotte and Dana told Banks that they would face off in a tag team match at Battleground. Banks could pick anyone she wants as her partner. On the July 18 RAW, Banks teamed with Lynch to face Charlotte and Brooke. The match ended in a DQ as Natalya attacked Lynch leaving Banks open to a two-on-one beatdown from “The Nature Boy’s” daughter and her pupil. The next night, Charlotte and Brooke beat “The Boss” in a handicap match.
The early favorites to be Bank’s partner are former Team B.A.D. teammate Naomi and NXT adversary Bayley. Banks and “The Hugster” delivered the two best women’s matches last year at consecutive NXT Takeovers.
Will "New Day Fall" to the Wyatts?
Bray Wyatt and his family returned on the June 20 episode of RAW. Before Wyatt finished his promo, The New Day interrupted. As Kofi Kingston and Big E set up the “WWE World Tag Team Champions” line, Xavier Woods appeared to be entranced by the Wyatts. The next week, New Day came out dressed as the Wyatts (although Big E looked more like Hillbilly Jim than a Wyatt).
“The Eater of Worlds" interrupted and said every knee would bow and said, “New Day falls”. One week later the Wyatts invited the WWE Tag Team Champions to his compound. Kingston accepted on behalf of the trio, but Woods did something Reigns or Cena failed to do in feuds with Wyatt: take him seriously. Woods told Michael Cole on his weekly interview that he would join Kingston and Big E at the compound. In a scene that drew comparisons to TNA’s “Final Deletion” both trio’s fought until Bray summoned the rest of his followers and “fireflies”. On the final SmackDown before the pay-per-view, Wyatt defeated Woods with Sister Abigail. With Wyatt on SmackDown and New Day and Braun Strowman on RAW, this appears to be the blowoff match between these six.
Can lightning strike twice for Ryder?
On the July 4 RAW, Zack Ryder pinned Sheamus to win the U.S. - International match. Ryder pinned Sheamus again on SmackDown and challenged Rusev to a United States Championship match. On the July 11 RAW, Sheamus steamrolled Ryder in two minutes. After the match, Rusev attacked the Long Island native and locked him in the Accolade, accepting his challenge. A week later, Rusev and Sheamus beat Ryder and Dolph Ziggler when Rusev forced Ziggler to submit to the Accolade. Ryder appears to be a long shot to walk away with the title, as Rusev has been very entertaining since regaining the title.
Can Darren Young make the I.C. Title "Great Again"?
For weeks on end, WWE Hall of Famer Bob Backlund has been on a campaign to “Make Darren Young Great Again” playing off Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan (insert your own joke about Young not being great in the first place here). On the July 18 RAW, Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews eliminated themselves from the number one contender's battle royal with Young lying in the corner. The former Primetime Player “won” and “earned” an Intercontinental Championship match against the Miz.
On SmackDown, Young and Backlund were guests on Miz TV. Miz disparaged Young for his lack of accomplishments and called out Backlund, but Young fired back with a surprisingly good promo. On the June 18 RAW, “Mr. No Days Off” rolled up Alberto Del Rio for the win, despite Miz’s distractions. Young kept his momentum going by forcing Miz to tap to the Crossface Chickenwing in a tag match on the go home edition of SmackDown. This match seems to have the least amount of heat behind it, as Young was not built up well and Miz only has slightly more credibility.
"The Viper" returns
On the July 7 SmackDown, WWE announced Randy Orton as Brock Lesnar's opponent for Summerslam. On July 18, WWE announced that Orton would make his return at Battleground as a guest on the Highlight Reel. Orton has been out of action since last October with a shoulder injury and should get a massive ovation on Sunday. Look for an antagonistic Jericho to eat an RKO after offering Orton to drink in "the gift of Jericho".