What seems like an eternity of mediocre, half-assed RAW's have been and gone since the last WWE PPV, Money in the Bank, as we head to St Louis, Missouri for Battleground this Sunday. A pissed off Beast has left a trail of destruction in his pursuit of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, a pissed off Kevin Owens has proved a thorn not only in the side of John Cena but Cesaro too and a perennially positive New Day attempt to clap themselves to the Tag Team Titles for the second time in their short, but entertaining, career.
Despite Battleground's status as a B PPV, a status that was reinforced by last year's lacklustre event, the show is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing PPVs in recent memory whilst promising to provide a clearer idea of what is in the works for SummerSlam. Here is my preview of Sunday's matches:
King Barrett vs R-Truth in the Battle of the Jobbers.
After weeks of trading wins and losses, King Barrett faces R-Truth to determine (again) who is the rightful claimant to the crown despite the fact King Barrett won a tournament just two months ago dedicated to solving this issue. Since his Coronation, Barrett has lost more singles matches than he has won, a record that has not only harmed his position in the company but has also significantly damaged the King of the Ring moniker.
In spite of King Barrett's booking post King of the Ring he is almost certain to win this match. Another loss here for Barrett would further discredit the King of the Ring tournament, something WWE must avoid if they are going to continue to rely on the history of titles such as King of the Ring to help get guys over. No shocks here. Barrett wins to finally end this insanity. Unless Barrett only won KOTR to change his name from Bad News... oh wait... that is what happened.
Prediction- King Barrett
Ryback (C) vs The Miz vs The Big Show
The Intercontinental Championship curse continues as The Big Guy, formerly dishing out injuries, woke up Tuesday morning with a severe staff infection in his right knee ruling him out of Sunday's show. Although this blogger is relieved not to have to squint through bleary eyes at 02:30 AM to watch this terrible terrible idea for a match, the injury comes at a bad time for Ryback whose popularity continues to grow every week.
Hopefully Ryback will make a quick recovery to avoid any title abdications and WWE will take this as a sign to keep Big Show out of any championship matches in the future. Because no-one wants that.
Prime Time Players (C) vs The New Day
In one of the more shocking outcomes from the Money in the Bank PPV last month (which is quite a statement considering Roman Reigns did not win the MITB briefcase), the Prime Time Players defeated The New Day to win the tag team titles. Since then, this rivalry has been hampered by the WWE creative team's inability to book more than one tag team feud at any one time. Instead, they opted to throw together various combinations of these two teams on every RAW and SmackDown since Money in the Bank.
Despite the lack of direction in a division where outcomes are likely decided by Vince McMahon flipping a coin, The New Day have continued to agitate the fans and maintain their heat, particularly Xavier Woods, in spite of lazy booking. Woods has been fantastic in his role as The New Day's chief antagoniser of crowds and is certain to play a major part in Sunday's match up. Don't expect the heat that The New Day have generated over the past few months to translate into a second championship reign just yet though. After winning the Tag Team Championships around five weeks ago, the Prime Time Players head into Battleground as clear favourites to retain the gold and move on to their next challenge.
Prediction- Prime Time Players
Sheamus vs Randy Orton
The year is 2010 and Sheamus puts his WWE Championship on the line against the hungry viper, Randy Orton, who seeks revenge for... No that's not right...
The year is 2012 and this year's hottest feud culminates in a Hell in the Cell match for the ages between the Champion, Randy Orton, and the challenger, Sheamus... No wait that's not right either...
The year is 2015 and this year's newly crowned Mr Money in the Bank, Sheamus, meets Randy Orton (again) in a contest no one knew they wanted to see happen... especially for the 103rd time in televised matches (Source: Internet Wrestling Database). In a feud that began before Ric Flair ever said woooo (I didn't think it had lasted so long but honestly, check the facts), Randy Orton seeks to punish Sheamus for no reason whatsoever. If you left a piece of bread on the side from when Ric Flair was born until today, the bread still would not be as stale as this match up. I can't think of any reasons why WWE creative chose to revisit this match instead of going for something new with the depth of talent on the roster. Truly mind boggling. The less said about it the better.
Prediction- Sheamus
Roman Reigns vs Bray Wyatt
In a build up that has resembled a low budget horror movie (albeit with, somehow, less convincing acting on the part of Roman), Bray Wyatt has continually got the better of Roman Reigns after foiling Roman's attempts to win the MITB briefcase. Bray Wyatt heads into Battleground this Sunday looking to not only beat Roman Reigns but to "fix" the ills of society by doing so. Something that I'm all for.
This story has been hurt by two principle factors: firstly, Roman's acting ability has severely hampered the telling of any story during this rivalry as Bray's best efforts of psychological warfare have been no sold by Roman. Despite implying that he may have abducted Roman's child, the new face of fear has only succeeded in mildly irritating Roman who seems to believe the solution to every problem is to go ooooooohhh really loud, then load his gun-fist (seriously, this needs to stop) before delivering a Superman punch (again, seriously). Secondly, Roman has been given even less time on the microphone than R-Truth. There has been very little opportunity to see any development in the character of Roman Reigns since the Shield broke up. As far as I can see, the only difference between Roman 18 months ago and Roman now is this.
Roman's status as a reptillian-humanoid aside, it would be a very peculiar decision to have Wyatt, after initiating the rivalry, lose here before having any visible, or psychological, effect on Roman Reigns, whom is yet to be on the receiving end of a clean loss in one on one matches during his three year WWE career. Indefensibly, Roman will continue receiving the strongest booking WWE has ever given anyone by once again avoiding a clean loss. If the WWE rivalry booking pattern continues Reigns will take the loss here via shenanigans before his eventual triumph at SummerSlam. Yawn.
Prediction- Bray Wyatt
John Cena (C) vs Kevin Owens
The third chapter of John Cena and Kevin Owens is to be written at Battleground in perhaps the most anticipated match on the card. After putting on two matches that will surely be talked about as match of the year contenders, this time, John Cena puts the much coveted United States Championship on the line in a match guaranteed to leave the dad's of John Cena fans either infuriated or ecstatic. Kevin Owens, now without his cherished NXT Championship, heads into the match looking vulnerable for the first time in his WWE career after being defeated by Finn Balor in Japan. Cena, too, heads into the match looking far from his usual super self after being taken to the limit by Cesaro on multiple occasions.
Criminally underutilised since his WrestleMania XXX triumph, Cesaro's presence on the main roster continues to grow after putting some of the best matches we are likely to see on RAW all year. Over the past three weeks, Cesaro has staked his claim for the title with an impressive victory over Rusev and a couple of thrilling contests against the current incumbent, one of which he appeared to have won before interference by Kevin Owens.
Prediction- Cesaro interferes leading to a no contest, John Cena retains.
Seth Rollins (C) vs Brock Lesnar
WWE programming has been heading to this match ever since WrestleMania when Seth Rollins performed the heist of the century, stealing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship off Brock Lesnar by pinning Lesnar's opponent, Roman Reigns. Brock's suspension the night after WrestleMania led many to believe the match would take place on a bigger stage at SummerSlam. This did not materialise, though, and during Seth's celebrations the night after defeating Dean Ambrose all by himself at Money in the Bank (a first in his career), The Authority revealed that his next opponent would be The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar.
Considering The Authority reinstated Brock Lesnar only five weeks ago you would have thought that he would have at least played nice with The Authority. He didn't want to play nice. Brock Lesnar does not play nice. As the weeks decreased leading up to Battleground, so too did members of the authority willing to do Seth Rollins' dirty work as Brock Lesnar broke Kane's leg, Jamie Noble's ribs and let Joey Mercury off with mild contusions leaving fans questioning whether HHH and Stephanie are part of The Authority any more. Has HHH turned face by bringing the face Lesnar back to defeat the heel champion? Did Stephanie turn face by calling up the NXT women on RAW to dethrone the heel champion? These are questions you don't need to ask because logical story telling is not best for business.
Alone, for the first time during his WWE World Heavy Weight Championship reign, Seth Rollins faces not only the biggest test as champion but the biggest test of his career in a match that will define his title reign. Brock Lesnar, fresh off hurling the door of a $55,000 Cadillac into the crowd, enters the match looking more beast than human.
All things point to a certain Brock Lesnar victory.
At least that's how it seems.
Entering his 4th month as WWE champion, Seth Rollins has attracted his fair share of derision from the WWE Universe. Resounding chants of Justin Bieber echo around any arena in the US every time he picks up a microphone. Such heat is rare these days in an environment where cool heels are often cheered ahead of the often one dimensional faces. Seth Rollins, however, is a really dislikeable person, more undeserving of his place as champion than Kim Kardashian is of her fame. I would be surprised if WWE placed Seth's comeuppance on a B PPV to a non Shield member, particularly to the guy he won the title from even if his name is Brock Lesnar. It ain't going to be pretty by any means but somehow, by some hook or crook, Seth Rollins arrives at RAW in Kansas City on Monday still WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Prediction- Seth Rollins in an extremely shady manner.
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