We all just witnessed Battleground from WWE, and here I am to give you some insight into what was presented. While the show seemed to be a fairly heavy Summerslam build rather than an event in itself, it was still a fun watch. As always, I’m going to go match by match here, giving some thoughts and hopes for the future of those involved. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

 

Match 1: Randy Orton vs. Sheamus

While this match was certainly a good watch, I can’t say that it did much for me that many of the previous matches from these two haven’t. Orton continues to put in good work, putting the days of his seeming lackadaisical in ring nature behind him. The hometown crowd certainly helped him, as this was in the top 2 pops of the night, and were going nuts for the final sequence of this match. Sheamus is a solid heel, as he is more or less reeking heat in his new, odd look. Getting to see an RKO and subsequent pop was fun, and Orton managed the win. I can only imagine that this feud is over, and the two will move on come Summerslam

Winner: Randy Orton

 

Match 2: Prime Time Players (Champions) vs. The New Day For the WWE Tag Team Titles

Another solid match, but definitely a step up from the opener. The biggest takeaways from this are that The New Day are the best team charisma wise since Team Hell No, and that Titus O’Neil is a great big man babyface. Xavier Woods is great at being an annoying manager for New Day, a la Jimmy Hart, and Big E and Kofi feed off him well. Each of these teams have great chemistry together, and the Prime Time Players are becoming very strong Champs as they retain here. I would love to see some more offense from Darren Young, as he was really used to make the hot tag to his partner more than anything here, but when we eventually did, he’s definitely got what it takes.

Winners: Prime Time Players

 

Match 3: Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt

I was looking forward to this match very much so pre show, as both these guys should look to impress here. While it started slow (since Bray seems to work at a fairly slow and methodical pace) the final half of the match was very enjoyable. I really had no idea who would win, and in a grudge match booked almost “Attitude Era” style, I was on the edge of my seat. Reigns looked strong in many parts of the match, but I would have loved to see some new offense from him, we get a lot of strikes and samoan drops, but not many wrestling moves. I guess you could say the same about The Rock and Stone Cold, but I feel like he still needs some wrestling game. Bray, on the other hand, is strong on the mat and striking, but could use to pick up the pace. I get that his character is deliberate and methodical, but sometimes it’s a bit much. Having Luke Harper attack Roman from behind, leading him to a Sister Abigail, Wyatt gets a win he desperately needs, and Reigns doesn’t lose a huge amount as it took outside interference to beat him.

Winner: Bray Wyatt

 

Match 4: Charlotte (with Paige and Becky Lynch) vs. Sasha Banks (with Naomi and Tamina Snuka) vs. Brie Bella (with Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox)

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Revolution has FINALLY come to the main roster. I’m getting chills just writing about it. The call up of Becky Lynch, Charlotte, and Sasha Banks has firmly placed us in the best Women’s division the WWE has ever seen, and is without question one of the top reasons I tune into these events. That being said, these ladies being called up takes nothing away from the rest of the women involved in this match. All 9 are very strong, both on the mic (except Tamina, whose character doesn’t warrant it anyway) and in the ring, and I cannot wait for the future of all of these competitors. This match was unsurprisingly very good. While it was certainly awkward with all the wrestlers outside the ring, and looking for ways to get them involved, when it came to the three women working in the ring alone we saw some excellent quality. Even though the crowd hated Brie, she brought it as she usually does. Charlotte, also unsurprisingly, looked incredibly strong in this match, winning with the Figure 8 (a figure 4 with her performing a bridge while it’s locked in). I would have loved to see her have some more offense, potentially a Bow to the Queen at some point? The highlight of this match though, was definitely Sasha banks. From this point, she’s looking like she can be the strongest Women in WWE, as long as she keeps up the pace she’s currently on. She has insane charisma and mic skills, and in the ring she’s a straight up technician, with one of the most painful looking submission finishers I’ve seen. WWE has lightning in a bottle with the Womens division right now, let’s hope they get used to the fullest.

Winner: Charlotte

 

Match 5: John Cena (Champion) vs. Kevin Owens for the United States Title

For the third Special Event in a row, these two stole the show. Now, it’s time for our favorite moment of all my reviews, “John Cena Appreciation Fan Club”. If you still are chanting John Cena Sucks after this YEAR of quality matches from him, you’re just a troll. The man in putting in some of the best matches of his career, let alone best matches of the year, bar none. On top of that, Owens continues to shine in his first main roster feud, and the future for him is blindingly bright. There wasn’t a moment in this match where I wasn’t on the edge of my seat. The two kept this match up fresh, even after two previous 5 star matches, which is no easy feat, giving use incredibly unique moves throughout. Two points I need to highlight from the match, the first: Cena hit a sunset flip, perfectly. These two guys are BIG guys, and hitting a freaking sunset flip was insane. Second: Owens hit a cradle vertical GTS type move, that even had the commentary team jaw dropped. I will say that the finish was a little weird. Cena hit an AA off the top rope, which I was sure was gonna be it, but Owens kicked out, leading to Cena looking like there was no way to win. When he then went on to lock in the STF and Owens tapped, I was perplexed. It would’ve made more sense to end at the Super AA.

Winner: John Cena

 

Match 6: Seth Rollins (Champion) vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Title

There’s not a whole lot to be said about this match, more about what happened at the end, but to sum it up: Lesnar suplexed Rollins many many times. As he went for the win after an F5, we heard the gong… And my heart sank and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The Undertaker is back, and he is PISSED at Lesnar. He goes on to give Lesnar a beating, and walks out, arm raised to end the show. Taker hasn’t looked as good as he did here since his match at Wrestlemania 29 back in 2013, and it makes me hopeful for their eventual match, probably at Summerslam.

No Winner

 

Battleground was a fairly mediocre show, but the final sequence and Women’s emergence more than made up for it. I believe that the goal for this show was to hype people up for Summerslam while giving us some quality matches, and if that is true, WWE definitely succeeded.