Positioned right after the WWE Draft and right before the WWE enters a new era, "WWE Battleground" is a gateway moment, with veteran stars passing the torch and younger lions pouncing at the chance to prove themselves.
This is evident in the blockbuster main event of "WWE Battleground," with three of the former Shield members doing battle against each other for the WWE Championship. They know that each of them are poised to carry the company from now on, so they have to do their best.
Overall, "WWE Battleground" was a success, with most of its young stars proving that they can be relied on to bring WWE wrestling to the modern era. Let's break down each match to see how they did:
Sasha Banks and Bayley def. WWE Women's Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke
It was an interesting choice to have this match on first, but it set the tone of the evening by revealing Sasha Banks's mystery partner, the heavily-rumored former NXT Women's Champion Bayley. The action was good for what it was—basically, a vehicle to build Sasha up for her eventual title shot against Charlotte at "WWE SummerSlam." However, Bayley's (most likely) one-off appearance wasn't maximized, as she came off looking like Sasha's sidekick instead of the individual force most fans know her to be. It was a good enough opener for "WWE Battleground," no more, no less.
The Wyatt Family def. The New Day
The Wyatt Family getting separated at the WWE Draft didn't give them great odds for this match. Bray Wyatt and his crew normally don't do well in high-stakes matches, but it seems like WWE is finally willing to give them—or at least, just Bray—a new lease on life. The interaction between Bray Wyatt and Xavier Woods was done well here, making the dominant New Day's "WWE Battleground" loss make sense and mean something. It also gives the New Day a new opponent to tackle: tension within the group. So many different possibilities coming out of this one.
United States Champion Rusev def. Zack Ryder
This "WWE Battleground" showing should have been a coming-out party for Zack Ryder, who more than proved that he could be a midcard force to be reckoned with if they just gave him the ball. The match was really fun while it lasted, with both men trading sick, hard-hitting blows. It could've definitely used three to five more minutes, and while I never expected Rusev to lose his championship just yet, this should've been a platform for Ryder to continue pursuing singles glory. Instead, his NXT tag team partner Mojo Rawley's appearance after the match could possibly signal a return to tag team action on "WWE SmackDown," where they were both drafted.
Sami Zayn def. Kevin Owens
You can always, always count on these two to steal the show whenever they're given the time, and they did just that on "WWE Battleground." Sami Zayn looked to finally end his bitter rivalry with Kevin Owens maybe not once and for all, but only for the time being. He sealed the deal with a surprising clean win worthy of a main event championship match, hitting his finisher the Helluva Kick twice on the stubborn Owens. The result is interesting because they were not separated in the WWE Draft, staying together on "WWE RAW" likely for touring reasons. If this is indeed the end of the feud for now, I hope Zayn moves on to a salivating rivalry with United States Champion Rusev. He deserves that push.
Natalya def. Becky Lynch
This women's matchup doesn't look too strong on paper, but I can guarantee that it was the better match on "WWE Battleground." The two ladies took their time telling a story, with Natalya asserting her dominance over the younger Becky Lynch. Natalya definitely works better as a villain, able to punctuate her knowledge of crippling submission maneuvers by wearing down Becky's leg and foot. What we got was a match that didn't rush, with the right result: Natalya needed a definitive win, and Becky needs a reason to keep going.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse) def. Darren Young (with Bob Backlund)
Like the United States Championship match, this could have been something, but it was marred by a lack of time and the decision to end the match with shenanigans. Darren Young proved, as Zack Ryder did, that he was worthy of the airtime he was being given, showing why people were sleeping on him. Unfortunately, the terribly-executed finish completely killed the buzz they were building. It ended up easily being the worst match of "WWE Battleground."
John Cena, Enzo Amore, and Big Cass def. The Club
I hope nobody's protesting the Club's loss here, as this match was standard fare to get all six guys over. It could have happened earlier in "WWE Battleground," but considering John Cena and AJ Styles's star power, to put it in early would be a disservice to them. It could've been a great match had it not been what seemed to be a miscue in the finish, leading to an ending that was slower and quieter than expected. Still, a good and watchable effort.
Randy Orton returns in Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel
You can say whatever you want to say about Randy Orton and how he's old and washed up, but he is a breath of fresh air. Sitting on the sidelines will do that to you. Orton showed up and provided some much-needed personality and rationalization on why his "WWE SummerSlam" matchup against Brock Lesnar is happening. I just wish that this segment happened on the episode of "WWE RAW" after "UFC 200" instead of here on "WWE Battleground," but seeing another RKO again is great stuff.
WWE Champion Dean Ambrose def. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins
Man. What a main event.
The only thing that stopped this from being a true classic is the fact that on top of focusing on the three former brothers' rivalry, there was also a side storyline between Shane and Stephanie McMahon, the commissioners of "WWE SmackDown" and "WWE RAW," respectively. Take away that element and just focus on the warfare, and we would have had a classic in our hands. I'm glad the decision was made to have Dean Ambrose retain the WWE Championship here at "WWE Battleground" moving forward, as letting his reign live past a month legitimizes him—even if he is the last Shield member to get that honor. There were a lot of great moments here, but I want an eventual rematch, perhaps at "WWE WrestleMania," to top them all.
