WWE Battleground 2015: B/R Expert Predictions and Analysis

The 2015 edition of the WWE Battleground pay-per-view is shaping up to be an A-level event. The matches on Sunday's card could be considered headline acts for the company's biggest stages, such as SummerSlam, WrestleMania or the Royal Rumble.

As of Friday morning, six contests are slated to take place at Sunday's pay-per-view, including three title bouts:

• R-Truth vs. King Barrett
• Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt
• Randy Orton vs. Sheamus
• John Cena vs. Kevin Owens for the United States Championship
• The Prime Time Players vs. The New Day for the Tag Team Championships
• Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

As was announced this week by WWE, the Intercontinental Championship match has been scrapped, as Ryback is out with a knee injury. Even so, there's plenty going on at the event to break down.

That's why Bleacher Report has assembled its own all-star team of writers to answer some of the biggest questions about Battleground and how this weekend's pay-per-view might shape WWE ahead of SummerSlam in August.

The Panel of Experts

Credit:WWE.com

The B/R Expert Panel is ready to dive into WWE Battleground predictions. From left: Anthony Mango, Erik Beaston, Donald Wood, Brad Jones, and Aaron Bower

We’ve compiled a great panel composed of members of the Bleacher Report WWE team to answer tough questions about each match on the Battleground card. Additionally, they’ll give us their predictions on the Superstars they think will walk out of St. Louis’ Scottrade Center as winners on Sunday.

Our panel includes:

• Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the Smack Talk podcast.
• Brad Jones (@beardjones)
• Aaron Bower (@aaronbower)
• Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston)
• Donald Wood (@Donald_Wood), co-host of Ring Rust Radio.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

King Barrett vs. R-Truth

Credit: WWE.com

Q: Which wrestler in this match is saddled with the worse gimmick?

Anthony Mango (AM): Oddly enough, it's King Barrett. R-Truth isn't someone to take seriously, but that's OK. Meanwhile, Barrett is supposed to be someone above many others on the roster, and he's being booked as a loser. It's better to be a fun person who is successful at being laughed at than someone who is supposed to be taken seriously but is set up to fail. It's time for WWE to correct that mistake. Match Prediction: King Barrett

Donald Wood (DW): It hurts so much seeing how little King Barrett means to the WWE as an on-screen character. The man won the King of the Ring tournament and has the in-ring ability to hang with anyone, but instead of utilizing him with proper storytelling, he has been relegated to a meaningless feud with R-Truth that has lasted far too long. The WWE Universe wants this feud to be over. Hopefully, Barrett wins clean, keeps the king gimmick and everyone can just move on like this never happened. Match Prediction: King Barrett

Brad Jones (BW): Unquestionably, King Barrett. If you're going to be a pop-culture king character in 2015, you need to be looking at Game of Thrones for inspiration—Barrett could be revelatory as a Machiavellian figure who seeks to manipulate those around him. However, his kingly persona has unfortunately been more reminiscent of the forced reigns we saw in the 1990s, albeit not quite as disastrous as Sheamus' win in 2010. R-Truth's gimmick is bad, but he's something of a master at making dumb-as-bricks comedy work. Match Prediction: King Barrett

Erik Beaston (EB): The King of the Ring victory should have been the beginning of a rejuvenation for Barrett following inexplicable dumbing down of the Bad News gimmick. Instead, it has led to a generic king gimmick and a losing streak that has erased just about all of the credibility the Brit had left. Barrett’s is clearly worse, if only because it should have signaled bigger and better things for the former Nexus leader. Match Prediction: King Barrett

Aaron Bower (AB): On the face of it, you’d have to say R-Truth, but he has made good things from interesting gimmicks in the past: Little Jimmy being a fine example. It’s hard to suggest being the reigning King of the Ring winner is a bad gimmick, but just like King Sheamus before him, WWE have made a real mess of adding prestige to Barrett’s success. You now feel that if he’s to push back up the card, he’ll have to drop the king gimmick and go back to being the no-nonsense, brutal brawler for which he has a good reputation. Match Prediction: King Barrett

Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt

Credit: WWE.com

Q: Complete this sentence: If Bray Wyatt loses to Roman Reigns at Battleground…

DW: ...Wyatt will get the win back at SummerSlam. WWE understands both of these men will be key pieces for the company moving forward, and this feud will likely consist of even-steven booking. Whoever gets the win at Battleground—that Reigns got the upper hand on the go-home episode of Raw is an indication Wyatt will earn the victory—will likely be forced to take the loss at SummerSlam. With that in mind, a loss for either man won’t hurt since they’ll get it right back the following month. Match Prediction: Bray Wyatt

BJ: ...then he needs to take a long break from our screens. Wyatt is a terrific talent, and there's little substance to claims he's already been damaged beyond repair—but the fact is a character such as this needs to pick up wins to gain any measure of legitimacy. This is why his Family was such a potent addition; they gave him an unfair advantage that gave his opponents an excuse for losing. That's a crucial component to keeping both sides of the top of the card looking strong. Match Prediction: Bray Wyatt

EB: ...he will sink further into mediocrity and the muddled mess that is the WWE midcard. Wyatt is a character who should have been the next Undertaker, a phenom of sorts who carries the company for the next decade based on parlor tricks and presence alone. Instead, the company has somehow managed to book him so inconsistently he may never reach consistent main event status. Match Prediction: Roman Reigns

AB: ...they must fight again at SummerSlam. That’s a scenario that would probably be welcomed in any eventuality, as it’s a feud that is doing both men some good. Wyatt has a genuine star to feud with in Reigns, while Bray has gradually brought the old Roman Reigns back to our TV screens, judging by the way he acted on the final Raw before Battleground. With the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture looking stacked out at the moment, this rivalry has been good for both men in the interim. Match Prediction: Bray Wyatt

AM: ...it wouldn't make a difference whatsoever. These two are likely going to have a rematch at SummerSlam with some sort of gimmick stipulation attached to it no matter which one of them comes out on top. If Reigns wins, Wyatt will lash out with violence. If Wyatt wins, Reigns will still be looking for vengeance. This match at Battleground is probably just a stall to set up something bigger in August, and the outcome doesn't truly matter. Match Prediction: Roman Reigns

Ryback vs. Big Show vs. The Miz (Triple Threat Match)

Credit: WWE.com

Q: With news that Ryback is out for Battleground, what's the best alternative: No. 1 contenders match, replacement match or scrap the slot on the card altogether? 

BJ: The fact is there are plenty of options to fill that slot that are much more exciting than anything Big Show and Miz could muster up together. Ideally, I'd like to see that time used to give the women of NXT a chance to show just why they have earned their spot on the main roster. If WWE still wants to get the Intercontinental Championship on the show, I'd drop Miz and Big Show from contention and have Rusev and Cesaro face off to decide the No. 1 contender.

EB: I would scrap the slot altogether. A heel-versus-heel match between Big Show and the Miz would be disastrous, especially since most want both characters to fall off a cliff and never come back. With Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Rusev and numerous others missing from the card, I would scrap this and find something for one (or all) of those guys to do until Ryback returns.

AB: Scrap it. It stood out as one of the weakest and least interesting matches on the card before Ryback’s injury, and with the champ injured, its place on the card must become untenable. Ryback should return from injury with a new challenger to face. Having Big Show and Miz feud on the card at Battleground would make little sense, especially as guys such as Luke Harper or King Barrett would be much smarter options to challenge Ryback. Devote the match time to a dedicated angle involving the Divas.

AM: With Money in the Bank having been pointless for this feud, other matches being stalled for SummerSlam or even more rematches possibly in the works, WWE absolutely cannot just entirely scrap this match. Big Show and the Miz should face each other to determine who gets a proper title shot at SummerSlam, unless Ryback's injury is so severe he has to vacate the belt. If WWE desperately wants to have a Triple Threat match, Miz versus Big Show should end in a draw to help set that up.

DW: While the easiest answer would be letting the Miz fight Big Show to become the No. 1 contender to the Intercontinental Championship, most wrestling fans would prefer this match is scrapped completely. The Miz is a mediocre in-ring worker at best and Big Show’s best years are behind him. Instead of a bout against each other, expect Big Show to feature on an episode of MizTV that will likely be awful.

Sheamus vs. Randy Orton

Credit: WWE.com

Q: True or False: Sheamus will lose his WWE Heavyweight Championship match when he eventually cashes in his Money in the Bank Briefcase.  

AB: True. There’s always the possibility it could happen at Battleground, given the potential for anything to happen in a match directly involving the Authority, but whenever it does occur, it’s hard to see Sheamus winning the title. Although his heel run has shown glimpses of encouragement, it’s hard to see where he gets the required momentum to elevate himself to world title level. Granted, the MITB briefcase is all about transforming someone into a star in one night, but Sheamus doesn’t have the feel of a world champ right now. Match Prediction: Randy Orton

EB: False, if only because that would kill Sheamus’ heel character dead. He is already stuck in limbo and lost just about every match in which he’s competed since winning the briefcase. If he fails to capture the title when he cashes in, it will severely hurt his credibility as a legitimate heel at a time when the roster is desperately in need of headline villains. Where he fits in the main event scene, though, is the big question—one WWE Creative probably did not think through. Match Prediction: Randy Orton

AM: False. I'm not particularly fond of Sheamus, but WWE's brass seem to still think he's someone worthy of their admiration. Because of that, I'm expecting a period in 2016 to be devoted to him dethroning whichever babyface takes the title off Seth Rollins in 2015, which will inevitably lead to a championship reign that I am horribly bored with. Two people have lost their cash-in attempts already, and if it's true that Sheamus was planned to win this for quite some time, there are probably plans to put a belt on him rather than for it to be for nothing. Match Prediction: Sheamus

DW: False. WWE Creative is notorious for booking Money in the Bank briefcase winners poorly, but it is very rare to see a challenger not cash in successfully, especially a heel. Heels such as Sheamus wait until the champion is beaten down before cashing in, which almost guarantees a title change. Add in the fact Brock Lesnar leaves for months at a time, and the briefcase will be the key to keeping the belt on TV. After taking the RKO from Randy Orton on Raw, Sheamus will pick up the win at Battleground. Match Prediction: Sheamus

BJ: True. Outside of a particularly worthy storyline, there's no reason why Sheamus should claim the top title over the next twelve months. He's a great talent in terms of match quality, and his return has given his character new life, but he's not a WWE World Heavyweight champion at present. Let's see something different with the briefcase—for instance, have him use his cash in to align with the Authority and insert himself into a tough match to help Seth Rollins secure a successful defense. Match Prediction: Sheamus

New Day vs. Prime Time Players (Tag Team Championships Match)

Credit: WWE.com

Q: New Day Rocks or New Day Sucks?

AB: In terms of the boost they’ve given the tag division over the last few months, New Day definitely rocks. One of their key plus points is that there are three of them as opposed to two, meaning their tag matches can invariably be so different on a week-to-week basis, which is no bad thing. Their heel turn was slow in getting off the ground, but they’ve got some nice momentum behind them now that will stand them in good stead for the rest of the year, even if they’ll lose out at Battleground. Match Prediction: The Prime Time Players

AM: New Day Rocks! They are the best tag team of 2016 and never should have dropped the titles, especially not to a team as bland as the Prime Time Players. The tag team division instantly dropped down in quality once those belts switched sides, and I can't imagine any matches with Darren Young and Titus O'Neil being interesting heading into SummerSlam. The New Day needs to win these titles back, but I'm worried WWE doesn't want to take a step back. Match Prediction: The Prime Time Players 

DW: The New Day rocks! The three-man team is one of the most enjoyable parts of Raw each week. Big E and Kofi Kingston are excellent in the ring and carry much of the wrestling workload. On the other hand, Xavier Woods has been great as the trio’s mouthpiece, and they have outshone the Prime Time Players. It’s about time for the power of positivity to bring the tag team titles back home. Match Prediction: New Day

BJ: New Day ROCKS. Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E have been terrific over the last few months. The stable is a resounding confirmation that, in the end, talent will out. Their chemistry makes interview segments a cut above most others, and they have enough going on in terms of pure wrestling that they can face just about any opponent and deliver a great contest. Expect to see just that on Sunday. Match Prediction: The Prime Time Players

EB: New Day Rocks, obviously. In all seriousness, Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have done more with the New Day gimmick than anyone could have imagined. It was a colossal failure right out of the gate, one that should have doomed all three men. Instead, they embraced the heel turn and have become one of the most over acts in the company despite WWE Creative trying everything in their power to pull the rug out from underneath them over the last month. Major props to Big E, who is one of the most entertaining performers in the industry. Match Prediction: The New Day, via three-on-one heel chicanery

John Cena vs. Kevin Owens (United States Championship Match)

Credit: WWE.com

Q: Will we see a fourth installment of John Cena vs. Kevin Owens at SummerSlam? 

AM: My gut is telling me yes with some sort of stipulation attached. As for what that gimmick would be, I'm not sure, but I find it hard to believe there will be enough time to set up separate feuds for both of these men leading up to SummerSlam. It was unnecessary to have Cena do four matches with Rusev, yet WWE still did it, so why expect anything different for a feud such as this, which is so much better and more enjoyable? Match Prediction: Kevin Owens via count-out or John Cena via disqualification

DW: Ever since Cesaro was inserted into this storyline, the hope was that the battle between John Cena and Kevin Owens would feature a Triple Threat match. While Cena and Owens will go to battle Sunday at the PPV, I don’t think the title changes hands until SummerSlam. Sunday’s match will likely end in a disqualification caused by Cesaro. At the August PPV, WWE can book Cena against Owens against Cesaro, meaning Owens would be able to pin Cesaro to win the United States Championship. Match Prediction: Kevin Owens

BJ: Yes, but there will be a twist. It's tough to say whether that twist will be a stipulation or a third competitor to make it a Triple Threat bout. Given that Owens is set to receive his NXT Championship rematch the night before SummerSlam, it will certainly be a weekend of escapades one way or another for WWE's worst nightmare. Match Prediction: Kevin Owens

EB: There really is nowhere for John Cena to fit in the main event scene so my gut feeling says yes with an asterisk. I would not at all be surprised to see Cesaro insered into the picture, creating a Triple Threat scenario. He has been key in the build to Sunday’s match, so it would certainly make sense to give him a shot at the title and a legitimate Match of the Year candidate come this August’s extravaganza. Match Prediction: Kevin Owens

AB: It’s hard to imagine anything else. This has arguably been the rivalry of year, alongside Dean Ambrose versus Seth Rollins, and it only feels right that it should get a big finale at SummerSlam, one of WWE’s biggest shows. Kevin Owens really has brought the best out of Cena and his United States Championship reign, but the time is right for Cena to pass the title on, with the mandatory rematch being pencilled in for SummerSlam. Match Prediction: Kevin Owens

Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE Heavyweight Championship Match)

Credit: WWE.com

Q: How does Brock Lesnar NOT walk out of Battleground as world heavyweight champion?

DW: SummerSlam is the second most important PPV on the WWE schedule, and saving the world title change for that event would be the best course of action. In order to get there, Seth Rollins will likely lose this match when someone interferes on his behalf and helps him retain the championship. With subtle teases to a possible reunion of the Shield and Rollins talking about his backup plan, Lesnar will walk away victorious, but the champion will successfully retain because of the title not being able to change hands via a DQ finish. Match Prediction: Brock Lesnar

BJ: Going into Battleground, I'm prepped to expect the unexpected. Rollins is going to need to pull something out of his bag of tricks to keep the gold, and the question of what exactly it will be has certainly piqued my interest. At this point, I could see anything from a Phoenix Splash to an Undertaker run-in helping him get the job done—but my money is on Rollins remaining champion. Match Prediction: Seth Rollins

EB: Common sense would suggest Lesnar absolutely dismantles Seth Rollins at Battleground, but the tone of WWE programming points toward Rollins somehow finding a way to sneak out of St. Louis with his title intact. A disqualification is the most logical choice, even if it would make for a poor ending to the show. Do not rule out interference from Triple H or some unexpected star who may serve as Lesnar’s opponent at SummerSlam. Match Prediction: Brock Lesnar

AB: A numbers-game job from the Authority costs him his rematch via DQ. Granted there’s not much left of the Authority, but Triple H has been suspiciously absent the past couple of weeks, and you get the feeling he will have a say in what happens at Battleground. But with Rollins losing all those around him, he looks more vulnerable than ever, and this could be the night Brock Lesnar prevails and reclaims what is his. Match Prediction: Brock Lesar

AM: It would seem like interference from the Authority is out the window, given Kane and Seth Rollins are not getting along and J&J Security are incapacitated, but the biggest gun of them all is still perfectly fine. That man, who will cost Lesnar the match somehow, is Triple H. Tension between him and Rollins appears to be building up to a match at SummerSlam, and if it isn't for the title, that's fine, but that would mean Lesnar would need to have a new opponent set up in a rushed feud for the title. Who would that be? Match Prediction: Seth Rollins

BONUS: Biggest Omission at WWE Battleground?

Credit: WWE.com

Q: Based on everything that’s happened through Monday Night Raw, who are you most disappointed is NOT set to be part of WWE Battleground?

BJ: Any combination of Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Charlotte. The women's wrestling revolution has the potential to be the biggest angle in WWE at the moment, and an in-ring showcase would be as good a way as any other to jump-start that process. Big changes seem to be on the horizon, and anyone who's been following the women's division in NXT will know business is about to pick up.

EB: This one is easy: Dean Ambrose. The Lunatic Fringe is the most over guy on the roster right now. The fact WWE Creative has failed him as colossally as they have is both disappointing and disheartening. For a company that needs to focus on making stars in order to generate more buzz and increase television ratings, it has consistently cooled off Ambrose every time he has heated up. Why waste that popularity and risk alienating his fans by continuing to quash his pushes at every turn? 

AB: Who else but Dean Ambrose? The guy who emerged as arguably the top babyface in WWE over the past few months has not got a match booked, which is a real shame for fans. His electric energy and unmatchable performances will be a real miss at Battleground, but he could show up elsewhere. For example, Roman Reigns was a sound ally for Ambrose while he went after Seth Rollins, and Ambrose could return the favor here. Hopefully he has bigger plans than that for SummerSlam, though.

AM: This goes to Dean Ambrose. The man has gone from the main event of several pay-per-views, in which he not only fought for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship but came very close to winning it, to being pushed aside so much that he doesn't even have a match on the card at all. That is a travesty and a huge oversight that shouldn't have happened.

DW: The answer has to be Dolph Ziggler and Rusev. The two men have been in a holding pattern since Rusev’s injury, and now that he is healthy again, Ziggler has been taken out of the equation with a crutch to the throat. There is little doubt a match between Ziggler and Rusev would be excellent, but after sitting through weeks of mediocre promos and lackluster storytelling, fans are getting impatient with this angle. Leaving Ziggler and Rusev off Battleground was a mistake.