Randy Orton vs. Sheamus: Winner and Reaction from 2015 WWE Battleground

Randy Orton has struggled in big matches since WrestleMania, but The Viper finally got back on track Sunday at Battleground with a win over Sheamus.

The WWE Universe provided a photo of Orton after the win: 

Two of the most memorable moments of the match came from a Superplex from Orton, and a Brogue Kick from Sheamus: 

The St. Louis native had the support of the crowd, and WrestlingNewsSource suggested there was no way he would lose a match in his hometown: 

WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross provided his thoughts on the match: 

Marty DeRosa of the Wrestling With Depression podcast joked about how often the two stars have wrestled in the past:

WWE's Apex Predator lost multiple World Heavyweight Championship matches to Seth Rollins and even fell short in the Money in the Bank ladder match, which The Celtic Warrior ultimately won. That created even more tension between Orton and Sheamus, and it led to a singles feud between them.

While the former Legend Killer was off WWE programming for a few weeks, he returned with a vengeance by RKO'ing Mr. Money in the Bank on Raw and signaling a showdown between them at the Battleground event.

Ahead of the pay-per-view, Orton vowed to make Sheamus regret his previous actions by humiliating him on the big stage, according to WWE Universe on Twitter:

The Great White was undeterred by Orton's threats and promised to bring the fight to The Viper in an extremely physical affair:

Despite the fact that both Orton and Sheamus are quality in-ring workers on their own, there wasn't much excitement from the WWE fanbase leading up to their match at Battleground since they have faced off on so many occasions over the years.

Also, while Orton and Sheamus engaged in a few brawls and showed disdain for one another, there wasn't much heat behind their feud since neither Superstar received much mic time, and the WWE Creative team didn't spend much time developing the rivalry.

Even so, Orton and Sheamus worked hard to put on a solid match. There was a feeling of unpredictability as well since it was tough to get a grasp on who would ultimately come out on top.

The Viper reigned supreme in the end, which is somewhat consistent with the manner in which WWE has booked Money in the Bank winners in recent years. Rather than building momentum, those who carry the Money in the Bank briefcase are often positioned to lose their fair share of matches before cashing in.

While many have questioned that plan of attack over the years, it can be argued that WWE is making the right decision in this case since Orton's win at Battleground ensures he will continue to be viewed as a threat moving forward.

Sheamus, on the other hand, has an ace in the hole in the form of the Money in the Bank contract, which means WWE can elevate him to the next level at any moment.

Both Superstars appear to be stuck in the middle of the card currently, but they showed some flashes of brilliance Sunday that should bode well for them moving forward. 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.