WWE Battleground 2015: Predictions for Event's Biggest Stars

Sunday night, WWE Battleground 2015 emanates from St. Louis, and it looks set to be a terrific show.

Previous editions of the Battleground pay-per-view haven't really been much to shout about, with a few notable exceptions such as the memorable Rhodes Bros. vs. Shield bout from 2013. However, an intriguing card of matches is in place for this evening.

With three titles being contested on the show and a few intriguing grudge matches to boot, there's plenty to look forward to. Here are some last-minute predictions for the biggest stars on the card.

John Cena Goes Home Injured

Credit: WWE.com

In the United States Championship match, John Cena takes on Kevin Owens once again—but there's a new wrinkle to the match.

Now, Owens is without the NXT Championship, the crowning achievement of his first year in WWE. He'll be looking to replace that title, and it's no stretch to imagine that he'll go to any lengths necessary to do so.

Expect to see an even more sadistic Owens hit the ring Sunday night. Cena has faced off against some of the baddest competitors in the sport over the course of his career, but few have a mean streak quite as pronounced as that of Owens.

He won his NXT Championship by rendering Sami Zayn unable to compete. There's no question of whether he'd be willing to do that to Cena; the only question is, will he finish the job Sunday, or will we have to wait until SummerSlam to see a new United States champion crowned?

Bray Wyatt Regains Some Momentum

Credit: WWE.com

Much has been said about Bray Wyatt's inability to close out a feud with a win. He can dominate the early stages of any rivalry with his mind games, but he's cast adrift when push comes to shove.

That has to change at Battleground. Wyatt is desperate for a convincing win over a worthy opponent. At this point, it's now or never for his legitimacy in the eyes of the WWE audience.

Roman Reigns is the perfect victim for Wyatt's unique sensibilities, and he's the perfect scalp for the Eater of World to take on his journey back to the top. We've been left in little doubt as to Roman's credentials, so his eating a loss on pay-per-view wouldn't do too much to slow his momentum.

Wyatt, on the other hand, would benefit greatly from a clean win over one of the main event stars of the foreseeable future. A Wyatt win at this point in both men's careers could easily be drawn upon for a feud later down the line.

There's a shortage of convincing villains at the top of the card at present, and Wyatt would be a canny choice to fill that role. The New Face of Fear is a solid investment for the future—but now is the time to pull the trigger on his ascent.

Seth Rollins Leaves St. Louis as Champion

Credit: WWE.com

It seems like the odds are stacked against Seth Rollins, but you could easily argue that he's most at home with his back against the wall.

Who would have predicted he would be the first member of The Shield to hold the world title upon the faction's debut? The Architect has forged his WWE career on defying expectations, and he'll do the same to walk out champion on Sunday.

It's less clear how he'll manage to get the job done. Anticipation is high for the main event because it's a truly unpredictable bout—anything and everything could well play out before all is said and done.

However, as much as it might seem otherwise, the smart money has to be on Rollins retaining. He's passed every test he's faced since WrestleMania with flying colours. While Battleground is his biggest challenge to date, he's not likely to let that record slip just yet.

The Women of NXT Make an Impact

Credit: WWE.com

On this week's Raw, the hopes of many fans became a reality—Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks made a memorable debut on the main roster.

However, there was no confirmation that we would see the trio at Battleground. Since then, we've had confirmation that the Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat match is a no-go thanks to an injury suffered by Ryback.

That means space has emerged on the card—and it's difficult to think of anyone better placed to fill it than the women of NXT.

We've seen many times how Charlotte, Lynch and Banks can deliver when the pressure is on. Even when compared to the very best that NXT has to offer, these three have produced some of the best matches on any TakeOver card to date.

If they're given the opportunity to do so, they could deliver similarly excellent results Sunday night. We could well be about to see a revolution in women's wrestling—so why not jump-start that process with a barn-burner at Battleground?

Brock Lesnar Finds His SummerSlam Opponent

Credit: WWE.com

As mentioned earlier, my money is on Seth Rollins emerging from Battleground with his championship reign intact. However, I also expect to see some major developments for his challenger.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that Brock Lesnar will be on the card for SummerSlam 2015. However, with only five weeks until WWE's biggest night of the summer, whatever program he's involved in will have to be developed quickly.

For that reason, it would make sense to get a preview Sunday night. Whether it's a run-in during the main event or some shenanigans after the bell, it seems likely that Lesnar's next opponent will start his issue with the Beast at Battleground.

Of course, it's anyone's guess just who will fill this role. There are still plenty of compelling matchups for Lesnar still left on the table, so it'll be interesting to see who's next in line.

Anything from a compelling up-and-comer from NXT to an established veteran making a return is within the realm of possibility. Lesnar's plans for SummerSlam are unpredictable—but, by the end of Battleground, we'll perhaps know a lot more.

What are your predictions for WWE Battleground 2015? Let us know in the comments section below.