WWE Battleground 2016: Superstars Who Will Shine Under PPV Spotlight

By the time Battleground takes place on July 24, Raw and SmackDown will have drafted their rosters.

The game-changing draft scheduled for July 19 will present enormous changes to the WWE landscape—and massive opportunities for the men and women in the company.

Once Raw and SmackDown are separated, wrestlers on either side of the red-blue divide will find less competition as they try to carve out paths to the top. The journey will still be treacherous, but at least there will be fewer rivals who are jockeying for position.

Battleground is the de facto kickoff for the brand split—and as such, it's the first opportunity for individuals to stand out as the top prospects for their respective brands.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

Credit: WWE.com

At Battleground, we're going to see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn meet one more time—and there's every reason to expect this bout will close the current chapter of their longtime feud.

Owens and Zayn have been inseparable for much of 2016, and their rivalry has produced some great moments both in and out of the ring. However, now seems like the time for this feud to take a rest, and the brand split provides a perfect method of doing just that.

These two competitors both took part in the ladder match at Money in the Bank earlier this month, but a multiman bout like that is no way to round off a heated feud such as this. It seems that the true send-off match will come at Battleground, and it has a good chance of being the best contest on the card.

Owens vs. Zayn isn't just another program for these two competitors—that should be obvious if you've seen any of their matches. The feud is an enormous part of both men's careers, and if they're going to separate for a while after Battleground, the conclusive match should be electric.

The New Day

Credit: WWE.com

Despite being 10 months into a reign with the WWE Tag Team Championships, The New Day seems as energized and enthused as ever in recent weeks.

A feud with The Wyatt Family is giving the talented trio the opportunity to show off something a little bit different. Yes, the high-energy skits are still there—this week's impersonation of the Wyatts was amusing—but there has also been a more serious tone to the proceedings.

The monstrous Wyatts are different than most of the opposition The New Day has faced in recent months. Add to that the curious behaviour of Xavier Woods over the past few weeks, and you have a program with some real depth.

Of course, the biggest selling point of this feud is the prospect of great matches. The New Day is a capable team between the ropes, and we've already seen what the Wyatts can do in faction matches during their brief encounter with The Shield back in 2014.

If a six-man tag team match unfolds at Battleground, expect great things.

Sasha Banks

Credit: WWE.com

The Boss is among the most popular wrestlers on the WWE roster, but she hasn't appeared on a pay-per-view since WrestleMania 32.

Sasha Banks recently made her return to WWE television and seems to be edging toward title contention, and fans are already getting behind her. She has the persona and in-ring acumen, and after spending weeks on the sidelines, she's no doubt motivated to shine.

However, it would be a waste for Banks to claim the title at Battleground. The best move would be to place her in a match to decide the No. 1 contender. Natalya seems like a good opponent, given her recent actions, but there are several compelling options.

A strong performance from Banks at Battleground could set up a championship program for SummerSlam on August 21. More importantly, it could be a star-making summer for one of the most promising wrestlers to come out of NXT.

Who do you expect to shine at Battleground? State your case in the comments section below.