WWE Battleground 2016: B/R Expert Match Predictions and Analysis
Sunday's WWE Battleground pay-per-view will draw a line in the sand for the company.
With the draft over and two unique rosters now in place, this event will set numerous storylines in motion as the company prepares for SummerSlam and a New Era of WWE programming.
Some rivalries fans have been accustomed to seeing—Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns, John Cena vs. AJ Styles, Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn—will continue thanks to the draft. Underappreciated stars, including The Miz, Cesaro, Randy Orton and others, will have a chance to shine with more attention to their stories.
The new blood of WWE, namely Finn Balor, Baron Corbin and American Alpha, will get their chances to make big impressions in the coming weeks.
It all begins at Battleground, but there are plenty of unanswered questions.
Will WWE introduce new championship belts for each show? Will its secondary titles, the United States and Intercontinental Championships, remain on Raw and SmackDown, respectively, following Battleground?
Bleacher Report's team of expert columnists is here to help answer those questions and many more as we get you prepared for WWE's first pay-per-view in the New Era.
Let's meet the team.
B/R Expert Panel Lineup
1 of 12
Bleacher Report's lineup answers the tough questions about the WWE landscape and provides predictions for each match on the Battleground 2016 card.
This lineup features the following:
- Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the podcast Smack Talk
- Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston)
- Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews (@WrestleRant), founder of Next Era Wrestling and WrestleRant Radio
- Kevin Berge (@TheBerge_)
- Ryan Dilbert (@ryandilbert), lead writer for @BR_WWE
- Yours truly, James Moffat (@jamesmoffat)
I can't believe it's been two months since I've done this, but here it goes. It's time to tie up those laces and get ready to rumble.
Bonus Question No. 1
2 of 12Q: Let’s address the elephant in the room. After Tuesday’s WWE draft, are you Team Raw or Team SmackDown?
Graham "GSM" Matthews (GM): Totally Team SmackDown. I won't argue with anyone who says Raw got the better of SmackDown in the draft with more star power, but SmackDown made out well with a number of names who should flourish on Tuesday nights. Overall, I'm excited for both rosters, but I'm blue brand for life!
Erik Beaston (EB): Team SmackDown, and it isn’t even that close. Raw seemed to end up with internet darlings like Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, Sami Zayn and Cesaro, but for those Superstars, there is little room for career advancement. SmackDown may have John Cena and Randy Orton on the roster, but neither has carried a full-time schedule of late. With a youthful undercard, the wild card in Dean Ambrose as the franchise star and AJ Styles carrying the heel side of things, the SmackDown roster has a freshness about it that appeals to me.
Ryan Dilbert (RD): I'm rooting for the underdog show. It's been painfully long since SmackDown was relevant. The blue brand also boasts some intriguing, unproven talent. Baron Corbin could be an effective big man. American Alpha is a red-hot team with rabid fan support. Alexa Bliss has turned into one of the best heels on the entire roster. SmackDown is taking some chances, and that alone makes tuning in on Tuesday nights more appealing.
Anthony Mango (AM): Can I be "Team Go Back to No Brand Extension and Combine the Rosters" but with a shorter name? I've been against this idea for months, and this draft just exposed a bunch of the flaws that I was worried would end up being revealed. While it's nowhere near a guarantee that this will fail, I don't have as much enthusiasm and faith that this will all work out in the end.
Kevin Berge (KB): It is hard to make a judgment until we see both rosters in action, but I’m leaning Team Raw at the moment. Where Raw has the edge on SmackDown isn’t in roster depth as much as division depth. The potential for Raw’s tag team division, women’s division and still-developing cruiserweight division make it a brand with a unique and fresh identity.
James Moffat (JM): My head leans toward Raw, but my heart is all-in with SmackDown. Raw boasts a lot of huge names who can steal the show. The problem is that Raw has too many A-listers. Crazy thought, right? SmackDown boasts a balanced roster that can create compelling TV top-down. I think it'll be the better show week to week. Plus, Becky Lynch. Enough said, right, Beaston?
The Miz vs. Darren Young (Intercontinental Championship)
3 of 12Q: Can the Darren Young-Bob Backlund pairing evolve into anything more than a comedic act?
GM: I firmly believe this pairing can be more than just an undercard act. The early vignettes weren't too promising, but Young has been on a roll recently, and seeing the fans rally behind him has been a pleasant surprise. Now is the time to pull the trigger on his long-awaited singles push, and he should take the title from Miz at Battleground.
Match Prediction: Darren Young wins the Intercontinental Championship.
EB: Short answer—no. Even as a comedic act, they are not particularly interesting or humorous. Young works hard and is a solid technician, but there is little else to sink one’s teeth into. Factor in a string of fluky wins for Young, and the idea of him ever evolving past a serviceable singles competitor is the only thing comical about him.
Match Prediction: The Miz retains the title.
RD: WWE has to turn the volume knob down on the comedic elements of this shtick to make it work. Backlund's crotchety ways have been amusing, but the heart of the story is Young trying to reach new heights. Vignettes of Backlund training Young would be a smart move. The former Prime Time Player should also start employing more of Backlund's moves. There is a Rocky-like tale waiting to be told here that can elevate Young more than a goofy angle can. The Miz has always felt like a placeholder champ, even as effective as he has been as a braggart heel. It's time for WWE to take a chance on this Young angle and see where it goes.
Match Prediction: Young wins in fluky fashion to continue his surprise success.
AM: Unfortunately, no. Young has never had any real credibility, which is why everyone makes the joke that it's impossible to "Make Darren Young Great Again" if he was never great to begin with, and when you pair him up with a legend that most current fans consider to be hokey and weird, it's not an act that translates to anything to be taken seriously.
Match Prediction: The Miz retains.
KB: Yes, it can. Young has never had a chance to prove himself in WWE, and he seems to be running with this new spotlight as far as he can go. Backlund gives Young credibility, while Young just has to prove he can wrestle competitive singles matches. With a smaller roster to contend with, Young could easily become a midcard staple and champion with Backlund.
Match Prediction: The Miz retains.
JM: At this point, I can't take them seriously. Young is a talented Superstar who's never caught on. Pairing him with Backlund was fun for a while, but WWE let the gimmicky vignettes go too long. Now he's just a caricature—one that's overshadowed by his mentor. I can see this whole thing devolving into Backlund vs. Young at the upcoming Raw-only special, Clash of Champions.
Match Prediction: The Miz retains.
Becky Lynch vs. Natalya
4 of 12
Q: How can the women’s division best sustain itself after being split in half following the WWE draft?
GM: The only real solution to the already limited women's roster (in terms of numbers) is to have the WWE Women's Championship defended on both shows. Otherwise, we'll be in for a million meaningless matches between Lynch and Natalya over the next year. At any rate, this has been a fun feud, and whoever wins should benefit from the victory and eventually re-enter the title picture.
Match Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.
EB: I think we saw it during the post-draft show on the WWE Network, where new faces such as Alexa Bliss and Carmella were introduced to the SmackDown brand. Raw loaded up on women, selecting Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Dana Brooke and NXT standout Nia Jax. With Bayley yet to be called up and Nikki Bella returning, women’s wrestling on Raw and SmackDown will be just fine in the long run.
Match Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.
RD: Stories. More than a second women's title, compelling rivalries between the women are key to the division's success. These wrestlers need reasons to be at each other's throats, and there needs to be something at stake in the fights—be it redemption or just the chance to rise up the ranks. The brand split means fewer women will be sitting around waiting for their turns in the spotlight. That has to lead to better usage of the athletic Naomi, the fiery Alicia Fox and the hard-hitting Paige.
Match Prediction: With both women heading to SmackDown, this feud is bound to continue past Battleground. This round will go to Natalya. Lynch will eventually bring down her enemy, hopefully in a gimmick match down the road.
AM: I don't think it can. Despite all the buzzwords and how WWE is desperately trying to give off the impression that there's been a revolution for over a year, things have not changed for the better. The matches are still awkward, the feuds still don't have the same flair to them that the men's tend to have and splitting the roster is just going to force the same issues to recur—along with repetitive matches.
Match Prediction: Becky Lynch wins, as she's the top babyface for the women on SmackDown.
KB: WWE has to commit to the talent it has available. I don’t mean just placing the spotlight on Charlotte and Sasha Banks for Raw and Becky Lynch and Natalya for SmackDown. Every single woman on both rosters needs to be readily used and developed. The rosters for both brands are too thin for a hierarchy. Raw needs Summer Rae to step up as much as Paige, while SmackDown needs Alexa Bliss and Carmella to acclimate quickly to the main roster.
Match Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.
JM: Here's a novel thought: Give the women more than three minutes to work in the ring. WWE has the deepest group of Superstars its women's division has ever had, yet it fails to showcase them on a weekly basis. Here's hoping the brand split is the push to do just that.
Match Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.
Rusev vs. Zack Ryder (United States Championship)
5 of 12
Q: Let’s assume this feud with Zack Ryder is a speed bump on the road to SummerSlam. Who is the best Superstar to oppose Rusev?
GM: If I'm predicting Young is bringing the Intercontinental Championship to Raw, shouldn't that mean Ryder is bringing the United States Championship to SmackDown? He's my official pick, but even if he doesn't, there are a few faces Rusev can go up against on Raw, including Sami Zayn and Cesaro. Both offer fresh feuds, and I could see either one of them conquering The Bulgarian Brute for the belt before long if Ryder is unsuccessful.
Match Prediction: Zack Ryder wins the United States Championship.
EB: Based on the Superstars drafted to Raw, Cesaro. The Swiss Superstar is hardly thrilled with his drafting to the flagship show, as witnessed on the post-draft interview he conducted with JoJo. Programming him with Rusev, with whom he can have a great series of matches, may satisfy him enough to keep him from voicing frustration again.
Match Prediction: Rusev wins.
RD: Sami Zayn would make a great challenger. There is a natural David vs. Goliath story to tell there, and the matches would be excellent. Zayn needs to make his mark outside of his feud with Kevin Owens anyway.
Match Prediction: Rusev wins in dominant fashion. WWE seems to be positioning The Bulgarian Brute as a mighty monster. This is an appetizer for the champ; the main course will be saved for a bigger show.
AM: Looking at the current lineup for the Raw roster, the best options are Cesaro, Neville or Sami Zayn, as Finn Balor would be an awkward United States champion, and others are too low or too high on the card to be in that position. Out of those three, Neville should face Rusev if he's going to retain, and if the title is going to change hands, Cesaro or Zayn would be great picks.
Match Prediction: Rusev retains to keep the title on Raw.
KB: Looking over the Raw roster, there is only one wrestler who is ready to begin a full-scale feud with Rusev, and that is Cesaro. This powerful clash is the kind of feud that could make the United States Championship relevant, with Rusev and Cesaro rarely coming into contact up to this point. With Raw thin at the top of its singles roster, Rusev and Cesaro could both be elevated by a feud over Raw’s No. 2 title, and you can bet the matches will be worthy of SummerSlam and other big events.
Match Prediction: Rusev retains.
JM: I'm guessing my fellow experts will say Cesaro or Sami Zayn, but here's a name to keep in mind: Roman Reigns. If WWE was looking to repair Reigns' image, it would keep him out of the main event scene for a while. Dropping him to face the likes of Rusev, Cesaro and Kevin Owens in the upper midcard would make a lot of sense.
Match Prediction: Rusev retains.
The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family
6 of 12Q: What’s your take on WWE trying to emulate #TheFinalDeletion?
GM: The Wyatt Family vs. The New Day is akin to the recent Ghostbusters release in my mind: Compared to the original, it's awful, but on its own, it's passable...or is it? Either way, the feud has been fine, but it appears to be over beyond Battleground if The Wyatt Family isn't even together anymore. Therefore, there's zero reason for the Wyatts to win on Sunday.
Match Prediction: The New Day wins.
EB: Wrestling history is built on promoters stealing successful gimmicks, so for me, it means little. If anything, it was a nice pat on the back to TNA, which needed something positive to happen after the tumultuous few years it has encountered. Has the majority of WWE’s audience even heard of #TheFinalDeletion outside of a few Twitter hashtags? No. Does it somehow make WWE look bush-league? Absolutely not. No harm, no foul—no matter how much Matt Hardy may try to make it into a big deal on social media.
Match Prediction: The New Day wins.
RD: It was painful to watch such a similar idea unfold on TV just a week after Matt and Jeff Hardy's bizarre masterpiece. Still, it's refreshing to see WWE toy with the medium. Wrestling needs creativity. It needs people taking chances. Hopefully, this isn't the last time WWE tries to incorporate an offbeat and cinematic touch to its product.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family wins. The bout being non-title allows WWE to elevate Bray Wyatt while keeping the champs' historic reign going.
AM: I don't understand why WWE would want to do something that would ever result in fans thinking it was trying to copy TNA, even if that wasn't the intention. While WWE's version of this concept wasn't awful, it was weird enough that I can understand why some people might hate it. I don't have strong feelings one way or another, but I'm also not clamoring to see it happen again.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family has split up, so it makes sense for the members to lose and go their separate ways when the power of positivity destroys them once and for all.
KB: The Final Deletion was proof that new ideas can work in wrestling, similar to how Lucha Underground’s cinematic style makes it so uniquely popular. WWE should be trying to innovate to that same extent. However, while The New Day and Wyatt Family have done a great job with their feud overall, WWE rushed into using them to emulate the Hardys' clash. They needed more time to properly set up and execute that segment.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family wins.
JM: I wasn't a fan. Granted, The Final Deletion was the Sharknado of professional wrestling: good, campy fun that was never meant to be taken seriously. WWE tried to be too serious in its ripoff, and it showed. Creativity is awesome, and I'm all for companies and their Superstars going out and trying new things. Case in point—Dalton Castle; there's so much awesome there. But it has to be properly executed. WWE missed the boat on this one.
Match Prediction: Against my better judgement, I'll go with The Wyatt Family.
Bonus Question No. 2
7 of 12Q: Which recently drafted NXT Superstar will make the biggest impact over the next six months?
GM: I think the most obvious choice would have to be Finn Balor, so I'll stick with the tried and true. He will be a top star from the get-go on Raw. Meanwhile, I'm excited to see how Alexa Bliss fares on SmackDown. She has improved immensely as a character in NXT and would be an enjoyable addition to the Women's Championship picture at some point. But yeah, keep an eye out for Balor.
EB: There is a reason Balor was selected No. 5 overall. A proven commodity in NXT and the most marketable star the brand has ever produced, he will fit right in on Monday nights, wowing fans with his intensity and demonic persona. Expect Balor to compete alongside Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns at the top of the card, proving himself a franchise star on the main roster just as he did in NXT.
RD: Balor. That's the easy answer, but it's the right one, too. He's a rock star in wrestling trunks. His gimmick, aura and athleticism will have him catch on with the crowd in a hurry. He will thrive in the ring with Raw's talented roster. Whether he's facing Cesaro, Neville or Seth Rollins, he is going to make the show better.
AM: It's not going to be Mojo Rawley—that's for sure. The easy pick is Balor, as he's the most logical choice due to how quickly he was drafted. There's a good chance he'll be a main event player on Raw right from the start. and he could possibly be one of the primary figureheads of that brand for a long time.
KB: If SmackDown plans to have a unique tag team division going forward, American Alpha will be its centerpiece, putting on the kind of tag team matches that have rarely been seen in WWE over the past few years. Jason Jordan and Chad Gable are unique athletes who should have great matches with The Usos, Breezango, The Vaudevillains and whoever else joins the division in the near future. I would be surprised if AA doesn’t end up being champions for much of the next six months.
JM: Raw is too top-heavy for Balor or Nia Jax to make an immediate impact, so I'm looking to SmackDown. While I love Alexa Bliss' potential on this show, American Alpha is in the driver's seat. Jason Jordan and Chad Gable were the fourth tag team drafted and first for the blue brand. All other SmackDown tag teams were drafted off live TV. It's AA's show to run in the tag team division.
Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks and TBD
8 of 12Q: Two-part question: Who will Sasha Banks choose as a partner, and who should be her partner?
GM: The popular belief is that Bayley will be Banks' partner, and while I could see that being the case, I also have a feeling we won't see her until after SummerSlam (preferably the night after on Raw). In the meantime, who will join forces with Banks? I assume it will be Paige, despite how they teamed up not too long ago on Raw against Charlotte and Brooke. Nia Jax would have no chance, Naomi would be interesting, but she is on SmackDown, and it's still too early for Nikki Bella to return.
Match Prediction: Banks' team wins.
EB: Banks’ partner should be Bayley. It makes sense given their history and the respect they showed for each other after their wars in NXT. With that said, Bayley is not through with her NXT run. Her victory over Nia Jax on the July 20 episode suggests she will be back in women’s title contention in time for the next TakeOver show. Thus, she does not fit the plans. Speaking of Jax, Raw’s newest draftee will be Banks’ partner. What better way to get her over with crowds right out of the gate than have her join The Boss for an impressive victory over Charlotte and Dana Brooke?
Match Prediction: Banks and her partner win.
RD: The fact that WWE posted just a clip of Summer Rae inspiring Banks during their NXT days is a hint that those two former allies will join forces again. Bayley will instead be serving as an NXT cornerstone. But this is just a bridge to SummerSlam, where The Boss is sure to challenge Charlotte for the Women's Championship. WWE will get folks more hyped about that bout by continuing Banks' recent roll.
Match Prediction: Banks and her partner win.
AM: Despite how she wasn't called up during the draft, I'm still confident Banks is going to pick Bayley as her partner. It's the right decision to make because she needs to come up to the main roster, and I think the only reason WWE didn't have her in the draft was to preserve the surprise. The only other option I can see happening is Nikki Bella, but I expect her to go to SmackDown instead of Raw, so that might rule her out.
Match Prediction: Banks and her partner will have the momentum on their side and be victorious.
KB: Banks’ partner must be a major deal, likely a debuting performer. There is only one new woman on the Raw roster, so it is likely Banks will choose Nia Jax as her tag team partner, leading to a dominant victory by Jax in her debut. It is unlikely WWE will debut anyone else after already bringing up six NXT wrestlers, but Banks’ partner should have been a debuting Bayley, given her history with Charlotte and Banks and her potential to be a major force in the women’s division going forward.
Match Prediction: Banks and Jax win.
JM: Let's start with who will be Sasha's partner—Nia Jax. WWE is going to want to make a splash with its NXT recruit, and introducing her to fans at Battleground would do the trick. Unfortunately, she's not the best choice. Neither is Bayley. Paige makes a whole lot of sense in kayfabe, and she's a Raw recruit. WWE and casual fans need to be reminded that there is more to the women's division than Charlotte and Sasha Banks.
Match Prediction: Banks and her partner win, setting up a championship match at SummerSlam.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
9 of 12
Q: Either, Neither or Both: Which of these Superstars will claim any WWE championship (World, Intercontinental, United States) by the end of 2016?
GM: The brand extension will be good to both Zayn and Owens. If neither of them is a champion by the end of the year, I will stop watching wrestling (OK, I'm kidding, but it would be rather ridiculous). They're tremendous talents and are bound to have championship gold around their waists sooner rather than later.
Match Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.
EB: Before he was so thoroughly disrespected via his placement in the draft, I would have said Kevin Owens was a shoe-in to capture the WWE Championship before year’s end. The fact that management thought more of Zayn to draft him first suggests he may find himself in a United States Championship program with Rusev, potentially even winning the title before WWE Creative figures out how to properly use Owens.
Match Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.
RD: Owens has the higher ceiling, but the safer bet is Zayn, as Raw is likely to be richer with gold. Zayn can go after Rusev's U.S. title, Raw's new cruiserweight division is likely to include a championship and the brand split is likely to lead to the return of a second world title. The Underdog from the Underground is bound to be in line for one of those belts.
Match Prediction: Zayn wins a hard-fought bout. WWE doesn't seem to recognize that Owens should be in the main event yesterday. He's been saddled with ill-advised losses as a result.
AM: It will be an absolute travesty if both of them aren't champions of some kind, particularly if new titles are created. Kevin Owens deserves to be a world champion, and Sami Zayn would be a perfect United States or intercontinental champion by all stretches of the imagination.
Match Prediction: It doesn't seem like this feud is going away anytime soon, so it doesn't matter. Zayn could use the win, though.
KB: Either. Beyond Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, Raw has little star power at the moment for its main event scene—unless Brock Lesnar decides to compete at multiple shows this year. Owens and Zayn will be major parts of this new Raw roster. In fact, one or both will be main eventing Raw during this year. With only five months before the end of the year, though, only one is likely to win gold right away. I expect that will be Zayn, as his championship win would fuel his never-ending feud with Kevin Owens further.
Match Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.
JM: To stick with the theme, I'm going with "Either" and saying Sami Zayn captures gold first. Zayn is a likely foe for Rusev and could even see an outside shot at main event gold should a heel such as Seth Rollins be champion on Raw. On the flip side, WWE doesn't know what it has with Owens. That's a damn shame.
Match Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.
John Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. The Club
10 of 12Q: Who among this group will claim WWE gold first?
GM: All six men could be champions on their respective shows in the foreseeable future, but as I've been pitching for months, Enzo and Big Cass should capture the WWE Tag Team Championships at SummerSlam, especially since they're on the same show as The New Day. They are among the hottest acts in WWE right now and should continue to build momentum by leading Cena to victory against The Club at Battleground.
Match Prediction: John Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass win.
EB: AJ Styles will unseat Dean Ambrose for the WWE Championship by year’s end—if The Lunatic Fringe emerges from Battleground with the gold. Thus, Styles gets my vote. Cena is the franchise star but is primarily a part-time worker now, no longer working live events. Enzo and Cass and The Club have the potential to win tag team gold as soon as Monday night, but I still have to go with Styles, whose run in WWE thus far has been phenomenal.
Match Prediction: Amore, Cass and Cena win.
RD: Cena. He will always be in the hunt for gold, whether that means trying to revive the Intercontinental Championship or winning his 16th world title. WWE will make him a key figure in the revamped SmackDown, and that likely means he'll be wearing a title.
Match Prediction: Team Cena will get the win to both even the series with Styles and help catapult Amore and Big Cass. WWE has not been shy about pinning losses on The Club.
AM: If the WWE Championship stays exclusive to SmackDown, AJ Styles will become the next person in line to hold that title. However, The New Day could be dropping the Tag Team Championships to Anderson and Gallows by SummerSlam, as it'll have passed by the titles' record length, so I would have to give the edge to those two getting the belts before anybody else.
Match Prediction: Cena's team will get the win so Styles can blame the loss on The Club's interference, resulting in another singles match between the two at SummerSlam.
KB: Gallows and Anderson. Styles and Cena have a few more months of feuding left to go, so they will keep each other out of title contention. The New Day has held the tag titles longer than anyone else in the history of the belts, so it is about time for the championships to shift hands. With the roster shakeup, Gallows and Anderson need a win more than anything, and they seem perfect to claim the tag titles with Styles out of the picture.
Match Prediction: John Cena, Enzo and Cass win.
JM: I don't see The New Day losing its titles anytime soon, so that eliminates our tag teams. Between Cena and Styles, I'll go with Cena. WWE will want to reward him sooner rather than later and get him that record-tying 16th world championship. Styles' time will come shortly thereafter, but Cena is the leader.
Match Prediction: Cena, Enzo and Cass win.
Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose (WWE Championship)
11 of 12Q: True or False: Roman Reigns should not be challenging for the WWE Championship at Battleground following his wellness-policy violation.
GM: I honestly don't think it sets the best precedent for any suspended talent for Reigns to be competing in the main event of a pay-per-view for the world title in his first match back, but WWE has humiliated him enough on TV, so I can't be too upset. That said, under no circumstance should he capture the title at the event, and I assume Rollins will regain the gold to resume his rivalry with Reigns.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins wins the WWE Championship by pinning Roman Reigns.
EB: False. It may be popular to hate on him for his mistake and to question the morality of rewarding him after such a violation, but Reigns belongs in the match. The only real outburst of anger should come if he inexplicably wins the title. No one should have such an infraction swept under the carpet with a championship win just days after returning from a 30-day suspension. With so much effort put into revisiting the days of The Shield, it would be ridiculous to eliminate him from the equation, especially after the match was announced prior to the suspension.
Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose wins, though not without controversy.
RD: False. The match was already in place when he got busted. His presence makes this a much more compelling showdown. Plus, it's a potential way to kick-start a heel turn.
Match Prediction: No-contest. WWE needs an excuse to bring back the World Heavyweight Championship so that Raw can have its own world title. Some sort of screwy finish here will lead to that.
AM: False. This is a match that fans have been wanting to see for too long, and with the brand extension, it may never have another opportunity to happen again. The trick here is to make sure Reigns doesn't get anything positive out of the deal that he shouldn't be entitled to. As punishment, he should be the one to take the pinfall loss to make up for his blunder, but the match should still go on. Why deprive the fans for something he did wrong?
Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose retains the championship because SmackDown needs the boost of having the champion on its roster.
KB: False. With it now reported by multiple outlets, including Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that Roman Reigns was suspended for Adderall (h/t Corey Jacobs of WrestlingNews.co), there is no reason to overly sensationalize this issue. Reigns was punished for his indiscretion. With a brand split official, this may be the only time we ever get a chance to see The Shield in a Triple Threat, let alone for the WWE Championship. It is a major, event-selling match that WWE doesn’t need to let go just to punish Reigns. As long as he doesn’t win in his first match back, seemingly rewarding his mistake, this is a non-issue.
Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose retains.
JM: This is another question on which I feel I'm going to diverge from my colleagues. True, he should have been pulled from the match. Titus O'Neil was suspended 60 days for a playful grab. Reigns took an illegal substance and gets a title shot. I understand that the brand extension would have divvied these three up, but good things come to those who wait. WWE would've made The Shield's Triple Threat happen sooner rather than later.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins becomes the WWE champion, and the belt stays with its twin (the Women's Championship) on Raw. SmackDown gets a tourney to decide its new champion at SummerSlam.
Bonus Question No. 3
12 of 12
Q: Who are you most disappointed is not on the card for WWE Battleground?
GM: Cesaro has been on a hot streak since returning from injury following WrestleMania 32, so I'm disappointed he won't be wrestling at Battleground. Chris Jericho would have been a great opponent for him, given their recent entertaining affair on SmackDown, if Y2J wasn't already hosting The Highlight Reel with the returning Randy Orton.
EB: Cesaro. The Swiss competitor has been directionless of late, even if he has been featured heavily on WWE programming. The frustration he expressed after the draft is probably as much about his status in the company as it is his destination. Rightfully so. Cesaro is a talented wrestler who should not be missing out on a pay-per-view payday for any reason.
RD: Cesaro. The King of Swing puts on tremendous performances nightly. Fans have grown increasingly loud in support of him. Yet he's not enough of a priority to be in the high-profile feuds he should be. It's mind-boggling to see him sit on the bench again.
AM: There are plenty of names like Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro, Baron Corbin and more, but the one who stands out the most to me is Apollo Crews. There's too much of a start-stop push for this guy, and it's hurting his ability to connect with the crowd. If enough time passes and he still isn't featured on a regular basis, fans will just assume he's a lost cause, and he'll have to start all over from scratch to try to regain some momentum. I'd rather see him in any kind of a match than watch The Highlight Reel with Randy Orton, as that will just be a segment for a bathroom break.
KB: Since his debut, Baron Corbin has continually impressed, with his match at Money in the Bank against Dolph Ziggler nearly a star-making moment. He needs to keep up his momentum, but instead, he is left listless, waiting to potentially get a feud on SmackDown, while Zack Ryder and Darren Young are getting single titles matches that are most likely just filler to give The Miz and Rusev title victories.
.jpg?w=600 "WWE Raw Results & Grades 🔠")
