WWE Battleground: Match Card, Odds, Predictions for Event's Biggest Stars

The impact of the brand split is yet to truly be felt. But as the final pay-per-view outside the traditional big four where the whole roster will compete on the same night, WWE Battleground is shaping up to be a huge night for the company.

There's the potential for championships to change hands across the card, which will inevitably mean some titles moving to new brands in the process.

The WWE Championship falls firmly in that category, as Roman Reigns' first TV appearance since his suspension is just one subplot in a fascinating main event.

There is brand-extension talk aplenty, with some of the company's biggest stars set for a career-defining night as they head off to their respective brands come next week's tapings of Raw and SmackDown.

Here's what could be in store for a handful of WWE's best, as well as the odds for their respective matches.

Rusev

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Rusev 1/10, Zack Ryder 11/2

Overview

The Bulgarian Brute goes into Battleground looking a comprehensive favorite to retain his United States Championship, and the odds seem to back up his chances.

It seems highly unlikely he will drop the belt any time soon, given the dominating run he's been on since capturing it earlier this year.

A rejuvenated Zack Ryder represents an interesting challenge, but not enough of one to suggest Rusev is going to lose this weekend.

Expect him to retain in comfortable fashion as it turns out, with the brand split offering him the chance to truly fulfill his potential as a major heel in WWE.

With one midcard title on each show too, it gives Rusev the opportunity to raise the prestige of the belt as well as increase his own standing in the company.

Lock this one down as another convincing victory for Rusev.

Prediction: Rusev wins via The Accolade

Kevin Owens

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Sami Zayn 5/6, Kevin Owens 5/6

Overview

WWE is building Kevin Owens' match with Sami Zayn up as some form of fitting finale to their never-ending feud, but don't expect it to come to a close yet.

This could have been the final meeting between Owens and Zayn for a good while had the draft worked out differently. But with both men staying on Raw, it seems likely they will go around at least one more time, with SummerSlam a much better place to draw a line under a feud that never fails to entertain.

As for Owens' chances at Battleground, he is involved in one of several matches that is genuinely tough to predict.

There's a fair argument for this one going either way. Zayn arguably needs the win more, given how Owens is undoubtedly one of the company's top heels as it stands. And Zayn's start to life on the main roster wasn't quite as explosive as Owens'.

But with a shuffle on the Raw roster and more opportunities to go after the world title, a win here for Owens puts him in great shape to look up the card and challenge for the biggest prize in the company. 

The odds have them dead even at the time of writing, but in order to set up another bout at SummerSlam, this may go the way of Zayn. From there, you can have Owens winning a huge stipulation match at SummerSlam.

Prediction: Sami Zayn via pinfall

AJ Styles

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Cena, Enzo and Cass 2/9, The Club 11/4

Overview

AJ Styles faces an uncertain future after being drafted to SmackDown without The Club. But what is more certain is the outcome of his six-man tag match against Enzo, Cass and John Cena this Sunday.

After The Phenomenal One scored a controversial victory at Money in the Bank, it's safe to expect defeat here is in the cards for Styles.

With Cena being screwed at Money in the Bank, Styles can easily not take the winning pinfall here to allow both men to feel there is only one way to settle their rivalry: a huge decider at SummerSlam.

If WWE is intent on keeping Styles heel, they can have him attack The Club post-match, deciding he doesn't need them anyway after they cost him victory at Battleground.

From there, they can go to Raw and align with Finn Balor, leaving Styles as a guy determined to take down the Cenation empire all by himself.

With Styles and Cena both on the blue brand, don't expect this feud to end at Battleground. The only way it can continue, however, is by having Styles come up on the wrong side of the result.

Prediction: John Cena beats Karl Anderson via pinfall

Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Dean Ambrose 20/27, Seth Rollins 2/1, Roman Reigns 3/1

Overview

The three former members of The Shield clash on Sunday with an unfamiliar build to the match.

Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins have been busy competing on a frequent basis for the WWE Championship, with Roman Reigns literally sitting on the sidelines throughout.

However, with his suspension over, Reigns is back on the scene and is expected to have a major say in the destination of the title come Sunday night.

Ambrose has now managed to escape with the title still around his waist twice in a week. One was courtesy of what the referee deemed to be a draw on Monday's edition of Raw, before The Lunatic Fringe scored a much-needed win on SmackDown.

And that suggests there may not be third-time luck for Ambrose, especially if this three-way feud gets another shot at SummerSlam after Reigns' suspension.

The title moving to a new owner may give the feud fresh impetus ahead of the run toward one of the biggest shows of the year. And although the odds have Dean favored, this might be the night where Rollins finally gets back the title for keeps.

Prediction: Seth Rollins pins Roman Reigns via pinfall