WWE Battleground 2016 Matches: Odds, Final Picks and Predictions for Entire Card
On the heels of a draft that could prove historic for sports entertainment, WWE turns its attention to Washington, D.C., on Sunday and a Battleground pay-per-view with both brand-extension implications and championship stakes.
The WWE, Intercontinental and United States Championships will all be up for grabs, as will personal bragging rights as two of the top Superstars in the industry square off in emotionally charged contest.
The main event, a Triple Threat match for the company's top prize, will feature the first three-way encounter between former Shield teammates Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Underneath that title clash are two six-man tag team matches featuring Superstars settling their differences as they prepare to take up residence on separate brands.
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With a loaded card and a new direction for WWE programming, every outcome takes on greater significance. Who will win? Which of your favorite stars do the odds, relayed by Odds Shark, favor? Find out with this final look at Sunday's lineup.
| WWE Championship Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns | Dean Ambrose (-135); Seth Rollins (+200); Roman Reigns (+300) |
| Intercontinental Championship Match: Darren Young vs. The Miz | The Miz (-290); Darren Young (+190) |
| United States Championship Match: Zack Ryder vs. Rusev | Rusev (-1000); Ryder (+550) |
| The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family | The Wyatt Family (-260); The New Day (+175) |
| John Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. The Club | Cena, Amore and Cass (-450); The Club (+275) |
| Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens | Sami Zayn (-120); Kevin Owens (-120) |
| Sasha Banks and A Mystery Partner vs. Charlotte and Dana Brooke | Not available |
| Becky Lynch vs. Natalya | Not Available |
WWE Kickoff Match: The Usos vs. Breezango
Announced at the eleventh hour, The Usos vs. Breezango is a match designed to fire up the crowd before the main show gets started. At least that is how it appears on paper. With both teams headed to SmackDown, beginning Tuesday, it could provide the emphasis for a hot new feud in the tag division.
Still, expect Jimmy and Jey to pick up the win and rejuvenate their team Sunday night.
Prediction: The Usos
Intercontinental Championship Match: Darren Young (with Mr. Backlund) vs. The Miz (with Maryse)
No. 1 contender Darren Young enters Battleground riding a wave of...fluke wins. WWE has not presented him as particularly strong, and fan response to his latest gimmick has not been overwhelmingly intense, to say the least. Miz, on the other hand, is having a career year in and out of the ring, making the outcome of this one something of a foregone conclusion.
With each Superstar drafted to separate brands, and the Intercontinental Championship figuring to play an integral role on SmackDown, Miz should go over strong here to continue building on the momentum he has created for himself in post-WrestleMania 32 WWE.
Prediction: The Miz
Becky Lynch vs. Natalya
The primary additions to the SmackDown women's division will bring their personal vendetta to Battleground, as Becky Lynch attempts to avenge the shocking betrayal she endured at the hands of Natalya. The Queen of Harts, after months of frustrating defeats, took matters into her own hands, striking out against The Lass Kicker and igniting a rivalry, the second chapter of which will be written Sunday night.
The feud appears set to serve as the cornerstone for women's wrestling on the blue brand. Therefore, the encounter will likely solve nothing. If anything, it will intensify matters, suggesting a heel victory.
Prediction: Natalya via chicanery
United States Championship Match: Zack Ryder vs. Rusev
Zack Ryder is experiencing a career renaissance, challenging for championships and proving hard work and dedication pay off. Unfortunately for him, he arrives in Washington Sunday night for a battle with an angry, nasty Bulgarian Brute hellbent on retaining his United States title.
Ryder is the consummate underdog, a lovable loser who has exhibited an ability to rise to the occasion and pull off monumental upsets. That will not happen this time, though, as Rusev and his ravishing fiancee, Lana, ride off to Raw with the gold intact.
Prediction: Rusev CRUSH
The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family
Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods found out the hard way just how dangerous The Wyatt Family is when they ventured to the trio's compound for a pre-Battleground brawl. At the same time, it gave them an idea of the depths to which they will have to stoop in order to defeat their opponents.
With the sides separated via the WWE draft, there are no long-reaching repercussions to be had. The WWE Tag Team Championships will not be at stake, perhaps tipping WWE Creative's hand. These are the types of matches The New Day should be winning, but much like they the WrestleMania 32 loss to The League of Nations, expect to see the champions drop the non-title bout.
Prediction: The Wyatt Family
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
What should be the most anticipated match on the card given the quality of their previous contests has instead become something of an afterthought. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have been waging war since the two of them were in NXT, and their issues bled over onto the main roster, where they have been intertwined in a bitter feud for the last three months. Sunday night, they will hopefully put their differences to rest so both can move onto bigger and better things.
Owens scored the pinfall victory at Payback. For Zayn to maintain credibility on Raw, where he will ply his craft going forward, he needs a signature win. That should come Sunday night in a match that will steal the entire show.
Prediction: Sami Zayn
Sasha Banks and a Mystery Partner vs. Charlotte and Dana Brooke
The Boss will continue her quest to dethrone women's champion Charlotte Sunday night as she recruits a mystery partner to battle the second-generation titleholder and her minion, Dana Brooke. While many would like to see NXT's Bayley join her greatest rival in battle, she has her sights set on regaining the NXT women's title in Brooklyn this August.
One dark horse candidate is Summer Rae, who was drafted to Raw and with whom Sasha Banks has history with dating back to her own days in NXT. Could the Beautiful Fierce Females prove the downfall for Charlotte and Dana? Regardless of the partner's identity, Banks wins this one to set up her inevitable title match with the champion.
Prediction: Sasha Banks and her partner
John Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. The Club
At Money in the Bank, AJ Styles defeated John Cena following interference from Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. In response, Cena found himself some backup in the form of Enzo Amore and Big Cass, arguably the most popular act in all of WWE. Whereas The Club has plenty of experience teaming together, though, Cena and Co. will partner for the first time Sunday.
In most instances, that would spell disaster for the babyfaces, but taking the narrative being told into consideration, Cena needs the victory to tie things up at one, necessitating a rubber match in Brooklyn at SummerSlam.
Result: John Cena, The Certified G and his seven-foot-tall best friend
Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
This is the hardest match of the lot to pick, if only because it is unlikely SmackDown becomes the permanent home of the WWE Championship, leaving flagship show Raw without a premier title for its Superstars to fight over. Thus, controversy is sure to run wild, leading to a scenario in which a second world title is created.
Ambrose feels hot, a Superstar who finally achieved his dreams and is making the most of his opportunity as champion. Letting him run with the title on SmackDown would not only help him but also lend credibility to SmackDown.
Reigns and Rollins can fight over the second title on Raw following some screwy finish, and all would be right with the WWE Universe.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose
WWE Battleground emanates from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, only on WWE Network and pay-per-view. Join Bleacher Report for all of your event coverage, including a live blog, instant analysis and social media reactions.
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