WWE Battleground 2016: Feuds That Will Continue Through SummerSlam

With WWE Battleground 2016 in the rear-view mirror, it's time to look ahead to the next big date on the WWE calendar: SummerSlam.

The Raw-SmackDown brand split has divided the main roster, which means some feuds contested at Battleground—Rusev vs. Zack Ryder and The Miz vs. Darren Young, for example—are completely wrapped up. The New Day vs. Bray Wyatt could be revisited, but the dissolution of The Wyatt Family thanks to the WWE Draft makes that unlikely. 

Even though Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens delivered what's being considered a Match of the Year contender, WWE built their Battleground matchup as the feud's conclusion. And now with Dean Ambrose bringing the WWE Championship to SmackDown, a reunion with all three former members of The Shield is off the table.

WWE Battleground did, however, provide enough feuds that will be familiar to fans as SummerSlam approaches. Here's a look at those feuds that will continue through SummerSlam in Brooklyn, New York. 

Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte

WWE kicked off Battleground in a perfect way, giving NXT stalwart Bayley her much-anticipated main roster debut as Sasha Banks' mystery partner against WWE women's champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke.

More important than that, though, was Banks making Charlotte tap for the victory. That ending sets up the long-awaited championship match between those two competitors at SummerSlam. 

Charlotte's title hasn't been contested since she defeated Paige on Raw last month, and she hasn't defended on a pay-per-view since beating Natalya at WWE Extreme Rules back in May. WWE has been slow-burning the inevitable match against Banks, and it's likely to come to a head, with a SummerSlam match officially booked in the coming weeks on the duo's new home, Raw. 

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

Dean Ambrose might have brought the WWE Championship to SmackDown, but fans should expect to see a lot of battles between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins heading into SummerSlam.

WWE.com's preview for Raw following Battleground confirms as such, stating "There’s no chance these two are done with each other, so the only question is where “The Man” and “The Guy” will take their rivalry next."

Prior to Battleground, Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Rollins and Reigns were slated to main event SummerSlam for the WWE Championship (h/t WrestleZone). While Ambrose walked out last night with that title in tow, the former Shield partners could still tangle for a newly-created world title, if one were to be unveiled. 

Raw could create a tournament to determine the two contenders who will face off at SummerSlam for this new belt, and Reigns and Rollins would be the odds-on favorites to make it to Brooklyn for that title match. 

Natalya vs. Becky Lynch

At Battleground, Natalya was able to make Becky Lynch submit following a hard-fought match. These two have been battling each other since their failed alliance at WWE Money in the Bank. 

Following last night's encounter, Becky made it clear on Twitter that the two weren't finished:

Pitting these two women against each other to kick off the new women's division on SmackDown makes sense. Aside from those two, the brand needs to create a hierarchy similar to the one that now exists on Raw. Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Eva Marie and a returning Naomi need to prove themselves before being thrust into feuds with the top stars on SmackDown. 

Fans can probably expect a lot of tag matches so the new and returning faces can adjust to their new ringmates. Also, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan will have to decide whether to introduce their own title for the SmackDown brand. 

John Cena vs. AJ Styles

With Cena and Styles each sporting a victory over the other in the last two pay-per-views, it only makes sense for the two to conclude their feud at SummerSlam. 

But with the WWE Championship now on the blue brand, there are a wealth of questions—and opportunities—to extend this feud far past SummerSlam.

The same report noted above that detailed Reigns vs. Rollins at SummerSlam also noted that Cena and Styles were slated to clash for a newly created world title. With Ambrose still the WWE champ and no true number one contender, SmackDown could also schedule a tournament to decide Ambrose's SummerSlam opponent. 

Maybe Cena and Styles interfere in each other's matches, with both losing and deciding to settle their score in Brooklyn. Maybe these two battle to a draw, leaving McMahon and Bryan to book a triple threat match between Cena, Styles and Ambrose for SummerSlam.

In any case, it's not coincidence that WWE placed both of these men on the same show in the middle of a feud. Expect to get a hearty helping of Cena and Styles as WWE marches toward SummerSlam.