WWE Battleground 2016 Results That Will Have Biggest Impact at SummerSlam

The most exciting and intriguing edition of WWE Battleground in history offered up a defining night for many of the company's top stars.

As WWE embarks on the first week of a new era, with the brand split starting for real this week, Battleground proved to be a significant night in terms of setting up the next night all WWE's roster will meet again: next month's SummerSlam pay-per-view.

With Raw and SmackDown Live now existing as separate entities, here are the results from Battleground that will have the biggest impact on the card at SummerSlam, despite a whole heap of action taking place between the two pay-per-views.

Rusev def. Zack Ryder

It was a strange night at Battleground in many ways, with the company's two midcard championship matches offering up finishes that suggest both The Miz vs. Darren Young and Rusev vs. Zack Ryder could roll on to SummerSlam.

The only problem with that, of course, is that those men have all headed to different brands now, with Rusev and Young on Raw, and The Miz and Ryder on SmackDown Live.

However, one thing is certain about the United States Championship: Right now, Rusev is looking pretty untouchable.

His opponent for SummerSlam has yet to be determined, but Rusev's victory and subsequent momentum—despite losing out on Raw on Monday night—make for an intriguing rivalry.

Perhaps someone like Cesaro is worthy of a shot. After all, this is SummerSlam, one of the WWE's biggest shows of the year. It's safe to expect all the matches will have a blockbuster feel to them, and Rusev vs. Cesaro would fit the bill.

John Cena, Enzo and Cass def. The Club

Much like the midcard championship matches, all six participants in this match have headed off to different shows and seemingly different rivalries.

Monday's Raw saw Enzo and Cass seemingly enter a feud with The Shining Stars, with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson setting their sights on The New Day and the WWE tag team titles.

However, one likely constant, courtesy of John Cena, Enzo and Cass' win at Battleground, is the continuation of Cena vs. AJ Styles.

With Styles picking up the first win at Money in the Bank and Cena winning at Battleground, it sets things up for the decider at SummerSlam.

One win each means that both men have momentum, and with a stipulation thrown into the mix for SummerSlam, this could be a real show-stealer.

Had Styles won at Battleground, it would have left this feud with nowhere to go. But Cena levelling it at one win each makes it inevitable they'll meet again.

Dean Ambrose def. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns

Surprise was the overwhelming feeling in the immediate aftermath of Battleground's main event as Dean Ambrose kept hold of the WWE Championship—but more importantly, the title remained with the blue brand.

WWE has since revealed that Raw will get its own championship—the WWE Universal Championship—and that means Ambrose and the WWE Championship are both staying exclusive to Tuesdays.

So, with that in mind and both Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns out of Dean Ambrose's sights, his victory at Battleground will have a huge impact on what happens at SummerSlam.

It means a new name and a new face will get a shot at Ambrose—and who it will be is still to be determined.

It's safe to assume that, for now at least, Cena and Styles are out of the hunt, as they will have their own business to settle at SummerSlam. Randy Orton, another big name drafted to SmackDown Live, is busy dealing with the threat of Brock Lesnar.

And looking through all the big names on Tuesday nights who don't have any plans yet, one really does stick out: Bray Wyatt.

Until Luke Harper returns from injury, The Wyatt Family will not be at their menacing best, so now is the time to build Wyatt up as a legitimate and credible main event star.

It's well overdue, and with the brand split bringing added exposure for stars who have struggled to get a share of the limelight in the past, this could be an ideal opportunity for WWE to take a chance with Wyatt.

Ambrose vs. Wyatt? It has all the makings of a top contest.