WWE Battleground 2017: Predicting the Best and Worst Matches of SmackDown PPV

In the WWE's New Era, nothing has been more consistent than match quality. The roster is loaded with talent that will deliver every time they step in the ring. WWE Battleground 2017 should be no different as the show will be SmackDown Live's last major show before SummerSlam with huge matches set to end long-standing rivalries. 

While the wrestlers rarely fail to deliver in the ring, booking can tank matches more than anything else. Even great clashes can be hindered by a lackluster story or finish. From AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens to Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton, every match on the card has the potential to succeed or fail based on how much freedom the performers have to work a quality contest.

Battleground will be defined by that dynamic more than most shows with this event loaded with rarely seen gimmicks that could make or break clashes between wrestlers, who have already proven they can put on a show without extra stipulations. The best matches will likely stand out from the worst based on who can make the most of what they are given by WWE.

The following are the matches most likely to be the best or worst of this SmackDown pay-per-view, balancing the talent involved with the storylines and stipulations they are working with.

Best: AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens (United States Championship)

This is not a bold prediction. Even with a lackluster finish, the two still stole the show already at Backlash 2017. Now Styles and Owens should be able to take it one step further with KO more heated than ever following his title loss in Madison Square Garden. This may be the culmination of a rivalry between arguably the two best on the roster.

Styles has been a part of the top matches of every single show he has competed at since his debut in 2016, and Owens is one of the best opponents he could possibly face. The greatest showman in WWE facing off against the greatest athlete is a match made in heaven that has often been more heavily featured than the WWE Championship feud for good reason.

It would be a shock if Styles and KO do not have the best match at Battleground though it will likely be a good sign for the event as it would mean some contest went above and beyond. There is no way that Styles vs. Owens is anything less than great.

Worst: John Cena vs. Rusev - Flag Match

Far be it for me to bet against Cena, who has been outstanding every time out in the past few years, but his match with Rusev has multiple obstacles in its way. It has been clear from the start that this was a filler match for both men with Cena needing a warmup before he reenters the title scene. Rusev stands as an obstacle rather than an opponent.

Moreover, even when the two feuded into Mania, they did not produce top-notch singles matches. Now they will be competing in a flag match, one of the least interesting and exciting contests in WWE history. Few fans will be taken by the drama of two men trying desperately to take down a flag from their opponent's corner.

With both men still coming off long absences in WWE, Cena and Rusev will not only have to improve a poor concept but find a chemistry they have lacked to date. All signs point to this being a disappointment and a waste of both talented men.

Best: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Lana vs. Natalya vs. Tamina - Fatal 5-Way Elimination

This comes with the caveat that SmackDown will need to give the women the time necessary to deliver. A match with four falls before the finish should be 30 minutes at a minimum. However, the last time the women's division competed in such a match at Backlash 2016, it was a flurry of eliminations ending at the 14-minute mark.

While Lana will be a liability in this contest early on, she can be protected by her veteran competition before being eliminated to set up some exciting potential clashes. From a powerhouse battle between Tamina and Charlotte to another technical struggle between Natalya and Becky, this can be the women's time to shine.

If this ends with a lengthy final stretch between Lynch and Charlotte, it could very well be a match-of-the-year contender which those two already have on their resume from their battles in 2016. The only thing holding the women back could be a lack of time.

Worst: Jinder Mahal (c) vs. Randy Orton (WWE Championship) - Punjabi Prison

Despite criticism of Mahal's quick rise to the top in WWE, he has not had a bad match since his surprise push began. His two matches with Orton have been heated physical encounters, bringing the best out of both men. However, their rubber match has one huge obstacle standing in its way: the Punjabi Prison.

There have only been two Punjabi Prison matches in history, and both were almost complete disasters. While Batista vs. Great Khali at No Mercy 2007 was an improvement over The Undertaker vs. Big Show at Great American Bash 2006, both showed off veterans doing their best to not be hampered by a structure that is difficult to manage and often just silly.

There is a reason there have been no Punjabi Prison matches in a decade, and it is hard to imagine WWE has unlocked the formula for improving the match type even after all this time. The main event could very well be a failure, and, at best, Mahal and Orton will spend all their time mitigating the handicap of the contest.