With the exception of the Punjabi Prison match, this Sunday’s Battleground pay-per-view honestly doesn’t look much different from a regular episode of SmackDown. Here are the eight matches on the final card, according to WWE.com:
- Aiden English vs. Tye Dillinger (Kick-Off show)
- Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
- John Cena vs. Rusev (Flag Match)
- AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens (United States Championship match)
- Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte vs. Lana vs. Tamina vs. Natalya (Fatal 5-Way Elimination to determine the No. 1 contender for the Women’s Championship)
- The Usos vs. The New Day (Tag Team Championship match)
- Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton (Punjabi Prison Match for WWE Championship)
Like I said, it’s rather underwhelming. Nevertheless, here are my predictions for the event.
Aiden English vs. Tye Dillinger
Tye Dillinger is one of my favorites, but WWE has given us little reason to care about this match-up – which is exactly why it’s been relegated to the kick-off show. Dillinger and English have already faced each other three times – twice on SmackDown and once on the Backlash kick-off show – with Dillinger winning all three times. I think Sunday will be a repeat of the same before Dillinger hopefully moves onto bigger, better things.
Prediction: Tye Dillinger
Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis
Zayn vs. Mike and Maria Kanellis has been a fun little feud so far; Zayn is always fun to watch in the ring, and you can’t help but cheer for the power of love when Mike and Maria’s 80’s power ballad-inspired theme song hits. Zayn and Kanellis already squared off on the go-home episode of SmackDown, and the latter picked up the win thanks to some distracting help from his wife. That being said, I think Zayn will pick up the win Sunday via disqualification after some sort of shenanigans from the lovey-dovey couple, thus setting up a rubber match.
Prediction: Sami Zayn via disqualification
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
This match-up certainly has a lot of potential. Baron Corbin has been assaulting Nakamura for weeks now, which is only fuel for Nakamura to unleash strong style all over Mr. Money in the Bank. In other words, this match will be a battle – but I think Nakamura will win it clean for a few reasons. First, he’s undefeated in singles match competition and now is not the time to end that; and second, Corbin has the Money in the Bank briefcase – he can take a loss without it affecting him at all.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura
John Cena vs. Rusev (Flag Match)
John Cena is going to win this match; it’s pretty cut and dry. I mean come on: it’s a Flag Match in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation. Not to mention it’s Cena’s first pay-per-view appearance since WrestleMania 33. Sorry, Rusev: you’re buried.
Prediction: John Cena because America
A.J. Styles vs. Kevin Owens (United States Championship match)
There is no doubt in my mind that this match will steal the show. There’s also no doubt in my mind that Styles will retain the United States Championship; WWE wouldn’t have had him win the title in a such a shocking fashion if he was going to drop it back to Owens so soon. Furthermore, they’ve made it pretty clear that a clash between Styles and Nakamura over the championship is forthcoming.
Prediction: A.J. Styles retains
Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte vs. Lana vs. Tamina vs. Natalya (Fatal 5-Way Elimination match to determine the No. 1 contender)
The last time Charlotte challenged for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, the match ended in a no-contest when Carmella, Natalya, and Tamina interfered. Carmella has since become the first Miss Money in the Bank, while Natalya and Tamina are just above enhancement talent. In other words, this match is the perfect opportunity for Charlotte to get the revenge she deserves.
Prediction: Charlotte Flair
The Usos vs. The New Day (Tag Team Championship match)
It’s safe to say that this match has had the best build-up of any on the card. That being said, SmackDown’s tag team division is painfully thin at the moment; aside from The Usos and The New Day, the only other tag team worth their salt is Breezango. That being said, I’m going to make an early prediction that there will be a three-way ladder match for the tag titles at SummerSlam – and that could happen no matter who wins on Sunday. Therefore, I’m literally going to flip a coin here: heads is The Usos, tails is The New Day.
Prediction: The coin says The Usos retain
Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton (Punjabi Prison Match for the WWE Championship)
The story of this match is going to be whether or not the Singh brothers manage to interfere despite the Punjabi Prison structure and whether or not Randy Orton will finally murder one of them. Outside of that, it’s pretty clear that Mahal will retain; Orton doesn’t need another title reign and Mahal has been a moneymaker as a genuinely despised foreigner heel. Then Great American John Cena – who will have already soundly defeated No. 2 evil foreigner Rusev – will swoop in and take the title at SummerSlam, where Corbin will then cash in.
Prediction: Jinder Mahal retains
So not only does this pay-per-view look like an episode of SmackDown, I’ve also predicted that there will be no title changes. If that’s the case, hopefully the action will be good because it’s looking like Battleground will leave a lot to be desired.
What are your predictions for Battleground? Share them in the comments below!