Kickoff Show
Cesaro joined the panel and again voiced his displeasure with being drafted by RAW. Cesaro was also annoyed that he wasn’t wrestling on tonight’s show.
Mick Foley and Daniel Bryan are interviewed about what the direction each of their shows take. Daniel Bryan stated that he wanted Smackdown to be focused on the wrestlers, not the General Managers. Mick Foley agreed with Daniel Bryan and said that Raw shared the same vision for their program.
Breezango defeated the Usos in a solid tag team match. The crowd was heavily behind Breezango and they received a loud ovation when they won the match.
Main Card
Charlotte & Dana Brooke vs Sasha Banks & Bayley
The crowd went bananas when Bayley’s music hit. Sasha Banks and Bayley were posing in the ring when Charlotte and Dana Brooke had enough and attacked them. JBL stated that this was a one time opportunity for Bayley to be on the main roster, hinting that she might go back to NXT after Battleground. This was a back and forth match throughout, with the crowd very vocal throughout. It ended with Sasha Banks submitting the Women’s Champion Charlotte with the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring. Sasha Banks and Bayley hugged in the middle of the ring after the match.
Winners: Sasha Banks and Bayley
Reaction: It was awesome to see Bayley finally on the main roster. If she is to go back to NXT for a bit that sort of makes sense to me. It has been rumored that there will be additional rounds to the draft in the next couple of months and there is no doubt that Bayley will get picked in one of those rounds. However, it would make more sense for her to just simply join the main roster now. The only reason to keep her in NXT is to keep people tuning into the show while they build up someone to replace her on that program. As for the match itself, it was very solid. While it was a big night for Bayley, it was an even bigger night for Sasha Banks. She defeated Charlotte clean in the middle of the ring and will most likely get her shot at the Women’s Championship at Summerslam next month.
The New Day vs the Wyatt Family
Xavier Woods once again looked concerned but tagged himself in the second the match started. Brawn Strowman then immediately tagged Bray Wyatt in and Kofi tagged himself in. Xavier Woods seemed very concerned throughout the match. Every single time Bray Wyatt looked at Xavier Woods he became scared. Finally, Xavier Woods faced his fears and attacked Bray Wyatts. Woods actually went on an offensive frenzy, dominating every member of the Wyatts. However, Bray Wyatt wound up catching Xavier Woods with the Sister Abigail for the victory.
Winners: The Wyatt Family
Reaction: This was a good match, I guess I just thought something more would come of the Xavier Woods/Bray Wyatt storyline. It will be interesting to see on Smackdown if the Wyatt Family will still exist since Strowman was drafted to Monday Night Raw.
United States Championship Match: Zack Ryder vs Rusev (c)
Zack Ryder came down to the ring with the America themed attire. His sunglasses even had the American flag design on them. The crowd responded with a brief “USA!” chant before Rusev squandered their enthusiasm by pummeling Ryder. Zack Ryder fought back and was even about to connect with the Browski Boot, but Rusev caught him. Ryder once again regained momentum and went for the Elbrow Drop but Rusev raised his knees and Ryder landed right on them. Rusev then kicked Ryder in the back of the head and subsequently locked in the Accolade for the victory. After the match, Rusev continued to attack Ryder and Mojo Rawley came out to make the save.
Winner and still United States Champion: Rusev
Reaction: It was hard to get into this match because I never believed for a second that Zack Ryder would win. It seems like Mojo and Ryder will reform the Hype Bros on Smackdown.
Sami Zayn vs Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens dominated this match early. Owens even mocked the crowd while they were chanting “Ole!”, barking back “oh that’s cute!”. Kevin Owens deliberately slowed down this match by applying a Sleeper Hold. This allowed the crowd to rally behind Zayn until he finally was able to break the hold. Zayn then hit a massive Clothesline in an effort to change the momentum in the match. Sami Zayn went for a flip from the ropes onto Owens but botched it badly and landed on his shoulder on the ring apron. Thankfully, there was no serious injury there because it looked brutal live.
For the rest of the match, Zayn was selling an arm injury and Owens took full advantage. Owens locked in a Crossface, but Zayn was able to reach the ropes to break the hold. Zayn then went for the Helluva Kick, but Kevin Owens rolled out of the ring. Sami Zayn then hit a viscous Brainbuster onto the ring apron. This was an incredible moment in the match. The referee almost counted out Owens but he rolled back into the ring at the last second. The action in this match continued with both Superstars countering move after move. Owens hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb but Zayn got his foot on the bottom rope to break up the pinfall. The crowd was electric during this match and at one point brought back the “Fight Forever!” chant that was heard during Zayn and Nakamura’s match in NXT. The match ended with Sami Zayn hitting two Helluva Kicks in a row and finally pinning Kevin Owens.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Reaction: I knew this match would be excellent before it even started and it still exceeded my expectations. The build to this match was essentially just Zayn and Owens punching each other in the face every week and it didn’t need to be anything more than that. What a terrific performance by these two Superstars and it will be nearly impossible to top that match on tonight’s show.
Natalya vs Becky Lynch
Tough spot for Lynch and Natalya following the Owens and Zayn match. Natalya dominated most of this match and even locked the Sharpshooter in on Lynch in the middle of the ring. The crowd started to come back to life when Becky was able to reach the bottom rope and break the hold. Natalya kicked Becky Lynch in her injured leg and once again locked in the Sharpshooter. This time Becky Lynch had no choice but to tap out.
Winner via Submission: Natalya
Reaction: The crowd was drained from the Owens and Zayn match but this was actually a better match than they were giving it credit for. The problem with this match is that the WWE is having a hell of a time getting anybody invested in this feud. I’m hoping this match marked the end of it and both Natalya and Lynch can move onto something different.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Darren Young vs The Miz (c)
Bob Backlund was constantly climbing up the steel stairs to offer advice to Darren Young during the match. The ending of this match was bizarre to say the least. Maryse slapped Bob Backlund and then fell down I guess to pretend that Backlund pushed her? I honestly have no idea what she was doing. The Miz then exited the ring and pushed Bob Backlund down. Backlund got up and ripped his shirt in half and went after the Miz. The Miz once again pushed him down, which then led to Darren Young going insane and attacking the Miz outside the ring. The referee then called for the bell and the Miz wins via DQ.
Winner and Still Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
Reaction: I found this match entertaining until the awful ending. Darren Young and Miz were drafted to separate shows, so was that the end of the feud? If so, that wasn’t a good way to end it.
https://twitter.com/Donald_Wood/status/757393802508337152
John Cena, Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs AJ Styles & The Club
Enzo Amore cut another great promo before the match started. AJ Styles was greeted with a very loud “soccer mom!” chant from the crowd once the match started.
Much like every single match Cena is involved in, there were dueling “Let’s go Cena!” and “Cena sucks!” chants even when he wasn’t in the ring. Also, much like every match Enzo is in, he was dominated by everyone and spent most of the match desperately trying to get a tag. Enzo was finally able to tag in John Cena and he instantly began brawling with Styles. AJ Styles went to hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Cena but he ducked and wound up hitting Gallows. Styles was able to hit the Styles Clash on Cena but Big Cass broke up the pinfall. Gallows and Anderson then hit the Magic Killer on Big Cass. It came down to Cena and Styles in the ring. Cena hit a massive Attitude Adjustment on AJ Styles from the second rope for the pinfall victory.
Winners: John Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass
Reaction: John Cena gets his revenge on AJ Styles for last month’s loss to him at Money in the Bank. I find it interesting that Cena pinned Styles clean, even though Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan drafted Styles ahead of Cena. Granted, it was a six man tag-team match but it still felt odd to me. If Cena and Styles do face off one more time at Summerslam, it would make sense for AJ Styles to get the victory. The match itself tonight was good. I expected either Enzo, Anderson or Gallows to take the pinfall so I’m interested to see if anything comes of this Tuesday night on Smackdown.
Highlight Reel: Chris Jericho Interviews Randy Orton
Randy Orton thanked the crowd for welcoming him back. Chris Jericho immediately started talking about himself and the crowd started chanted “RKO!”. Chris Jericho gave Randy Orton a present that will help him defeat Brock Lesnar at Summerslam. Jericho gave Randy Orton the gift of Jericho and Orton responded by saying that Jericho’s haircut made him look like Ellen Degeneres. Jericho then insinuates that Orton is scared of Brock Lesnar. Orton then claimed he wants to face Lesnar to make a statement. Orton then stated that it only takes one RKO to get to “Viperville” and that there is no enhancement needed, which was a clear jab at Lesnar failing multiple drug tests leading up to his UFC return at UFC 200. Jericho then fell victim to an RKO out of nowhere.
Reaction: Orton seems to be returning as a good guy and got a great reaction from the crowd. I found it pretty amusing that Orton took a jab at Lesnar failing a drug test when Orton has also failed a drug test in the past and was suspended for it.
WWE Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose
Even though Foley and Daniel Bryan said that they wanted to make each of their shows about the Superstars earlier this evening, they both were ringside for this match. Stephanie and Shane McMahon were also ringside as well. Roman Reigns came out to a chorus of boos and it was 10:55 PM before the match even started. As soon as the bell rang, a very audible “Roman sucks!” chant rained down upon the ring. Ambrose and Reigns took turns beating down Rollins in the beginning, but Ambrose quickly went for a roll-up on Reigns while he wasn’t paying attention. Reigns then tried the same on Ambrose when he was distracted with Seth Rollins. The action then spilled outside the ring with everyone getting in offense. Reigns beatdown Rollins, Ambrose leaped onto Reigns from the top rope and then Rollins responded with a knee to Ambrose’s face. Eventually, the three Superstars worked their way back into the ring and continued to beat the hell out of each other. Reigns began to dominate both Ambrose and Rollins. Reigns hit a Superman Punch on both Ambrose and Rollins. Ambrose squashed Reigns’ momentum with a viscous Clothesline. Rollins and Ambrose then became friends again for a split second and beatdown Reigns. Both Rollins and Ambrose dove outside the ring onto Reigns. Ambrose and Rollins then Powerbombed Roman Reigns through the Spanish announce table. Rollins then hit both Ambrose and Reigns with a steel chair. Rollins and Ambrose then battled in the ring for a bit until Roman Reigns made his return and Powerbombed them both. Seth Rollins then hit the Pedigree on Reigns but he kicked out at two. Reigns hit the Superman Punch on Rollins and followed it up with a Spear. Ambrose got back into the ring and hit the Dirty Deeds on Reigns for the victory. The entire Smackdown Live roster then came out and celebrated with Dean Ambrose.
Winner and Still WWE Champion: Dean Ambrose
Reaction: This was a great main event and the right person won. Smackdown Live needs the WWE Championship and Dean Ambrose ensured that they still got it. The only issue I had with this match was that the GM’s and Commissioners for both shows were ringside. It was just an unnecessary distraction to an otherwise great match.
What did you think of WWE Battleground? Let us know in the comments below.
