WWE Battleground 2017: Review (24/07/2017)

What a show! To all those people who actually paid to watch this, there is no amount of sympathy I have that would satiate your unfathomable loss. To all those people, including myself, who actually wasted time watching the Smackdown-exclusive PPV, there is not enough empathy in the world that could give us back our precious time. Let's just get into the proceedings. 

Credits: cagesideseats.com

Results:

• Kickoff: Aiden English defeats Tye Dillinger.
• Tag Team Championship: The New Day defeat The Usos to become new champions.
• Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Baron Corbin via DQ.
• #1 Contender's Match for the Women's Title: Natalya wins.
• US Championship: Kevin Owens defeats AJ Styles to become new champion.
• Flag Match: John Cena defeats Rusev.
• Sami Zayn defeats Mike Kanellis.
• WWE Championship Match: Jinder Mahal escapes the Punjabi Prison to retain his championship.

Kickoff: Aiden English vs. Tye Dillinger

Before the match, Aiden English starts singing as he calls himself "The Shakespeare of Song". A repetitive segment followed as Tye Dillinger entered and was immediately dominated by English. Having control early on in the match, 'The Perfect 10' was hit with a knee at the back as he crashed on to the turnbuckle, giving English much of the momentum. An adrenaline-pumping return by Dillinger saw him dropkick English out of mid-air, but that was probably all he could muster as the heel quickly took some out from the ring. After surviving quite a few impact moves from Dillinger, English scored a shocking victory as he mocked 'The Perfect 10'.

An exciting bout, just the one to get the audience into the feel of things, this match indeed set the tone for an exciting PPV, but it just remained till the next match. Dillinger has been quite the exciting prospect since the past few weeks, however, whether this will actually affect his prospects in the company, is a matter that will only be seen in the weeks to come.

Credits: sportskeeda.com

Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos (C) vs. The New Day

Probably one of the only times when Big E was not involved in the match, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, wearing their Independence Day gear, started things of against the champions. The New Day had the momentum as they notched up a few moves to dominate early on, only to be battered when The Usos conjured up a few heel-techniques. The champions slowed down the match to their advantage and clinically picked on Xavier Woods. A hot tag later, Kofi Kingston charged in to change the momentum, but he too met with the same when he was powerbombed onto the floor. The Usos continued to build momentum as Jey Uso superkicked Woods. After a missed splash, Woods finally hit a diving elbow drop, similar to what he had done in his singles match, to pick up the victory over Jimmy Uso. 

Finally, the Tag Division on Smackdown Live has come to life. With The New Day on top, and that too for a considerable amount of time to come, it won't be surprising if the division initiates its resurgence in the weeks to come. The Usos looked very strong despite being beaten cleanly. This feud will go on for some time now.

Credits: StillRealToUs.com

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin

An exciting bout since the time it was being teased, the NXT alumni fared pretty well for a night filled with disappointments. Shinsuke tried to play mind-games early on in the match as he easily avoided all of Corbin's attempts. However, Baron Corbin caught hold of his opponent and bashed him up, like only he can, punishing him everywhere throughout the arena. From thrusting Nakamura into the barricades to clotheslining him, Baron Corbin showed every bit of the pure power he possesses. Managing to nip out Nakamura's comeback initially, Baron faced a spinning kick that allowed Nakamura to gain much needed momentum. The King of Strong Style mounted a great comeback, but The Lone Wolf hit him with a low blow, smiling at his misery. The bell rung to Nakamura's favor as he won via DQ, but then again, Corbin made a point by beating him down after that.

Probably the most predictable ending to the match, WWE made sure none of the superstars looked weak in their momentum. Nakamura scored the win, but Baron Corbin looked way too strong. A possible cash-in may be lined up for Summerslam.

Credits: WhatCulture.com

#1 Contender's Match for the Women's Title: Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Lana vs. Tamina Snuka vs. Natalya Hart

Joined by Women's Champion, Naomi, at the announce table, the 5 contenders brought in chaos to begin the match. Lana looked good here, given the fact that she has no wrestling background at all. She beat down her opponents outside the ring before teaming up with Tamina to take on the favorite, Charlotte. Becky Lynch distracted the heels by attempting to submit Lana, only to be superkicked by Tamina. Later on, both Tamina and Lana were submitted by Becky Lynch, who was then eliminated by Natalya via a schoolboy pin. As the second-generation superstars, Natalya and Charlotte, remained, the match turned into an exhibit of high-profile moves. Charlotte showed pure power with a deadlift-powerbomb to Natalya. As Charlotte climbed up the ropes to hit a moonsault, Natalya quickly countered it and pinned The Queen. 

A shocking surprise from the veteran saw her having a stare-down with Naomi, who was ringside, Although the match didn't have the required energy to bring the house down, it had quite a few memorable moments when the mini-rivalries transcended the bigger picture, A few more of those would really engage the audience. A heel-turn for Charlotte was teased, and that should be the way for WWE to go with her. She would've made an amazing opponent for Naomi at Summerslam, however, being a veteran, it will be interesting to see how Natalya brings out the best in Naomi.

Credits: cagesideseats.com

US Championship: AJ Styles (C) vs. Kevin Owens

Billed as the most exciting bout for the night, this match-up had the WWE Universe on its feet. However, a botched up finish provided for the fact that WWE Live Shows are a mere mockery of the way to go to proceed a storyline. 

The match opened to Kevin Owens and AJ Styles exhibiting their technical skills inside the ring. Action picked up when KO was dropkicked out of the Ring by Styles. What followed was pure savagery as two of the biggest draws on Samckdown Live turned it into a brutal beatdown. Owens always has the advantage when the rules are shunned, and that is what exactly happened. He picked up the momentum as The Phenomenal One has being grounded. KO smashed Styles' groin into the ring post as things started heating up. An inspired comeback from the champ saw him put KO in a Torture Rack, and a few other signature moves, but none of that hindered The Prizefighter's momentum. A counter of the Calf-crusher via a Crossface and tossing the referee towards AJ Styles saw KO pin Styles to regain the US Championship.

A sudden title change shouldn't have been the way to go for WWE, but they are surprising a lot lately with quite a few doubtful options to go for. Styles should've held the title, at least till Summerslam. This is outright demeaning for a superstar of Styles' caliber to drop the belt within 2 weeks of winning it. 

Credits: DailyDDT.com

Flag Match: John Cena vs. Rusev

Combined with a nationalistic story-line, the worst match of the PPV, proved to be nothing but a heavily time-consuming bout without any actual build up. 

Rusev looked to rush in to victory as he gutted Cena early on. A slow-paced match followed where both the superstars dug deep to bring out moves. The Bulgarian Brute dominated for a while as he wore Cena down and retrieved his flag, only for it to be kicked out of his hands by Cena. Both of them went to-and-fro for a bit, as the match proceeded towards the entrance ramp. Cena dominated for a while as he sent Rusev crushing into the LED. Rusev procured his flag and clubbed Cena with the stand, however, none of it really resulted in anything consequential as Cena hit an AA from the podium. A slow climb-up by Cena saw him planting the U.S. flag to assure a win.

The match-up was slow. Given the fact that Cena is a part-timer, it is shameful and demeaning for him to be reduced to match like this. Like I've already said, there was nothing here that we've not already seen. Rusev is already irrelevant. Being defeated by a part-timer doesn't really help his case. But, at the end of the day, it is John Cena. Cena deserved main-events, not these. Hopefully, a Summerslam feud with Mahal could change things up for him finally. 

Credits: skysports.com

Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis

An already irrelevant match-up, this bout had the worst timing. The crowd was already frustrated by the Flag Match, and following it up with another inconsequential match did not seem the right way to go for WWE. 

A continuous to-and-fro by both wrestlers, added up with two separate distractions by Maria Kanellis didn't really live up to the expectations that Mike Kanellis brought with him. A former ROH main-eventer had been reduced to a mockery of sorts. Sami Zayn, however, managed to hold his head and hit a successful Helluva Kick to pin Mike Kanellis.

WWE really need to do something to fool the audience with regular TV matches appearing as a PPV match. The match had no point. Zayn is being under-utilized and Kanellis didn't need the loss right away. 

Credits: cagesideseats.com

WWE Championship in a Punjbai Prison Match: Jinder Mahal (C) vs. Randy Orton

The Punjabi Prison needs to be done away from stipulations. Right now! Instead of focusing on the bout, there was much confusion about the rules of the match. More interest was garnered by the action taking place at the doors rather than between the two wrestlers.

A pathetic match-up, added with the repetitive bouts between Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal made up for the most disappointing segment for a PPV.

Right after their respective entrances, both Mahal and Orton tried to escape the inner cage before the doors got locked in. This showed the urgency they had to finish the match. However, after being trapped, both superstars ensued in what was a show of brutality. Mahal worked on Orton's arm as both wrestlers went on for a bit. Even after announcing their absence from ringside, the Singh Brothers emerged from the back and pulled out Mahal as soon as one of the doors opened, leaving Randy Orton behind in the inner cage by hitting him with a flying kick. Orton jumped out of the inner cage only to be greeted by the Singh Brothers attempting to beat him down. This led to an Orton-rampage as he beat everybody down, including punching one of the Singh Brothers off the cage into the announce table and beating Mahal down with a Kendo stick. Right as he seemed to win the match, The Great Khali returned to make sure his countryman retained his championship, as the behemoth held Orton by his throat.

WWE's plans to invade India doesn't seem deterred by all the ongoing rumors. They continue to build Mahal up as the top heel in the Blue-brand. Khali's return was exciting due to the huge fan following he has, additionally helping viewership ratings in India. A possible feud with Cena is the most probable way to go for WWE, going into Summerslam.

Credits: criticalhit.net

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