WWE Battleground 2014
July 20, 2014
Header: by Chirantha
The throwaway of all throwaway PPVs, this year’s WWE Battleground seems more than usual a warm-up for SummerSlam. The main event focuses on John Cena’s continued reign as champion as he barrels towards Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam but perhaps more importantly the rise of Roman Reigns. We know Cena retains but how will WWE protected Reigns? Will he stand tall at the end or get lost in the shuffle?
Other than that, there’s not much to sink your teeth into at Battleground. WWE is advertising it as a WWE Network-only PPV which is not true whatsoever but shows how desperate they are to drive subscriptions to the Network leading into their upcoming investor conference call. Otherwise the card is highlighted by the first-ever confritation between former Shield members Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, the return of Chris Jericho to take on Bray Wyatt and perhaps the culmination of a long tag feud between The Wyatt Family and The Usos. We’ll also see one of the oddest heel/face feuds in quite some time come to a head as Paige and AJ Lee battle for the Divas title while on the other end of the spectrum one of the most basic feuds has everyone talking as Jack Swagger defends the United State’s honor against Rusev.
Below you’ll find predictions from a few members of the Voices of Wrestling staff as well as our thoughts on the matches. We will also have a full review immediately following the show Sunday.
Cameron vs. Naomi
Rich Kraetsch: Yup.
Prediction: Naomi
Bryan Rose: Yup.
Prediction: Naomi
Rob McCarron: Let’s give a babyface a win on this show, shall we.
Prediction: Naomi
Rusev vs. Jack Swagger
Rich Kraetsch: It’s pretty telling that this is my most anticipated match of the night and not one of the huge matchups featuring former members of The Shield but here we are. This is going to be awesome though the house show matches have reportedly only went 10 seconds, I’m holding out hope we get a decent match here. I think Rusev wins and wins somewhat convincingly but this should be a battle.
Prediction: Rusev
Bryan Rose: This seems like the match with the most buzz to it. The few weeks we’ve had leading into Battleground haven’t been that riveting, but the few segments that were are all related to this feud. It’s very much straight out of 1985, but that’s what makes it so great- it’s a tired and true formula for a feud and it works just as good as it did back in the eighties. As for who wins, well, Rusev. There’s no arguing that unless Jack Swagger is getting a main event run. And as much as I like his face turn so far, that ain’t happening.
Prediction: Rusev
Taylor Mitchell: Oh man, was this a hot segment on this past episode of Raw or what? Jack Swagger was more over as an “American Hero” than Lex Luger ever could have dreamed of being circa 1994. It helps having manager Zeb Colter and his gift of gab. Rusev is awesome. I’ve never been more excited about Swagger, ever. This match needs some time, but not so much time that Rusev is further exposed. Monsters should not have rest holds in their arsenal.
Prediction: Rusev
Rob McCarron: A match I am looking forward to more than the main event, Swagger vs Rusev has been simple yet exciting. I don’t expect a lengthy battle here, and maybe that is for the best, but I certainly do not expect Rusev’s first TV loss. The big question is how, if at all, WWE plays off the news from Thursday out of Ukraine.
Prediction: Rusev
Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins
Rich Kraetsch: I should be looking forward to this match more than I am, that’s all I’ll say. I think this is way too rushed for this match, it should be held off for months until it eventually explodes versus throwing it on a tune-up for SummerSlam PPV. With that said, I imagine this will be spectacular and the crowd will be into this match way more than the main event or really any other match on the card. Both of these guys know their way around the ring and can elicit reactions better than anyone on the WWE roster right now. I can’t wait for this.
Prediction: Seth Rollins
Bryan Rose: This should have been far more utilized on Raw than it should have. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins should have a awesome match, but I’m not even sure if people are aware they’re going to have a match, unless it’s pushed more on Smackdown. I haven’t liked the way they’ve used Ambrose lately as a punching bag for all the guys they’re actually pushing. He should be pushed more than that, but I guess WWE already has him in his slot that’s tough to get out out, but easy to fall into obscurity. As for who wins, Rollins. Ambrose isn’t in the plans, and Rollins apparently is, so there you go.
Prediction: Seth Rollins
Taylor Mitchell: This is the hottest feud going in pro wrestling today. Dean Ambrose is white hot as a babyface and Seth Rollins has had the best work of his career on the mic (this is not saying much really for anyone who has ever heard a Tyler Black promo). These two need to have a long drawn out blood feud. This could be the best WWE feud since Michaels/Jericho ‘09. I am hoping for a long-ish match with a finish that is not definitive.
Prediction: Kane comes out and costs Ambrose the match. Rollins wins.
Rob McCarron: A match I am looking forward to more than the main event, Rollins vs Ambrose is probably the real main event for me. The buildup has been hot and cold, but come game time, these two can show everyone exactly why they are the true future of WWE.
Prediction: Seth Rollins
2-out-of-3 Falls WWE Tag Team Championship
The Usos vs. Wyatt Family
Rich Kraetsch: I was going to complain about us seeing this match 10,000 times already but the 2-out-of-3 falls dynamic adds a bit of intrigue here. We know we’re going to get a split going into the third fall but that’s okay, if anything it means this match is going to get a lot of time and that’s great. I think we know what this match is going to look like, we know what types of spots, which spots, etc. but that’s fine because it’s going to be really good.
Prediction: The Wyatt Family
Bryan Rose: This should be a good match. I know they’ve wrestled 10,000 times, because the roster depth this year is at it’s lowest (body wise) and thus the tag division is centered around 2 heel teams and 3 face teams, but every time they wrestle the fans get into it and it turns into a hot match. The Wyatts should have won last month, so I’m expecting them to win this month. Maybe. Like I know how WWE books.
Prediction: The Wyatt Family
Taylor Mitchell: I love tag team wrestling. I love 2 out of 3 falls matches. These two teams have had some really good tag team matches. They are on the brink of having a really GREAT tag team match, but they are running out of time before this feud becomes so repetitive that the live crowds aren’t even hot for it.
Prediction: The Wyatt Family
Rob McCarron: A match I’m looking forward to more than the main event, Usos vs Wyatts may very well steal the show. It’s time for new tag champs, and with the Rhodes being the next possible destination for the Wyatts, I expect that to also be a tag title program.
Prediction: The Wyatt Family
WWE Divas Championship
Paige vs. AJ Lee
Rich Kraetsch: Rob seems to think it’s obvious who the heel and who the babyface are in this feud but I’m totally confused. Regardless, I think AJ Lee wins here. You don’t want to hot potato the title, even if it’s as meaningless as the Divas Championship. If AJ wins, Paige can continue her chase story and maybe turn full-fledged heel with a mental breakdown or something. I can’t see too much of a story playing out if Paige wins the strap back.
Prediction: AJ Lee
Bryan Rose: Oh look, AJ Lee in a confusing storyline. This is a fresh and new concept. They’ll probably have a better match than most others put in this slot, so at least that is something to look forward to. I hope Paige just gets it over with and beats her down so we don’t have to deal with this “frenemy” bullshit, but yeah WWE isn’t known for getting to the point (as Roman Reigns likes to point out every week before doing a 10 minute promo). AJ almost certainly retains here as she just won the title, and is the best person for the role anyway to be champion as she’s in a class above everyone else in this promotion at the moment.
Prediction: AJ Lee
Taylor Mitchell: These are two of the best female wrestlers the WWE has ever seen. I’ve been on record stating that Paige is THE BEST female wrestler the WWE has ever seen. For some reason the WWE has only given time to Divas matches on NXT specials and Main Event episodes. This NEEDS to be the first high profile Divas match that gets 15-20 minutes. These girls can pull it off and this could….you ready for this? STEAL THE SHOW. I have never been a huge fan of women’s wrestling, but I have that much confidence in these Divas and the fact they are on a weaker PPV card helps.
Prediction: AJ Lee
Rob McCarron: I might be doing something wrong here, as I have yet to predict a babyface victory. Due to this, I feel like there is no way I go 100%. I am, however, going to continue the heel heavy predictions because I think it makes sense for the story. Paige has this match to cement her heel turn, and to do that, she needs the title. I could easily see AJ retaining, however, with Paige going full heel after the match leading to another encounter at SummerSlam. You know what, I just convinced myself of that. Let’s go AJ. No, Paige. Ah, I’m going to get this one wrong.
Prediction: Paige
Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho
Rich Kraetsch: We know what we’re getting here, this is a match designed to put Bray over. The real question: will it be any good? Bray has been disappointing in-ring versus everyone but Daniel Bryan. This will be another test as Jericho is supremely talented but I’m not sure he’s talented enough anymore to get a good match out of Bray, we’ll see.
Prediction: Bray Wyatt
Bryan Rose: I’m not feeling this for some reason. Never have from the start. Jericho’s return gave me nothing more than a shrug. I’ve seen him return plenty of times. Bray Wyatt attacking him, another shrug. The promos are getting tiring and I think the act is starting to grow stale, at least in my eyes. I’m more than likely in the minority here. Regardless, this should be an alright match. Wyatt can have decent matches in the right situation and Jericho’s still good at this point. I’m guessing Wyatt wins to continue the feud.
Prediction: Bray Wyatt
Taylor Mitchell: I have always dug Chris Jericho. I am stoked that he is back. Jericho is a veteran that does things right. He has the mentality that he wants to leave the pro wrestling business better than it was when he entered it. He is putting over younger talents right and left. With all of that said, I have little to no interest in this match or this feud. Jericho is one of the few guys with the talent to pull a good match out of Bray Wyatt and that is the only thing I am looking forward to in this match.
Prediction: Bray Wyatt
Rob McCarron: At some point, Chris Jericho has to get a win over a mid-level guy bigger than the Miz to make these put-overs a bit more appealing. He’s still Chris Jericho, he’s a fan favorite, and he’s got the reputation. That will make for a nice win for Wyatt, who is coming off a less than stellar feud with John Cena.
Prediction: Bray Wyatt
WWE Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal
Rich Kraetsch: Who cares, seriously, they’ve done nothing to make these titles feel important and whoever wins will likely be buried six-feet deep and lose matches to bigger stars on a weekly basis. Just as I predicted with Bad News Barrett people will proclaim this is FINALLY the day they’ll take the IC Title serious again and they just won’t. Secondary titles are nothing but fodder.
Prediction: Sheamus
Bryan Rose: Good for WWE. Barrett gets injured, so now all the midcard guys can wrestle under the guise of building for the Intercontinental championship. Too bad the build pretty much buried both midcard titles in the process. Why do we need these titles if no one gets a rub from being either one of these champions? Barrett was starting to do jobs before he got injured, and the guy who wins this title is going to be doing jobs for the foreseeable future until he drops it, and then it’ll be a while before he gets any kind of push again. Cesaro has been doing a losing streak gimmick (THAT ALWAYS WORKS IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING) so I see him “winning”. Though really, I hope Sheamus does win it so we have one midcard geek title they don’t care about as opposed to two.
Prediction: Cesaro
Taylor Mitchell: The WWE and World titles were merged. I, of course, fell into the trap thinking that would mean the WWE would elevate their mid cards titles and make them high profile a la NJPW with their Intercontinental title. WRONG! We just continue to get teased and see hiccups of these titles being elevated one week and then going back to being props. Sheamus has been the best/most consistent in-ring talent in the WWE in 2014. I like the idea of Sheamus winning here and carrying both belts around.
Prediction: Sheamus
Rob McCarron: Call me crazy.
Prediction: Dolph Ziggler
Fatal Four Way WWE World Championship
Roman Reigns vs. John Cena vs. Kane vs. Randy Orton
Rich Kraetsch: C’mon, do you really need to read my prediction? This is Cena all the way, no question. What I’m interested in is how they treat Reigns, protect him and ultimately how his presence plays into the finish — if it does. He needs to be heavily protected here so as to not look like he “lost” which takes some focus off of him, which isn’t really the right move. I hate multi-man WWE main events and this one features two of my least favorite WWE performers (Kane & Randy Orton), a guy I don’t think is really good yet (Reigns) and Cena. Needless to say, this won’t be my favorite match on the card.
Prediction: John Cena
Bryan Rose: Not feeling this main event at all. Kane doesn’t need to be headlining shows in 2014. Cena, Orton we’ve seen done to death. Reigns is a interesting addition, but then again who knows if he’s ready for singles matches and the chances of him actually winning this are super slim. It’s all a backdrop really for the angle they’ll do either that night or on Raw the next day, so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. I think it will still be a solid match, but nothing special in the long run. Cena retains, faces Brock at SummerSlam, as mysterious commercials from the future have already told me.
Prediction: John Cena
Taylor Mitchell: This match was put together in a stupid way. Plain and simple. Everyone and their brother knows that Lesnar and Cena are wrestling at SummerSlam. This match is too predictable. The only positive coming out of this whole match is that Roman Reigns is going to be further elevated to the main event scene while still be protected in the match by not having to carry a one on one main event match.
Prediction: John Cena
Rob McCarron: Who to pick… who… to… pick. This may be one of the most easily predictable WWE PPV main events in quite some time, outside of WrestleMania 30. Although, even then, some people went in thinking Batista or Orton might win as they screw Bryan. Here, there’s only one option.
Prediction: John Cena
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