FINAL CARD & PREDICTIONS: WWE Battleground

July 23, 2017

FINAL CARD & PREDICTIONS: WWE Battleground

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FINAL CARD & PREDICTIONS:

7/23/2017
WWE Battleground
Philadelphia, PA

#1 Contender 5-Way Elimination Match
Charlotte vs Tamina vs Lana vs Becky Lynch vs Natalya
SmackDown seems to be a bit at a loss over its female roster. In lieu of individual feuds, SmackDown's women roster is caught up in a perpetual smorgasbord featuring the entirety of its female talent time and time again. From Money in the Bank ladder matches to Fatal 5-Ways, SmackDown must find a way to feature more than one female feud on its female heavy roster. Creative should get the job done with this match. The teased Lana/Tamina relationship will become unveiled here. Tamina will help Lana eliminate Natalya, who will dominate over Lana; but, get sneak attacked by Tamina. Then Lana will distract Tamina (we're not saying how, use your imagination) causing Tamina to be eliminated by a combination of Charlotte and Becky. Lana will then be taken out by the same combination, leaving the end of the match as it should be. Outside of SmackDown Women's Champion Naomi, Charlotte and Becky Lynch are SmackDown's top female talents and very much capable of performing a 5-star match. The two will stand toe to toe exchanging blow for blow for quite some time, to the chagrin of wrestling fans the world over. Their technical prowess will be displayed as the spotlight focuses on these two incredible talents. Charlotte, despite being pinned by Becky on the last episode of SmackDown LIVE has the clear edge especially given her historical dominance over Lynch. Look for a classic back and forth; however, expect Charlotte to get the win and head into SummerSlam against WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Naomi.
Winner and NEW #1 Contender: Charlotte

United States Champion A.J. Styles vs Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens is still the longest reigning Universal Champion in history and that has to count for something, right? Since making his main roster debut two years ago, Owens has captured nearly every singles championship in the WWE. He is certainly a force to be reckoned (and what he can't accomplish within the confines of the rules, he has no problem bending the rulebook to his advantage) with and would love to regain his United States Championship simply as a garnishing for his Face of America gimmick. There is only one huge obstacle in his way: A.J. Styles. Styles is arguably the greatest in-ring talent in the world and won't lose here, despite Owens' advantages of size and lack of scruples. Look for a great match between these two that demonstrates each of their technical prowess. They are both superior technical wrestlers; however, look for Styles to win via submission, as the WWE would like to eventually move toward a Shinsuke Nakamura vs A.J. Styles program. Plus (and spoiler alert) Vince McMahon isn't keen on having two foreign born anti-American champions.
Winner and still United States Champion: A.J. Styles via submission

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Baron Corbin
Shinsuke Nakamura's arrow is pointing up and for the time being, Corbin's is pointing down. The WWE would like you to forget about Corbin for just a little while, to lull you to sleep before what will be a huge Money in the Bank cash-in (we're hearing rumblings of a SummerSlam cash-in). Regardless, Nakamura is an unstoppable force in the WWE and will get a clear and clean pin-fall victory over Corbin that he can eventually use as collateral to get a WWE Championship opportunity against the big man.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs The New Day
These two teams have been electric every time they've been in the ring together. Whether it was the epic Money in the Bank match (even with its anticlimactic finish thanks to the Usos) or the controversial rap battle, these five have never failed to disappoint. The New Day, the longest reigning tag team champions in WWE history, seem to have the advantage with their numbers (3 vs 2); however, the Usos are savvy veterans and equalize or even surpass New Day's numerical advantage with their championship advantage, something they have utilized in the past and won't hesitate to use here. At Money in the Bank, the New Day looked to be near victory when the Usos simply left, taking the count-out loss; but, retaining their titles. Look for a similar occurrence here; but, not another count-out, as that would be redundant even for WWE Creative. Just when New Day looks to re-gain gold, look for the Usos to take out all three with chairs, tables, and whatever else they could get their hands on, setting up a huge vendetta match at SummerSlam between these five future Hall of Famers.
Winners: New Day via disqualification

Punjabi Prison Match
WWE Champion Jinder Mahal vs Randy Orton
The WWE has invested so much in Mahal: from trusting him as their new champion to making him the Company's top heel. Their hopes were to appear inviting to a largely untapped Indian market worth potentially billions of dollars (say it like Dr. Evil). Don't look for the WWE to cut their losses on their investment just yet. Still, in terms of WWE's largest market: the American market, attendance has been waning in the wake of Mahal's victory and that hasn't gone unnoticed by WWE corporate. Mahal's biggest obstacle thus far is that he hasn't yet been able to beat Orton cleanly, without the aid of his cronies, the Singh Brothers. This leaves a huge asterisk over a potentially historical championship reign. This is a Punjabi Prison Match, named after Mahal's own home-land and Orton is correct: the expectations and the pressure are on Mahal. Although it may be a struggle for anyone in the audience or watching television to visibly see, look for Mahal to assert his dominance and dominate Orton like no one else ever has before. Mahal will solidify his championship run and gain a clean victory over the Vyper.
Winner and STILL WWE Champion: Jinder Mahal

Flag Match
John Cena vs Rusev
John Cena is America's favorite son and a clear Vegas favorite to win this match against the returning Bulgarian Brute, Rusev. While Cena has had a Hall of Fame career, if he has any weakness it is routinely underestimating the capability of evil around him. Rusev, a career heel, is no choir boy. He will do anything to win and unlike Cena doesn't care how American fans view him in the aftermath of this bout. There is also one person that John Cena hasn't considered, someone who doesn't particularly enjoy Cena's brand of patriotism: WWE Champion Jinder Mahal. Mahal, who happens to be Rusev's former tag team partner, will play a huge role in this match, setting up a feud between Cena and Mahal that will culminate at SummerSlam. Fans won't like it; but, in a match where there are no disqualifications, Mahal will interfere, ruthlessly attacking Cena and in the process degrading everything America and the American flag stands for. This sets up one of Vince McMahon's favorite storylines: America vs PICK YOUR WORLD ENEMY at SummerSlam. Regardless, Rusev goes over in the City of Brotherly Love.
Winner: Rusev