Battleground 2014 Preview
We’ve arrived at what was the worst show of 2013, but this year’s version looks to be far more interesting than last year’s mess. The card has actually been built up rather than just being thrown together as a filler show, meaning we continue to benefit from the Network. This has the potential to be a solid show and that’s always a good thing. Let’s get to it.
The pre-show is Cameron vs. Naomi and unfortunately I think Cameron wins because WWE thinks she’s a star because she’s on a reality show they produce. Hopefully Naomi wins because she has some talent.
Cena retains the title in the obvious match of the night. There’s never been anything that makes me think he doesn’t win and there’s nothing wrong with that. This is a token title defense and a way to get us to the big showdown with Lesnar at Summerslam. That brings us to the two major questions about this: does Rollins cash in and does Lesnar appear on Sunday? No.
Time for my pick that makes no sense and it’s likely to happen: Dallas wins the Intercontinental Title. This is more something I want to happen that has any possibility to happen. Battle royals are really hard to predict though so it’s pretty much random guessing. Either Dallas, Cesaro or Diego. You don’t want to sleep on him.
Bray over Jericho. There’s no reason for Jericho to win and I really don’t think there’s a logical argument for it.
The Wyatts take the Tag Team Titles. Again, there’s really no reason for them not to and the Usos have had a nice title reign already.
I’ll take Paige to get the Divas Title back from AJ to complete her heel turn and set up a submission match at Summerslam.
Ambrose vs. Rollins is likely going to a non-finish to set up another match at Summerslam, perhaps for the briefcase. This is going to be the best match of the night and there’s no reason for it not to tear the house down.
That brings us to the match where I have no idea what to expect. I know I’ve said for weeks that Rusev is going to snap Swagger in half and sprinkle over him his Russian pizza, but then real life intervened. In case you haven’t heard, a Malaysian Airlines flight was blown out of the sky, killing nearly 300 people a few days ago. There’s a chance that that the Russian military had something to do with it, and that’s REALLY not something you want to mess with. I can’t imagine Rusev getting pinned or submitting, but maybe losing by countout or DQ. There’s also a chance they have a non-finish to set up a rematch when real life has calmed down.
Overall, Battleground actually looks pretty awesome. The main event should be a fun fifteen minutes and Rollins vs. Ambrose should be a war. The battle royal actually has me intrigued and that’s not something I would have imagined coming in. It’s just a bridge heading up to Summerslam, but it’s a nicely constructed bridge that should be an entertaining show. I know this is short, but most of the matches range from obvious to really obvious. That doesn’t leave me much to talk about.
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Shame about Rollins/Ambrose…I think that knee tweak that Rollins suffered 2-3 weeks ago was a legit injury…unless they are moving it up the card
Whether it matters or not is irrelevant. It’s something WWE has to consider. Look what happened with Warrior. Nancy Grace did her garbage about how rumors of drug use were swirling. Were they? Of course not, but someone in the media said it and it became a talking point. If Rusev goes over tonight, some nutjob with a big audience is going to say WWE is disrespecting the victims of the crash. Whether WWE is or isn’t (and clearly they wouldn’t be) doesn’t matter. People would think that they are, and people who think they know everything (read as nearly everyone) are very dangerous.
Even if drugs weren’t in Warriors system at the time, to say years of drug and steroid abuse weren’t a factor is crazy.
Yeah they probably were, but rumors weren’t circulating other than from her. The way she made it sound was like he was found with needles in his arm. At the time all people knew was a heart attack.
Absolutely, but I wouldn’t really expect anything else from Nancy Grace. She’s batshit crazy.
She even said Owen Hart died from drugs.
As if you needed further proof she doesn’t do research.
There is still no reason for Rusev and Lana not to keep doing there stick. No apology was necessary either. It’s a show.
The network needing more subscribers has really pushed the creative team to another level in my opinion. Think about all the good angles that are going on right now in WWE. I think Battleground will be a real solid show. Cena will retain, then maybe Rollins teases a cash-in but Brock shows up. Bray goes over Y2J and Harper/Rowan win the Tag Titles.
I agree with Bo Dollas winning the IC title. It seems like a weird choice, but I think it could be the thing that really starts to get him some heat as opposed to just becoming a comedy character. Paige/AJ is a toss up but either way it will lead to a heel turn for Paige. I’ll take Ambrose over Rollins but there will be another match for sure.
I almost see Bo Dallas as a funny Honky Tonk Man, a character that EVERYONE wants to see lose the title as fast as possible. But he’s just so goofy, it’s hard not to laugh at some of the things he does.
Bo Dallas seems to be at his best when he’s interjecting himself into other people’s storylines.
True, but man he was hilarious in NXT by himself at times. I don’t know of any heel that gives out free cookies like he does.
Or do a hilarious spoof of Occupy Raw. Seriously, when he’s trying to be the over-the-top good guy that nobody likes, he’s hilarious.
That’s the problem with walking the tightrope with characters like Rusev, the same thing ruined the promising career of Mohammed Hassan.
I’d bet Brock does appear tonight if reports are true that Cena’s missing Raw tomorrow. Having Brock attack him after the match could write him off for a week.
I have to disagree about Jericho going over. I think this will continue beyond into Summerslam and maybe to NOC. I actually could see Swagger winning now given the situation in Russia with the crashed plane and all. Personally I have loved the Swagger/Zeb Face turn so far and thats one Match I am definitely looking forward to.
Overall for a B PPV I think Battleground is a nice bridge to Summerslam with every Match having some juice to it even the Main Event which while might be predictable should be a good Match anyway. I am going to predict Brock Lesnar may show up at the end to set up the Cena showdown next month.
“That brings us to the match where I have no idea what to expect. I know I’ve said for weeks that Rusev is going to snap Swagger in half and sprinkle over him his Russian pizza, but then real life intervened. In case you haven’t heard, a Malaysian Airlines flight was blown out of the sky, killing nearly 300 people a few days ago.”
This has what to do with wrestling?
“Cena retains the title in the obvious match of the night. There’s never been anything that makes me think he doesn’t win and there’s nothing wrong with that”
Makes it boring Also Reigns shouldn’t be in there.
Rusev’s character(as well as Lana’s) is DEEPLY tied into Russian pride, even going as far as praising Putin and flashing his image on the TItantron. If you can believe it or not(I’m sadly not surprised anymore) this got them a TON of political heat for reasons listed above, and having that incident might make things worse, especially if Rusev wins tomorrow night.
It shouldn’t it’s not a real situation. Rusev isn’t even Russian.
The truth doesn’t matter. Zeb Colter isn’t really a white supremacist/person obsessed with getting rid of all illegal foreigners. However, that’s how he’s portrayed on TV and that’s all people are going to focus on. It’s the way media works and it’s the kind of attention WWE would want to avoid.
So people are stupid and can’t tell the difference between real and not?
Nikolai Volkoff was from Yugoslavia
Ivan Koloff was Canadian
Nikita Koloff came form Minnesota
Didn’t stop them from playing Evil Russians from the USSR….
Wrestling has always played these characters against current events. Nikita Koloff was turned face around the time of Glasnot. WWE turned Volkoff face after it was revealed he was from Lithuania (not too soon after the Baltic states left the USSR).
Ok I don’t think your getting my point. I don’t care if the wwe gets people to play characters not of their nationality. I just don’t see how real life should have anything to do with the show. As it is not real life. Rusev beating Jack swagger. Would be just that. It would not be some bold statement of the wwe endorsing russia. Media outlets that can’t tell the difference need help.
No, I get your point. I just don’t agree with it, or think it has much merit. As I point out, WWE (and JCP in the case of Koloff) has done this type of thing before, play off real life events.
Oh, and Battleground looks REALLY good for what it was, like you said: A bridge to Summerslam. If the Network forces them to put more effort into the B shows, I’m all for it. I actually want to see Battleground badly, and Rollins vs. Ambrose is the one match I want to see out of all of them(because I really don’t know how it will end).
Can’t really disagree with this at all. I’m gonna add a few notes.
I’m seeing Lesnar arrive at the next Raw.
I always thought Swagger was going to win. He was built up well and his We The People gimmick was PERFECT against Rusev. But that incident is going to make things REALLY touchy. I’m going to predict something myself: If that situation with Russia gets worse, don’t be surprised if Rusev is written out, or he and Lana break keyfabe and say they weren’t really like their characters, and just portray themselves in the future.
WWE has already gotten heat for Rusev’s character(apparently, it led some political sites to think WWE was pro-Putin because they had a character like that) and it’s not gonna be pretty now.