WWE Battleground 2016 Predictions

After an eventful week with the announcement of RAW & Smackdown’s General Managers, the first live episode of Smackdown and The Draft, WWE Battleground is just around the corner to fully usher in the ‘new era’ in WWE.

John Cena, Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady Vs. The Club — John Cena, Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady Win

Image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiktLBFxd0A

After Styles defeated Cena with the help of the Club, Cena needs some comeuppance. Whilst he won’t get his one-on-one win over Styles, he needs some sort of win over The Club and this is where he’ll get it. Enzo and Cass also need their first PPV win to establish them as contenders as they haven’t had such a victory yet, so this match is perfect. The match will end with Enzo and Cass performing a move to take out both Styles and either Anderson or Gallows. Then Cena will hit the AA on the other Club member who didn’t get taken out so that Cena can decisively beat Styles in their third match at Summerslam.

Becky Lynch Vs. Natalya — Becky Lynch Wins

Image: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Knox

Lynch is in a very similar situation to Enzo and Cass in that she hasn’t had a major PPV victory to prove that she is a legitimate contender. Sure, she’s won a few matches with partners but she’s never won a singles PPV match to this point. Natalya has just had three matches with Charlotte, all of which she contended in quite well, so she doesn’t need this victory. With that in mind, Becky will win by locking in the Disarmer after multiple submission attempts by both competitors.

The New Day Vs. The Wyatt Family — The New Day Retain

Images: http://www.rasslebox.com/cast-of-tag-team-characters/

Whilst I believe that the Wyatts need solid victories to start making them look threatening, they won’t win here. The Wyatts are simply not the team to defeat the New Day. Plus, The New Day are very close to becoming the longest reigning Tag Champions in history, so it makes little sense to have them lose their titles before they reach that goal. This match will be very interesting, especially considering Xavier’s actions over the last few weeks, but New Day will retain. Assuming Kofi and Big E will be on the same brand, the match will end with their signature move, the Midnight Hour, likely on one of Wyatt’s lackeys.

Darren Young (w/Bob Backlund) Vs. The Miz (w/Maryse) — Darren Young Wins

Image: http://acapa.virgula.uol.com.br/lifestyle/lista-eles-sao-esportistas-eles-sao-gatos eles-sao-abertamente-gays/1/16/27244

Alright, it’s time for my wacky prediction that probably won’t happen! Yes, I’m predicting that Darren Young, with crazy old Bob Backlund, will beat The Miz and win the Intercontinental Championship. I think if WWE want a surprising end to The Miz’s title reign, then Young is the best choice. He needs a title to hold onto to prove that Backlund’s coaching worked, and I feel you can now do more with Young and Backlund with a title than you can with Miz and Maryse. Can you imagine Backlund shouting madly about Young’s title reign because of him? It’d be amazing! Ahem, anyway, I think Young will get a shock win over Miz with a roll-up victory to steal the title.

Charlotte & Dana Brooke Vs. Sasha Banks & ??? — Sasha Banks & Bayley Win

Image: https://www.pinterest.com/terrencekazma20/nxt-bayley/

Obviously, Sasha’s partner will be Bayley. There is literally no one else who, with a sensible mindset, would go up against Charlotte. Bayley is the only person where her last match with Charlotte was not won by Charlotte. Seriously. Everyone else has either lost to Charlotte in their last match with her or has never fought Charlotte. So Bayley’ll be her partner and, to show that both Bayley and Sasha can contend with Charlotte, they’ll win. If they want to set up future feuds, then I’d have Bayley do the Bayley to Belly on Charlotte, then have Sasha do the Bank Statement to win. This would show that both are capable of beating Charlotte and could easily be referenced back to if they wanted to do a feud between Bayley and Sasha for the title later.

Zack Ryder Vs. Rusev (w/ Lana) — Rusev Retains

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Rusev

This is the one prediction of the night that I am sure of. Rusev will retain the United States Championship over Zack Ryder. Decisively. Zack Ryder won the Intercontinental Championship out of nowhere at Wrestlemania, sure, but that was due to Neville’s injury. This time, no plans have changed, plus, have you seen the monster run that Rusev has had? I’m fairly certain that, unless Vince McMahon has died and it’s been covered up, Rusev will have all of the offence in this match and will easily lock in the Accolade on Ryder to retain.

Sami Zayn Vs. Kevin Owens — Sami Zayn Wins (Via Disqualification)

Image: http://wrestlingrumors.net/sami-zayn-discusses-wwe-2k15-part-game-road/

One thing is for certain with this match, this is not the end of the Zayn/Owens feud. As a result of that, I very much doubt we’re getting a decisive end to this match. I know, I know, it’s not the most exciting finish, but WWE can’t feasibly have either man win. If Owens wins, then that puts Zayn in an awkward position as it’ll seem like he is unable to get the job done. If Zayn wins, then I don’t really know where they can go once they inevitably decided to pick up this feud again. I predict a Disqualification finish, where Owens attacks Zayn with a foreign object.

Roman Reigns Vs. Seth Rollins Vs. Dean Ambrose — Seth Rollins Wins

Image: https://www.pinterest.com/alexismcillwain/seth-rollins/

Finally, the main event, the much-anticipated Shield Triple Threat. Despite being such an exciting match, it seems almost painfully obvious who will come out the champion — Rollins. Ambrose cannot continue his frankly lacklustre reign all the way till SummerSlam and after his recent suspension. Reigns holding the title anytime soon would be very surprising. Rollins had a very disappointing championship reign last year, but to this day has never lost the title in a completely fair match. It seems only logical that Rollins would walk out the victor at Battleground, and as the new WWE Champion.