Show: Battleground
Location: July 24th, 2016
Date: Verizon Center in Washington, D.C
Airing Live On The WWE Network
Renee Young, Corey Graves, Booker T and Jerry Lawler welcomed us to the Battleground Pre-Show. There was a graphic for the main event shown and then a hype video package for John Cena, Big Cass, and Enzo Amore vs. The Club was shown. Zack Ryder cut a backstage promo about challenging Rusev for the US Title and how he plans to become a two-time US Champion. A video package to recap the feud between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn was shown. Cesaro joined the panel and talked about Owens and Zayn. Cesaro believes that Zayn and Owens will blow the roof of the arena. Cesaro thinks the fans are in for a real treat but is frustrated that he is not on the show. Cesaro believes that he is the best wrestler in WWE and said that just gives his opinion and said that he would give anything to be in the ring tonight and not on this panel.
Mick Foley and Daniel Bryan took fan questions in the back. When asked about what kind of changes they will bring to the new era. Bryan wants to get away from fans caring about management but rather the wrestlers. Foley agreed and said that he plans on doing the same thing.
Kickoff Show Match: The Usos vs. Tyler Breeze and Fandango.
Jimmy and Fandango started things off. Jimmy with a hip toss then tagged in Jey, who hit a big right hand for 2. Fandango backed Jey into the corner and Breeze was tagged in. Jey with a series of chops to Breeze but was thrown throat fist into the top rope. Fandango was tagged in and hit a springboard elbow for 2. Jey fought back and kicked Breeze in the face and got the hot tag to Jimmy, who hit a series of clotheslines and then a kick. Jimmy with a back splash into the corner for 2. Breeze cut him off with a super kick. Fandango with a super kick to Jimmy for 2. Fandango and Jimmy fight on the top rope. Jey picks up Fandango and Breeze pulls him down. Jimmy takes out Fandango and Breeze with a cross body. Breeze got the hot tag and put his knees up when Jimmy hit a splash off the top rope. Breeze rolled him up for the win.
Winners: Fandango and Breeze.
Welcome to the Battleground pay-per-view event. We kick things off with the following match.
Tag Team Match: Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley.
Brooke and Charlotte attack Bayley and Banks right out of the gate. Things settle down, and Charlotte and Bayley start things off. Charlotte put the boots to Bayley in the corner. Bayley tired to fight back, but Charlotte cut her off. Brooke got the tag and hit a series of shoulder blocks. Moments later, Banks got the hot tag and kneed Charlotte in the face. Banks with a double knee drop in the corner for 2. Bayley and Brooke brawl at ringside. Charlotte knocked down Banks and went for the Figure Eight Submission, but Banks reversed and locked in the Bank Statement, but Brooke dragged out Charlotte. Back in the ring, Banks hit the Bank Statement to Charlotte for the win.
Winners: Sasha Banks and Bayley.
The New Day cuts a promo about being drafted to RAW and being the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions. New Day said that the Wyatt Family were broken up because of the draft, but they are not scared because they rock.
Six-Man Tag Team Match: New Day vs. Wyatt Family.
Kingston and Wyatt start things off. Kingston with a drop kicks to Wyatt. Strowman was tagged in, and he hit a big boot to Kingston. Strowman with a body splash in the corner then tagged in Rowan who hit a big right hand. Wyatt was tagged in and hit a back splash then a headlock. Kingston fought out of it with a jawbreaker, but Wyatt cut him off with a clothesline. Kingston shoved Wyatt out of the ring and tagged in Big E, who hit a slam to Rowan and then a big splash. Rowan rolled up Big E for 2. Big E with a belly-to-belly suplex for 2. Strowman broke it up. Wyatt with a cheap shot to Big E and Rowan with a splash but Kingston broke it up. Strowman missed a big boot and went to the floor. Kingston with an outside dive to Strowman. Kingston was tagged in, and Rowan sent Big into the corner. Wyatt was the legal man and went for his finisher on Kingston, but Woods blocked and had a staredown with Wyatt. Woods just stood there then attacked Wyatt. Woods with a drop kick to Wyatt then a forearm shot. Wyatt sent him to the apron, but Woods kicked him in the face. Woods with a springboard splash. Woods with a kick to Rowan and Big E speared Strowman out of the ring. Wyatt did his creepy walk and hit Sister Abigail for the win.
Winners: The Wyatts.
United States Title Match: Rusev © vs. Zack Ryder.
They lock up and Ryder missed a drop kick, and Rusev kicked him in the head. Rusev with a spinning kick to the face for 2. Ryder fought back with a series of strikes and then hit the Broski Boot for 2. Rusev rolled to the floor and sent Ryder into the corner. Rusev missed a tackle and Ryder hit a drop kick to Rusev for 2. Ryder hit the Rough Ryder and went to the top rope and went for an elbow drop but Rusev put up his knees. Rusev with a kick and the Accolade for the win.
Winner: Rusev ©
Post-match, Rusev attacked Ryder until Mojo Rawley ran down to the ring and yelled at Rusev. Rusev just left the ring and walked to the back.
Seth Rollins, Mick Foley, and Stephanie McMahon were shown talking backstage. Rollins said that he would reclaim the WWE Title tonight.
Singles Match: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn went for a kick, but Owens rolled out of the ring and sent Zayn into the barricade. Zayn then sent Owens into the barricade. Zayn followed up with a clothesline. Back in the ring, Zayn went to the top rope, but Owens knocked him down. Owens with a cannonball in the corner for 2. Owens locked in a headlock, but Zayn fought out and hit a clothesline. Zayn with a sit-down slam for 2. Zayn sent Owens to the floor and went for a spring board move, but Zayn botched it and landed hard on the apron. Owens sent Zayn into the ring post. Back in the ring, Zayn hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for 2. Zayn and Owens exchange right hands then Zayn hit a slam in the corner. Zayn went for a big boot, but Owens rolled out of the ring. Zayn went to the top rope, but Owens picked him up. Zayn reversed and hit a suplex on the apron. Zayn went for a DDT, but Owens blocked with a big boot. Back in the ring, Owens hit a big splash for 2. Zayn countered the powerbomb with a german suplex for 2. Owens fired back with a powerbomb for 2. The fans were going nuts for this match. Owens slapped him and told him to stay down. Zayn fired up and started hitting suplexes. Zayn with a big boot and then another one for good measure.
Winner: Zayn.
Submission Match: Natalya vs. Becky Lynch.
They lock up, and Lynch hit a series of slams to begin the match. Natalya targeted Lynch’s left knee and sent her into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Lynch went for the Disarmer, but Natalya tripped her and went back to attacking the left knee. Lynch fought back and went for the Disarmer, but Natalya rolled her up for 2. Natalya went for the Sharpshooter, but Lynch got to the bottom rope. Natalya locked in the Sharpshooter again and won the match.
Winner: Natalya.
Shane McMahon, Daniel Bryan and Dean Ambrose were talking backstage. Bryan told Ambrose that the whole SmackDown brand is counting on him. Shane said that Reigns and Rollins has a lot to offer but Ambrose has heart, and that’s why he is walking out as WWE Champion.
Intercontinental Title Match: The Miz © vs. Darren Young.
Young took him down and went for quick pin attempts. Miz with a series of shoulder blocks and then Backlund had a word with Young. Miz sent him to the floor and into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Miz went for a backslide, but Young fought out of it and rolled up Miz for 2. Miz with a big boot. Young fought back, and Miz tried to leave, but Backlund stood in his way. Young hit a hip toss to Miz. Maryse slapped Backlund and Backlund got mad. Maryse fell down and said that Backlund attacked her. Miz pushed Backlund down. Young locked in the Crossface Chicken Wing and the match was called.
Winner by DQ: The Miz.
Enzo Amore cut a promo before the match about The Club. He mocked them about making bad decisions and gave them some bad advice. Amore promised to beat the crap out of them. Cena raised Amore’s arm in appraisement. Big Cass mocked Styles for his soccer mom haircut
Six-Man Tag Team Match: John Cena, Big Cass, and Enzo Amore vs. The Club (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows)
Amore and Big Cass brawled with Anderson and Gallows early. Cass sent Amore outside the ring taking out Anderson and Gallows. Cass then sent Styles outside the ring taking them out. Back in the ring, Anderson knocked Amore down and put the boots to him. Anderson locked in a headlock and Amore fought out with a jaw breaker. Anderson cut him off with a back breaker. Gallows was tagged in and missed a splash. Cena got the hot tag and hit a series of slams to Styles. Cena hit the five knuckle shuffle and went for the AA, but Styles blocked and hit a kick. Things broke down in the ring. Anderson took out Amore; Cass took Anderson and Gallows took out Cass. Cena picked up Amore and sent him into Gallows. Styles accidentally hit Gallows with a springboard forearm. Cena with an AA to Styles. Anderson pulled Cena out and hit a spine buster Amore took out Anderson with an outside dive. Back in the ring, Styles hit the Styles Clash to Cena for 2. Cass hit Styles with a big boot Gallows, and Anderson hit their tag team finisher on Cass. Gallows missed a splash in the corner. Cena clotheslines Gallows out of the ring and hit an AA off the middle rope to Styles for the win.
Winners: John Cena, Big Cass, and Enzo Amore.
Chris Jericho walked down to the ring and told everyone to be quiet. He then brought out Randy Orton for the Highlight Reel to talk about his match with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Orton said that he has missed the WWE and was not happy that he had to share the ring with Jericho in his big return. Jericho mocked the fans and Orton threaten to drop his ass. Jericho told Orton he better be careful, or he would hit a Codebreaker out of nowhere. Jericho caught him up on things in WWE since Orton has been out for nine months. Jericho praised Stephanie McMahon. Jericho told Orton to drink in the gift of Jericho. Orton got close and mocked Jericho for his hair. Orton though he was on the Ellen Degeneres show because of Jericho’s haircut. A video package for Lesnar was shown. Jericho thought that Orton was scared of Lesnar. Orton said he had to face a big name and not face a guy like Fandango off his big WWE return. Jericho said that he knows someone close to Lesnar and has a message for Orton. Jericho said that Lesnar told him that Orton is a coward for not facing him for all of these years and that Orton is a stupid idiot. Jericho mocked Orton and told him to stay out of his business. Orton acted like he was going to hit an RKO and then did it. Orton walked to the back.
Triple Threat WWE Title Match: Dean Ambrose © vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns.
Reigns shoulder blocked Rollins out of the ring and chased after him. Ambrose clotheslines Rollins out of the ring, and Reigns sent Rollins into the ring. Reigns then clotheslines him out of the ring, and Ambrose rolled up Reigns for 2. Reigns with a shoulder block to Ambrose and Ambrose cut him off with a forearm shot. Ambrose clotheslines Rollins to the floor and Reigns rolled up Ambrose for 2. They exchange right hands and Reigns tackled him then Rollins attacked Reigns from behind. Rollins with a big boot but Reigns caught him and Ambrose drop kicked Reigns for 2. Rollins with a back breaker to Ambrose and then sent Reigns to the floor. Rollins with some right hands to Ambrose. Rollins landed some strikes to Ambrose in the corner and then a splash. Reigns hit Rollins with a big boot. Reigns and Rollins brawl around ringside and then Ambrose took out Reigns with a dive. Rollins hit a flying knee to Ambrose and then sent him into the ring steps. Rollins sent Reigns into the barricade, but Reigns fought back with a back body drop over the barricade. Ambrose took them both out with a dive off the announce table. Back in the ring, Ambrose hit a drop kick to Reigns and a forearm shot followed by a running bulldog. Ambrose hit an elbow drop off the top rope for 2. Rollins hit a frog splash to Ambrose for 2. Rollins went for the Pedigree to Reigns, but Reigns blocked it and hit a big right hand. Reigns with some clotheslines to Rollins and then Ambrose. Reigns with a slam to Rollins and a Superman Punch to both Ambrose and Rollins. Ambrose and Rollins with a knee to Reigns. Reigns took out Rollins and Ambrose took out Reigns. Rollins and Ambrose teamed up on Reigns and beat him down. Reigns were sent to the floor by Ambrose and Ambrose took out Reigns with a dive. Rollins took out Reigns with a dive. Rollins and Ambrose hit a double powerbomb to Reigns through an announce table. Rollins hit Ambrose in the back with a chair. Rollins proceeded to Reigns in the back with a chair. Back in the ring, Rollins went for a powerbomb on Ambrose, but Ambrose blocked and sent Rollins into the corner. Ambrose went to the top rope, but Rollins met him there and hit a super plex followed by another suplex for 2. Rollins went for a Pedigree, but it was blocked by Ambrose. Rollins went to the top rope and Ambrose followed. Reigns hit a powerbomb to Ambrose. Reigns kicked Rollins and hit a powerbomb to him as well for 2. Reigns went for a powerbomb on Ambrose, but Ambrose got out and rolled him up for 2. Reigns with a Superman Punch to Ambrose. Rollins hit a Pedigree to Reigns for 2. Rollins went for the Pedigree but Reigns blocked but Rollins power through it and hit a powerbomb. Reigns no sold it and hit the Superman Punch and a spear to Rollins. Ambrose hit Dirty Deeds to Reigns for the win.
Winner: Ambrose.
Ambrose, Shane McMahon, and Daniel Bryan celebrated at ringside. The SmackDown roster walked out to ringside to celebrate with Ambrose to close the show.
