Welcome to the Battleground Review for July 23, 2017. For all WWE pay-per-views, I will go go over every match, share the highlights and quotes, and look ahead to the next show.
Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English (English wins by pin fall)
This match shows why a lack of a good story can hurt a match. Tye Dillinger beat Aiden English a few two weeks ago, English was in the Fashion Files episode last week, so why are they fighting? The match was good, but it was hard to get invested in it. While cruiser weights are very welcome in the modern WWE, they need to have the stories to back up their moves.
Grade: 7 out of 10
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day (New day wins by pin fall to become Tag Team Champions)
WHAT.A. MATCH!! High flying, fast paced, with a ton of power moves splashed in was a recipe for a classic. Some people might have grown tired of this feud, but this was a fantastic match. The Usos’s might look for a rematch, or someone else can challenge the New Day. Probably one of the best matches ever to kick off a pay-per-view.
Highlights: The Uso’s powerbomb Kofi onto the floor
Woods does his best Randy Savage elbow drop…across the entire ring.
The Uso’s do a back breaker and leg drop on Woods
Quotes: “It’s too easy!” Jay Uso
Grade 10 out of 10
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin (Nakamura wins by disqualifcation)
If you want to know what strong style is, watch this match. Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura looked like they wanted to kill each other. No high-flying moves, just raw power. These two beat the living hell out of each other. Corbin played the heel who never could lose to a loser like Nakamura. Nakamura threw everything he had at Corbin. The ending suggests this feud is far from over.
Highlights: Corbin runs around the ring and nearly clotheslines Nakamura’s head off.
Corbin one hands Nakamura off the ground
Nakamura kicks Corbin so hard Corbin’s knees buckle
Quotes: “Look around dummies, I’m doing pretty good” Corbin
Grade 9 out of 10
Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Tamina vs. Lana (Five-Way Elimination Match to determine Naomi’s opponent at SummerSlam) (Natalya wins by pin fall to become the #1 Contender)
Matches with these many participants are always difficult. There are so many story lines that need to be fit in. Luckily, you had five great women to pull this off. The Tamina and Lana alliance continued with Tamina helping Lana every chance she got. Becky Lynch looked like a beast and the final two were Charlotte Flair and Natalya. Natalya won dirty, but she is Naomi’s challenger come Summerslam. Interesting fact: Naomi and Natalya have never faced each other one on one.
Highlights: Lana looks to pin everyone
Charlotte picks up Natalya from the floor into a power slam
Charlotte moonsaults right into Natalya’s upraised knees
Quotes: “It’s not for old folks.” Naomi talking about her dance with Bradshaw
Grade 9 out of 10
United States Champion AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens (Owens wins by pin fall, becomes new United States Champion)
The one thing that describes this match is counters. Lots and lots of counters. It was a technical match, with Kevin Owens looking to get an advantage he could. AJ Styles looked to put Owens away just like in Madison Square Garden. Owens just wanted it a little more. These two could lock up again and you would not hear any complaints from me.
Highlights: Headlocks.
Styles throws Owens from the top rope in a fireman’s neck breaker
Styles counters a cross face into an ankle crusher, then Owens counters it, and Styles counters it again.
Quotes: “That was three!” Owens
“I’m the real champ” Owens
Grade 9 out of 10
John Cena vs. Rusev (Flag Match) (Cena wins by placing the American Flag on the pedestal)
John Cena and Rusev did a very traditional match. The heel was over powering and the babyface kept trying to fight back. One of the most surprising things is how in shape Rusev is. The time off seemed to give him focus. Now we just need a good feud for him. As for Cena, he pulled out the stops. Some people can’t see past their hatred, but he always delivers in big matches.
Highlights: Cena bulldogs Rusev from the top rope
Cena tries a jump kick and jumps right into a power bomb
Both get their flags down and both immediately run into the other’s finisher.
Cena AA’s Rusev through two tables
Quotes: “You can’t see me!” Rusev
“E C W” Crowd
Grade 9 out of 10
Breezango prepare to close the case
The case was NOT closed, and I couldn’t be happier. It looks like the Fashion Files will continue. There was call backs to earlier episodes, a funny cameo by the Ascension, and the mysterious office trasher struck again. But the stakes are higher now that Tyler Breeze and Fandango have been attacked. Fandango was even taken. What will happen next??
Quotes: “I guess season finals are always over hyped” Breeze
Grade 10 out of 10
Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis (Zayn wins by pinfall)
What is it about two people in love that makes an audience see red? Mike and Maria Kanellis play the nauseating couple to perfection. Mike is a good wrestler, however, and this battle with Sami Zayn was hard hitting. Zayn needs to get back to this mean streak in more matches. This kid is a great wrestler.
Highlights: Maria blows a kiss to Mike, who catches it and punches Zayn with it
Zayn dives over the top rope onto Mike
Quotes: “I’m standing right here!” Maria
Grade 8 out of 10
WWE Champion Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton (Punjabi Prison Match) (Mahal wins by escaping)
The sign on the door might read WWE, but this was as close to an ECW match as we have seen in a long time. While previous Punjabi Prison Matches were mixed at best, Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal were the right ones to put into this match. The willingness to turn up the violence was a huge asset. Throw in some crazy spots by the Singh Brothers, the return of a BIG superstar, and you had a great main event.
Highlights: Orton punches one of the Singh brothers off the Punjabi Prison onto the announcer table
Both men wear each other out with Kendo sticks
Orton bends a chair over Mahal’s back
The Great Kali returns
Quotes: “Holy S%$#” Crowd
Grade 10 out of 10
Final Thoughts: A great pay per view from start to finish. The changing of any titles is a big moment and this show had two. This looks to be the end of Orton’s pursuit of Jinder Mahl, so where will the Viper strike next? AJ and Owens need a third match to play tiebreaker, and Natalya needs to get ready for Naomi. The biggest party of the summer lies ahead and I can’t wait to see what Smackdown has in store.
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