Battleground (2016)

Battleground (2016)
Promotional poster featuring John Cena
Theme song(s)	"This is a War" by The Phantoms[1] "Feel Invincible" by Skillet[1]
Information
Promotion	WWE
Date	July 24, 2016
Attendance	15,109
Venue	Verizon Center
City	Washington, D.C.
WWE Network event chronology
Money in the Bank (2016) Battleground (2016) NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II
Battleground chronology
Battleground (2015) Battleground (2016)

Battleground (also known as Battlefield in Germany) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event and WWE Network event produced by WWE. It took place on July 24, 2016 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.^[2] It was the fourth event under the Battleground chronology, and the final event before the newly reinstated WWE brand extension went into full effect.

Nine matches were contested at the event, with one match contested on the pre-show. In the main event, Dean Ambrose successfully retained the WWE Championship in a triple threat match against his former Shield teammates, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, thus keeping the championship at the SmackDown brand. The show is also notable for Randy Orton's first appearance after a nine-month injury and former NXT Women's Champion Bayley's main roster debut.^[3][4]

Background

At Money in the Bank, Dean Ambrose won the Money in the Bank ladder match and subsequently the WWE World Heavyweight Championship by cashing in his contract on Seth Rollins, who had just won the title from Roman Reigns.^[5] After a #1 Contender's match between Reigns and Rollins ended in a double countout the following night on Raw, Ambrose requested to defended the title against both Reigns and Rollins. Accordingly, Shane McMahon scheduled a triple threat match between all three men for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Battleground.^[6] On June 21, two days after Money in the Bank, Reigns was suspended for 30 days for violating the WWE's Wellness Program,^[7] which uses drug testing to detect substance abuse.^[8] Pro Wrestling Torch reported that WWE knew of the violation before Money in the Bank, leading to Reigns losing his world title at the event. With Reigns's suspension ending before Battleground,^[9] WWE continued to advertise Reigns as part of the Battleground main event.^[10] On the June 27 episode of Raw, both Rollins and Ambrose acknowledged Reigns's suspension on television. However, Stephanie McMahon opted not to remove Reigns from the Battleground match, and instead gave AJ Styles and John Cena the opportunity to qualify for the match by matches against Ambrose and Rollins. Styles and Cena lost, when they each interfered in each other's matches.^[11] On June 27, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was renamed as the WWE Championship.^[12] On July 18, a match for the WWE Championship between Ambrose and Rollins ended in both men pinning each other simultaneously. While Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon declared Rollins the new champion, the referee ruled the match a draw, with Ambrose retaining the title.^[13][14] The next day on SmackDown, Ambrose defeated Rollins in a rematch to retain the title. On the same show, Ambrose was drafted to SmackDown, while Rollins and Reigns were drafted to Raw.^[15]

In December 2014, at NXT Takeover: R Evolution, Sami Zayn won the NXT Championship from Neville. After the match, Zayn's friend Kevin Owens, first congratulated and then attacked Zayn.^[16] In February 2015, at NXT Takeover: Rival, Owens defeated Zayn to win the NXT Championship.^[17] Zayn moved to WWE's main roster at the Royal Rumble and eliminated Owens from the Royal Rumble match.^[18] At Payback, Owens defeated Zayn.^[19] At Money in the Bank, both men failed to win the Money in the Bank ladder match.^[5] Zayn defeated Owens on the June 20 episode of Raw,^[6] and challenged Owens to another match a week later during Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel, which Owens accepted.^[11]

At Money in the Bank, Natalya and Becky Lynch lost a tag team match. After the match, Natalya turned heel and attacked Becky.^[5] Natalya attacked Becky again the following night on Raw, and proclaimed to be solely looking out for herself.^[6] On the June 27 episode of Raw, Becky attacked Natalya, who was on commentary, before her match against Summer Rae.^[11] On the July 4 episode of Raw, a match between the two was scheduled for Battleground.^[20]

At Money in the Bank, AJ Styles defeated John Cena after The Club interfered, executing a Magic Killer on Cena.^[5] The following night on Raw, Styles and Luke Gallows attacked Cena during his match against Karl Anderson.^[6] On the June 27 episode of Raw, Cena and Styles cost each other a chance to be involved in the WWE Championship match at Battleground and then Gallows and Anderson delivered a Magic Killer to Cena on the ramp.^[11] On the July 4 episode of Raw, The Club again attacked Cena until Enzo Amore and Big Cass saved Cena. Later that night, a six-man tag team match was made between the two teams at Battleground.^[20]

On the July 11 episode of Raw, Darren Young won a battle royal to earn a title match against Intercontinental Champion The Miz at Battleground.^[21]

On the July 7 episode of SmackDown, Zack Ryder won a match against Sheamus and then challenged Rusev to a WWE United States Championship match.^[22] On the July 11 episode of Raw, Rusev attacked Ryder after his match against Sheamus and accepted Ryder's challenge for Battleground.^[21]

On the June 20 episode of Raw, The Wyatt Family made their return and was interrupted by WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day.^[6] The two teams addressed each other in their promos over the next few weeks. On the July 4 episode of Raw, The Wyatt Family invited The New Day to their family compound, which New Day accepted.^[20] On the July 11 episode of Raw, The New Day showed up at The Wyatt Family compound and the two teams brawled until New Day ran away.^[21] On July 12, a six-man tag team between the two teams was scheduled for Battleground.^[23]

After her return in early June, Sasha Banks reignited her feud with Charlotte, who had formed a tag team with Dana Brooke while Sasha was on hiatus. On the June 20 episode of Raw, Sasha rescued Paige from an attack from Brooke and Charlotte.^[6] On the June 27 episode of Raw, Sasha and Paige defeated Dana and Charlotte.^[11] Over the following weeks, Charlotte and Dana continued to provoke Sasha.^[20] Hoping to earn a title match with Charlotte, Sasha defeated Dana on the July 11 episode of Raw^[21] and again on the July 14 episode of Smackdown. Later that night, Charlotte and Dana were scheduled to wrestle Sasha and a mystery partner at Battleground.^[24]

After Randy Orton was revealed as Brock Lesnar's opponent for SummerSlam, he was announced as the guest of a special episode of Chris Jericho's The Highlight Reel at Battleground.^[21][25]

On July 22, a match pitting The Usos against Breezango was scheduled for the Battleground pre-show.^[26]

Event

Pre-show

During the pre-show, Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) squared off against The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso). The match ended when Jimmy attempted a Samoan Splash on Breeze but Breeze countered the move and pinned Jimmy with a small package for the win.^[27]

Preliminary matches

The event opened with WWE Women's Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke facing Sasha Banks and her mystery partner, which was revealed as Bayley. In the end, Sasha applied the Bank Statement on Charlotte but Dana placed her partner's foot on the rope, forcing Sasha to break the hold. Sasha re-applied the Banks Statement, to which Charlotte eventually submitted, giving the win to Sasha and Bayley.^[27]

Next, The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman) faced WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) in a six-man tag team match. In the climax of the match, Big E executed a Spear on Strowman, who was standing on the apron. Woods was shocked into retreating by Wyatt's signature spiderwalk. Wyatt then executed Sister Abigail on Woods for the win.^[27]

Randy Orton made his return to WWE after a nine-month injury.

After that, Rusev defended the United States Championship against Zack Ryder. The match ended when Ryder executed a Rough Ryder on Rusev but instead of going for a pinfall, Ryder attempted an Elbro drop. Rusev countered the move, executed a Jumping Sidekick to the back of Ryder's head and then applied the Accolade, to which Ryder eventually submitted. Rusev retained the title but continued to attack Ryder until Ryder's NXT tag team partner, Mojo Rawley, came out. Rusev avoided a confrontation and left the ring.^[27]

In the fourth match, Kevin Owens faced Sami Zayn. Notable moments in the match included Zayn executing a Blue Thunder Bomb on Owens for a near-fall, Zayn executing a Brainbuster on Owens on the ring apron, Owens executing a Bullfrog Splash on Zayn for a near-fall, Zayn executing two Half and Half Suplexes for a near-fall and Owens countering a Helluva Kick into a Pop-Up Powerbomb; Zayn placed his foot on the rope to void the pinfall. In the end, Owens implored Zayn to stay down but Zayn executed a combination of an Exploder Suplex into the Turnbuckles and a Half and Half Suplex, followed by two Helluva Kicks to secure the pinfall victory.^[27]

Next, Natalya faced Becky Lynch. The end came after Natalya kicked Becky's right kneecap and applied the Sharpshooter. Becky tried to crawl to the bottom rope but Natalya dragged her back to the middle of the ring. Becky then submitted, giving Natalya the victory.^[27]

After that, The Miz defended the Intercontinental Championship against Darren Young. The match ended when Maryse pretended to fall as if Bob Backlund had attacked her, causing Miz to shove Backlund. Young then applied the Crossface Chickenwing on Miz outside the ring. The referees separated the two contestants and ruled the match a double disqualification.^[27]

In the next match, John Cena teamed with Enzo Amore and Big Cass to face The Club (Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows and AJ Styles) in a six-man tag team match. In the end, Cena executed an Attitude Adjustment off the second rope on Styles followed by a pinfall victory.^[27]

Chris Jericho then hosted the Highlight Reel with Randy Orton, who made his first appearance following a nine-month injury. Jericho constantly berated Orton's behaviour ahead of his upcoming at SummerSlam against Brock Lesnar (including a video of Lesnar showing his feats of strength) to provoke Orton into attacking him, eventually resulting in Orton attacking him with an RKO.^[27]

Main event

In the main event, Dean Ambrose defended the WWE Championship against Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. During the match, Ambrose and Rollins teamed up to attack Reigns, performing a Double Powerbomb on Reigns through a broadcast table to temporarily take him out of the match. In the climax of the match, Rollins executed a Pedigree on Reigns for a near-fall. Rollins executed a Turnbuckle Powerbomb on Reigns, who delivered a Superman Punch and a Spear to Rollins. Ambrose pinned Reigns after Dirty Deeds to retain the championship. The entire Smackdown roster came out to celebrate with Ambrose as the event ended.^[27]

Aftermath

The next night on Raw, Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte to capture the WWE Women's Championship.

Dean Ambrose retaining the WWE Championship at the event left Raw without a world title. On the following night's episode of Raw, commissioner Stephanie McMahon and General manager Mick Foley announced a new world title for Raw, the WWE Universal Championship; the WWE Championship was then renamed to WWE World Championship. As Raw's number one draft pick, Seth Rollins was named a contender to the title and would face Finn Bálor, who became the second contender by defeating Roman Reigns, for the title at SummerSlam.^[28]

After Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated Charlotte and Dana Brooke at the event, Banks faced Charlotte for the WWE Women's Championship on the following night's episode of Raw and defeated Charlotte to win her first Women's Championship.^[28] On the July 26 episode of SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler defeated AJ Styles, John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin in a Six-Pack Challenge to earn a WWE World Championship match against Dean Ambrose at SummerSlam.^[29]

Results

See also

• List of WWE Network events
• List of WWE pay-per-view events

References

External links

• Battleground Official Website