Tonight, SmackDown Live hosts Battleground, its last brand-exclusive Pay-Per-View before SummerSlam. Highlights of the show include the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match between The New Day and The Usos, as well as a Punjabi Prison Match between Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton.
Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English
Both of these men have met on Kickoff Shows before and Tye Dillinger has picked up a handful of victories over Aiden English. While Dillinger has not been doing much else outside of his matches against English, the Drama King picked up a [disqualification] victory over Randy Orton, who is challenging for the WWE Championship later tonight. If Orton captures the gold, English could make his case for a title shot.
English loses control over his emotions, but he is able to get himself back in check to counter Dillinger’s punches in the corner. While Dillinger is staggering, English hits him with a very flashy Full Nelson Flatliner to pick up the win. Winner: Aiden English
Predicted Winner: Tye Dillinger (0/1)
The Usos (c) vs. The New Day – SmackDown Tag Team Championships
This is the second time in about a month that The New Day is challenging The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. At Money in the Bank, they clashed for the titles but the Usos purposely got themselves counted out to retain the titles, giving The New Day another shot. Building up to this match, the most notable moment was the Rap Battle that was full of personal jabs. For this match, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston will be representing the New Day.
Somehow, Kingston and Woods are able to kick out of everything the Usos throw at them. Combining Trouble in Paradise with a springboard elbow drop, The New Day become the first team ever to have become Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Winners, and NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The New Day
Predicted Winners: The Usos (0/2)
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
At Money in the Bank, Baron Corbin attacked Shinsuke Nakamura to keep him out of most of the ladder match. Corbin would then go on to win the match and the briefcase. After some brawls in the backstage area and around the ring, Corbin would defeat Nakamura in a tag team match, although neither man was involved in the finish.
While Nakamura is looking to hit an Exploder Suplex, Baron Corbin hits a backward kick and low blows the King of Strong Style. When Nakamura finally recovers, Corbin hits him with the briefcase and finishes him off with the End of Days Winner (via disqualification): Shinsuke Nakamura
Predicted Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (1/3)
Charlotte vs. Tamina vs. Becky Lynch vs. Lana vs. Natalya – #1 Contender’s Elimination Match (SmackDown Women’s Championship)
Over the last month, Naomi successfully defended her Smackdown Women’s Championship three times against Lana. After her final title defense, there were only a couple weeks until Battleground, so Shane McMahon decided to make an elimination match with the rest of the division to determine who will face Naomi at SummerSlam.
Tamina saves Lana from the Disarm-her, but she ends up tapping to the move herself. Lynch then immediately locks it in on Lana for another elimination. During all of the commotion, Natalya rolls up Lynch to leave the match to two women. Eliminated (in order): Tamina, Lana, & Becky Lynch
Natalya counters Charlotte’s moonsault attempt by putting up her knees and after slamming Charlotte’s head into the turnbuckle, she pins Charlotte for the win. Natalya is now guaranteed a SmackDown Women’s Championship match at SummerSlam. Winner, and NEW #1 Contender: Natalya
Predicted Winner: Becky Lynch (1/4)
AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens – United States Championship
In an Independence Day Battle Royal, AJ Styles became the #1 Contender for the United States Championship. Styles would then surprisingly capture the title in Madison Square Garden, meaning that he is walking into Battleground as the champion instead of the challenger.
Styles locks Owens into a crossface and Owens shifts the momentum into a pinfall. It seems like both men have control in the pin, but the victory is given to Owens, granting him his third United States Championship win since WrestleMania 33. Winner, and NEW United States Champion: Kevin Owens.
Predicted Winner: AJ Styles (1/5)
Rusev (Bulgaria) vs. John Cena (USA) – Flag Match
Both Rusev and John Cena returned to SmackDown Live on American Independence Day (July 4). Of course, Rusev insulted the US and Cena turned his patriotism up to 11 to defend the country he loves. This led to Cena challenging the Bulgarian Brute to a Flag Match, where the winner must take his respective country’s flag from the ring to the entrance stage and place it in the stand before his opponent.
Rusev attempts the Accolade on the stage, but Cena powers out and puts Rusev in a Fireman’s Carry. Cena then climbs up the American steps before throwing Rusev through two tables with an Attitude Adjustment. He then plants the American Flag to pick up the win. Winner: John Cena
Predicted Winner: John Cena (2/6)
Mike Kanellis (w/Maria Kanellis) vs. Sami Zayn
This is a rematch from SmackDown Live this past week. Mike and Maria Kanellis demanded several apologies from Sami Zayn after Zayn kept accidentally interrupting their displays of affection to each other. Kanellis would end up defeating Zayn last week, but only after Maria Kanellis got in the ring and interfered with the referee.
Maria tries to interfere again, but this doesn’t stop Zayn from hitting Mike Kanellis with the Exploder Suplex in the corner. Zayn then finishes him off with the Helluva Kick to beat the power of love. Winner: Sami Zayn
Predicted Winner: Mike Kanellis (2/7)
Jinder Mahal (c) vs. Randy Orton – WWE Championship (Punjabi Prison Match)
At Money in the Bank, Jinder Mahal retained the WWE Championship in his obligated rematch against Randy Orton. During that match, the Singh Brothers attempted to attack Orton’s father, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, at ringside. This prompted Orton to demand another match against Mahal, but “this time, it’s personal.”
In the Punjabi Prison match, there are two bamboo/steel cages around the ring. The only way to win is to escape both before the other Superstar.
Orton almost escapes the second cage when The Great Khali returns in a shock to everybody. Khali prevents Orton from escaping by choking him out until Mahal wins the match. Winner, and STILL WWE Champion: Jinder Mahal
Predicted Winner: Jinder Mahal (3/8)
