To say the least, WWE Battleground divided opinions. Even before the show began, people were ranging from calling it a well-built card filled with matches that all had a solid storyline base, to one of the worst WWE pay-per view line-ups of the year. We were no closer to consensus by the time the night was over.
Partly because not all of the show happened as announced. Instead of having their highly-anticipated match, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose had three extended brawls (the last in the car park) broken up by WWE officials, leading to Seth being written out of his expected Money In The Bank briefcase cash-in attempt after an underwhelming WWE Championship match (which saw John Cena retain against Roman Reigns, Kane and Randy Orton). To boot, during the show a tweet from Paul Heyman revealed that Brock Lesnar wouldn't be appearing as people had similarly anticipated. This move makes sense on a booking level, they already have viewers' WWE Network subscriptions so a rating on Raw becomes more important once the show begins, but it did raise fans' ire. Not to mention the fact people were already upset by Lana referring to the Malaysian Airlines flight disaster during a pre-match promo.
I have to feel somewhat for WWE here (though not for the ill-advised promo): people regularly give them stick about being predictable at events like this, yet when the Seth Rollins cash-in and Brock Lesnar arrival doesn't happen as anticipated, people then chastise them for not following through with the predictable outcome. The show had some highpoints that seem to be getting forgotten in the aftermath: The Usos and The Wyatt Family opened the show with a surprise Match of the Year contender 2-out-of-3 Falls Match that saw The Usos retain their tag-team titles. After Lana's controversial promo, Rusev and Jack Swagger wrestled a fine match to a crowd eating their angle up (Rusev won by countout). And Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose entertained with their skits, who cares if there wasn't a bell rung or a three-count? WWE were also unlucky in that Chris Jericho and Bray Wyatt didn't click in the ring as expected (which happens). Nor did AJ and Paige as AJ retained her Divas Title. The Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal entertained, but its outcome (Miz threw Dolph Ziggler over the top after hiding at ringside for the match) upset many.
If nothing else, though, it was a night that got people talking. Here's the best of the night's action, according to Twitter:
We haven't forgotten you Bryan...
Tonight is the first time I haven’t been at a WWE ppv in a long time. It feels weird. Going to watch #WWEBattleground on the WWE Network.
— Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) July 20, 2014
Layla began a new and no doubt very successful gimmick dancing with Adam Rose...
Let Layla bounce to Rose's theme every night please. Thank you. #WWEBattleground #WWEPreShow #WWE
— WrestlingRumors.net (@WrestleRumors) July 20, 2014
Cameron shocked the (15 people in the) world (who gave a shit) when she beat Naomi on the kickoff show...
Cameron doesn't give a fuck about your accumulator! #WWEKickOff
— Don Marnell (@LandfillKennedy) July 20, 2014
Get ready to eat your words pal...
I was looking forward to this, but three falls is a lot of falls. #Battleground
— HEELWrestling (@HEELWrestling) July 21, 2014
The Usos/Wyatts quickly got amazing...
Is…is this match of the year??? #WWEBattleground
— Rick Nash (@AMTRick) July 21, 2014
And it all made sense why soon after...
I wonder if they're having Samoans wrestle Hillbillies in 2/3 Falls matches to prepare people for the old SNMEs on the Network.
— MaffewOfBotchamania (@Maffewgregg) July 21, 2014
There was a lot of this after Triple H 'cancelled' Rollins/Ambrose following their backstage brawl...
@TripleH Give me my money back.
— HEELWrestling (@HEELWrestling) July 21, 2014
The CM Punk chants started during AJ/Paige...
Guide to CM Punk chants - AJ's around: We're smarks AJ's not around: We're bored
— Jay Hunter (@OSWreview) July 21, 2014
It never really got going, sadly...
Well I knew Paige was going to counter when she used her free hand to move her hair from her face. Obviously she was in control. #DivasTitle
— Derek Sabato (@DerekSabato) July 21, 2014
Look we all have our weird little rituals alright...
It's fun thinking that Kane gets to an arena and immediately goes to the boiler room to sit in silence. COOL LIFE! #WWEBattleground - SOC
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) July 21, 2014
Lana tried to deflect attention from her flight MH17 reference by baiting the creeps out there...
Don’t make the easy “shove down your throats” joke guys, you’re better than that… #WWEBattleground
— Rick Nash (@AMTRick) July 21, 2014
Of course some still couldn't resist...
I'd jam my democracy down her throat. #WWEBattleground
— Christopher hynes (@BuckHynes) July 21, 2014
I hear he fights for my life...
I get that Swagger is a real American, but does he fight for the rights of every man?
— Alice Radley (@AliceRadley) July 21, 2014
Ireland's NXT star, Becky Lynch, loves a cheesy pun...
He wasn't exactly Russian to get to the rope there was he? #Battleground
— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) July 21, 2014
Rusev's attempt to reach the ropes during the anklelock generated a lot of discussion...
If Rusev had normal sized arms he would have made the ropes. He's got those Benoit arms though and it cost him big time!
— Jonathan Snowden (@mmaencyclopedia) July 21, 2014
The Dolphin 'spoiler' kid had another bad night...
Jack Swagger will defeat Rusev.
— Dolphins1925 (@DolphinsReddit) July 21, 2014
The only difference is that everyone would've loved it in 1998...
a forfeit, a countout, a battle royal, and a 2 out of 3 falls Tag Team Title match. 1988 has mounted a hostile takeover #wwebattleground
— Justin Henry (@JRHWriting) July 21, 2014
Dean Ambrose returned to attack Seth Rollins in the ring, only to have the fight broken up...
Dean Ambrose being carried out of the building by the mid-00's Velocity roster. #WWEBattleground
— WWE Creative Humor (@WWECreative_ish) July 21, 2014
Then Chris Jericho took on Bray Wyatt...
Is Bray Wyatt trying to save Chris Jericho from his midlife crisis.
— Dander Herrera (@GolazoDan) July 21, 2014
They didn't click either...
That ending just sorta happened. Huh.
— Alice Radley (@AliceRadley) July 21, 2014
Jericho debuted in WWE a whole 15 years ago guys, let that soak in for a second...
Jericho high-fives some kids who have no idea who the fuck he is because they're five.
— MaffewOfBotchamania (@Maffewgregg) July 21, 2014
It was time for the IC Title Battle Royal (the coldest Battle Royal known to man)...
Don't forget that The Miz got his start on The Real World as a guy who never met a black guy before. #WWEBattleground - Sean
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) July 21, 2014
Things got awkward when Dolph and Sheamus messed up a spot...
lol @ that contrived ass wackiness.
— Barry (@TheBarrylad) July 21, 2014
A lotta people were upset when Bo Dallas got eliminated (including me as I'd a bet on him at 7/2)...
THAT'S BO SHIT #WWEBattleground
— Jason Solomon (@solomonster) July 21, 2014
Cesaro then got eliminated by Heath Slater...
cesaro's push, 2014-2014
— Bryan Rose (@br26) July 21, 2014
Unlike Dolphin1925, someone was getting their predictions nailed on...
@WWECesaro I can't wait to see @HeathSlaterOMRB eliminate you.
— Bad News Barrett (@WadeBarrett) July 19, 2014
After doing the 'hiding around the ring and coming back in as a surprise' spot three times, The Miz's win was kinda telegraphed...
Didn't see that coming at all...???? Jesus Christ #WWEBattleground
— Paul McGrath (@WesterosBatman) July 21, 2014
On the bright side...
Subscribe to the Network...this way you only have to feel sad about $10, not $60 when The Miz wins the battle royal #WWEBattleground
— Justin LaBar (@JustinLaBar) July 21, 2014
Even Mick Foley's daughter was apathetic, EVEN MICK FOLEY'S DAUGHTER...
I literally jumped out of seat and started screaming when I thought Ziggler won!! But then Miz won and now I'm just sitting here in silence.
— Noelle Foley (@NoelleFoley) July 21, 2014
Maybe Cena wouldn't be a 15-time Champion if some of his opponents studied his previous matches...
People should stop trying to pin Cena with their finishers. If they watched tape they'd know a forearm shot knocks him out for 5 minutes.
— David Shoemaker (@AKATheMaskedMan) July 21, 2014
As the four-way main event proceeded to underwhelm, people were praying for Brock to save us...
Prayer circle for Lesnar showing up and murdering people.
— baby britain (@solongcharlotte) July 21, 2014
But this tweet put those hopes to bed...
In case you're wondering ... Heading to pick up #PlanC ... Just in case. @WWE #RAW pic.twitter.com/Sgpkz47ewv
— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) July 21, 2014
And this thought pretty much summed up everyone's feelings as the show went off the air...
Boo! @JohnCena is a heel. This PPV was the worst ever! I can't wait for Summerslam next month. #WWEBattleground
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) July 21, 2014
WWE Battleground Quick Results
Kickoff Show: ADAM ROSE defeated FANDANGO
Kickoff Show: CAMERON defeated NAOMI
2-out-of-3 Falls Match: WWE Tag-Team Champions, THE USOS defeated LUKE HARPER & ERIC ROWAN
Divas Champion, AJ LEE defeated PAIGE
RUSEV defeated JACK SWAGGER by countout
SETH ROLLINS defeated DEAN AMBROSE by forfeit
CHRIS JERICHO defeated BRAY WYATT
THE MIZ won the Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal
WWE World Champion, JOHN CENA defeated ROMAN REIGNS, KANE & RANDY ORTON
Rick Nash is a former professional wrestler, the co-host of Balls.ie's official WWE podcast, Low Blows, and the founder of WWE Parties Ireland. He is also a DJ and terrible sports gambler, so feel free to share some tips with him on Twitter.
