Originally published on Trevor Trove on July 19, 2017
For this week’s Wrestling Wednesday post, I decided to work up my Pay-Per-View predictions in advance. Maybe this will be the one where I finally defeat Cameron Abbott.
Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English
Based on his sudden reappearance on TV at the 4th of July Battle Royale, I think they’ll give Tye Dillinger the win here and maybe set him up for a push into the United States Title scene.
Tye Dillinger silences Aiden English.
Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis
Given that Mike Kanellis just had his first televised match on Thursday and won via some heel tactics and interference from Maria, I think we’ll get essentially a repeat of that on the Pay-Per-View to cement their whole “Power of Love” schtick.
Mike Kanellis, with the help of his wife, wins over Sami.
Breezango vs. Mystery Opponents
It’ll be interesting to see where the WWE goes with this angle. With Jason Jordon moving to Raw as Kurt Angle’s kid, the idea that this would be an American Alpha heel turn kind of falls away so maybe it’s against the Colons (but rumors are swirling that they’re trying to get out of WWE). I think I’m gonna actually guess that it’s Chad Gable working alone leading to a handicap match.
Whoever it is, I think the mystery opponent takes the win for a push of some kind (unless it’s The Ascension, I learned my lesson on that one). Breezango is so over with the Fashion Files stuff they could take the loss and be just fine.
Mystery opponent(s) win.
5-Way Elimination Match for Women’s Number One Contender
I imagine we’ll see a bit of face vs. heel alliances to start this match off. Logic would dictate Lana as the first elimination but I think her alliance with Tamina will actually keep her in contention for a little while. So let’s say Natalya eliminated first, then Charlotte, then Tamina, and Lana leading to a Becky Lynch victory.
Becky Lynch outlasts the pack.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
What I’m most curious about here would be the Money and the Bank stipulations. If Corbin can cash in on the winner of the Punjabi Prison match with a pinfalls count anywhere rule, I could see him losing against Nakamura here but cashing in and winning the Championship. But I’m pretty sure that’d be to muddy. And hell, half of the arena wouldn’t be able to see the cash-in through the stupid bamboo.
So, instead, I think Corbin just takes the win here to remind the champion that he’s a threat. Then Nakamura can set his sights on Styles for Summer Slam.
The Lone Wolf Baron Corbin wins.
A.J. Styles vs. Kevin Owens for the United States Title
As weird as it was to give the title to Styles as the Madison Square Garden house show, I feel like it would be even weirder to give it right back to Owens here. So I think this will serve to cement Styles as the champ leading into Summer Slam. Kevin Owens might make a run for the WWE Championship then as the Orton/Mahal feud probably has to rap up here.
A.J. Styles wins and retains the United States Championship.
The Usos vs. The New Day for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship
Similarly, I think The Usos drop the titles here at Battleground to the New Day and set up for a rematch with the bigger names going into Summer Slam as the champs. Usos might try for another cheap count out loss but I think the New Day stops it and win the belts clean.
The New Day win and are the new Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions.
John Cena vs. Rusev in a Flag Match
I can see this match going two ways. Rusev winning and getting all of the heat that comes from the stupid xenophobic angle of a foreigner beating the ‘Merican flag. Or Cena almost getting knocked out by Rusev’s submission hold but fighting back with the power of ‘Merica. Ultimately, I think I’m gonna go with Rusev taking the win. He needs it way more than Cena, who can just hop over to Raw and pick a new fight with somebody over there at Summer Slam.
Rusev wins for the mighty people of Bulgaria.
Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton in a Punjabi Prison Match for the WWE Championship
So my going theory had been, “well every victory Jinder has had has been assisted by the Singh Brothers so isolating them away from him with this stipulation would mean that Randy would win.” But then he finally picked up a clean win against Tye Dillinger without the Singh’s help. And it would feel really weird to troll India yet again by introducing this match and not having someone of Indian descent win it. But at the same time, a face win by Orton sets up a better opportunity for Corbin to cash in his Money in the Bank contract. Argh!
Screw it. Orton starts to climb the outer cage, the Singh Brothers climb to fight him back and block him. He beats them, maybe leading to one or both of them falling, but during all of this Jinder sneaks out and gets the win ahead of Orton.
Jinder wins and retains the WWE Championship.