We are live from Washington DC and Rene Young welcomes us to the WWE Battleground pre-show, along with fellow analysts Corey Graves, Booker T, and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.
Up next: The Usos vs Tyler Breeze and Fandango
Fandango and Jimmy Uso start things off and Jimmy immediately is under control. Jimmy makes the tag for Jey who comes in for the two count. Jey hits Breeze with some chops but Tyler and Fandango regain control.
We get some back and forth action until the Usos ultimately win control, Jimmy gets the hot tag and hits Fandango with a Samoan Drop and splash in the corner. Jimmy gets a two count after Breeze breaks it up. Jey runs in for help but Fandango sends him down with a kick. Fandango takes Uso up for a superplex but it’s fought off. Breeze reverses and Electric Chair from the Usos and hits a cross body for a two count.
Everyone takes turns taking one another out of the ring that ends with Uso going for a splash off the top rope on Breeze who picks his knees up for the block and rolls up for the three count.
Result: Tyler Breeze and Fandango def. The Usos
We get a video package to open us up for the pay-per-view (PPV) with various WWE Superstars and tag teams holding their respective flags.
Up next: WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs Sasha Banks and mystery partner
Charlotte and Dana Brooke make their way to the ring, Sasha Banks follows. And now we await the mystery partner….. and it’s Bayley!!!
Charlotte and Brooke attack Bayley and Banks to open things up. Banks is hurt outside while Charlotte and Brooke work on Bayley in the ring, the referee separates the two and the bell rings for us to get underway. Charlotte starts off with Bayley and immediately takes her to the corner and works in some chops.
Bayley fights Charlotte off and hits her with a flying elbow from the corner, Banks gets the tag and comes in with the momentum to work on Charlotte. Charlotte gets the upper hand and throws Sasha face first into the second turnbuckle as she rolls out of the ring. We’re back in the ring now and Charlotte works on Banks in the corner and tags in Brooke to take over.
Brooke gets Banks down for a two count and proceeds to choke her out. Banks gets up but is having her foot held by Brooke. Sasha slaps Brooke off and gets Bayley for the tag who proceeds to clean house.
Charlotte interferes and Brooke begins to work on Bayley. Bayley knocks down Brooke and crawls to the corner for the hot tag on Banks. Brooke hits Charlotte for the tag and Sasha hits Charlotte with a cross body for a two count.
More back and forth until Charlotte hits Banks with Natural Selection but Bayley breaks up the count. Charlotte goes for the Figure Eight but it’s reversed into the Bank Statement. Brooke pulls Charlotte out but Bayley attacks them both and Charlotte is back in the ring.
Banks locks in the Bank Statement again and Charlotte is in a panick, and has no choice but to tap out.
Result: Sasha Banks and Bayley def. WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke
After the match Bayley and Sasha Banks celebrate and the ring, and after plenty of teasing eventually hug as we lead into a WWE Network advertisement.
We get a video package hyping The Wyatts vs The New Day, then The New Day make their way to the ring.
Up Next: WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day vs The Wyatts:
Woods hypes the fact that The New Day are now the longest reigning WWE Champions of all time. Kingston mentions that the WWE Draft split The Wyatts up like a Tyler Swift relationship. Woods claims that now that they are split up The Wyatts will be stronger than ever.
As The New Day chants ‘New Day Rocks’ inside the ring The Wyatts music hits and make their way to the ring.
Kofi and Bray Wyatt start things off in the ring while Xavier is stuck frozen and looking scared still in the ring. Strowman gets the tag and works on Kofi then tags Rowan in who gets some offense in of his own.
Bray gets the tag and continues to completely destroy Kofi and hits him with a Running Senton for the two count. Bray stares down Xavier who remains to look frightened and actually jumps down off the apron. Strowman gets the tag and works on Kofi in the corner, Rowan comes in for some work of his own and back comes Bray.
Kofi gets thrown to the corner but gets his legs up to send Bray down. Bray is tossed out of the ring but rolls back in immediately. Bray tags Rowan and Kofi tags Big E who comes in hot and cleans house.
Back and forth in the ring is going on as everyone is reeking havoc inside the ring and it ends with Kofi diving at Strowman from outside the ring.
Woods and Bray meet eye to eye in the center of the ring and Xavier begins to bow to Bray before Kofi breaks it up. Xavier regains himself after what seemed to be him hypnotized and pours on the offense to Bray. Woods takes out Rowan and Big E takes out Strowman. As he turns around Bray is stood upside down and stands up to hit Xavier with Sister Abigail for the three count.
Result: The Wyatts def. The New Day
After the match Lana comes out to announce in Rusev who makes his way to the ring now
Up Next: WWE United States Title match – (C) Rusev vs Zack Ryder
We start things off with Rusev taking Ryder down and putting the pressure on him. Rusev works Ryder to the corner and shoves him into the corner. Ryder then works in some elbows and staggers Rusev backwards and takes Rusev out of the ring. We’re back in the ring and Ryder continues to work some offense before Rusev regains control.
Rusev hammers away at Ryder from the top and finishes off his attack with a stomp. Ryder gets up but is sent back down with a spinning heel kick for a two count. Rusev gets down and grinds out Ryder on the mat who is screaming in agony. Ryder gets back to his feet and gets Rusev off with some elbows. Ryder now is in control and works Rusev into the corner.
Ryder goes for the Broski Boot but Rusev catches him and sends him back down. Ryder reverses a suplex into a neck breaker and gets a boot for a two count. Rusev rolls out of the ring and Ryder follows but only to be dropped onto the barricade ribs first.
Rusev charges at Ryder who moves out of the way and hits head first into the barricade. Ryder then hits a missle kick on Ruseb from the barricade. Ryder gets Ryder back into the ring and goes for an elbow off the top rope but Rusev gets his knees up. Rusev locks in the Accolade, Ryder almost breaks it, but Rusev locks it in even tighter for the submission win.
Result: Rusev def. Zack Ryder to retain United States Title
After the match Rusev attempts to attack Ryder but Mojo Rawley makes his way out to the ring and the two men stare each other down. Rusev retreats from the ring after Rawley screams in his face.
After the match we get a video package detailing the rivalry between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Up Next: Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn
Both men make their way out and Owens rolls out of the ring as soon as the bell rings. The two exchange outside the ring and Zayn tosses Owens into two different barricades outside.
Back inside the ring now Zayn continues to work on Owens and gets a one count. Owens regains control after knocking Zayn down off the turnbuckle. Owens chops away at Zayn and sends him to the mat for a two count. Owens drops Zayn on the ropes after a suplex attempt and and kicks Zayn’s back hard and gets a two count.
Owens grinds away at Zayn for quite some time on the mat but Zayn is starting to come back up. Owens hits the ropes but is sent down after a thunderous clothesline form Zayn. Mishonoku Driver lands for Zayn but it’s only good for a two count as Owens rolls out the ring. Zayn was about to hit the ropes to dive outside on Owens but Owens grabs his ankle and pulls him out.
Owens goes for a powerbomb outside but Zayn grabs the ropes and hits a botched move on Owens landing on his own shoulder on the canvas. his shoulder is visibly hurt.
Back inside the ring now the two men exchange offense on the turnbuckle and Sami sends Owens down. Owens gets up and hits Zayn with a hard superkick for a two count. Owens locks in a crossface and he’s trying to crawl to the ropes. Zayn manages to get his foot on the rope and Owens breaks the hold at four. Owens hits Zayn with a clothesline in the corner and does the same thing in the opposite corner.
Owens goes in for another one but Zayn reverses it. Owens rolls out of the ring and Zayn goes to the top rope only to be caught by Owens. Zayn gets out and hits a suplex on Owens on the apron and both men are out on the floor outside.
Sami rolls back inside the ring at five and Owens manages to get back in at nine. Both men are still down on the canvas absolutely spent. Zayn gets to his feet first and starts working on Owens. The two exchange strikes before Zayn gets the upper hand. Owens rolls out of the ring.
Sami goes for a spinning Tornado DDT but Owens catches him with a superkick. Owens hits the frog splash but Zayn kicks out at two. Zayn reverses a powerbomb into a DDT but both men continue to exchange reversals. Zayn finally gets Owens down for a two count and the crowd is going nuts!
Sami rushes Owens but gets caught in a powerbomb. Owens almost get the three count but Zayn barely gets his foot on the rope. Owens picks up Zayn and asks him why he won’t stay down. The men exchange slaps and Zayn gets the upper hand now. Zayn hits Owens with two Helluva kicks and gets the three count for the win in one of the best matches of the year.
Result: Sami Zayn def. Kevin Owens
Natalya’s music hits and we’r ready for our submission match.
Up Next: Submission Match – Natalya vs Becky Lynch
Lots of back and forth action to start off that results in Natalya getting the upper hand. Lynch pulls out a disarm attempt out of nowhere but Natalya escapes. Natalya starts to work on Becky’s leg and shows off for the crowd. Natalya goes for a leg submission but Becky pours on the offense for the escape.
More back and forth until Becky lands a missile drop kick from the top for a two count. Natalya locks in the sharpshooter and Becky has nowhere to go and is forced to tap.
Result: Natalya def. Becky Lynch.
Up Next: The Miz vs Darren Young for the Intercontinental Title
We start off with some back and forth and Young hits a swinging neck breaker for a two count. Young works on Miz in the corner and Young goes to the top rope looking for a high risk manouver. Maryse yells at Young giving Miz the opportunity to knock him down.
Miz rolls Young back into the ring for the two count. Miz grinds away at Young on the mat now. Young gets up and the men exchange in some back and forth. Young reverses Miz’s clothesline with one of his own and gets the slam for a two count. Young goes for a Crossface Chickenwing but Miz escapes. Backlund stops Miz from trying to leave the match and Young pulls Miz back onto the apron. Maryse slaps Backland and then hits the floor like Backlund hit her. An angry Miz comes outside and yells at Backland but is attacked by Young.
Young puts Miz in the Crossface Chickenwing outside the ring and the ref calls for the bell.
Result: The Miz def. Darren Young via DQ
After the match referees pull Young off Miz and Young leaves staring at his hands.
We get a video package detailing the feud between John Cena and The Club.
Up Next: John Cena and Enzo and Cass vs AJ Styles and The Club
Enzo and AJ Styles start things off, AJ gets a drop kick on Enzo and AJ follows it up by showing off to the crowd. Enzo tags in Big Cass and AJ tags in Anderson. Anderson starts to take it to Cass but eats a big shoulder after hitting the ropes. Anderson is taken to the corner but Gallows comes in. Cass tosses Enzo and Gallows and sends him out of the ring, then Enzo is launched at both Gallows and Anderson outside of the ring.
Back in the ring now Cass works on Anderson and tags in Enzo. Cass slams Enzo into the downed Anderson for the two count. Anderson regains control and works Enzo into the corner to tag in Gallows. Gallows hits a suplex on Enzo for a two count and follows it up with a big right hand. Gallows tags Styles in but Enzo begins to fight back. AJ drives Enzo back into his corner and tags in Anderson again who delivers a big boot to Enzo’s head for a two count.
Anderson has Enzo in a headlock but Enzo separates and attempts to run for his corner but instead is caught in a back breaker. Styles gets the tag again and works Enzo into the corner before tagging Anderson in again. Styles rushes at Enzo in the corner but is tossed outside of the ring. Enzo runs at Cena for the tag but Anderson comes in with a flying knee out of nowhere to stop him in his tracks.
Gallows gets the tag but Enzo regains conrol and gets Cena for the hot tag. Gallows tags Styles but Styles gets hit with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena goes for the AA but Styles lands on his feet and hits Cena with a flying kick to put him down. Enzo runs in for the DDT on Styles. All men engage in the ring and chaos has erupted. It finally comes down to Cena and AJ and Cena hits the AA. Cena gets the two count after Anderson pulls Cena out of the ring and crashes him into the announce table.
AJ is down in the ring and Cena makes it back to the ring at the nine count as everyone else is out cold on the outside of the ring. AJ gets a two count on Cena but Cass pulls Styles out of the ring. Gallows and Anderson hit Cass with a magic killer in the ring and in comes Enzo who is ready to take them both on. Andrson rushes Enzo but is sent into the post and rolls out the ring. It’s Enzo and Gallows one on one now.
Enzo ducks a clothesline but eats a big kick and rolls out the ring. Cena is back in the ring now and sends Gallows out of the ring. Styles is on the top rope but Cena meets him there to attempt a super AA. Cena hits the AA off the top for the three count and the win.
Result: John Cena, Enzo and Big Cass def. AJ Styles and The Club
Chris Jericho makes his way out for The Highlight Reel with Randy Orton
Up Next: The Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho and Randy Orton
Jericho starts off by telling the crowd to be quiet. Jericho calls this the biggest Highlight Reel in WWE history with Randy Orton’s return. Jericho announces Randy Orton and ‘The Viper’ makes his way to the ring.
Orton is ecstatic to be back in the WWE and jubilantly makes his way to the ring. Jericho says it sounds like DC loves Randy Orton. Orton says that for nine months he’s been enjoying his time with his wife and children, but he realized during those nine months something was missing. And it was this. It was the WWE Universe.
Orton says he is in such a good mood that he doesn’t even mind that he has to share the ring with Jericho. The crowd chants RKO. Jericho says Orton should be grateful that he is making his return on is show, and to be in the same ring with him. Jericho tells him your welcome. Orton says he’s in a good mood but don’t think he won’t hit him with a RKO outta nowhere. Jericho says he’ll hit Orton with a Code Breaker outta nowhere.
Jericho says while he’s been away there has been a lot of changes including the Draft and Dean Ambrose being champion. Jericho says he want to give Orton a present to help him with Brock Lesnar and make him a better performance. Something everyone wants, and that everyone needs. He said he’s gonna give him the gift of Jericho and tells him to drink it in. Orton references Jericho’s hair cut to be similar to Ellen Degeneres and chants of ‘Ellen’ begin.
Jericho says Brock Lesnar is one of the most dangerous superstars ever and tells the ‘Monkey’s to roll the tape. We get a highlight reel of Lesnar’s path of destruction. Jericho says Orton is scared of Brock Lesnar, and Jericho asks Orton why he would make such a decision.
Orton says he wanted to make an epic return against the biggest, baddest dude in the locker room. He asked how big of a return he’d make if he had come back from nine months and faced Fandango. Jericho says that at SummerSlam Lesnar is going to kick Orton’s ass and that he’s gonna take him to Suplex City.
Orton says he knows it takes 20 suplexes to get to Suplex City but it only takes one RKO to get to Viper-Ville, with no enhancement needed (taking a shot at Lesnar’s failed UFC drug tests). Jericho says he thinks Orton is going to pay for that comment.
Jericho says he knows somebody who is close to Brock and has a couple of messages he wants to deliver to him. He says Brock says he is a coward and that he is going to rip his arm off and eat it for breakfast. And Brock also said that Orton is a stupid idiot. Jericho says it’s Brock’s words not his. Jericho asks if Orton is going to give him and RKO out of nowhere.
Orton does just that and RKO’s Jericho and celebrates on the top rope to close the segment.
Up Next: Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship – Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins vs (C)Dean Ambrose
We get an epic promo detailing the rivalry between The Shield, followed by Mick Foley making his way ringside to watch the contest. Stephanie McMahon follows along with Shane, and Daniel Bryan who gets the biggest pop of them all (to nobody’s surprise).
Now our combatants begin to make their ways out with Seth Rollins coming out first. Roman Reigns comes out with a smile on his face showered by an arena full of ‘boo’s’. Reigns and Rollins stare one another down as Ambrose makes his way to the ring.
The bell rings and all three men stare one another down, Rollins offers his fist to both Ambrose and Reigns but he is chased out of the ring. Reigns works on Rollins outside of the ring and sends him back inside. Reigns then clotheslines Rollins out of the ring and is rolled up by Ambrose for a two count.
Rollins is back in but sent back out by Ambrose who is rolled up in return by Reigns for a two count. The two men exchange and Reigns gets the upper hand. Rollins comes back in and works Reigns into a corner Rollins dives at Reigns off the top rope but is caught. Ambrose drops them both with a leg drop and pins Reigns for a two count.
Rollins rolls out and Reigns and Ambrose exchange in the corner. Rollins makes his way back inside and takes control once again. Rollins gets a two count on Ambrose and proceeds to work on him in the corner. Rollins slaps Ambrose around a bit but gets rushed by Ambrose, Rollins reverses this and slams Ambrose into the turnbuckle. Reigns is back in and hits Rollins with a drive by.
The three men exchange a back and forth outside the ring that sees Rollins get the upper hand. Rollins sends both Reigns and Ambrose into the barricades. Rollins rushes at Reigns but is flipped into the time keepers area. While Reigns and Rollins exchange in the time keepers area Ambrose jumps on the both after running across two announce tables.
Ambrose takes Reigns into the ring and begins to work on him. Ambrose hits a bulldog followed up by a flying elbow from the top rope for a two count. As Ambrose rolls away Rollins hits Ambrose with a Frog Splash out of nowhere for a two count. Rollins goes for a Petigree on Reigns who flips it over. Reigns hits Rollins with a few right hands and works on him in the corner.
Ambrose comes in and eats a Superman punch, Rollins comes in and eats one of his own. Roman calls for a spear but it’s reversed by both men, the each exchange signature moves and all three are down. All three get back up and exchange, Rollins and Ambrose double team Reigns and the crowd goes nuts. Rollins and Ambrose go for a double powerbomb on Reings but Reigns fights out.
More exchange leads to Ambrose diving at Reigns outside followed by Rollins doing the same. Ambrose and Rollins tear apart the announce table and double powerbomb Reigns together. Rollins gets a steel chair and hits Ambrose with it from behind. Rollins tosses Ambrose in the ring and goes for the Pedigree. Rollins goes for a powerbomb instead but Ambrose reverses with a Hurricarana.
Ambrose goes to the top rope but Rollins rushes up and hits him with a superplex and follows it up with a Falcon Arrow for the two count. Rollins goes for the pedigree again but is reversed. Now Ambrose gets Rollins in the corner and goes for the superplex but Roman hits a powerbomb out of nowhere. Reigns hits Rollins with a kick as he comes down off the turnbuckle and hits a powerbomb on him for the two count.
Reigns hits Ambrose with a superman punch but eats a pedigree from Rollins for a razor close two count. Rollins goes for another pedigree on Reigns but powerbombs him into a turnbuckle instead but Roman follows it up with a superman punch. Reigns hits the spear on Rollins but out comes Ambrose to hit Reigns with Dirty Deeds for the three count.
Result: Dean Ambrose def. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns to retain the WWE Championship.
The WWE Championship will be on SmackDown ladies and gentleman. The entire SmackDown locker room comes out to congratulate Ambrose and John Cena raises Ambrose’s hand. We go off air with Ambrose being hoisted up on the Uso’s shoulders to celebrate.
