WWE Battleground PPV Results: 7-23-17
Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Keller's ongoing report).
Pre-Show
(A) TYE DILLINGER vs. AIDEN ENGLISH
Tye got in some early offense, to which the crowd chanted 10, 10, 10 as he stomped away at him in the corner. When the ref tried to back Tye off from going after Aiden when Aiden was on the ring apron on the other side of the ropes, Aiden head butted Tye to take over offense. He got boos for his heelish mannerisms between holds. They cut to a break.
Aiden was in the midst of a cover as they returned to live coverage. Aiden stomped away at him, then settled into a chinlock. He sang opera style while holding Tye on the mat. When Aiden leaped off the top rope, Tye dropkicked him out of mid-air. Tye went for a superplex a couple minutes later, but Tye head-butted Tye off of him. Tye landed a cross-body on Tye, but Tye rolled through for a near fall. Tye went for the Tye-breaker, but Aiden grabbed the top rope and then snapped Tye backwards over the top rope. He then face-planted Tye for a near fall. Aiden threw a tantrum. Aiden went for Tye's finisher, but Tye fought back and went for a roll-up, but Aiden reversed it, then Tye reversed it. When Aiden charged Tye, Tye moved and then mounted Tye in the corner and threw punches. As the crowd chanted 10! Aiden slipped free and dropped Tye face-first over the top turnbuckle. Then he gave Tye his finisher and scored the clean win.
WINNER: Aiden English.
Perfectly fine opener to warm up the crowd. They kept it in the ring and told a nice story with basic moves, which picked up at the end. They had the crowd appropriately engaged throughout. The win for Aiden establishes that Tye isn't in for a big push anytime soon, and this match was used to give Aiden a little credibility for the wrestlers who beat him on TV in coming weeks.
Pay Per View Show
(1) THE USOS vs. THE NEW DAY WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions
As New Day came out wearing red, white, and blue, Phillips said éhe WWE Universe is watching all over the world. They threw to various announce teams calling the show in other languages. The Usos made their ring entrance. They replayed some of the battle rap between the New Day and the Usos. Kofi surprised Jey with a dropkick to the side of his head at the sound of the bell. He quickly tagged in Xavier who gave Jey a clothesline and then a second rope elbowdrop for a two count. JBL noted the strategy of New Day leaving Big E outside and going with the smaller, faster line-up. Jimmy held onto Xavier as he bounced into the ropes, giving Jey a chance to get in some shots. Jimmy also took illegal shots as the ref had his back turned to keep Kofi from making the save and get him back to his corner.
The Usos dominated for the next several minutes. Xavier head-butted Jey off the top rope, apparently he move de jour tonight. Both were slow to get up, but both made hot-tags. Kofi entered and went after Jimmy with a series of dropkicks. Kofi rallied, played to the crowd, and hit a boom drop. He clapped and the crowd chanted for them. Kofi ducked a charging Jimmy, who flew over the top rope to the floor. He then dove off the top rope onto both Uses, but the Usos caught him in mid-air and gave him a running powerbomb at ringside. Xavier leaped off the ringside steps, but they caught him mid-air with an uppercut.
Back in the ring, Xavier avoided a Jimmy splash, then face-planted Xavier for a near fall. JBL said New Day took a risk going with the smaller team, but it might pay off. Jimmy caught Xavier on his shoulders, rammed his head into the top turnbuckle, and then the Usos double-teamed him into a Samoan Drop for a believable near fall by Jey. Kofi was still selling the double powerbomb at ringside, which was nice. Xavier caught a charging Jey with an elbow. He charged, but got backflipped over the top rope onto the ring apron. Xavier kicked the Usos as they attacked. He climbed to the top rope and went for a splash, but Jey rolled to the floor. Jimmy was actually the legal man, and he kicked Xavier out of mid-air and scored a believable near fall.
Jimmy applied a half Boston crab mid-ring. Xavier crawled over and grabbed the bottom rope. Jimmy held on for four out of the five counts he had. As Jimmy complained to the ref, Xavier had time to recover enough to surprised Jimmy with a shot to the gut and then a tag to Kofi. He set up Jimmy for a Midnight Hour, and Kofi landed the double stomp off the top rope and scored another believable near fall. That was the first we had seen Kofi since he was double powerbombed at ringside several minutes earlier.
Kofi and Jimmy were both slow to get up. When Jimmy did get up, he went for a springboard move, but Jimmy ducked and superkicked Kofi. He promptly tagged in Jey who landed a top rope splash for a believable near fall. Jey threw a fit of frustration. Kofi was down on the mat as Jey tried to regain his bearings. The crowd chanted This is awesome! The announcers agreed. The Usos went for a double-top rope move from opposite corners. Xavier shoved Jey off the top rope. Jimmy went for a splash, but Kofi moved. Kofi tagged Xavier. Kofi landed Trouble in Paradise, then Xavier landed a top rope elbow for the win.
WINNERS: The New Day to capture the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Titles in 17:00. (***3/4)
That was a tremendous tag match. A lot of little details strengthened the match, including Kofi long-term selling the double-powerbomb. Every twist and turn in the match was explained in a believable fashion with really good timing. They should all be very happy with that match, and with the crowd engagement which built throughout.
(2) SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. BARON CORBIN
Highlights aired of their feud so far. Then Nakamura made his ring entrance and the crowd sang along. Corbin trash-talked Nakamura. Nakamura rolled his eyes and then took the first shot. Corbin fired back. Nakamura blocked him and threw some strikes, including some round kicks to his left leg. JBL said this is a dream match between a former Golden Gloves boxer and a former MMA star. Saxton said Matt Bloom (Albert/Tensai) from the WWE Performance Center said getting kicked by Nakamura is like getting hit with a baseball bat. JBL said Nakamura became the youngest IWGP Champion at 23 years and 9 months old back in 2002 and became a rock star in Japan.
Corbin caught a charging Nakamura with a punch, and then stomped away at him. Corbin went for a slam, but Nakamura slipped free and went for a triangle. Corbin struggled against it, then lifted Nakamura. Nakamura released. Corbin gave him a big boot and scored a two count. JBL said he's not sure Tensei fought anyone in Japan with the striking power of Corbin. Corbin settled in a bearhug. Phillips said Corbin is a bit of parijah in the locker room. JBL said Corbin didn稚 come here to make make friend, he came to WWE to beat people up, make money, and win championships. Well put.
Nakamura eventually elbowed out of it. Corbin came back with a chokeslam attempt, but Nakamura broke free. Corbin ducked a kick, but Nakamura spun around and landed with the other leg. He then hit Corbin with hard round kicks to Corbin's chest. He caught the fourth or fifth, but Nakamura came back with an enzuigiri. Corbin didn't go down. Nakamura took him down with a dropkick. He let out a yell and pursued Corbin in the corner with various strikes. He went for a cover and got a soft two count.
Corbin came back with a running clothesline. Nakamura took a flip bump. Corbin mounted Nakamura and had him down on the mat. Nakamura came back and threw a series of knees at Corbin's ribs. Then he lifted and dropped Corbin suplex style mid-ring. He signaled for his Kishasa running knee. Corbin turned it into a Deep Six for a near fall. Both were slow to get up. Nakamura came after Corbin with a stretch of offense. He played to the crowd and got them clapping, but quite as riled up as he seemed to be asking for with all of his mannerisms. Corbin didn't get up on his own, so Nakamura had to go after him. Corbin mule kicked Nakamura. The ref immediately called for the bell.
WINNER: Nakamura via DQ. (**1/2)
Nothing special, but not bad at all, either. I don't know if these matches serve the potential Nakamura had or work against it. That said, Corbin is getting a serious steady push by Vince, so Nakamura not beating him isn't a sign of lacking confidence in Nakamura as much as it is Vince really wanting to protect Corbin and keep him on pace as he rises up the card. Going into this match, I really couldn't see a scenario where Nakamura pinned Corbin clean, nor Corbin going over Nakamura even with light cheating, so the DQ isn't a big surprise based on my perceptions of how Vince McMahon values each of them at this point.
(3) NATALYA vs. TAMINA vs. CHARLOTTE vs. BECKY LYNCH vs. LANA
After an early brawl, Becky and Natalya were out at ringside. Naomi joined the commentators at ringside. Lana mouthed off to Charlotte early. Tamina grabbed her leg. Lana then kicked Charlotte in the face. She went for a cover and got a soft two count. When Lynch returned, she helped Charlotte clear the ring of the two heels. They battled until Natalya re-entered an dhit Charlotte with a dropkick. Natalya applied a sharpshooter on Charlotte. Lana broke it up and went for a pin. Becky caught Lana in the Disarmer. Tamaina broke it up. Lynch applied the Disarmer on Tamina, and Tamina tapped out.
First Elimination: Tamina.
Lynch then quickly put the hold on Lana, and she tapped out. Good.
Second Elimination: Lana.
Natalya then opportunistically rolled up Becky and yanked on her tights for the pin.
Third Elimination: Becky.
Charlotte and Natalya battled one-on-one. Naomi said she'd be honored to take on either of them. She said she's never faced Natalya one-on-one. When Charlotte went for a moonsault, Natalya lifted her knees. Natalya then rolled up Charlotte with force and Charlotte's head hit the bottom turnbuckle. Then she rolled her up and scored a clean three count.
WINNER: Natalya in 11:00 to advance to a Smackdown Women's Title match at Summerslam. (**)
What you'd expect in terms of action, and they got to the two weaker links out early. The finish was a surprise, but not a bad choice. WWE obviously want parity in the Women's Divisions more than one or two top stars, for whatever reason, and if that's the philosophy, Natalya vs. Naomi feels fresh and I think there's potential for some fun promos back-and-forth. Natalya also has a history of pulling very good matches out of less experienced opponents, so I'm looking forward to how this match works out. Assuming WWE doesn't needlessly complicate this with more women being added to the match.
(4) A.J. STYLES vs. KEVIN OWENS U.S. Title match
The crowd chanted A..J. Styles as soon as ring announcements concluded. Owens took it to Styles right away with forearms and knees, and then an early side headlock. Styles shoved Owens off of him. They collided, Styles leapfrogged, and then Styles arm-dragged Owens, who rolled to the floor to regroup. Owens rolled out a minute later after he was frustrated by Styles countering his moves including a head scissors takedown from the ground. Another A.J. Styles chant broke out. Styles went for a German suplex, but Owens blocked it. Owens elbowed Styles, but Styles fired back with a dropkick. Owens bailed out yet again.
Styles went after Owens at ringside. He whipped Owens into the barrier, then dove at him, but Owens moved. Owens then rammed Styles crotch-first into the ringpost. Owens took over and settled into a chinlock. He yelled, I could do this all night, A.J. Styles fought out of it eventually and punched Owens in the nose. Then he hit Owens with rapid-fire strikes and took him down with a clothesline.
Eventually Owens lifted his knees when Styles went for a running splash. He hit a cannonball in the corner for a two count. Styles made a comeback and went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Owens knocked Styles off balance and swept his legs. Owens went for a Popup Powerbomb, but Styles countered into a Calf Crusher. Owens countered with a crossface. The ref was bumped when Owens threw Styles his way seconds earlier, so he was slow to check on Styles. Styles broke free and applied a crossface of his own. Owens countered by bridging Styles's shoulders onto the mat and he scored an unexpected three count.
WINNER: Owens in 17:00.
That is a strange finish. It stunned the crowd as it just seemed to come out of nowhere. Not sure if that was meant to be a way to train fans to believe a pi can happen unexpectedly even before a flurry of fast-paced sequences with people kicking out of finishers or what?