BATTLEGROUND 2014 - REPENT OR RUN AGROUND

I doubt I’m alone in my beliefs that the Battleground event would be axed after last year’s disappointment, but WWE are persistent if nothing else and continue to push it upon us, but this time, fingers crossed, with better results than one year ago. With two events in June, WWE appear to be trying to cram as much revenue in as possible, not to mention value for money for its WWE Network subscribers. However I can’t help but shake the feeling that once again storylines and overall product are being put second to Vince McMahon’s bank account.

Maybe 2013 was juts a blip. Perhaps WWE have worked out the formula for a successful event wedged tight between Money in the Bank and. Or more likely like last year, the company aren’t going to be bothered about this event as they look towards SummerSlam in August and it’s going to be used to draw in more subscribers. If that’s the only reason this event exists in 2014 then surely it’s better to put it out its misery. Plus, if that is the case, aren’t WWE saying to us that they’re not confident their current programming is good enough to sustain subscribers so they feel they have to churn out more pay-per view events than are needed?

Its better wrestlers, more involved matches and gripping storylines which will hook people to Network, not the promise of more events which in the long run will have a negative effect on the final product because there’s no time to build an effective feud for a gripping payoff. I write this introduction, as usual, before any matches have been announced, but I can only see Battleground being a re-run on Payback with the added incentive of a WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I look to be proven wrong.

From the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on July 20th this is WWE Battleground 2014.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

(c) John Cena vs Roman Reigns vs Kane vs Randy Orton

Initially, I was going to write what comes next the day after Money in the Bank. But seeing as it will extend this part of the preview, I instead decided to include it here seeing as this bout was announced twenty four hours after the ladder spectacle. Some people, mostly John Cena fans, will disagree with what I’m about to say but those of you that know me, will know I don’t give a damn about what people think about my opinions. They may be forthright, but no one can deny they’re always true.

Vince McMahon is a coward. An outright, downright, cold blooded, yellow streaked coward and out of everything I ever thought I’d say about the owner of WWE, I never thought it would be that. At Money in the Bank, Vince had the chance to cement the interest he was taking in a new generation by placing the title around a more popular and newer wrestler’s waist. It would have done wonders for how people viewed the company, that is one which is only bothered about pushing known stars when it matters, as well as given us a new hero / villain to buy into. I won’t stand anyone trying to bullshit me and tell me that a John Cena victory was for the best because how could it be?

Even if John Cena’s victory is meant to lead to a series with Seth Rollins and The Authority which is where it’s heading, plainly, then what good can come of it? John Cena has ruined so many up and coming careers that we can only believe the same fate will befall Seth Rollins when his time comes. John Cena isn’t willing to put over or sell for wrestlers who have been handpicked to replace him at the top of the card and therefore isn’t the ideal choice for Champion. Previous displays against Wade Barrett, Nexus, Alberto Del Rio and Bray Wyatt to name just a few are proof of that. If WWE want Seth Rollins, who should be placed into a feud with Dean Ambrose when Battleground finally rolls around, to succeed then they must keep him as far away from John Cena as possible.

Money in the Bank was the first time in many years I’ve been thoroughly disgusted with professional wrestling and WWE in particular. I’ve been annoyed with them before but on June 29th 2014, they took the easy way out and for that they deserve every piece of scathing criticism that comes their way. Despite what WWE say about the outcome of the ladder match, there were other ways to do this. The spot would have been better received had it been claimed by Bray Wyatt who could have turned face as everyone wants to see and battled The Authority for control of the company. As of the beginning of July, Bray Wyatt will now be pitted against the returning Chris Jericho, who has presumably been brought in to do the job John Cena should have done at WrestleMania and after.

Now, instead of a brand new face on top of the card and a storyline which had the potential to reel in new viewers and bring a flurry of stars to the WWE Network which still hasn’t broken even yet, Daniel Bryan’s place has been take up by John Cena who will now feud with The Authority in what is guaranteed to be a predictable storyline. Can you really see The Authority getting the better of WWE’s top star and ruining him in the same way they came so close to doing with Daniel Bryan? Of course not! The only way this feud and victory could be seen as revolutionary in any way is if it were a means to an end to turn John Cena heel on Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam in one of the most shocking moments in wrestling history. You may as well bet on England winning a World Cup.

Until he proves me wrong, I will stand by my original belief that a John Cena WWF World Heavyweight Championship reign can do nothing but add the title his already illustrious title record.

I am getting seriously bored of Kane in the main event of pay-per views, simply because he no longer belongs in the spot gifted to him. Post-WrestleMania, we’ve only had a break from the big red machine at Payback. Disturbingly, WWE have plans for Kane in and around the main event until November without realising or even caring that he’s taking up precious space which could be used by another. In fact, anyone would be better in this role than the lifeless Kane. He’s done nothing of note since returning last year and has been totally awful in the role given to him by Triple H. Just imagine how much good this could have done someone young and new instead of a wrestler who has had his time.

If anyone can point out how Kane can add anything to the main event scene in 2014 then I’ll grant them a fictional prize which I don’t have. The title of ‘King’ of wrestling, lord and saviour will be all yours if you have one good point which explains why Kane should be here instead of one or more of the other men who participated in Money in the Bank. I know people who read this blog like a challenge. This is one of the biggest I’ve ever put out.

Usually, I’d do a couple of paragraphs on each participant in a match, you know this. But with Kane it’s hard, because I really can’t imagine what WWE have in store for him to make him one of the important players on its roster again. At one time, Kane was vital to WWE just because he was The Undertaker’s best friend in the locker room and WWE didn’t want to offend The Deadman. Now Undertaker is only around once a year, what exactly is Kane’s job? He clearly can’t go in the ring anymore or add that much needed commodity to his matches so why do WWE keep him around? Surely he’s just a drain on resources. Money that could used for other things, namely more talented wrestlers.

Maybe WWE keep Kane around out of loyalty. I’m not denying he’s had some excellent moments in wrestling history and won’t be forgotten by the fans. Glenn Jacobs hit it big with the Kane character after failing under the guise of Issac Yankem and Fake Diesel. There were people in wrestling who believed Jacobs would never make a character stick after flitting from name to name in search of the perfect one. He proved them wrong. And in 2014 has nothing else to prove to anyone except maybe himself. Its possible Kane wants to prove to himself that he can still go with the young guys or possibly he wants to eclipse the shelf life of The Undertaker, lasting longer in the ring than the man who played his storyline brother.

Whatever Kane’s reasons are for staying amongst the elite it can’t be money. The man has earned his fortune over the past seventeen years and is one of WWE’s few millionaire’s. For what he’s put into the business, since donning that famous red mask, he’s more than earned it. Now is the time for Glen Jacobs to stop torturing his body and us by constantly competing. He could work in the office or in another role for the company without strapping on the tights. In fifteen years time, Kane could return to the ring for a one off match in a gimmick battle royal where he would be greeted with cheers and chants of ‘Thank You Kane’. His Hall of Fame induction is already in the bag and with Rey Mysterio should be inducted in 2015 before contesting his final match on the grand stage. It’s the right way to go.

Like Kane, Randy Orton has had his time on the top of the mountain. At least for now. For as much as I love Randy Orton, he’s just not exciting anymore. His stint as the centrepiece of the company has worn him down and now WWE needs to do something drastic with his character because contrary to popular belief, his heel turn has generated as much buzz or interest in him as most would have liked. The call in 2013 was for Orton to turn heel where it was believed he had much more star making ability as a villain than he did a face. But considering the majority of over and new stars are heel, I think it’s time for Randy Orton to switch allegiances once again and make a star of someone in a long and prosperous feud for everyone.

If WWE are going to do something immense with Bray Wyatt, then Randy Orton should be the man who makes The Wyatt Family huge. There’s no guarantee fans would cheer Orton over Wyatt but that doesn’t matter right now. For once, the roles and secondary to the final result and over the last two years prior to winning the big one at SummerSlam 2013, Randy Orton got better results than anyone on the roster. If a face turn isn’t in his future then Roman Reigns is the ideal candidate for Orton to ready for main event stardom. For once, Orton has to be used to his full potential instead to whatever potential WWE believe he can achieve which appears to be very little.

Anyone who saw Orton’s lacklustre performances as Champion heading into WrestleMania will have seen how uninterested he looks in wrestling in 2014. If it’s true that Randy Orton has lost his desire for wrestling there isn’t much that can be done about that in the ring. The best thing Vince McMahon could do for the future of Randy Orton and his roster is allow him six months off to recover and recuperate. Pay him to go home and do whatever he’s always wanted to do for six months. That freedom may allow him to realize how much he misses the action and the fans and he would return a better and more enthused individual.

I am as sure as I was about Daniel Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX, that it will be Roman Reigns who takes the gold from John Cena before 2014 comes to its end. If not and I’m wrong, then it will almost certainly be Seth Rollins even thought we’ve already discussed the pitfalls which come with anyone new contesting a feud with John Cena. Roman Reigns has come so far in wrestling in just two years, it would be an injustice for him not to complete the circle and hold the top title even thought there is a danger of backlash because some will believe, like John Cena in 2005, that he hasn’t earned it.

When you look at the state of wrestling in 2014, for every piece of bad there is, men like Roman Reigns make the future seem nothing but bright. They’re undoubtedly the future of this company but they have to be treated as such by WWE. Which means unlike the last bunch of promising individuals, they cannot be put second to John Cena just so the current champion can embark on an ego trip; we’ve seen too many careers ruined like this. Instead, with his career ready to swing either way and remembering it could still crash and burn unless handled with care and attention, then there is still a lot of work for WWE to in order to ensure Reigns survives in the cutthroat world of wrestling.

John Cena aside, a lot could be done for Reigns by placing him in a feud with a top level heel until Royal Rumble. As said above, Randy Orton has everything needed to help Reigns out before he takes the plunge, wins the thirty man event and heads to WrestleMania XXXI to take the gold. Which is the plan. There are flaws in his routine that must be ironed out before the event of him being crowned champion and I can think of no better way for him to do so than compete against the man who he has been compared with. It’s Roman Reigns’ time to shine. He failed to do so at Money in the Bank and will fall again at Battleground. But all is not lost. Because when it matters, he will triumph and a new star will be born.

Winners Prediction: John Cena

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Battle Royal

Cesaro vs Kofi Kingston vs The Great Khali vs Damien Sandow vs Rob Van Dam vs Ryback vs Curtis Axel vs Dolph Ziggler vs Big E vs Alberto Del Rio vs Bo Dallas vs Sheamus vs Fandango vs R-Truth vs Xavier Woods vs Adam Rose vs The Miz vs Heath Slater vs Zack Ryder vs Sin Cara vs Titus O’Neil vs Diego

NOTE: more participants may be added to the bout before July 20th

I feel sorry for Wade Barrett. Just as his Bad News Barrett character was beginning to take off with the audience and his Intercontinental Championship reign looked as though this time around was to be him time, he suffers an injury and is shelved. Worse, he is stripped of the WWE Intercontinental Championship and placed back at square one. Whilst it may have been a good idea at the time to strip Barrett of the gold, WWE could have used his injury to further his character.

Instead of taking him off of television altogether, WWE could have had Barrett appear on Raw before scheduled matches and deliver the bad news to his opponents that there would be no match and no title opportunity. Fans would have lapped up his arrogance and when he was ready to return, WWE could have made a storyline out of the actions by having one wrestler take offence to Barrett constantly ducking out of matches because he thought he was too good to face an opponent. It would generate into a heat builder before the pair collided over the title once Barrett was good and ready.

Instead, we now have the opportunity to see what other people can do with the title with this battle royal which would have been much better suited had the gold been contested in a tournament. That way the final two competitors would have earned their spot in the audience’s eyes. In fact, WWE could have booked the whole event to be a round robin tournament ala King of the Ring. Devoting an entire event, minus the main event and a few other matches would have made the title seem important to the company again.

Though there a lot of competitors in this match, I’m going to give no time to some because this would twenty places long if I did and you’ve got better things to do with your life; talents, a strong word I know, such as The Great Khali who should have been ‘Future Endeavoured’ with those given the chop in June and Damien Sandow whose WWE career is over as anyone with eyes can clearly tell are pointless mentioning. Plus, for some, there will be plenty of time down the line to talk about them. I want to concentrate on the most interesting and those we haven’t had a chance to properly discuss because they’re rarely booked on pay-per view events in 2014.

Kofi Kingston’s treatment has shocked me over the last few weeks. Not because he’s done anything wrong or even because WWE have treated him shoddily. Let’s face it, they couldn’t have treated him any worse had they tried. But because it seems that Kingston has fallen back into the good books of WWE management who are beginning to concentrate on him more than they have in 2014 or 2013 and 2012 come to think of it. This means there could be a huge push for Kofi Kingston on the cards, as long as it’s under a heel persona. He’s only going to hit the skids again of WWE push him as a face.

I began to spot the heel tendencies creep into his resume at Money in the Bank. Some of things Kingston did screamed heel as did his actions in defeating Cesaro the next night on Raw. Whilst I can’t spend a lot of time on each competitor, I can see great things happening for Kofi Kingston if he were to turn heel. Maybe WWE would push him up the card because of the lack of black people on their roster. At this point in time I’d take any excuse as to why Kingston is making his way to the main event just to get him there.

The question is what does the company do with Kofi once they’ve turned him heel? Believe it or not, the choices are plentiful as long as the company keep him in the upper-card and do not allow him to drop back into the lower-card position where he currently jerks the curtain and is used as cannon fodder for the likes of Alexander Rusev. If WWE use this opportunity and the disappointment of being the last man eliminated thus coming so close before being ejected at the final hurdle as a catalyst for his heel turn, then it could lead into a programme with the eventual winner of the bout and should they be a recognised name, it can only propel him forwards.

What cannot happen with Kofi Kingston is that he can’t be sent back into feuds, as long as he does turn heel, with the likes of The Miz. It only hurts his image and should WWE bother to invest in him as a heel then those days have to be long since gone. One suggestion as to what WWE could do with Kingston lies in the past. It would be a great idea for Kingston to turn heel and then front a stable of fed up wrestlers such as Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Big E, Alberto Del Rio and others who have been passed over by WWE time and time again. Instead of feuding with The Authority which would make them faces, Triple H could hire the men to his cause and pit them against anyone but John Cena who defies the future leader of the company.

Kofi Kingston could adopt the role Ron Simmons played in the Nation of Domination, the group got The Rock over if no one else, only more liberal and with more to say about the way WWE is being run. When questioned about why they are joining forces with Triple H instead of trying to change what is happening, the excuse would be a simply ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’. After all, Kofi and others have tried to change the way wrestling sees newer stars and failed. It would make sense for a heel to try and grease his way up the ladder by brownnosing the man in charge.

Whether the group would last or even be successful is another matter, but that is down to WWE. It’s certainly a merchandise machine if the group can be taken seriously and to cement their mission within the company WWE could book a feud with a group of upcoming NXT stars who are trying to make the jump from NXT to WWE roster as the next wave of new talent comes in underneath them. Fans would buy into that. Two groups of men, one who has been buried and now trying to stop new wrestlers do what they couldn’t and a bunch of new faces who want to prove that you don’t need to bitch and moan and kiss the boss’ rear to get a push. It’s the kind of feud which could headline Survivor Series and maybe even go further if booked correctly. Just imagine the influx of new talent to the WWE roster and the elevation those under Kingston would receive. It would be immense.

After the new blood feud is over and done with, Triple H could employ the group to deal with his upcoming feud with The Wyatt Family. It doesn’t look like it now, but The Wyatt Family are headed for a face turn and a war with Triple H and Stephanie over control of the company as I’ve said elsewhere in this blog. To stall the feud and prolong it until something else comes up, Kingston’s team could last well over a year in feuds against these factions before the time would come for them to turn on him and throw him out, thus turning him face again. The only difference then will be that Kingston will have had a high profile run with Triple H and should be ready for a true main event run.

A faction headed by Kingston wouldn’t be able to make stars of every member; it’s not possible in today’s climate. But as long as they got Kingston and one other member ready for stardom once the stable reached its shelf life then WWE will have accomplished the goal they set out to complete. If they’re not going to consider something as huge as this for Kingston then there’s no hope for him in the company. They may as well hand him his contract back and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

He used to be called ‘Mr. Monday Night’ and ‘The Whole Fucking Show’. In 2014 Rob Van Dam is hanging onto his wrestling life by a very fine hair. Most believed it would be a good idea for Van Dam to return after his 2013 run where he had mostly good matches with the likes of Alberto Del Rio on pay-per view. In the recent light of Chris Jericho coming home amongst others, the nostalgia trip is beginning to wear thing. Not to mention the fact that everyone who returns to the company is taking up a vital spot which is needed by others coming through.

I suggested a while ago that RVD should be used in Chris Jericho’s role of getting younger wrestlers over. I still stick by that belief. Rob Van Dam hasn’t got a future in wrestling at his age. His best years are behind him and all he can offer now is the hope of helping someone else become as big as he used to be. It’s not a bad thing for Van Dam. Once a wrestler reaches the end of his natural career then there are very few options left open to him. He could go back to TNA but I like to think that Van Dam is clever enough to realise that company held him back and mostly all his matches were rotten under their watch. The only option left for him now is to help with the advancement of those who will eventually replace him.

Rob Van Dam could be a part of, if not the leader of those who would oppose a Kofi Kingston led faction. New faces from NXT would need a leader as they tread uncertain grounds. There would be no place for him on the other side of the fence and even joining forces with Paul Heyman looks unlikely to help him rejuvenate his career now. Though I won’t deny that should Cesaro win this bout then a heel turn by RVD on Cesaro could be huge for him as would several gripping pay-per view matches before Cesaro threw RVD to the curb and took aim at the man who betrayed him.

Whatever happens with Rob Van Dam now though can surely only be a short stop gap. It’s not going to last, it never does and the longest reigning ECW World Television Champion will be gone again before we know it. Surely it’s better he makes an impact whilst he’s still able rather than just returning every year for a paycheque until we get bored of him?

I love Dolph Ziggler. Not in a gay way, but in a manly way. He’s just brilliant and possesses all the talent in the world. It’s just a shame WWE never use it and are happy to hammer him down the card to be the whipping boy for the likes of the now completely laughable Damien Sandow. Recently, Dolph Ziggler has been saddled with the terrible Summer Rae who was a thorn in the side of Fandango until the company replaced her with someone that could actually wrestle. Now, if the company go all the way with the Ziggler / Summer Rae feud, she’s bound to hold Dolph back as well. Though if we’re honest, can Dolph be held back anymore than he already has been?

For as much as us fans have been an influential force in getting Daniel Bryan to the top of the company, I’m afraid at times, we can be the result of a wrestlers failure to make it to the big time. This has been the case with Dolph Ziggler. Our insistence that WWE push Dolph Ziggler when they didn’t believe he was ready for the spotlight had a counterproductive effect and instead of going forward as Daniel Bryan did, WWE yanked Ziggler back when it mattered most and he has never recovered since. There was no need other to take the title away from Dolph Ziggler so soon in 2013 other than to try and teach us a lesson. That it’s what McMahon wants and not what we want.

Whilst we truly got our own back with Daniel Bryan, it could have been so different. Ziggler could have carried on as Champion until 2014, we’d have been happy to see him do so as reactions to him in 2014 have suggested. Fans still believe in Dolph Ziggler and yearn for him to be pushed up the card to the main event once more. Now we’ve gotten Daniel Bryan over, maybe its time we turn our attentions to Ziggler once more. We know what it takes now to get someone over and force the company’s hand so why don’t we do it again? Take to Twitter, Facebook, whatever other social media you’re on and express your desire for Ziggler to be the next big star. Boo when he’s booked to loose, jeer the company when he fails to loose and if you attend in person then make your feelings known. In short, do what we did with Daniel Bryan and things will change sooner or later.

Right now though, could Dolph Ziggler be the man to win this match? I don’t see why not. The support is there. We’ve never deviated from backing him to do well and I’m assuming he will be one of the fan favourites to win this bout. There are avenues open to him if he claims the gold at Battleground, but like everything else it all depends on whether WWE are willing to push him again when they obviously don’t see any mileage in him. It would be a shame if a talent such as Dolph Ziggler was left on the shelf. He could be the Shawn Michaels of the modern era.

If Dolph Ziggler walks out with the honours at Battleground then I will be surprised. Saying that, there are a lot of possibilities and feuds waiting for him should he be able to convince WWE he’s the man for the job. He’s not going to get back in the main event immediately, it’s going to take years worth of battling but there’s no harm in beginning now. So rise up my minions and spread the word. Make someone else’s career like we help make Daniel Bryan’s. It can be done and only we can change this wrestling world for the better.

You have to feel sorry for Alberto Del Rio out of everyone on the WWE roster. He’s worked his bollocks off to be successful in this industry and still, he’s treated like a jobber even though he’s proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has the good to back up his claims of main event stardom. I’ve expressed my disgust at how Del Rio was cast aside in 2013 when John Cena came back on the scene but since then, Alberto Del Rio has been a damp squib of a wrestler. It seems that his treatment at the hands of WWE has taken its toll on him and drained all the will from his previously willing soul.

At this point in time I don’t know what else Alberto Del Rio can do to make his name shine again. For me, he’s been buried too deep to dig himself out now and even if he did, would we even care when he re-emerged? Truly, I believe that the best thing Alberto Del Rio can do now is just ride out his contract and then depart WWE with the door left open for him to return at a later date. I know the lure of more money will be difficult to turn down for Del Rio, but surely all the dollars in the world aren’t worth ruining your reputation for. You need some degree of pride left in your work and at the moment, Del Rio has none.

I’ve heard stories about how rough wrestling is down in Mexico. About how they treat talent and the amount of injuries wrestlers pick up because of how hard the rings there are, but Del Rio survived before and he can do so again. It would take him a little time to re-adjust to life in Mexico but he was a hero there before he came to WWE and would be greeted with a hero’s reception if he were to return. At this point in his career, that’s what Del Rio needs. He needs fans who love him. Fans and bookers who appreciate his talents to build his confidence back up. I’m not saying he should never return to the company, but first he needs a few years back where he can make a difference.

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from wrestling, it’s that wrestlers are more valuable to WWE the longer they stay away from the company. It’s something C.M Punk will be able to cash in on big time when he decides to return as I don’t believe he’s retired at just 34 years of age, and it could be something Alberto Del Rio can make use of later in his career. If he stays away long enough for new blood to fully take control then he’ll be welcomed back to the company with open arms is three of four years time and may even find better luck than he has in the four years he’s been with the company.

Whatever Alberto Del Rio decides is best for him, it’s clear that he cannot carry on like this for much longer. Like I’ve said a million times, change is good. Alberto Del Rio can make waves in the WWE, just not this time around. Sometimes it helps to go away and come back with a different perspective, on your terms. If it’s what you want at the time you want it, then success is more likely because the company will know they cannot treat you shoddily again. If you’re a jewel in their crown, they’ll do everything in their power to keep you happy.

I’m afraid, contrary to how many people may; I just don’t Bo-lieve. Bo Dallas is a great talent no doubt and there is a chance that the smaller influx of NXT stars such as him and Adam Rose may make it in the company, but I just can’t see it happening in the next few years when you have men live Alexander Rusev, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Cesaro making their way through the ranks with an eye on the main event spot. WWE just aren’t interested in the smaller, ordinary wrestlers who were all the craze in the early nineties. We’ve seen too many of them fall at the first hurdle to believe otherwise.

Bo Dallas got a great reception when he entered the Royal Rumble match a few years ago and the company were even booed when he was easily eliminated. Fans recognized a Bo Dallas victory at the Royal Rumble would be massive for the sport and instantly create a new star in the process. Yet WWE had no interest in that and Dallas almost faded away completely from view until he was given an enjoyable gimmick on NXT. The stark truth is WWE see Bo Dallas as filler. A jobber to the stars once the novelty has worn off. It’s going to be the same with Adam Rose and The Exotic Express, Alexander Rusev and most probably Sami Zayne when he makes his main roster debut.

This however can be halted. We can see from a mile away there is no mileage in the Bo Dallas character. He’s an updated version of Damien Sandow and we all know how his story will end in about a year’s time. If WWE were to can the Bo Dallas character now, then they could put him with The Wyatt Family of whom Bray Wyatt is his real life brother. The Rotunda brothers could make it big. Bray Wyatt would help his younger sibling rise through the ranks and whilst it’s probably too later for Harper and Rowan, it could be a whole different story with Bo Dallas.

If Bo Dallas got close to a top face star whom Bray Wyatt was feuding with then by association, he’d be a target for The Wyatt Family. Ambushing him, kidnapping him and taking him away, the Bo Dallas character would immediately cease to exist. Throughout the weeks vignettes could be shown of The Wyatt Family trying to brainwash and convert him to their cause as his face friend tried to search for and free him. When the process was complete and the Bo Dallas character was forgotten, he could storm out, turn on his former friend and join The Wyatt Family for what would be an excellent and memorable run. He would of course keep his name.

It’s the only future I can see for Bo Dallas in WWE. He may have the looks but ultimately it will be the size which holds him back. I don’t doubt that Bo Dallas may be a strong contender to walk away with the WWE Intercontinental Championship. It would do his cause no end of good as well as signal WWE’s intentions for him. But I doubt the company will be able to keep that enthusiasm flowing for very long before Dallas and the title are buried at the hands of John Cena or The Great Khali. It would a shame for him to be thrown to the cutting room floor where literally hundreds of wasted opportunities currently lay. WWE should do everything in their power to cement his position in the company. In future years, it could benefit them greatly.

It’s probably an obvious thing to say, but Cesaro has to be the favourite to win this match, even though at this point in his career it’s hard to see what a WWE Intercontinental Championship reign can do for him, as the gold is no longer the stature enhancer it once was. One a stepping stone to the main event, now it seems the gold is used merely to hand to anyone who may need a push. Before giving it to the likes of Cesaro, WWE really should have set about enhancing its image instead of relying on the wrestler to do it for them.

Where Cesaro has the upper hand on most of his opponents at Battleground is that like Daniel Bryan, fans want to see him succeed even if he’s a heel. Could some of that popularity be attributed to the brilliant Paul Heyman? It’s possible; though Cesaro was popular before he became a Paul Heyman Guy. It’s the indi magic working again. Fans know that Cesaro has paid his dues in wrestling before he got the company and now deserves the push which he’s worked for. Thankfully, WWE also see him as a future Heavyweight Champion so it should come as no surprise if the Swiss Superman walks away the title at Battleground.

What Cesaro needs now, is a killer main event feud which would help both him and reimaging the Intercontinental Championship should he leave with it around his waist. For a while now, there’s been talk of a Cesaro vs Brock Lesnar match at WrestleMania XXXI thought that may be a little too similar to the C.M Punk vs Brock Lesnar match which stunned SummerSlam 2013. I won’t deny though that going it alone and a victory over Lesnar would do wonders for Cesaro and the Intercontinental Championship. If an Intercontinental Champion was seen to defeat the man who ended The Streak then all future champions would be seen as real contenders too.

There’s also the possibility of the aforementioned Rob Van Dam vs Cesaro feud if Paul Heyman were to turn on Cesaro at Battleground and allow RVD to win the gold then WWE could book a heel RVD vs a face Cesaro for the gold at SummerSlam and other events. If Paul Heyman is the cause of Cesaro losing those matches then it wouldn’t detract from his image and would serve as a momentous moment when he defeats RVD in the feud ending bout for the gold. Also, RVD would have helped make a star and everyone will be happy.

How the mighty have fallen. When he returned to the company at the Royal Rumble, Sheamus should have been earmarked for instant success. Whilst the main event picture was growing in size it was still only in progress which means WWE could have done with the Irishman on top from the beginning as they crafted Daniel Bryan’s steady rise to the WrestleMania XXX main event. The reaction to ‘The Celtic Warrior’ was favourable in January thanks to his prolonged time on the shelf. True, it has soured somewhat since January and Sheamus has certainly heard the jeers from the audience. But there are great reasons for that. The main one is that the smiley Irishman act has outstayed its welcome.

It’s been a fact that Sheamus’ face character has been detested for some time and not just since his comeback. Before he was injured, fans were calling for him to turn heel yet thanks to Triple H believing he was better as a face the turn never came. It was an oversight by WWE. If the fans demand it then we should be given it. Everyone could see there was no mileage in a Sheamus face character and should WWE turn him, which could have happened by the time you read this, then he also would be a great contender to face John Cena because I get the feeling that in 2014, no one cares about Sheamus anyway. So anything positive to come out of such a feud would be beneficial.

I had an issue with Sheamus becoming the United States Champion. The title wasn’t doing Dean Ambrose any good at all, that’s a given. But what good could it possible do a man who should be close if not in the main event? If WWE have no other ideas or plans for the title then it’s best to shelve it like the European and Cruiserweight titles before it. After all, if in the long run it’s only going to devaluate those who hold it then surely its better to cut out the rot rather than allow it to fester. If it’s allowed to fester on a star that could be huge once more then it’s counterproductive.

The best that could happen to Sheamus now is if he were to enter a war with a face Cesaro who has the fan support to carry Sheamus to another level. Whoever wins this bout should be pitched into a feud with Sheamus where the two titles are unified. It would lead to a Sheamus heel turn and possibly a killer feud which would prepare both for a main event run and in Sheamus’ case, return. Stuck in the doldrums isn’t going to help his image any and if WWE want him to be taken seriously in the future, this course of action is the only one available to them. Sheamus cannot elevate the United States Championship division and in return it cannot do anything for him.

Regardless of who wins this bout, it has to be a turning point for the title and the victor. WWE cannot stall after Battleground in making the winner a star. It has to happen now or it may not again. There are a whole host of possible winners who would be a great choice for different reasons. Unlike Money in the Bank, the correct choice has to be made and made for the right decision. Not because WWE want to pad out someone title record or backstage politics comes into play, but because it’s right for the future of the wrestler and the company. It’s the only way this title will ever get back to the illustrious pedestal it used to sit on, from where it can make superstars once again.

Winners Prediction: Cesaro

Bray Wyatt vs Chris Jericho

It may not seem it right now, but this feud is vital for the future of Bray Wyatt, especially after the debacle that was John Cena. No one except John Cena fans who believe Cena should win everything and anything on offer, can deny that for the good of the future of the industry ‘The Man of 1,000 Truths’ should have won the war. It was sheer selfishness and cowardness that the company didn’t put Wyatt over Cena when it mattered most. Thankfully, the losses to Bray Wyatt can and most probably will be forgotten which is best in the long run.

It seems like a lot of trouble to go to in order to restore Bray Wyatt’s image, bringing back a legend of the business but I’m under the impression that Chris Jericho was on his way back anyway and therefore WWE didn’t go to too much effort to acquire his services in 2014. However, how much trouble the company did or didn’t go to is irrelevant. Chris Jericho is the perfect person for Bray Wyatt to build his image back up against. A great talent who has done much for the business, Chris Jericho can make a star out of Bray Wyatt like he should have done with Fandango at WrestleMania 29. Now, maybe more than ever, Chris Jericho has the chance to atone for those sins.

The most important thing for Bray Wyatt now, is that he’s portrayed as a strong and intimidating character. His portrayal throughout the John Cena feud was dismal in matches as Cena made him seem a coward. Now, Chris Jericho has to play the fearful hero whilst Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family must always be seen to be the stronger figures. If Chris Jericho does what John Cena did in those three months then WWE may as well book Bray Wyatt to headline Superstars week in and week out because it’s all or nothing for the son of Mike Rotunda. He cannot lose to Chris Jericho and John Cena. He’ll look like a jobber incapable of picking up the huge wins when needed.

I can’t see a great deal of life in this feud unless WWE do something they’ve never done before and take a real chance with Bray Wyatt. If the company intend the pair to battle into SummerSlam then a storyline with a different feel is needed to sell the feud. Chris Jericho is more willing to do what is necessary to get Wyatt over than John Cena was which opens up several intriguing angles. I still stick by the whole kidnap angle mentioned before and with Bo Dallas above. It wouldn’t have as much effect with Chris Jericho because he couldn’t profit from the angle. But if sold correctly it could be huge and lead to other things plus giving Bray Wyatt an air of unpredictability.

With Bray Wyatt, WWE have the perfect person to really add a different vibe to the company and take us back to our childhood when we were scared by wrestlers such as Doink the Clown who had an air of menace about them. It would do wonders for the young generation today who believe they know it all just because they wear John Cena’s merchandise and demand their parents buy them anything and everything they want. At the moment, everything seems like WWE are trying to tell its audience that the world is fine and nothing scary ever happens. Even The Wyatt Family were toned down because WWE didn’t want to scare people and annoy Mattel. It’s time to break that and make Bray Wyatt terrifying. Just imagine how much better it will be for him when he finally wins the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Its clear Chris Jericho has just returned for the money. I don’t doubt that touring with Fozzy, Chris Jericho didn’t make as much money as he would have with WWE. But is that really a good reason for him to return if he’s not confident he can’t go as good as used to? I know I keep mentioning this where Chris Jericho is concerned, but his attitude towards Fandango last year was awful. It was almost as if he couldn’t be bothered to help make stars as others who had passed before helped to make him. There was no gumption about him, nothing that spoke volumes about his desire to be back in a ring.

Rather than showing anything to resemble want, Chris Jericho blindly stumbled through his last run with the company. He could have made Fandango. Y2J had the skills and talent to cover up Fandango’s short comings which were many but he never bothered. In fact it was almost as if Jericho saw an opportunity to show he was the superior wrestler by allowing Fandango to fail. That cannot be allowed to happen with Bray Wyatt. Wyatt has the skills to carry himself, Jericho doesn’t need to do a whole lot of work for Wyatt to succeed but he needs to be willing to put someone new over. Something he wasn’t keen on in 2013.

Now though, it’s a different era than the one Chris Jericho left in 2013. Newer stars have broken through and whether he likes it or, relics like Chris Jericho have no place in wrestling other than to aid those coming through. That’s his role now, if he believes different then there really is no place for Chris Jericho in a wrestling ring. The message is clear. WWE are focused mostly on a newer generation. As Triple H says, those who aren’t willing to adapt, will almost certainly perish.

Winners Prediction: Bray Wyatt

WWE Divas Championship Match

(c) A.J Lee vs Paige

Everyone who has witnessed WWE’s Divas division over the last few months would have undoubtedly rejoiced when A.J Lee returned from her self imposed absence to marry C.M Punk and heal wounds which had occurred during her epic reign with the Divas Championship in 2013 / 2014. With Paige as its figurehead, the division rose high but there was only so much the ‘Anti-Diva’ could do to keep interest in the female grapplers high. She’s not a miracle worker and it was unfair that WWE expected her to be. Placing the division on one person’s shoulders, especially someone who hasn’t had the exposure or spotlight to that degree before was just pure selfishness by WWE.

Maddeningly, as I write this, news has just come through that WWE has hired Japanese sensation Kenta, who has been sent straight to NXT. I don’t know why, he’s an excellent talent who would take the company by storm if they put him straight onto the main roster and into the Intercontinental Championship battle royal at Battleground. Sadly though, the fact the company have sent him to train in NXT when he was already a star in Japan means they don’t want him to do anything which could set the world alight off his own back. They want him to wrestle the WWE way and follow the heard. If everyone is trained the same way then they’ll wrestle the same way. The last thing we want now is a parade of wrestlers who look and wrestle the same way. This is not 1980.

I’ve digressed. The reason I’m annoyed at Kenta’s hiring isn’t because he wouldn’t fit in because he will, providing WWE allows him to flourish on his own and don’t interfere which they inevitably will. It’s because if they can sign one, then what has stopped them signing several of the Japanese women on a short term basis just to hype A.J’s comeback and her feud with Paige, which is the real issue here. I can’t wait to see what the pair can do with ten minutes allocated to their cause, but I, like most of the WWE Universe, would have at least liked a decent build up and storyline to go with this match. After all, this is the most important Divas match in at least five years. The future of the female division is on the line here and WWE just don’t seem bothered at all.

Whilst things should pick up now that A.J is back in the fold and Paige is a wonderful performer, I’m concerned that WWE believe they don’t need a strong story when there were several avenues they could have gone down to hype A.J’s return. One such avenue was mooted last month in the Money in the Bank preview when I openly stated that WWE could have hired a troupe of female Japanese stars who could have attacked the Brit born star and then challenged her over consecutive months on pay-per view whilst trying to end her career on weekly television. When it came crunch time and Paige put her gold on the line for the final time, it could have been with the stipulation that if she won, the Japanese stars had to give up the person who hired them.

Once Paige had defeated them all in a 3 on 1 match at Money in the Bank or even here at Battleground before being told their employer would be at SummerSlam to face Paige for the gold. It would have made a huge difference had people been teased and forced to wait to see who was behind her torment before A.J strolled out at SummerSlam and took the gold from Paige instead of a one minute bout on Raw which made Paige look like a fluke champion. The only thing Paige got from that was a bad image that she could defeat the current champion by surprise and find someway to defeat lesser talent on the card but when the tables were turned on her, she wasn’t good enough to defeat one of the best female wrestlers in the company, even though it was meant to be a surprise match.

It was a tag Paige could have done without this early into her career. No one would have blinked an eye had Paige lost the gold to A.J at SummerSlam, in a match which would have been hyped and announced. The excuse could have been she wasn’t prepared for A.J and even though she can use that now, the title change on Raw made the gold seem an after thought from the company. A little thought could have seen this better executed. Even better, A.J could have had her trio of Japanese stars attack Paige at SummerSlam before pinning her. A.J’s reputation and image is sealed now, that course of action couldn’t have hurt her image at all. WWE’s priorities should have been and still be protecting a star who is yet to lock in her own reputation.

Apart from a trio of Japanese female stars, WWE could have brought up several more female talents from the NXT roster or failing that a Paige feud with Emma could have done wonders for the sexy British girl next door. Since Emma has been brought up to the main roster she’s done nothing of note and fans are rapidly losing interest in her. Failing Emma, a feud between Paige and NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte would have been an eye opener for everyone and got people subscribing to the WWE Network to see NXT had the matches been good enough.

A.J is a vital cog in WWE’s machine, there’s no doubt about that. Her return was greeted with cheers as was almost her entire Divas Championship reign. People love her and even though she looks even thinner than she did when she left then company and could do with someone buying her a good meal, you can bet that the real life friends will gel well in the ring and A.J will do everything she can to help Paige shine and take the next step up the ladder to wherever that may be without legitimate challengers or reputable female contenders.

WWE has to be careful. They can get months of entertaining programming out of this feud but they must have one eye on what comes next. All the good the company could do here will be washed away if the pair come out of this feud only to wander into no man’s land with no decent storyline or challengers lined up. It’s up to WWE now to rapidly rebuild the division underneath both beauties. To leave it as it is would be an acceptance that all is well and no one in the decision making department thinks there’s a problem. If there was ever need for an overhaul, this is most certainly the time to implement it.

Winners Prediction: A.J Lee

Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose

Regular readers amongst you will now that I’ve been worried about Dean Ambrose since The Shield went their separate ways and Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns got the lion’s share of the spotlight. The man dubbed ‘The Lunatic Fringe’, one of the worst nicknames in wrestling history, has been teetering on the verge of obscurity lately and even though he’s been dipping one foot in the main event picture for a month and a half, I can only see him falling over the precipice when WWE loses interest in him as they inevitably will.

For months Dean Ambrose was the WWE United States Champion and through all that time did the company ever do anything interesting with him besides his six man interactions? No. The new look and new attitude will be helpful for Ambrose but there is no way he has the conviction Rollins and Reigns has to make it as a main event wrestler in the company. Just look at his treatment in recent months. It has ‘Intercontinental Championship’ written all over it. Which is where I see Ambrose heading after his feud with Rollins and Triple H, who is due to enter a singles feud with Roman Reigns as we speak, is finished.

If you don’t believe me, just look at the facts on hand. After The Shield vs Evolution had ended, Seth Rollins was given the number one contendership to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank whilst Roman Reigns has been shoved into the main event and will be WWE World Heavyweight Champion by WrestleMania XXXI. In case people didn’t know, he’s the favourite to win the 2015 Royal Rumble match once his endeavours against John Cena fail and he does away with Triple H in the last stages of 2014. So when Seth Rollins cashes in on Roman Reigns or Roman Reigns challenges Rollins for the gold in 2015, where will Dean Ambrose be?

The answer to that is simple. Wondering where he went wrong and why his two colleagues got the push over him when they all came through the ranks together. This match at Battleground is a difficult one for WWE. Whilst Dean Ambrose plainly isn’t in the company’s main event plans, Seth Rollins is and a loss for either could be disastrous for both men. Fans wouldn’t be able to see Seth Rollins as a legitimate heir to the throne should he lose to someone who will never be WWE World Heavyweight Champion whilst Dean Ambrose’s career would be all but hammered down the card into the Intercontinental or United States Championship division. This really is a lose-lose situation for WWE, either way, one star is going to be extinguished after working so hard to get them where they are. It’s not even as if Seth Rollins can have help in winning this bout, because if he does then how can we see him as a possible match for John Cena when the times comes for the pair to meet?

Personally, I wouldn’t have booked this match. I wouldn’t even have split The Shield up because they had so much more to give as a unit. Why this was done has never been explained but almost certainly, had WWE kept them together they could have found a way to fabricate success for all three men. Rollins and Ambrose could have turned on Reigns when his success outshone theirs and another member of NXT could have joined the heel Shield. WWE could have used the group as a farming system to launch new careers. When one left, another could have taken his place and the company would have had no problems in finding the ongoing group something to do as the new stars could have targeted old ones and others on the roster as The Shield originally did, to make a name for themselves.

I can only look at this match, despite how good it may be and see a missed opportunity. There are very few things you can describe as a ‘shame’ in wrestling, this is one of them. Someone’s career will come to a shuddering halt at Battleground and it’s not going to be Seth Rollins. Dean Ambrose had so much untapped potential that won’t get seen or used in the mid-card where wrestlers are routinely stepped over and that’s criminal. I just hope that he can whether the storm and in six months time be granted another shot at stardom by WWE who could do no worse than allowing him time off of television whilst they thought of how to keep him in the spotlight. An injury angle would suffice but that means whilst he’s out those he once teamed with will move on without him and he cannot afford to get lost in the shuffle.

In years to come, Dean Ambrose will look at Battleground 2014 and either pinpoint the event as the night his career took off or the night it came to a shuddering halt. When they’re on a roll, wrestling careers can be monumental. When they stop dead, sometimes they never get moving again.

Winners Prediction: Seth Rollins

WWE Tag Team Championship Match

2 out of 3 Falls Match

(c) The Usos vs Luke Harper and Eric Rowan

I was wrong last month. Harper and Rowan didn’t capture the WWE Tag Team Championships from The Usos, but they should have done. Why, I hear you ask? Because right now, The Wyatt Family need all the image enhancing victories they can possibly get their hands on. After being demolished in disrespectful style by John Cena, Harper and Rowan desperately need to claw back some of that image they lost when Cena effortlessly took them apart three on one. The threat, the fear, that’s slowly beginning to fade away from Bray Wyatt’s stooges and its something which desperately needs to be replaced.

At the moment, it doesn’t matter about the quality of the matches and that’s not something I ever thought I’d hear myself say. The Wyatt Family simply need to be seen winning big matches before people class them as jobbers, a team who can’t pull out victories when it matters or without help. Even worse for The Wyatt Family, they’re failing against two men who WWE have lost complete interest in. What message does it send when two men who are part of a popular group lose to two other men who the company are just biding their time until they can either split or fire? And I say that with a heavy heart because The Usos could have been something big in WWE.

The question we all need to ask ourselves now, is where do The Wyatt Family go from here? Bray Wyatt is a different matter, he’ll succeed on his own whether Harper and Rowan are by his side or not. It’s the two who have been overlooked who now need love, care and attention. Now they’ve been known as those characters, there is no place for them anywhere else on the roster and should WWE split them, they’ll both be fired within six months when the company become stumped for ideas for the pair.

Personally, I wouldn’t have chosen the tag team gold to try and help The Wyatt Family rebuild their image. It’s not exactly a stature enhancer and The Usos haven’t been the success WWE had hope they would be. Sure, the brothers have been great inside the ring but without a gripping story or regular pay-per view coverage the titles have once again disappeared into obscurity and are becoming unimportant again which is to the detriment of everyone who will hold them in the future. But it’s a beginning for The Wyatt Family, one which should serve to catapult them further seeing as they’ve never held main roster gold before.

As for The Usos, well what else can one say about them? They’ve been on WWE television recently, not that we’ve known it. Their matches, with the exception of matches with The Wyatt Family, have been routine and uninspiring. Certainly not what we’d expect from a team who could have been something huge and to be honest I don’t know where they go from here. Losing the tag titles will put The Usos on the ‘Future Endeavoured’ list for sure. WWE have no use for them except for being cannon fodder.

Splitting them and turning them heel would be a disaster. If they have no appeal in the eyes of WWE management as a duo then they’ll certainly have none as singles wrestlers. If The Usos split, they’ll both be on Superstars duties until the next talent cull crops up. With no challengers lined up and very few meaningful tag teams to move onto after their series with The Wyatt Family. Their in trouble and I doubt even an appearance from their father can help them out now, though I would love to see The Wyatt Family vs The Usos and Rikishi in six man tag team action somewhere down the line.

I would like WWE to do something drastic with The Usos. It’s clear the brothers cannot remain tag team title holders much longer, especially if the company want the doubles gold to be the standard bearer it once was. If that can ever happen again. Maybe a heel turn for the pair as a team holds some weight. WWE would have to create new face teams to pit them against and give them a lengthily pay-per view run to get them over  but as I’ve said before, if The Usos were to take up the mantle of The Headshrinkers then their bread could be buttered. If not, well, at least they tried to live their dream even if WWE were so keen to stop them doing so.

Winners Prediction: Luke Harper and Eric Rowan

Jack Swagger vs Alexander Rusev

I’m confused. Who is exactly playing the face and heel in this situation because I’m pretty sure Jack Swagger has turned face but I’m yet to actually see anything in the way of a solid turn. Am I missing a trick? Does bashing immigrants and being a borderline racist make you a hero in 2014, because if so then I have several uncles who would be worshiped in the wrestling world. Maybe I’ll buy them some trunks and boots for Christmas and tell them to go and tryout for WWE.

Regardless of how popular the ‘We The People’ chant has gotten over the last year or so, I don’t believe Jack Swagger has the qualifications or the characteristics to ever be classed as a face. No offence to guy but he always looks rough, like he’s been sleeping in the back of his car, tanked up to the eyeballs on alcohol and often smacked off his tits on cocaine. I’m not saying that Jack Swagger has done any of that despite his previous conviction for possession of weed or marijuana, but it’s how he regularly looks. Just take a peek at his strained face and the bags under his eyes if you don’t believe me.

And then you add in Zeb Coulter to the equation and Jack Swagger surely has to be considered a heel in anyone’s eyes. Which begs the question, why pit heel vs heel on a pay-per view event when the equation can’t favour anyone in question. Because Alexander Rusev is plainly a heel and he needs to remain so. If WWE are hoping this match will turn Jack Swagger into a face, someone people can get behind then they need to do a hell of a lot of work and maintain that effort when the match is over, which I’m not convinced they want to do.

This whole feud is pure filler. Plainly. WWE have engineered this to suit Rusev and no one else. I doubt Jack Swagger’s image has even crossed their minds. WWE want Alexander Rusev to be the next big thing as Brock Lesnar was in 2002 and whilst no one can doubt that ‘The Bulgarian Brute’ has the skills, I do doubt his heart and passion, not to mention his conditioning in the ring. Since he’s been introduced onto the main roster, Rusev has competed in short, useless squash matches which don’t test his skills or conditioning. Even at Extreme Rules in May, Rusev was fed the redundant R-Truth and Xavier ‘no future in WWE’ Woods. To the audience Rusev is another Ryback, I just hope he doesn’t blow up or struggle like Ryback did when needed to fight fifteen minute bouts.

The other problem I have with Alexander Rusev isn’t that he’s just one in a long line of foreign invaders in the company, following in the footsteps of Ludwig Borger and Vladimir Kozlov who both tanked in style, but that he seems to be completely and utterly bored in every match he fights. I get the whole, ‘not bothered I’m a wrecking machine’ attitude which is meant to strike fear into the hearts of opponents and fans alike, but Rusev takes it to extremes. He looks bored to tears in every match he has and whether he is or not, it’s not the way to go about conveying his character or displeasure to WWE.

Instead of looking like he’s at home watching television when he has an opponent locked in the Camel Clutch, he should have a fearsome and brutish expression on his face regardless of whether the recipient is Xavier Woods or John Cena. Fans need to see how much he enjoys hurting and injuring wrestlers for them to take him seriously otherwise he’s just going to be another face in the crowd. And there are way too many ordinary wrestlers in WWE in 2014. We want a standout star. Alexander Rusev could be WWE’s Samoa Joe if he can find the attitude and the loathing. If not, then I fear he’s going to be old hat by winter 2014.

Jack Swagger is doomed. WWE have taken everything that was great away from him and made just another jobber. The reason Jack Swagger left WWE the first time was because of his treatment at the hands of the company. Now, they have repeated history and when his contract comes up for renewal I doubt he’s going to be too keen to put pen to paper. But then who could blame him? So much talent gone to waste when it could have been used to help elevate a division is just pathetic and if WWE do lose both Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio by the middle of 2015 then once again, like so many other mistakes they’ve made, they only have themselves to blame.

Vince cannot get nasty with people who refuse to renew their contracts if all he’s done with them is bury them and harm their image. Wrestlers with as much talent and desire as Jack Swagger shouldn’t get into wrestling just to be there, they should be aiming for the top. And if the company who employs them doesn’t do everything in their power to help them get to the top of the mountain then they must look elsewhere and see if their careers would flourish on the other side of the fence. To expect them to be happy with being buried is just selfish.

Saying that, Jack Swagger’s career has been on one big downward spiral ever since I can remember and a loss to Swagger at Battleground would do Alexander Rusev more harm than good. For me, there’s only one conclusion at Battleground and it’s going to be more misery for ‘The All-American-American’.

Winners Prediction: Alexander Rusev

Battleground Kick-off Match

Naomi vs Cameron

If WWE took a poll on the one match no one would want to see at battleground or any other pay-per view event this side of death, then it would be the one in question. Once Brodus Clay had been mercifully released from WWE because he was simply terrible in the ring and his character had desperation written all over it, The Funkadactyls had to be close behind him or at least that is what many believed. Whilst Naomi and Cameron had skills to make it in the Divas Division, one more than the other, they weren’t exactly needed by the company who have plenty more options where female grapplers are concerned down in NXT.

Deciding not to fire them and moronically believing that they could achieve better success separately, because the females in the division are so strong in 2014 Cameron and Naomi can shield their flaws, I don’t think. I’d like to meet the moron who decided the duo would be better off as singles competitors. Because I think I may just punch him in the face as it’s a blatant effort to fill out the dwindling division without splashing the cash for better, if slightly less feminine looking wrestlers. WWE may be taking a hit with the WWE Network but they’re so far from financial ruin they can afford to invite it to stay for a week and still be in business for a hundred years. There’s no reason not to hire new female wrestlers, like I said before WWE need to stop obsessing about beautiful women and start hiring some killer talent.

So, with all things considered, taking everything into account and looking towards a brighter, fresher tomorrow I suppose the question is whether can either Cameron or Naomi or both women have a future in WWE? Before we all shout the answer out together, I think it would be a good idea to pause, take a deep breath and...oh forget it, all together now, NO!!! Even though as a team they were all but invisible, together they had a better chance of surviving than they do as singles wrestlers. WWE could have put them with a new up and coming star and ditched the cheerleader act. It may not have worked but at least by association, had the new star they’d have settle with become huge, they would have been names as well.

When WWE split the pair, it consigned them to the shuffle where they will ultimately become lost after Battleground is over and their match is met with silence. The truth is, no one cares about either of these women and WWE have to recognize that. The Divas Division herd had to be thinned and soon. Aksana has already faced the axe and now both of these have to follow suit. If WWE want to revolutionize their female division and title then they need to move with the times. There’s no option with either Cameron or Naomi and this is a poor start in building solid foundations under A.J Lee and Paige.

Not only am I convinced we’re in for something completely monotonous as neither has the skill to carry an opponent at this point in their careers, but as the second women’s bout on the card and the first second women’s bout on the card though it may go on first, in a long time, if you see what I’m saying, then the likelihood fans in the arena on the night are going to be enthusiastic for this is little to none. If any match at Battleground has ‘filler’ written all over it, then this is the one.

Winners Prediction: Naomi

To be fair, WWE have packed their 2014 Battleground card with some great looking matches on paper. The WWE World Heavyweight Championship match, WWE Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal, WWE Divas Championship and WWE Tag Team Championships should all be must watch affairs whilst the undercard which features Jack Swagger vs Alexander Rusev and Chris Jericho vs Bray Wyatt both have the potential to be memorable even though the outcomes are all but set in stone.

What’s important for WWE at Battleground is to make amends for where they fell down at Money in the Bank and that is in the star making. They took the coward’s way out at Money in the Bank by putting the top title on John Cena yet again when it could have done so much more for someone aspiring to be the next star player. That cannot happen as we head into SummerSlam. If WWE hold out any hope of selling a massive number for their August spectacular then they must make at least two new stars here.

Candidates would be Cesaro, Roman Reigns and the ever popular Dolph Ziggler who can still make it in WWE thanks to the support of the fans. Should neither of the trio shine at Battleground then it has to be Seth Rollins or Dean Ambrose or both. With Daniel Bryan set to return and challenge the WWE World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam, then it’s going to take a unified effort for WWE’s younger guns to break that glass ceiling placed above them. It can be done, Daniel Bryan is living proof.

I would like to see a surprise at Battleground. Something which hasn’t been done before or a chance taken which would light the touch paper on the new generation once and for all. We’ve witnessed too many false starts in wrestling and I’m thinking that a Seth Rollins cash in and WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory would draw enough attention and interest to SummerSlam. Now that really would be justice served.

Onwards and upwards...