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Like so many WWE pay-per-views in recent memory, Battleground 2017 was a mixed bag with some good moments and several disappointing ones interspersed through its duration. There were some really entertaining segments/matches and some not so good ones.
As is tradition, we bring you the highlights from the show that saved it, in our opinion; and also some constructive criticism on how the event could have been a far better show than it was. Without further ado, we present the best and worst of WWE Battleground for your convenience and reading pleasure.
#1 Best: The return of The Great Khali
Right before the pay-per-view match was about to begin, we predicted that The Great Khali would be making his comeback to WWE after three years outside the world's top wrestling promotion.
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Well, he did come back, thereby preventing Randy Orton from escaping the cage and becoming WWE Champion for the 14th time in a row. Jinder Mahal now has The Great Khali as well as the Singh Brothers to fall back upon and rely on.
With this massive Indian faction running things on SmackDown Live, the coming months should be quite interesting indeed. We are curious to see how it all plays out in the immediate future on the blue brand.
Why did The Great Khali return? Much like in Jinder Mahal's case, WWE is keen on capturing a chunk of the Indian market with a recognisable figure like Khali. Many fans from all across the world have clamoured for his return on social media, and this should really shake things up. Whether you love him or hate him, you cannot ignore him!
#1 Worst: The Punjabi Prison match
No Punjabi Prison match in the past has exactly been a 5-star affair, and while we expected things to be different this time, considering how long Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal have been working against one another, and the chemistry they share; the result was almost as underwhelming.
Before you point to the massive bump that one of the Singh Brothers took as he fell many feet, bear in mind that mere moments don't make a match...the storytelling and the chemistry makes a match truly great. As we had suspected in our 'Best and Worst of SmackDown Live' write-up last week, visibility was a problem, especially in the inner cage.
#2 Perfect start to the show
The SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship has really been relegated to a sideshow compared to what it was originally meant to be, under the reign of the Usos. It wasn't because of anything they did because they were awesome.
It was because WWE creative could not create enough compelling feuds to keep up invested in them. With The New Day as Tag Team Champions, the title could be elevated to the next level and feel important once more, like it was meant to be.
The real story here is the match that Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston had with The Usos. The crowd was hot, the energy was off the charts and the spots were absolutely crazy. We get a rematch as a result of this encounter and we absolutely cannot wait. Sadly, the show would not remain as good, after the hot start!
#2 Worst: Good matches with awful finishes
The much-awaited encounter between AJ Styles and Kevin Owens was underway and picking steam but a strange roll up pin put an end to the proceedings. Natalya and Charlotte Flair were tearing it up and then suddenly, the Queen hit the turnbuckle and got pinned. Nakamura and Corbin were slugging it out when a low blow put Nakamura out of commission for the duration of the entire night.
As good as the wrestlers are in WWE today, if the storytelling itself isn't up to the mark, what is the point really? These flat finishes left us with a sour taste in our mouth. Here's what saved the show for us, to some degree.
#3 Best: The mystery is far from over!
Breezango did not wrestle on the show but provided us with possibly the most entertaining thing we saw on the whole card. While they did not unearth their mystery assailants' identities, they refuted the claim of The Ascension who were desperate to claim responsibility for the attacks on Breezango. At the conclusion of the segment, they were seemingly abducted by their assailants. This is a compelling storyline and we are intrigued as to how it pans out in the weeks that follow.
As we've complained before, this segment proves how creative WWE writers can be. It's a shame they don't show this kind of creativity more often.
#3 Worst: A very underwhelming Summerslam match
While our sources had pointed to the fact that Natalya would be the victor in the Fatal Five Way Elimination match, we wonder if Naomi vs. Natalya is the right choice for a show as big as Summerslam in Brooklyn. When the alternatives were Charlotte Flair or Becky Lynch, Natalya, as talented as she is, just seems like an underwhelming pick. She can possibly have the best match with Naomi, but there's something that's lacking in her character that makes it impossible for her to connect with fans. Let's hope for the best and hope creative makes us invested in the big show.
#4 Best/Worst: Big win but does it matter?
Sami Zayn is undeniably one of the best wrestlers in the world. WWE has booked him as an underdog, and therefore, despite the fact that he's been in the company for a long time now, Zayn has not picked up a big win convincingly or captured any gold.
This week, despite the distraction by Maria Kanellis, Zayn triumphed over Mike Kanellis and finally had his moment. We hope WWE continues this dominant run and makes him a believable contender for the top prize or at least for the mid card. Knowing the kind of physiques WWE likes, they probably will not.
In many ways, this was a rather tepid show heading into Summerslam and did not get us excited. Let's hope Raw can change all that. Join us again tomorrow for more 'Best and Worst'. Until then, feel our power of love.
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