WWE Battleground Results – 23 July 2017

Welcome to WWE Battleground 2017!

The Punjabi Prison makes a (hopefully) triumphant return after a decade in a match that sees Randy Orton get one more shot at regaining the WWE Championship from Jinder Mahal. It’s no secret that the Punjabi Prison hasn’t had a good track record in WWE, particularly because it’s a weird match with silly rules, but tonight’s definitely has the chance to be the best ever! We’re hoping a decade will allow Randy and Jinder to learn from the mistakes of those before and build a pretty decent match. If nothing else the Prison is always a spectacle.

Also on tonight’s show, John Cena makes his triumphant return to the ring to face Rusev in a Flag Match. This match doesn’t feel all that important because we’ve seen this feud before and because flag matches are generally silly. Regardless, John Cena wrestling is always worth checking out because he’s become an attraction in WWE and here’s hoping his current run will last a while. Rusev’s return has been a very long time coming and fans were hoping that he would be given a strong run upon return and maybe that will be the case if he can eek a win tonight!

There’s a small truth in the women’s division that few people want to acknowledge: Naomi hasn’t had a real contender since winning the title at WrestleMania. Other than fighting Lana on a weekly basis, Naomi’s title run has been marred by a lack of competition. This has happened because the SmackDown ladies have been embroiled in a multi-woman feud for months and months. Tonight the company aims to end this long-running battle royal with a five-way match with the winner becoming the number one contender to Naomi. I don’t think there is a clear winner for this match because the two strongest challengers, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, are both babyfaces. The idea of Lana winning is painfully possible.

Also on tonight’s card, Shinsuke Nakamura takes on Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn looks for revenge against Mike Kanellis, The New Day get another shot at The Uso’s Tag Team Championships, and Kevin Owens will look to regain his US Championship from AJ Styles! Tonight’s Battleground is a pretty stacked card with some crazy match stipulations and it all starts with Tye Dillinger Vs. Aiden English on the Kick-Off Show at 7pm EST. And don’t forget, you can watch Talking Smack after Battleground! Download the free Ringside News app for all your wrasslin’ news, and the Ringside Talk app to join your fellow marks in conversing about the show. Enjoy!

AJ Styles & Others Hype Their WWE Battleground Matches

Several WWE Superstars have taken to Twitter to hype their matches at tonight’s WWE Battleground event. Here are a few tweets sent out:

Former WWE Superstar Returning at Tonight’s WWE Battleground Event?

There is a rumor going around that former WWE Superstar The Great Khali is backstage in Philadelphia for tonight’s WWE Battleground event.

While Khali has not been confirmed to appear on camera tonight, it’s been speculated that he may appear in the main event match of Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship given his connection with the Punjabi Prison match. One of our readers also sent word that Khali posted photos of himself at the airport and on an airplane earlier this morning.

Khali last appeared for WWE on the October 31st, 2014 episode of SmackDown in a losing effort to Rusev. Khali left the company once his contract expired on November 13th, 2014th.

You can check out our full on-going coverage of tonight’s show at this link and also you can join us for our LIVE fan discussion on Ringsidetalk.net!

Last Minute Shift In Betting Odds for Tonight’s WWE Battleground Event

Below are the final betting odds for tonight’s WWE Battleground event. It should be noted that there were several changes in odds from our post earlier today.

(Note: The lower the number, the more favorable they are of winning the match)

WWE Championship – Punjabi Prison Match
Jinder Mahal(c) -7500 vs Randy Orton +2500

WWE United States Championship
AJ Styles(c) -4950 vs Kevin Owens +1650

SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The New Day -5700 vs The Usos(c) +1900

Flag Match
John Cena -350 vs Rusev +250

Fatal 5 Way for the Smackdown Women’s Championship #1 Contendership
Natalya -1700 vs Charlotte +1100 vs Becky Lynch +5000 vs Lana +6500 vs Tamina +9500

Shinsuke Nakamura -2450 vs Baron Corbin +1150

Sami Zayn -3250 vs Mike Kanellis +1350

First Match Set for WWE SummerSlam

Natalya defeated Lana, Becky Lynch, Tamina and Charlotte in a Fatal 5-Way match at tonight’s WWE Battleground event to earn a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the upcoming WWE Summerslam event.

No other matches have been officially set for the event.

WWE SummerSlam will take place on August 20, 2017, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. As always, we will have live coverage of the event.

Recently Released GFW Talent Backstage at WWE RAW Live Event

Shane Helms, who was recently fired by Global Force Wrestling, was backstage at the RAW Live Event on Friday night in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Helms lives in the area, so there probably isn’t much to really make of him being there as he and Matt Hardy are good friends.

How To Book Darren Young Upon His Return

Darren Young is set to make his return to the company really soon. You all remember Darren Young right? He was one half of The Prime Time Players with Titus O’Neil, which I thought was one great tag team. Although he isn’t the greatest wrestler, he isn’t half bad either. We last saw him as a student of Bob Backlund, working hard and doing things the right way. He injured his elbow back in January and has been off our television screens ever since.

With a return nearing, one has to wonder how Young should be booked and portrayed in his return. It doesn’t make sense to pair him back with Backlund, but he could be used in another form.

Young is on the Raw brand, which is loaded with star studded talent. To get television time there, you have to do something impressive and shocking at the same time. Do something that draws ratings and garners attention for yourself. For Young to do that, he must turn on and destroy Bob Backlund.

It sounds harsh and inhumane in a way, but it makes perfect sense. Backlund is a sixty-seven year old man who isn’t physically the same as he was back in his prime. He may can defend himself, but not like a thirty-three year old Darren Young could. Young turning on Backlund would make the crowd feel uncomfortable, sad, and even disgusted at the sight before their eyes. So how should he do it?

Start out with Young making a surprise return to Monday Night Raw with Backlund by his side. They can do the skit where Backlund proclaims he’s going to make Darren Young great again. This is when Young turns on Backlund, hitting him with heavy shots and kicks. Young grabs a chair and hits Backlund across the back. As the crowd stares at the motionless body of Backlund, they will also see the sinister grin on Young’s face. A new heel is born, one with nothing to lose.

Young’s success after that moment determines how he performs in the ring and cut promos. Start him off against a Heath Slater or a Rhyno, a low-card babyface that can help put someone over. Eventually this will lead up to him getting a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. It may be puzzling, but if Young can put in the work then he definitely deserves a shot at the Intercontinental Championship.

Jinder Mahal winning the WWE Championship has opened the door for so many others. Mahal went from jobber to champ in a blink of an eye. If he can do it, then Young has the chance to do it too. Just put in the time and the work, then anything is possible.

Darren Young has had his fair share of success within the company. He is a former Tag Team Champion and knows what it’s like to perform in big time matches. The ability is there, he just needs the opportunity. Attacking his mentor could create just the perfect opportunity. Young as a heel will be a little fresh thing to help keep the fans interested and may get the notice of the powers that be. I wish Young all the best during his return to the WWE.

What to Expect at Tonight’s WWE Battleground Event

WWE heads to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for tonight’s WWE Battleground event. Here is the card for event:

Punjabi Prison for the WWE Title
Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal

WWE United States Title Match
Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles

SmackDown Tag Team Title Match
The New Day vs. The Usos

Flag Match
Rusev vs. John Cena

Fatal 5 Way Elimination Match to Crown a New #1 Contender
Charlotte Flair vs. Lana vs. Becky Lynch vs. Tamina Snuka vs. Natalya

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin

Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis

Kickoff
Aiden English vs. Tye Dillinger

Check back here at 7PM ET for our live play-by-play coverage of the event. We will also be having a live fan discussion at RingsideTalk.net!

Reddit Users Accuse Ryback of Making Fake Reviews on Amazon

A user on Reddit made accusations that Ryback was creating fake accounts on Amazon to leave positive reviews for his merchandise.

Ryback has apparently been making shill accounts on amazon to 5-star review his own products, and 1-star fake merchandise from SquaredCircle

Ryback responded to the accusations on Twitter with the following remarks:

It turns out that Ryback was telling the truth and the person giving the reviews on Amazon came clean:

Major Spoiler for Tonight’s WWE Battleground Event

Apparently there has been a huge shift in the betting odds for tonight’s WWE Battleground 5-Way Elimination match featuring Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Tamina, Natalya and Lana.

While Charlotte has been the majority favorite to win the bout, there was a huge shift late last night that now puts Natalya in the lead to be victorious in the match tonight. Dave Meltzer discussed the shift on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Radio and mentioned that at one point the match was removed off the boards because all kinds of money was coming in all at once on Natalya. The odds have since then been adjusted with Natalya being the favorite.

If Natalya wins, she will be facing Naomi at SummerSlam for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.