WWE Battleground (2016 TV Special) User Reviews

Very Important and Solid Show.

[morantjavonte · 8/10 · 19 April 2022]

Battleground 2016 Thoughts

Battleground 2016 was the 4th annual Battleground event produced by the WWE. It took place July 24, 2016 at the Verizon Center in Washington D. C. Attendence was 15,109.

The PPV was the last to feature the full roster as the Brand Split was just beginning. The biggest feud of the night was the WWE World Heavyweight Championship feud between all 3 former members of the shield. I remember this dream match was something everyone looked forward to. Sheild was one of the greatest factions. This was pretty much a now or possibly never choice as the brand split happened and all 3 members were now single great stars headlining a PPV and it was more special as the Championship was on the line. Randy Orton also made his return after 9 month absent from injury (longest of his career). At the end this was one of the most important PPVs at the time as the brand split officially started the night after this event thus many stars were not seeing one another for awhile.

The Good - The buildup to the main event still turned out fine as Roman Reigns was suspended for 30 days but the feud storyline was still good. The match it self lived up to the hype. All 3 had good chemistry and the crowd was hot all match. The preview told a good story between all 3 members. The best match of the night would go to Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens. 2 best friends-turn-rivals is always a great story. The 2 stole the show and put a perfect end to the chapter. The opening was good too as Bayley made her roster debut. It was Strange why she couldn't be drafted but debuted 1 month later. New Day vs. Wyatt Family was good and Cena, Enzo, Cass vs. The Club was fun as well.

The Meh - The US title match was kinda bland but the crowd were still into Zack Ryder at the end. It sucks he didn't do much post this night. Natalya vs. Becky Lynch wasn't too great either. Match felt like a filler and should have been on TV.

The Bad - Darren Young vs. The Miz was trash. It was slow paced all the way to the end of the count out. Darren Young's ride here was a Trainwreck and putting him with Bob Backlund didn't make things any better. It was forgettable.

Overall - This was a great show. Everything about it felt like we were entering a new period. I remember enjoying this at a friend's house and being anticipated for what was to come after this show. Both the main event and Zayn/Owens were the highlights of the night. This show can be argued as the best PPV of 2016.

Score - 8 out of 10: Really Really Good

0 = Terrible : 1 = Bad/Lackluster : 2 = Decent : 3 = Good : 4 = Awesome : 5 = One of the Best of all Time :

1. Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Dana Brooke & Charlotte - 3/5

2. The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family - 3/5

3. Rusev vs. Zack Ryder: WWE United States Championship - 2/5

4. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens - 4.5/5

5. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya - 2/5

6. Darren Young vs. The Miz: WWE Intercontinental Championship - 0.5/5

7. John Cena, Enzo & Cass vs. The Club - 3.5/5

8. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose: WWE World Heavyweight Championship - 4/5

Best Match - Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

Worst Match - Darren Young vs. The Miz

Most Memorable Moment - Sami Zayn choosing to go one more helluva kick over a pin

Top 5 Performers

1. Sami Zayn - Outstanding Performance

2. Kevin Owens - Outstanding Performance

3. Seth Rollins - Great Performance

4. Dean Ambrose - Great Performance

5. Roman Reigns - Great Performance.

Prepare for a battle of semi-epic proportions! Battleground was a pretty good special event even if some parts were just meh.

[ironhorse_iv · 7/10 · 27 July 2016]

Ever since the end of the Monday Night Wars with WCW in March 2001, the WWE has always wanted to recapture the competitive edge, it had with its rival competition. They did this, by creating a brand extension draft between its shows, 'Raw' & 'Smackdown', where the overabundance of talent would be split up, giving each show, a reason for wrestling fans to tune in. Sadly, the first attempt at this, in 2002 ended in disaster in 2011, with bad story lines, talent pool, running thin, and predictable outcomes. Also, the rise of online platforms, made the pre-recorded format 'Smackdown', more of least must-see TV. It wasn't until the USA Network got the rights of the show in early 2016, that a revived of the brand extension look like it might come back. The reasons why, is USA Network wiliness to air the show, live, starting off in July 19, 2016, a few days before WWE super-show card, "Battleground'. This gave WWE, another reason to attempt to boost, 'Smackdown' ratings with another draft; while also making their annual b-list show 'Battleground', a lot better. Indeed, 'Battleground' was the last major event, until the newly reinstated WWE brand extension went into full effect, a week later. It somewhat shows, as the stakes of the matches, were raise higher, due to the idea, where any of the shows, could lose any of their championships. 'This is a war' quotes the WWE Network Special song from the band, the Phantoms that opens the show, with a video package, stressing how important each match on the card is, to the well-being of the two wrestling shows. It was an awesome song that fits well for this type of a show. Taken place at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. I was really hoping the entrance stage would have, every wrestler's theme flag there like the show promo video, or that the wrestlers would get to use flags during their Battleground entrances. That would be sick. Sadly, that wasn't the case. Without spoiling the card, too much, the show starts off with a kickoff match between the Usos (Jimmy & Jey Usos) Vs Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango), with a very surprising win from one of those teams. I guess, being related to recent Wellness Program violator, Roman Reigns is going to hurt the Usos for a while. Anyways, that match wasn't that good. Nothing worth noting about. However, I did, enjoyed and appreciated, the first match on the main show, between Women Champion Charlotte & Dana Brooke Versus Sasha Banks and her mystery partner. I'm really glad, that Sasha's partner was indeed, what the fans wanted. Her entrance was one of the biggest pops of the night, yet it will be, still sometime before she become a full-time member of the WWE main roster. Anyways, the tag team match with her was surprising, very good. Thank God, for an actual finish. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan, & Braun Strowman) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods & Big E) is next on the card in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. I'm for one, wasn't really too hyped from this match. I really didn't like the built up to it, with the cheesy, in and out, mind controlling acting and its 'TNA: Final Deletion', rip-off match at the Wyatt's compound. I found, this match, disappointing, as well. Still, the right people won. The United States Championship was on the line, in the next match as champion, Rusev with Lana defend the championship against challenger, Zack Ryder. I'm honestly, was looking forward to this match, until the draft results, days earlier came in. After that, I kinda knew, who was going to win and who was going to appear in the end. Match was alright for the most part, but way too predictable. Match of the night was next with Sami Zayn Vs Kevin Owens. I can see, these two fight forever. Hands down, the story-telling, match moves, and close-finish, makes this, one of the best WWE matches of the year for me. The next match on the card was Natalya Vs Becky Lynch. It was alright, but highly forgettable. I really couldn't get into their feud. I really don't buy Natalya as a heel at all. It was a pee-break for me. The next match on the card is probably the worst of the night, with the Miz with his wife, Maryse defending his WWE Intercontinental Championship against challenger, Darren Young with his trainer, Bob Backlund. First off, I kinda dig the whole 1999's 'Eye Wide Shut' look, Miz was sporting, however, the match was sh*t, ending with what could be call, a very confusing result. Just fast forward to John Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass Vs the Club (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows). That match was predictably very good, with Enzo getting better in the ring every time we see him. It's after this match, where the Highlight Reel with host Chris Jericho starts, with guest, Randy Orton who will face Brock Lesnar at 2016's 'Summerslam'. Cool promo, Orton gave, but Orton making fun of Lesnar for failing a drug test at UFC, is like the pot calling the kettle black. Orton fail the WWE Wellness Policy, multiply times. It's something, not to brag around, Orton. Anyways, the main event of the evening is next with Dean Ambrose defending his WWE Championship against his former Shield brothers, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Match was alright, but a bit slow. Reigns being gone for a whole month, due to violating the Wellness Policy, Ambrose/Rollins championship match on 'Raw' & 'Smackdown', a week before and the Authority figures being in ringside didn't help, built this match at all. If anything, it killed, most of the hype. It could had been better. Overall: 2016's 'Battleground' was a better show, then last year. It was truly an end of era.