Welcome to the 2014 WWE Battleground recap. Sadly, the WWE Network was buffering non-stop so I missed 2/3 of the opening match before it finally kicked in and then started buffering again before the Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose match, so this won’t be a live recap like usual thanks to the problems plaguing the WWE Network this evening.
WWE Tag Team Championship: The Usos vs. The Wyatt Family
This is a two out of three falls match. The Wyatt Family dominated the first part of this match and ended shockingly when Luke Harper hit a big boot for the pin for the first fall. Honestly, it was not anything like I expected when it came to Jimmy Uso getting pinned after a move like a boot. The second fall was also a fluke pin for The Usos. Forget all about that, though, because the third fall was an amazing match. These four guys pulled everything out and looked like main event tag teams. The Usos finally pulled out the win when they hit a double simultaneous splash from the same turnbuckle.
Winners: The Usos (2 falls to 1) (*** ½)
Backstage, Seth Rollins is being interviewed. He talks about how Dean Ambrose is like a little cockroach that he needs to stomp out. Just when he is about to talk about his Money in the Bank briefcase, Dean Ambrose attacks him. He beats the hell out of Seth Rollins until security breaks them up and Triple H has Ambrose thrown out of the building, despite the fact that Ambrose and Rollins have a match on this show.
WWE Divas Championship: AJ Lee vs. Paige
AJ Lee and Paige fought a nice even match, although the entire story that the announcers were trying to tell made it sound like Paige might turn heel, which never happened. AJ Lee finally won with the Shining Wizard in a decent match.
Winner: AJ Lee by pinfall (**)
Backstage, Randy Orton is looking for Kane in the back. He finds him and apologizes for hitting him with the RKO last week. Kane said that “being the Devil’s favorite demon means never having to say he is sorry.” Orton tries to convince Kane that their enemy is John Cena and Roman Reigns. Kane said that he assures Orton that the winner is standing right here and then walks off.
Rusev w/Lana vs. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter
Before the match started, Lana went into a pretty major diatribe against the United States and really cut it close with some of the comments, which were a little close to being accurate in some cases. Finally, Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter came out to shut her up. However, just when Colter tried to talk, Lana slapped him and Swagger attacked Rusev. In a very interesting turn, Swagger dominated the match and had Rusev trapped in the ankle lock. Rusev escaped, sent Swagger into the steel ring post and won by count out. After the match, Rusev pulled Swagger back into the ring and locked in the Accolade.
Winner: Rusev by countout (** ½)
Backstage promo with Goldust and Stardust.
Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose
Seth Rollins came out to the ring and demanded that he have his hand raised in victory by forfeit. However, shortly after his hand was raised, Dean Ambrose came from out of nowhere and started beating the hell out of Rollins. The referees and security came out but Ambrose kept breaking loose and attacking Rollins. By the end, Rollins was breaking free and attacking Rollins until Triple H showed up and had Ambrose thrown out again.
Winner: Seth Rollins by forfeit (* ½)
Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho was holding his own early in this match despite Luke Harper and Erick Rowan interfering. Jericho actually hit a BIG flying press from the top buckle onto the floor on all three men. However, after this Luke Harper tried to interfere and the referee booted the Wyatt Family from ringside. Luke Harper forced Erick Harper to leave as Bray Wyatt looked on in shock. Wyatt then nailed Jericho from behind and sent him into the cameraman and the fight was now one-on-one. Jericho started flying again, and is using his old school high flying offense. Bray Wyatt dominated most of this match but Jericho hit a Code Breaker from out of nowhere for the win. Y2J won, but Bray looked strong.
Winner: Chris Jericho (***)
In the parking garage, security is protecting Seth Rollins as they walk him to his car. He tells them he doesn’t need them but when they leave, he is jumping at shadows. There was good reason. Ambrose was hiding in his car trunk and attacked him. Seth Rollins finally jumped in his car and took off, so there goes Plan B.
Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal: Big E, Alberto Del Rio, Cesaro, R-Truth, Ryback, Curtis Axel, Zack Ryder, Titus O’Neil, Damien Sandow, Heath Slater, Diego, Sin Cara, Xavier Woods, The Great Khali, Kofi Kingston, Bo Dallas, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and Sheamus
Bad News Barrett came out before the match started with a brace on his arm. He has some bad news. Whoever wins this will fall to his Bull Hammer when he returns from his injury. Khali eliminated Xavier Woods quickly. Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick on Khali and then everyone teamed to eliminate Khali. Sin Cara was out next at the hands of Bo Dallas. R-Truth was out next. Curtis Axel was also eliminated. Diego eliminated Damien Sandow. Ryback tossed out Diego. Sheamus Brogue Kicked Ryback over the top rope. For the first time, The Miz was seen when he attacked Sheamus. It turned out Miz was hiding most of the match and then he slipped out again under the bottom rope and hid outside the ring some more. Bo Dallas eliminated Titus O’Neil. Dolph Ziggler eliminated Del Rio. The Miz slid back in, got some more hits and then escaped the ring again. Cesaro eliminated Big E next. Cesaro suplexed Kingston over the top rope but then Heath Slater eliminated Cesaro. Slater was celebrating so Sheamus eliminated him. Dolph Ziggler eliminated Bo Dallas. It ended up as Sheamus vs. Ziggler (with The Miz still hiding outside the ring). Sheamus and Ziggler fought great and amazingly Ziggler hit the kick to eliminate Sheamus, but then Miz ran in and tossed Ziggler to win the title.
Winner: The Miz (***)
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns vs. Kane
The rules are a Fatal Four Way, with the first pin fall crowning the winner. This means John Cena can lose the title without ever getting pinned. Interestingly, despite being at each other’s necks, Kane was seemingly helping Randy Orton through the early part of the match. There was too much here to go into too much detail. There was a point where Cena had Orton in the STF and Reigns saved Orton. There was also a point where Reigns hit Cena with the Superman punch and the spear but Kane made the save. At another point, Reigns hit the running high kick on all three of his opponents. He also speared Orton through the barricade. Kane tried to choke slam Reigns but Reigns pulled the hand away from the neck and hit the spear. Cena made the save. Cena hit the AA on Kane but Reigns saved him. Cena hit the AA on Reigns but Kane made the save. Kane choke slammed Reigns but Reigns kicked out. Reigns with another spear on Kane but Orton made the save. Orton hit the RKO on Reigns but Cena came in, hit the AA on Orton ONTO Kane and then pinned Kane for the win. And, there was no PLAN B on this show.
Winner: John Cena (***)