The Frontline of the WWE: Preview of WWE Battleground 2013

It seems that WWE never learns.  One pay-per view a month is plenty.  Adding these unnecessary PPVs in no way helps the product; in fact, it dilutes the product because you break the focus from building entertaining and engrossing storylines to promote a PPV that does not seem anywhere close to important.  Especially with Hell in a Cell set for later this month, WWE's newest PPV Battleground feels like a generic throwaway PPV.  Personally, this writer never hopes for any show to be a throwaway, but that is the nature of things.  When establishing a new PPV, WWE needs to really make a strong first impression or risk going the ways of December to Dismember, Breaking Point or Capitol Punishment.  There are some interesting storylines heading into Battleground; the one caveat being that Battleground feels more in lines with a big episode of Raw than a major PPV event as it is stuck in the middle of two pivotal PPVs (Night of Champions and Hell in a Cell).  Well the wait will not be that long to see if this new PPV sinks or swims as Battleground originates from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo this Sunday evening.

Kofi Kingston vs. Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt has not had much to do since WWE Creative wrote Kane off of TV at Summerslam.  Given the incredibly unique talent of the Wyatt Family, this writer would have thought WWE would spring at the opportunity to put together a little feud to keep them busy for the time being.  No, all viewers got were more cryptic messages and squash matches.  It seems WWE is stalling until they decide to bring Kane back into the fray.  Speaking of the Big Red Monster, this match would be an excellent opportunity to bring Kane back into his feud with Bray Wyatt in some capacity.  Be it an opponent or follower, Kane is desperately needed to give the Wyatt Family some much needed direction.

Prediction:  Bray Wyatt wins

Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. The Shield

The feud between the Corporation and the Rhodes Family has been the most entertaining television on any current WWE programming.  All starting with Triple H prematurely firing Cody Rhodes for losing a match to Randy Orton, this feud has slowly escalated over the past month to involve the entire Rhodes Family (Cody, Goldust and Dusty).  In a last ditch effort to eradicate the Rhodes threat, Triple H gave them a proposition they could not refuse-- beat The Shield and Cody and Goldust get their jobs back, lose and the entire Rhodes Family is banned from the WWE.  These huge stakes along with the great set-up make this match worth paying attention to this Sunday.  With the right intensity, environment and direction, this simple tag team match could steal the show.

Prediction:  Cody Rhodes & Goldust win

AJ Lee (c) vs. Brie Bella for the Diva's Championship

Well, it was wishful thinking that mixing the Diva's Title scene with the cast of Total Divas was just a one shot deal.  WWE is back at it again this month.  Now WWE will be cycling through the cast to individually challenge AJ.  Outside of Natalya, this writer does not see any of the other divas taking the title away from WWE's resident crazy chick.

Prediction:  AJ Lee retains

Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam in a Battleground Hardcore Match for the World Heavyweight Championship

With such a short period between Night of Champions and Battleground, it would not have been the best choice to build up a brand new challenger for Alberto Del Rio.  The easiest and smartest choice was to continue this decent feud with Rob Van Dam and Ricardo Rodriguez especially after the disqualification ending to their match at Night of Champions.  Given RVD's history of excellent hardcore matches and Del Rio's developing mean streak, this match should be an exciting bout to say the least.  With RVD set to be taking a break after Battleground, this writer has a feeling Rodriguez will once again be joining forces with Alberto Del Rio.

Prediction:  Alberto Del Rio retains

Curtis Axel (c) vs. R-Truth for the Intercontinental Championship

It really is hard to preview this match as there is absolutely no story or real significance for it.  R-Truth beat Curtis Axel in a non-title match on Raw so guess that win warrants him a title opportunity.  The only purpose for this match serves is being the buffer between the bigger matches on the card.  Being the buffer is just what this match is going to be as it should be an average bout at best.

Prediction:  Curtis Axel retains

CM Punk vs. Ryback

Placing Ryback into the hands of Paul Heyman was ingenious.  There was no real direction for his character other than the obligatory Ryback bullying segment that appeared on every episode of Raw and Smackdown for the past few months.  After Curtis Axel and Brock Lesnar, it was hard to think of somebody to keep CM Punk busy with Paul Heyman.  Ryback fits the bill perfectly as there is history and chemistry between the two and he has nothing else to do.  As it is only the first match between Punk and Ryback, expect the newest Paul Heyman guy to get the win in some underhanded way.  Heyman needs to keep winning in order for this feud to continue.  If Punk wins, he can finally exact his revenge against Heyman thus end of story and end of keeping Punk away for the WWE Title picture.

Prediction:  Ryback wins

Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton for the vacant WWE Championship

Speaking of the WWE Title picture, it has been an interesting three weeks.  At Night of Champions, Daniel Bryan reclaimed the WWE Championship from Randy Orton, but things were not right in the world.  When Scott Armstrong went to count the winning pinfall, he made an obviously quick count.  This fast count was used by Triple H to strip Daniel Bryan of the WWE Championship the next night on Raw.  While it was obvious Triple H orchestrated the entire fast count fiasco, you do have to applaud WWE for thinking of a neat way to extend this feud between Bryan and Orton without damaging the standing of either superstar.  The Corporation storyline has made considerable strides in making the faces look on even footing with the heels, but all paths lead to a climactic multi-man match at Survivor Series.  In order to get to that climax, there needs to be some adversity for the new leader of the locker room, Daniel Bryan.  In some way, shape or form, Randy Orton has to leave Battleground as WWE Champion to keep this major storyline on course for Survivor Series.

Prediction:  Randy Orton wins the WWE Championship

Under Corporate Rule: Preview of WWE Night of Champions 2013

The Summer was such a high point for WWE this year that the only way to go from there is down.  As much as the new Corporation angle will be a huge launching point of all storylines going forward, it has been quite a one-sided affair where interest is waning and fast.  A slow burn can lead to big dividends in the end, but Triple H and his cronies have been making the Faces look inferior for weeks on end.  Yes, you need to put the Corporation over as this insurmountable force, but four weeks straight of beatdowns and public humiliations is a little too much.  WWE Creative needs to figure out a way to make this power struggle a little less lopsided and get the Faces on even footing with the Corporation.  Seeing a small contingent of superstars led by Daniel Bryan and the Big Show putting together some kind of hit-and-run approach to combatting the Corporation would be an interesting turn of events.  Ultimately, WWE needs to put together something fast to turn around this angle because the way it is going, the only superstars being put over are Triple H and Randy Orton.

With all that said, this year's Night of Champions is in quite an interesting predicament.  Rather than riding off the coattails of a hot Summer for the WWE, it is stuck with all the disinteresting fallout.  All the exciting stuff happened at Summerslam and sadly Night of Champions is left with the cold leftovers.  There should be good matches on this card; it is just WWE has done such a poor job in  building this PPV.  It seems all the effort went into putting over the Corporation rather than building a worthy follow-up to Summerslam.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Dean Ambrose (c) for the United States Championship

This writer has said this before and he will say it again.  If WWE wants to get Dolph Ziggler over as a face, he should be chasing Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship rather than playing around with whatever mid-card talent WWE wants to throw at him next, no offence Dean.  These two will definitely put a good match; it is just both this writer would rather see Dolph make steps forward with his character rather than taking steps back.  The WWE's focus should be about preparing Ziggler to regain the World Heavyweight Championship, so everything that does not contribute to this end goal is a waste of time.

Prediction:  Dean Ambrose retains

The Shield (c) vs. Winners of the Pre-Show Tag Team Turmoil for the WWE Tag Team Championship

Usually this writer likes to do a separate preview for the pre-show match.  Due to how it directly influences this Tag Team Championship match, it would be easier to include it all in one match preview.  Out of all the tag teams set for the Tag Team Turmoil match (Tons of Funk, the Real Americans, 3MB, the Usos and the Prime Time Players), the best candidates to challenge the Shield at Night of Champions are the Prime Time Players.  The team of Titus O'Neil and Darren Young have been on a roll since Summerslam and it is time for them to get a chance to challenge for the Tag Team Titles.  While the Prime Time Players do deserve this title shot, that does not mean they will best the Hounds of Justice for the Tag Team belts tonight.

Prediction:  The Shield retains

Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam for the World Heavyweight Championship

Ever since WWE paused Del Rio's feud with Dolph Ziggler, the World Heavyweight Champion has been in limbo.  Alberto has just been feuding with whatever challenger WWE decides to throw at him.  Last month, it was Christian.  Now Rob Van Dam seems to be the flavour of the month.  Mr. Monday Night has been paired with the returning Ricardo Rodriguez to give the illusion that this feud was planned from the beginning.  The nice thing about this little feud, we will get to see WWE put over Del Rio's viciousness in a good bout against RVD.  Hopefully, Alberto can stop treading water very soon and move onto a full-blown program over the title rather than these little stints.

Prediction:  Alberto Del Rio retains

AJ Lee (c) vs. Natalya vs. Naomi vs. Brie Bella in a Fatal 4 Way Match for the Divas Championship

Thought we saw the last forced injection of Total Divas into WWE PPV programming at Summerslam?  Well think again because WWE is back at it.  Now they have mixed in the one thing that most wrestling fans hoped stayed very far away- the Divas Championship.  With AJ as champion, the Divas Title seemed to be gaining some semblance of prestige with the best wrestler in the Divas division holding it.  Time to throw in the Total Divas to screw everything up.  If AJ leaves Night of Champions with her reign intact, good for her.  Sadly, this writer does not see such an outcome happening.  Rather go with the best Diva on that stupid show, Natalya, to hold the Divas Title if we have to go with one Total Diva to win this bout.

Prediction:  Natalya wins the Divas Championship

CM Punk vs. Curtis Axel & Paul Heyman in a Handicap Elimination Match

CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar last month at Summerslam was a possibly the best match of the year.  With Brock's appearances used up for the moment, WWE has decided to put in Curtis Axel in this feud as a Lesnar replacement of sorts.  The only caveat being that Axel does not have anywhere close to the star power that Lesnar has.  Good thing, WWE has positioned this match around whether or not Punk will finally be able to get his hands on Paul Heyman.  Unless Axel and Heyman win, this writer does not see the Intercontinental Champion getting out of this match some damage to his current push.

Prediction:  CM Punk wins

Randy Orton (c) vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship

At Summerslam, the WWE Championship was stolen from Daniel Bryan's grasp by Triple H and Randy Orton.  Now it is time for the Beard to get some revenge.  Well everybody thought Bryan would get some comeuppance, but the American Dragon has been put through the ringer these past four weeks.  Being put through countless beatdowns on both Raw and Smackdown with only a few real moments of actual resistance, this feud has not currently done much to get Bryan more over than he already is.  Considering this program is set to last for a while, do not expect Bryan to regain the WWE Title just yet.  If WWE wants to keep this feud going without it growing stale quick, they need to start putting over Bryan rather than Triple H and Randy Orton.

Prediction:  Randy Orton retains