Updated WWE Battleground 2017 Card After SmackDown

July 23rd gets a US Title bout, and a flag match between familiar foes.

by Andy H Murray
Kevin Owens AJ Styles Battleground
WWE.com

Taking place on July 23rd, Battleground is WWE's next SmackDown-branded pay-per-view, and some of the show's biggest matches are already in place. A Punjabi Prison match between WWE Champion Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton was booked last week, as was a Tag Team Title rematch pitting The Usos against The New Day, and a couple of new additions were made on last night's show.

SmackDown's main event featured a 15-man Independence Day Battle Royal to crown the new number one contender for Kevin Owens' United States Champion. AJ Styles eliminated Sami Zayn last to take the victory, and he'll now face KO in a rematch of their Backlash bout, which Owens won via countout on May 21st.

A flag match between John Cena and Rusev has also been added. Both men returned to WWE programming following lengthy absences last night, with 'The Bulgarian Brute' interrupting Cena's in-ring promo at the start of the show, leading to the booking.

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Here's how the updated Battleground card looks following the additions:-

WWE Title Punjabi Prison Match: Jinder Mahal (c) vs. Randy Orton

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United States Title: Kevin Owens (c) vs. AJ Styles

SmackDown Tag Team Titles: The Usos (c) vs. The New Day

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Flag Match: John Cena vs. Rusev

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.