WWE Battleground 2017: Best Booking Scenarios For Each Match
Is it too late to deconstruct the Punjabi Prison?
The only way WWE could possibly have a PPV worse than Money in the Bank this year is if they decided to put a Punjabi Prison and a Flag Match on the same night. Evidently the company read that statement and thought to themselves: "Challenge Accepted!"
There was once a time when SmackDown Live was handily besting its Raw counterpart in PPVs. That time is no longer, with WWE Great Balls of Fire (ugh, that name is still terrible) effectively becoming one of the best shows of the year.
Still, just because a card has low potential doesn't mean it can't turn out great with the proper booking. Then again, "WWE" and "proper booking" don't often go hand in hand.
The build-up for Battleground has not been kind to viewers. Sure, The New Day and The Usos can both cut world class promos in their sleep, but the incredibly one-sided Mahal vs. Orton just refuses to die. Cena and Rusev are having a grudge match over a single promo, only two years removed from the latter's utter burial. And we still haven't figured out the man formerly known as Mike Bennett.
It might not be the most desirable line-up in history, but even WWE could salvage this with the correct booking. What's the ideal result for each match?
8. Dillinger Vanquishes English
A quick glance at WWE's YouTube page reveals that Tye Dillinger has already defeated Aiden English three times on live TV. Twice on SmackDown, and once on the WWE Backlash pre-show.
Does this technically count as a feud?
Perfect 10 is incredibly over with the fans, so it's nice to see he has a spot on the card at all. But is squashing perennial jobber Aiden English for the fourth consecutive match really the only thing WWE has for Dillinger?
Yes, that is the best case scenario here. Dillinger's true peak is in the upper midcard, while English is pretty much doomed to be "that one guy who used to team with a circus strongman" for the rest of his career. If it looks as though Tye is having too much trouble putting down a former member of the Vaudevillains, he can pretty much kiss his future goodbye.
If there was ever a match that shouldn't go longer than five minutes, here it is.
After this, both should permanently go their separate ways. Dillinger can remain on the fringes of the United States Championship scene, participating in side feuds until a spot opens up for him. English can job for more than one person. Because every brand needs their jobbers. An obnoxious singer just makes a better one than most.