10 Ways WWE Screwed Up At Battleground 2017
5. Hot-Shotting The US Title
The United States Title has had a good run lately. Kevin Owens’ performances as champion have been excellent, and his feud has helped raise the belt to a level of prestige it hasn’t experienced since John Cena’s 2015 reign. With the WWE Title languishing, it legitimately feels like SmackDown’s top prize at the moment, though there’s one huge flaw in the way it’s been booked lately.
Owens first won the belt at WrestleMania 33, then lost it back to Chris Jericho 28 days later. A pointless two-day reign followed, before KO regained, holding it for a further 66 days. Styles ended his run at a New York City house show on 7 July, and after 16 days and zero successful defences, the belt is now back over Owens’ shoulder.
The title has been passed around like a hot potato, and if this continues, all the good work will be undone. Jericho and Styles’ reigns had absolutely no point, and while KO can now call himself a three-time champion, he’d have benefited more had he not passed the belt back and forth with his rivals. Here’s hoping his current reign is a lengthy one, because if not, it’ll start feeling like a worthless trinket again.