5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Battleground 2016

6. Losers - Roman Reigns

Wyatt Xavier
WWE.com

Nobody lost more at WWE Battleground 2016 than Roman Reigns.

The much-anticipated Shield triple threat had lost much of its lustre following Reigns' Wellness suspension, his miscast babyface status, and Rollins’ own wonky heel alignment. That said, the three wrestlers overcame this admirably, and produced an excellent main event clash that entertained the masses and sent everyone home happy.

Emerging to a typically raucous chorus of jeers from an audience that has never accepted him, Reigns had a nightmarish evening. The fans cheered every move against him, even when Rollins was the perpetrator, and in the end, Reigns was pinned cleanly for the second WWE pay-per-view in a row.

This likely marks the end of his run as WWE’s chosen top babyface. While he didn’t exhibit any heelish tendencies in the match, Reigns’ popularity has completely bottomed-out. Ambrose’s victory shows that he as now stepped into the role originally intended for Reigns, and the Samoan’s future direction has never looked so unclear.

Now would be the perfect time to turn him. Fans are desperate to cheer Rollins, and with both wrestlers working on Raw, a double-turn angle would be the perfect set-up for a show-stealing SummerSlam match.

Whatever the case, Reigns has fallen catastrophically since WrestleMania. Ambrose was always the fans’ choice to play the company’s top hero, and last night, WWE finally acknowledged it. The Roman Empire is over.

And now the winners...

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.