WWE Battleground 2016: 10 Things We Learned

5. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Topped Their Payback Effort

Randy Orton Chris Jericho Battleground
WWE.com

Arguably the match of the night, Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens was a sheer joy to behold. Since entering the WWE system, the pair have been linked, mainly due to the fact they are great friends away from the ring and worked wonders on the independent scene inside it before reaching the McMahon juggernaut.

Before Battleground, many wondered if Owens and Zayn could better what they had achieved at Payback in May. Even just a few minutes in, that was never in doubt. It was almost like both men felt they had something to prove, and there's no reason why they shouldn't become the cream of the crop on Raw with performances like this one.

All in all, Owens vs. Zayn at Battleground was superior to the Payback effort. That's no mean feat, because that bout had hit the mark, but there was a greater pacing, level of intensity and more satisfying conclusion to this pay-per-view showdown.

The pair are on the exact same brand, so there may be more magic to pull out of this sparkling rivalry yet.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.