WWE Battleground 2017: 8 Things WWE Got Right

3. Booking John Cena To Win The Flag Match

John Cena
WWE.com

John Cena was the right choice to banish Rusev in the Flag Match, grab 'Old Glory' and salute it as he toasted victory at Battleground. WWE's love of presenting American patriotism is often tough to watch for the rest of the world, but the promotion had a job to do on Sunday night.

Sickening xenophobia or not (Rusev is Bulgarian and that's not American, so boo him for that reason and that reason only), it was important for WWE to establish Cena as the next challenger to Jinder Mahal's WWE Title. Surely, that's where things are headed in time for 20 August, because there's nobody else worthwhile on the horizon.

Given what was going to happen in the show's main event, Cena's win became even more essential for the card. Had Rusev won, just where would WWE go at SummerSlam? Bulgarian heel going up against Indian heel? Forget about it.

Advertisement
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.