Welcome to our live WWE Battleground results coverage. We will be offering live results for the Kickoff Show, as well as the entire pay-per-view broadcast, with new updates being added every 3-5 minutes. Make sure to refresh this page often to see the newest update.
WWE Battleground Kickoff Show
The Kickoff Show opens with the expert panel, consisting of The Miz, Titus O’Neil, Tensai and Josh Matthews breaking down tonight’s main matches.
After some match-breakdowns, we go to the lounge with Renee Young. Young runs down some interactive social media features as well as a poll on the best couple in WWE history.
Back to the panel, we get some more breakdowns of the rest of tonight’s WWE Battleground card.
We shoot to a live interview with Paul Heyman and Ryback. Heyman talks about how CM Punk is a bully and how his “big, bad, beautiful Ryback” will put an end to the bullying tonight.
From there we shoot inside the arena where we see some fans buying merchandise. Then we go to the announce booth where the PPV commentary team of JBL, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler introduce us to tonight’s show. They reveal that the “Battleground Hardcore Rules” match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Alberto Del Rio and Rob Van Dam will open the PPV portion of tonight’s card.
Kickoff Show Match: Damien Sandow vs. Dolph Ziggler
Sandow cuts a promo, quoting Benjamin Franklin, on his way to the ring. Sandow carries his Money In The Bank briefcase to the ring and talks about how he’s going to “decimate” another former MITB briefcase winner, Dolph Ziggler. Sandow talks about cashing in his briefcase tonight after the “Battleground Hardcore Rules” match between Del Rio and Van Dam. “And for that …you’re welcome,” concludes Sandow.
Ziggler’s music hits and the fans in Buffalo rise to their feet and pop loud for his ring-walk. Ziggler makes his way to the ring as the announcers do some more work selling tonight’s pay-per-view. We have just a tad under 19 minutes left in the Kickoff Show as the Sandow-Ziggler match is about to get underway.
The two lock up as a “let’s go Sandow” chant breaks out among some hardcore fans at ringside. Sandow is controlling Ziggler early on. The PPV announce team continue to hype the fact that Sandow may cash in his briefcase tonight. Sandow knocks Ziggler down and bows at him, yelling his “you’re welcome” catchphrase at him to add insult to injury. A “Ziggler, Ziggler” chant breaks out as Ziggler hits a beautiful dropkick to turn the offensive tide in the match.
Ziggler continues to beat up Sandow and play to the crowd as the “Twitter scroll” begins running on the bottom of the screen, led by a Triple H tweet wishing WWE Hall Of Famer Bruno Sammartino a happy birthday. Meanwhile, Ziggler hits the “heart stopper” series of elbow drops on Sandow. The announce team remind us to vote in the poll for the best power couple in WWE history. Sandow throws Ziggler over the top and onto the floor as we head to a mid-match commercial.
We return from commercial and Ziggler is in the middle of rolling Sandow up for a pinfall attempt. He only gets two and Sandow is quick to return to his feet and clothesline Ziggler down, killing his offensive momentum and regaining control of the match. We have 14 minutes remaining in the Kickoff Show as Sandow suplexes Ziggler down for a nearfall. We get a super-slo-mo replay of Sandow clotheslining Ziggler. Pretty cool stuff. Ziggler with a backslide attempt, but he only gets two.
Ziggler and Sandow are trading punches now. Sandow hits a knee to the belly of Ziggler to slow him down. Sandow charges at Ziggler but Ziggler side-steps him and Sandow nearly crashes to the floor. Sandow catches himself and runs to the top rope. He comes down with a forearm attempt but Ziggler caught him coming down. Both guys are down now as the referee begins his double-count. Ziggler is back to his feet first. Sandow is up. Sandow runs at Ziggler but Ziggler avoids him and nails him with a huge running clothesline. Ziggler follows up with a splash in the corner and Ziggler is firmly in control of the offense. Neckbreaker by Ziggler as his fast-paced comeback is finally settling down. Sandow cuts Ziggler off with a neckbreaker for a nearfall. 11 minutes left in the Kickoff Show as the match continues.
Sandow kicks at the knee of Ziggler and hits a flipping neckbreaker for another nearfall. We’re told “#WWEBattleground” is trending worldwide right now. Lawler jokes that Cole blocks people a lot on Twitter. Ziggler hits the “Fameasser” on Sandow, but only manages to get a two when attempting to pin him. Ziggler runs at Sandow, going for a Zig-Zag but Sandow avoids it. Sandow is starting to get frustrated now, as he throws a bit of a temper tantrum after failing to get a three-count on Ziggler yet again. Sandow with a series of knees to the mid-section of Ziggler. Sandow is selling a knee injury out of nowhere. He pulls down the knee pad. Ziggler nails Sandow in the knee and hits him with the Zig-Zag. 1-2-3. Ziggler wins the Kickoff Show match.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
We return to the expert panel after a Rhodes Family storyline video package recap. The panel breaks down the big match tonight where the future of the Rhodes Family in WWE is on the line.
Back to the Social Media Lounge with Renee Young. Young reminds everyone how to interact tonight via Twitter before reading some fan tweets. Out of nowhere, El Torito comes in and is seemingly hitting on Young in Spanish. He runs off after acting like a weirdo for a bit. Young runs down the poll about the most powerful couples in WWE history once again. HHH-Stephanie, Edge-Lita, Randy Savage-Miss Elizabeth and Booker/Sharmell are the options. The poll results show Edge and Lita winning.
We stop by the expert panel once again as they talk about Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella’s engagement before introducing a video package from RAW where Orton attacks Bryan this past Monday night as a distraught Brie Bella watched.
The expert panel give their predictions for tonight’s WWE Championship main event between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton. When giving his prediction, Tensai puts on a giant fake beard and starts doing the “Yes!” chant.
We see Rob Van Dam and Alberto Del Rio backstage heading to the ring as the Kickoff Show concludes. 30 seconds until PPV time, where the World Heavyweight Championship will open tonight’s show.
WWE Battleground 2013
The usual kick-ass video package opens tonight’s WWE Battleground pay-per-view, with a ton of highlights of the top matches for tonight airs. Very cool stuff, with great production value, as usual. Kevin Dunn is the man!
The video package ends and the pyro in the arena explodes as we officially enter the WWE Battleground. Michael Cole welcomes us to the First Niagra Center in Buffalo, New York. Immediately, Rob Van Dam’s music hits and the crowd explodes. “Battleground Hardcore Rules” competition for the World Heavyweight Championship will open tonight’s show.
World Heavyweight Championship
Battleground Hardcore Rules
-Rob Van Dam vs. Alberto Del Rio (c)
Van Dam and Ricardo Rodriguez come out first, both wearing their Susan G. Komen pink shirts. Out next is Alberto Del Rio. During Del Rio’s entrance, Michael Cole introduces the WWE Spanish announce team. The bell sounds and Lilian Garcia introduces the match and the rules for our opening contest. Rodriguez does the introduction for Van Dam, to the delight of the fans in Buffalo. Garcia begins Del Rio’s intro but is stopped by the World Heavyweight Champion. Del Rio tells her to introduce him in Spanish. She does. Here we go everybody!
Aberto Del Rio with some quick kicks early. Del Rio heads to the outside and looks under the rings but Van Dam catches him with a baseball slide before hitting an inverted atomic drop. Van Dam leaps on the barricade and moonsaults off on top of Del Rio for a big pop from the crowd. Van Dam picks up Del Rio and brings things back into the ring. RVD goes under the ring for a chair, hitting Del Rio in he gut on his way back in, then slingshotting in and DDT’ing Del Rio on the chair for a two count.
ADR picks up a chair and waits for RVD to stand. He hits RVD in the stomach, then across the back. Del Rio winds up and hits RVD again, then pins him for another two count. Del Rio locks in a rear chin lock and buries his knee in RVD’s back. RVD stands and fights his way out of the hold, but Del Rio hits RVD with a boot to the side of the head, then a stiff kick to the back.
ADR wedges a chair into the corner of the ring, but he turns around right into a huge spin kick from Van Dam. RVD chokes Del Rio with his boot before hitting him with a slingshot legdrop out to the apron. Ricardo looks under the apron and shows Van Dam a ladder, which he promptly brings out. Van Dam brings it into the ring and Del Rio grabs it, but has the ladder driven right into his stomach. Van Dam heads to the top and hits a single leg drop kick to knock away Del Rio before setting up the ladder in the corner.
RVD kicks Del Rio, then launches him into the ladder in the corner, sending Del Rio flying to the outside. Van Dam brings things back into the ring for another two count. RVD goes to the corner and resets the ladder before turning around and stomping Del Rio’s head. RVD sends Del Rio into the ladder again and follows with a spinning heel kick. Van Dam tries to set up for a monkey flip, but Del Rio moves, RVD grabs the ladder, and Del Rio hits an enzugiri. The ladder falls on RVD and Del Rio hits a double stomp on top of the ladder on top of RVD. Del Rio goes for the pin and gets a two count.
ADR makes fun of RVD before heading to the outside and grabbing a trash can from under the ring. Del Rio heads back in the ring and wear out Van Dam with a series of trash can shots. Del Rio heads to the middle rope and holds the trash can, he leaps off right into a big dropkick from Van Dam and both men are down.
Both guys are up now and trading punches with Del Rio getting the upper hand. Van Dam ducks a clothesline and delivers a couple of his own. Van Dam hits a nice thrust kick, then picks up the ladder and lays it down in the corner. Van Dam picks up Del Rio and slams him down across the ladder. Van Dam hits a split legged moonsault on top of Del Rio and he pins him for a two count.
RVD with a big kick that sends Del Rio back down on top of the ladder. Van Dam goes for rolling thunder, and Del Rio moves, causing Van Dam to crash into the ladder. Del Rio goes right into the cross arm breaker. Ricardo goes under the ring and grabs a bucket. He swings and hits Del Rio in the arm. RVD rolls up Del Rio for two. Del Rio throws RVD from the ring and stares down his old announcer. Del Rio yells at Ricardo, and Ricardo hands over the bucket, but kicks Del Rio, and gets in a couple more bucket shots. Things go to the outside where Del Rio throws Ricardo into the barricade before kicking him in the head.
RVD is in the ring and he slams the ladder onto Del Rio on the floor. The ladder is on top of Del Rio and Van Dam leaps from the apron with a huge five star frog splash, and both guys are down now. Del Rio sits up in the corner and Van Dam grabs the chair from out of the corner. Van Dam heads up in the far corner and holds the chair high. Van Dam goes for the Van Terminator, but Del Rio moves and Van Dam crashes to the mat. Del Rio picks up the chair and sits it in the middle of the ring. Van Dam catches Del Rio with a jawbreaker, but Del Rio catches him with a drop toe hold that sends him crashing into the chair. Del Rio hits a big kick, then stomps on RVD’s arm wrapped up in the chair. Del Rio slaps on his Cross Armbreaker onto Van Dam with his arm still hanging through the chair. RVD taps out. Del Rio retains his title.
Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Alberto Del Rio
Backstage
Zeb Colter and The Real Americans, Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro, are backstage. Colter cuts one of his typical promos, telling America what they should like, what they shouldn’t, how they should be, etc. He talks about snakes and blah blah blah. Typical stuff, ending with “We The People.”
The Great Khali & Santino Marella vs. Jack Swagger & Antonio Cesaro
Swagger and Santino will start the match for their respective teams. Swagger locks Santino right into a headlock. Santino fights out of it, but falls to a shoulder block. Another lock up and Swagger takes Santino over into another headlock. Santino fights up to his feet and out of the hold, but falls to another shoulder block. Santino tries to kip up but can’t pull it off. Santino gets caught in another head lock, but he’s able to fight out once more, and put Swagger into one. Swagger fights out of the headlock, and Santino hits a shoulder block of his own. Santino slams Swagger, then gets out the cobra. Santino hits a hit toss, and sends Swagger scared to the outside. Hornswoggle shows Swagger a cobra of his own, and Swagger takes it off and tears it to pieces. Swagger catches Santino throat first across the top, and we get a couple of quick tags that leads to some double team work from Cesaro and Swagger.
Marella tries fighting back, but he gets a double team Swagger bomb, double stomp from Swagger and Cesaro. Cesaro puts Santino in a headlock, and Santino fights out, almost making the tag, but Cesaro puts him back into his own corner and makes the tag to Swagger. Swagger slams Santino to the mat and gets a two count before trapping Santino’s arms and wrenching back. Santino stands to his feet and fights out of the hold, hitting a belly to back suplex on Swagger.
Khali and Cesaro tag in for their respective teams and Khali shrugs off Cesaro. Khali takes Cesaro into the corner and hits him with a series of elbows, then a giant chop. Khali hits another giant chop, then the big chop to the head. Khali goes for the pin but Swagger breaks it up. Swagger traps Santino on the apron, but Khali hits Swagger with the chop to the head, and Santino leaps over the top on Swagger. Cesaro goes low on Khali and knocks him down, then picks him up for the Cesaro swing in an amazing feat of strength. Cesaro goes for the pin and gets the three count, while Khali counts it out for some reason.
Winners: Jack Swagger & Antonio Cesaro
WWE Intercontinental Championship
-Curtis Axel (c) vs. R-Truth
Axel, with manager Paul Heyman, comes out first. As they walk to the ring we get highlights from RAW on how this match was set up. Out next is the challenger, R-Truth, who raps his way to the ring.
The bell sounds and both guys lock up. Truth backs Axel into the ropes, and Axel shoves Truth away. Truth ducks a clothesline and hits a punch, then a kick, and a forearm. Truth catches Axel with a rear elbow for a one count. Truth pops Axel with a right to the side of the head before slamming his head into the turnbuckle. Truth tries to take Axel into the corner, but Axel blocks it, so Truth lays in with a series of punches. Truth mounts Axel in the corner and hits him with ten more punches before suplexing him over for another one count.
R-Truth throws Axel to the floor and follows him out. Truth hits a giant clothesline from the ring apron to the floor. Truth brings things back into the ring for a two count. Axel rolls back out to the floor to get some advice from Heyman. Truth heads to the outside and Axel heads in, kicking Truth back into the barricade. Axel heads back to the outside and picks up Truth, ramming him into the barricade.
The match gets back in the ring and Axel lays in with a couple of forearms to the back of Truth’s head, and a flying forearm to Truth’s face that’s good for a two count. Axel tips at Truth’s face for a bit before hitting a beautiful dropkick that’s good for a near fall. Axel clamps Truth in a rear chin lock, wrenching back while Heyman smiles. Truth fights to his feet and out of the hold, catching Axel out of nowhere and turning the tide with a couple of elbows, and clotheslines. Truth misses the axe kick, but rolls up Axel for two. Truth connects with the axe kick, but only gets another two.
R-Truth nails Axel with a suplex for a nearfall. Truth tries for the lie detector, but Axel holds onto the ropes and Truth crashes to the mat. Truth kicks Axel in the gut, but Axel drops Truth face first into the top turnbuckle. Axel hits his neckbreaker, then pins Truth for the three count.
Winner and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Curtis Axel
WWE Divas Championship
-Brie Bella vs. AJ Lee (c)
Out first is the challenger, Brie Bella. Next out is the WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee, who is accompanied by Tamina Snuka. The announcers point out that AJ has alienated herself from the entire women’s locker room. They also put over Brie Bella possibly winning the title, along with her soon-to-be husband, Daniel Bryan. This leads to discussion about the “most powerful couple in WWE history” poll from the Kickoff Show, which Edge and Lita ended up winning.
The bell sounds and the two Divas immediately go at it. Brie hits a couple of forearms and mounts AJ in the middle of the ring, but AJ’s able to scramble away to the outside. AJ hides behind Tamina on the outside before making her way back into the ring and getting rolled up by Brie for two. Brie slams AJ into the corner, then does it on the other side of the ring, not stopping the assault as she heads to the middle rope and hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Brie goes up in the corner and tries for a headscissors, but she’s tossed out to the apron and AJ attacks the knee to send her falling to the outside. AJ brings things back into the ring for a quick two count.
Lee is working over the arm of Bella. AJ bridges over in a hammer lock, but Brie is able to fight out of it. AJ fights off a suplex and hits a single arm DDT, getting a two count. AJ screams at the ref before getting in Brie’s face. AJ puts her knees on Brie’s shoulders and chokes her against the middle rope before tossing her into the corner. AJ charges Brie in the corner but misses. AJ’s able to catch Brie by the arm and pound away at it, driving her to the mat where she’s able to clamp on an arm bar.
AJ tosses Bella into the middle rope. AJ skips around, and runs right into a dropkick from Brie. Brie is able to roll AJ up sloppily, then she hits a flying clothesline and another dropkick. Bella sends AJ crashing to the mat, then she sends her into the corner and follows up with a backbreaker for two. Brie hits AJ with a running knee, and Tamina attacks Nikki on the outside, causing a distraction. AJ rolls up Brie on the inside, and gets the three count.
Winner and STILL WWE Divas Champion: AJ Lee
Backstage
Backstage we get a promo from all three members of the Rhodes Family. Dusty talks a bit before Goldust does an old-school promo like he used to. Cody talks about wishing he had half the charisma of his dad and half the natural in-ring skills of his brother. He wraps things up nicely and now we’re headed to the ring.
Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes & Goldust
Just a reminder to those unaware, the stipulations for this match are as follows: if The Shield, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, get the victory, the Rhodes Family will never work for WWE again. Dusty will no longer be a trainer in WWE NXT and Cody and Goldust can never wrestle for the company. If the Rhodes Family wins, Dusty keeps his job as a trainer and Cody and Goldust will get re-instated into the company. With that said, the guys are now making their entrances to the ring. The Shield are out first, followed by the Rhodes Family.
The bell sounds and here we go. Rollins will start for his team and Cody will start for his. Cody ducks a clothesline and lays in with a couple of shots on Rollins before hitting a nice back drop that sends him to the outside. Reigns is in and he eats a dropkick from Cody, and Goldust tags in, getting in a couple of good shots of his own. Rollins pulls Reigns from the ring for a regrouping session with Ambrose.
The fight heads out to the floor with all six guys squaring off. Goldust heads back into the ring, followed by Reigns. Goldust catches Reigns with a couple of right hands before hitting a nice clothesline. Cody tags in and they hit double fists to the gut of Reigns. Reigns comes back with a knee to the gut before tagging in Rollins. Rollins chokes Cody with his boot, then runs right into a high hip shot. Cody stomps away at Rollins in the corner before picking him up and blasting him with a big right hand. Rhodes continues to stomp away at Rollins, but he’s caught with an STO into the middle turnbuckle. Reigns tags in and hits a giant shoulderblock that’s good for a near fall.
Reigns tags in Rollins. Ambrose is shown talking smack to Dusty on the outside. Cody fights up to his feet, and he tries to fight out of the Shield’s corner, but Rollins won’t let him out. Rollins catches Cody in a tree of woe and kicks away at him. Rollins runs into a kick to the face from Cody. Cody heads to the top and hits a moonsault press on top of Rollins. Cody crawls to the corner and tags Goldust who comes in with a couple of clotheslines, and a big right hand to Reigns. Goldust hits an atomic drop, then hits Reigns with a series of right hands in the corner. Reigns misses a splash in the corner, and Goldust hits a giant crossbody for two.
Goldust attempts a flying crossbody but misses and ends up on the floor. Rollins heads out after him, sending him into the apron and barricade. Goldust makes it back into the ring at 9, and Rollins goes right for the pin, getting a two count. Rollins hits a kick to the side of the head, then backs Goldust into his own corner, tagging in Reigns. Reigns clamps Goldust into a rear chin lock, grapevining his legs around Goldust’s body. Goldust fights up to his feet and out of the hold, but he runs into a back elbow and a giant clothesline from Reigns. Rollins tags back into the match and comes in with a slingshot senton to Goldust for two. Rollins goes right into a rear chin lock.
Rollins has the arm of Goldust, but it’s not enough as Goldust fights to his feet. Rollins goes for a dropkick but misses. Goldust misses an elbow drop. Reigns tags in and stops Goldust, sending him into the corner. Goldust catches him with a big boot, then he gets Rollins with a giant powerslam. Goldust makes the tag to Cody, and Cody comes in with a springboard dropkick. Rhodes clotheslines Rollins before hanging him up on the Ropes and hitting a kick to the chest. Cody hits Rollins with a spinning Alabama slam and sends Reigns from the ring, pinning Rollins for two. Cody runs into a big elbow from Rollins in the corner. Rollins is on the top turnbuckle and Cody hits the muscle buster. Cody pins Rollins, but it’s broken up.
Cody hits a disaster kick on Reigns that sends him crashing to the floor. Ambrose distracts Cody and that allows Rollins to attack from behind. On the floor, Dusty takes off his belt and uses it to blast Ambrose with a couple of rights. Goldust cuts off Reigns on the outside, and Cody hits Rollins with the CrossRhodes on the inside to get a three count. With the victory, Dusty Rhodes remains a trainer for WWE NXT and both Cody Rhodes and Goldust get their jobs back with WWE. All of the Rhodes Family members are emotional in victory.
Winners: Cody Rhodes & Goldust
After The Match
After the Rhodes Family pick up the win, several WWE legends and current WWE Superstars come out to join the Rhodes Family in their celebration. The announcers are putting this over as the biggest thing ever. Michael Cole reads a tweet that was just posted by Cody’s new wife, Brandi.
Kickoff Show Expert Panel
-We return to the Kickoff Show expert panel and Josh Matthews asks for the reaction of The Miz, Tensai and Titus O’Neil to what they just saw in the previous match with the Rhodes Family and The Shield. All three guys put over the Rhodes Family and then recap some of the other action thus far tonight. Miz points out that no WWE Championship Title has changed hands yet here tonight. Miz reminds us that by the end of the night, we will see a new champion as the main event is for the vacant WWE Championship.
Backstage
Brad Maddox is on the phone with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Vickie Guerrero comes in after he hangs up the phone. He says HHH and Stephanie had to leave. He says he needs her help. She doesn’t want to help because they left him in charge and everything is on him. Maddox points out that if things go bad tonight, there will be hell to pay. Vickie laughs as she leaves him hanging.
Kofi Kingston vs. Bray Wyatt
Kingston is out first. Out next, with their usual creepy entrance, is the Wyatt Family. All three members. The bell rings and Kofi catches Wyatt with a couple of kicks and Wyatt begins to laugh. A couple more kicks, and Wyatt catches one, shoving Kofi down to the mat. Kofi catches Wyatt with another kick and a couple of big forearms before hitting a nice double boot in the corner. Kofi heads to the top, but Wyatt hits the ropes to stop him. Wyatt splashed Kofi’s back as he hangs down from the top turnbuckle. Wyatt drags Kofi to the apron and hits him with a clubbing blow to the chest.
Bray brings the action back into the ring where he pounds on Kofi in the corner before bringing him out and hitting a quick short-arm clothesline. Wyatt hits a head butt before locking in a modified chin lock stretch. Wyatt yells out things while stretching Kofi. Kofi fights out of the hold, but Wyatt slams him to the mat and hits a big elbow to the chest for two. Wyatt goes right back to the chin lock, wrenching Kofi’s neck. Kofi fights up to his feet, and reverses a suplex into a splash. Kofi rolls out to the apron and leaps into the ring, right into a quick powerslam from Wyatt that’s good for two.
Kingston hits a giant crucifix to send Wyatt crashing down on his shoulders. Kofi hits a back chop, then another, then a big dropkick. Kofi hits a leaping clothesline, then follows it up with the boom drop. Kofi tries for the trouble in paradise, but Wyatt ducks and the two collide when Wyatt launches himself into Kingston.
Wyatt does a bit of a spiderwalk toward Kingston, and Kofi freaks out and slides from the ring. Kofi low bridges Wyatt and sends him to the outside. Kofi leaps over the top rope and wipes out all members of the Wyatt family.
Kingston is on the top rope and comes off with a giant cross body that’s good for two. Wyatt shoves Kofi away and is caught in a sunset flip, but fights it off. Kofi tries for the SOS, but Wyatt turns it into the sister abigail for three.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
After The Match
After the victory for Wyatt, both Erick Rowan and Luke Harper beat up Kingston some more. Bray grabs the mic and cuts another weird ass promo before ending with his usual, “follow the buzzards” catchphrase.
CM Punk vs. Ryback
A cool video package airs highlighting the history of the CM Punk and Paul Heyman feud, including the introduction of Ryback to the picture when he saved Heyman at the last WWE pay-per-view. Now we head into the arena where Ryback and Paul Heyman come out together and head to the ring. Out next is Punk. And oh yes people, “it’s clobbering time!”
The bell sounds and the two square off. Ryback over-powers Punk. Punk looks discouraged for just a moment before using his speed and some leg kicks to force Ryback to roll out to the floor to seek the advice of Heyman.
Ryback is done talking to Heyman and rolls back in the ring to continue the action. Punk continues throwing kicks at the lower-half of Ryback’s body and legs. Ryback rolls out to the floor again to seek advice from Heyman. This time, however, Punk follows him out with a big dive onto the floor. Punk stands on the barricade and leaps off, but he’s caught by Ryback. Punk drops down and shoves Ryback into the ring post. Punk brings things back into the ring and goes to the top rope to hit a big cross body for a two count. Punk hits Ryback with a couple of kicks to the chest and a couple of knees to the face, but Ryback sends Punk face first into the middle turnbuckle. Ryback seats Punk on the top turnbuckle and slams him to the mat.
Ryback gets in a couple of shots before pulling Punk out of the corner with a snap mare, then kicking him in the chest. Ryback clamps Punk in a rear chin lock. Punk is able to fight up to his feet and Ryback hits him with a huge belly to belly suplex. Ryback hits Punk with a big legdrop for two. Ryback picks Punk up to his feet and takes him into the corner, hitting a big chop to Punk’s chest. Ryback hits Punk with a huge running clothesline in the corner before simply standing on Punk’s head. Ryback hits an elbow drop, then a couple of kicks to the back.
Punk starts making a comeback but is cut short by Ryback. Ryback picks Punk up and suplexes him into the ropes, hitting him with a big kick to the side of the head. Ryback heads to the outside and hits Punk with a couple of clubbing blows to the chest while he’s laid on the apron. Ryback heads back into the ring and kicks at Punk’s chest. Ryback takes Punk into the corner and buries his shoulder in Punk’s midsection before backing up and charging in with another big shoulder to the gut.
Punk starts making a comeback again. Ryback charges right into a big boot in the corner, then misses a spear and ends up charging shoulder first into the ring post. Punk hits Ryback with a couple of stiff kicks, then a forearm. Punk kicks Ryback’s chest, then hits him with a nice back heel kick. Punk doesn’t stop continuing on with a swinging neckbreaker.
Paul Heyman gets on the mic. Heyman calls himself the best in the world and says he is because he pinned CM Punk with both hands behind his back. This distracts Punk and allows Ryback to blast him from behind. Ryback picks Punk up for a giant powerbomb, but Punk kicks out at two. Another cover, and a third, and it’s still a two count. Heyman tells Ryback to powerbomb him again. Ryback picks up Punk and goes for another power bomb, but Punk lands on his feet and catches Ryback with a kick to the side of the head.
Punk nails Ryback with a knee and then goes to the top rope. Punk comes off with a big elbow drop. Punk hits another high knee in the corner, and another. He stares down Heyman and goes for a third, but Ryback catches him. Punk counters with a hurricanrana, and he shoulders Ryback. Ryback fights out of it and slams Punk to the mat for another near fall. Ryback hits Punk with a couple of big clubbing blows to the side of the head while Heyman gets in his face. Ryback keeps attacking, causing the ref to pull him off. Heyman grabs a kendo stick, but the ref sees it. This leads to Punk kicking Ryback low. Punk pins him. 1-2-3. Punk wins.
Winner: CM Punk
Kickoff Show Expert Panel
After Punk’s victory, we return to Josh Matthews and the “expert panel” from the Kickoff Show. The guys talk about how Punk out-smarted Heyman and managed to gain some revenge. They switch topics to the main event, where Matthews asks the guys if they are keeping their predictions from earlier tonight. They say “Yes! Yes! Yes!” They introduce a video package for tonight’s main event, which is up next.
NOTE: During the video package for the main event, which is coming up next, a technical difficulties message is displayed. Apparently there is a problem with the DirecTV pay-per-view feed. Not sure what’s going on here, but this error screen has been airing for a few minutes now.
We return and there’s a “we’ve got power!” chant from the fans in Buffalo. Michael Cole is explaining to the viewing audience that there was a power outage in Buffalo. This is pretty crazy, but things seem to be cleared up in time for the main event to go on as scheduled. WWE may have dodged a major bullet right there.
WWE Championship
-Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan
After all the pay-per-view feed confusion with the apparent power outage in Buffalo, we’re back and our main event is getting underway. Randy Orton comes out first, followed by Daniel Bryan, who got a huge pop. Lots of “Yes!” chants already from the fans at the First Niagra Center.
The bell rings and an immediate “Daniel Bryan” chant breaks out. The two circle each other and now they lock up. Side headlock by Bryan and a takedown on Orton. Orton pushes Bryan back into the corner to break the hold. Orton backs off and we get another lock up. Bryan goes right back into a headlock and Orton pulls on his hair. Orton turns things around with a headlock of his own. Bryan fights it off, but falls to a shoulderblock.
Orton kicks away at Bryan for a bit. Bryan slows him down with a big dropkick. Bryan wrenches Orton’s arm across his shoulder, then does it again before kicking at Orton’s arm. Bryan gets caught with Orton’s across the back backbreaker, and Orton shakes his arm. Orton stands on Bryan’s ankle and stomps down hard. Orton rakes Bryan’s face across his boot and stomps on him for a two count. Orton works on Bryan’s arm, but Bryan’s able to fight to his feet. Orton tries to work on Bryan’s arm, but Bryan fights out and hits a knee to Orton’s gut. Bryan hits a series of kicks to Orton and follows with a dragon screw, then a knee drop to Orton’s knee.
Bryan traps Orton in the corner and kicks at his chest before seating him on the top turnbuckle. Bryan heads up after Orton, but Orton pushes him off and crotches him on the top rope. Orton leaps off the middle rope with a huge clothesline and Bryan lands on his head. Orton gets two. Orton hits another clothesline for two. Orton mounts Bryan in the corner and goes to work with a series of right hands, dropping Bryan to the mat. Orton chokes Bryan with his boot, then backs away.
Orton picks Bryan up and suplexes him across the top rope for a two count. Orton stands and slowly stalks Bryan. Orton and Bryan trade right hands, and Orton kicks Bryan in the gut. Bryan flips over Orton, and Orton tries to toss Bryan to the outside. Bryan skins the cat, and catches Orton with a leg scissors that sends him over the top to the outside. Bryan skins the cat back into the ring and hits a dive through the ropes on Orton before hitting a series of kicks to the chest. Bryan sends Orton into the barricade and hits a huge running dropkick.
Bryan throws Orton back in the ring and climbs the top rope. Bryan is caught with a huge powerbomb counter as he was coming down. Orton slaps Bryan in the Boston crab and rears back. Bryan reaches for the ropes, and Orton pulls him back to the middle of the ring. Bryan twists it around into a small package but only gets two. Bryan tries for the yes lock, but Orton makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Orton rolls to the floor.
Bryan attempts a baseball slide into Orton but Orton manages to avoid it. Orton slams Bryan into the ringside steps. Orton slams Bryan’s head into the Spanish announcer’s table before pulling him into the ring post and tossing him into the barricade. Orton brings things back into the ring at 9 and tries for a cover, but only gets two. Orton mounts Bryan and hits him with a series of right hands. Orton picks Bryan up and seats him on the top turnbuckle, blasting him with a right hand. Bryan fights it off with a head butt. Orton charges in and crotches Bryan on the top turnbuckle. Orton stands on the top with Bryan and hits a huge superplex.
Orton tries finishing this one up but only gets two. Orton and Bryan are trading European uppercuts. Bryan ends up switching things up and backslides Orton for a count of two. Bryan hits Orton with a huge kick to the side of the head for another two count. Bryan stands and tries to suplex Orton from the apron to the inside of the ring, but Orton suplexes Bryan out to the floor. Orton drops to the floor and begins taking apart the Spanish announcer’s table. Orton tries for a powerbomb, but Bryan escapes, catches Orton with a series of kicks, and throws him into the steps. Bryan breaks the count, then heads to the top turnbuckle. Bryan leaps to the outside and hits a giant cross body.
The match returns to the ring and Bryan nails Orton with a top rope headbutt that’s good for two. Bryan has Orton in the corner and is nailing him with repeated standing dropkicks. After that, Bryan repeatedly nails Orton with kicks to the chest in the corner. Orton ends up catching one of the kicks from Bryan and using the momentum to hit Bryan with a big suplex. Bryan rolls out to the apron but Orton grabs him. Orton nails him with the draping DDT. Orton goes for the RKO but Bryan blocks it. Orton goes for a rollup out of nowhere but Bryan reverses it into the Yes! Lock. Out of nowhere, Big Show’s music hits.
Big Show comes to the ring in a hurry. Big Show pulls out the referee. Bryan gets in Big Show’s face. Big Show hits Bryan with the KO punch. Brad Maddox comes out to the top of the ramp and calls for senior official Scott Armstrong. Armstrong comes to the ring and Orton pins Bryan. 1-2….Big Show yanks Armstrong out of the ring now. Big Show nails Armstrong with the KO punch. Now Big Show enters the ring again and Orton is yelling at him. Orton pushes Big Show. Big Show hits Orton with the KO punch. Maddox is shown at the top of the ramp looking confused and shocked. Everyone is down except Big Show. Big Show yells out “no more.” Big Show starts heading to the back, and that’s how WWE Battleground will end folks!
No Contest
BACKSTAGE WWE BATTLEGROUND News – Power Outage Details + Raw *SPOILERS* For Monday!