Ahead of the Punjabi Prison match Sunday night, WWE champion Jinder Mahal kicked off Tuesday's show, flanked by The Singh Brothers. The Modern Day Maharaja made his way to the ring and looked ominously at The Punjabi Prison that enclosed it. Mahal promised to smash Orton's face into the structure and vowed to leave Sunday's show champion. Orton interrupted the promo and climbed to the top of the prison, staring down at his Battleground opponent. He warned Mahal that there will be no Singh Brothers to help him retain his title and reminded the champion that the only reason he has that title is because of them. The segment ended with Orton vowing to leave Mahal lying in the ring while he sits perched atop the structure, the new WWE champion.
Last week, Xavier Woods earned momentum for The New Day, defeating Jey Uso in singles competition. Jimmy looked to even the score as he squared off with Kofi Kingston. Kingston had control of the match heading into the break, wiping Uso out at ringside with a dive. During the commercial break, though, the tag team champion dropped Kingston on the ring apron and seized control for himself. Kingston fought his way back into the match, running through his signature offense and fighting his way out of a superplex. Jey provided a momentary distraction by hopping on the apron, drawing Big E and Woods in his direction. Kingston launched himself off the top but Jimmy used his momentum against him, rolling through and scoring the pinfall victory.
After weeks of interactions that turned physical last week with Mike Kanellis blasting Sami Zayn with a vase in the backstage area, the Ring of Honor exports squared off in singles competition, the former accompanied by wife Maria. The action was back and forth, with Zayn answering everything Kanellis threw at him. Sensing danger, and a potential loss in her husband's first WWE match, Maria jumped in the ring and broke up an attempt at a Helluva Kick. The distraction was just what her hubby needed to catch Zayn with a fireman's carry sit-out slam for a tainted first victory. In this match up Maria was established as being absolutely essential to her husband's success. Her interference spared him defeat and prevented an embarrassing outcome in his first opportunity to make an impact between the ropes. More importantly is the fact that the outcome allows the story to continue without damaging either Superstar. Considering the numerous booking missteps that have plagued WWE programming over the last year.
Just 24 hours removed from the shocking revelation that Jason Jordan is Raw general manager Kurt Angle's illegitimate child, Renee Young sat down with Jordan's former tag team partner Chad Gable. Gable admitted that Jordan appeared to have his mind elsewhere as if something was weighing on him. Citing Jordan and Angle's new beginning, Gable promised he was eyeing a new start but would not elude to what that meant, preserving the surprise.
John Cena hit the ring to his typically mixed reaction and wasted little time turning his attention to Sunday's Battleground pay-per-view. He ran down some of the night's most anticipated bouts, going full-on hype machine in the process, before settling on his Flag match with Rusev. He rallied the troops, admitted he had his work cut out for him but exclaimed that he was ready to represent America this Sunday. Rusev attacked from out of nowhere. He trapped Cena in The Accolade and ultimately left his longtime rival lying. He waved the Bulgarian flag to close out the segment.
Two of the best female performers in all of professional wrestling squared off in a preview of Sunday's Fatal 5-Way Elimination match as Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch set aside friendship and rekindled their competitive rivalry Tuesday night. The former women's champions exchanged counters and reversals early before Lynch nearly trapped Charlotte in the Disarmer, sending the second-generation star to the safety of the arena floor ahead of the commercial break. The women continued to trade strikes until Charlotte momentarily gained the upper hand. Lynch fired off a comeback, delivering a Bexploder suplex and a Firearm. Unlike earlier in the bout, where Charlotte thwarted an attempt at The Disarmer, she could not escape Lynch's grasp and found herself tapping out. After the match, Tamina and Lana hit the ring and Natalya rose from the announce position to join in on the three-on-two beatdown of the babyfaces. Tamina was ultimately the last woman standing, establishing herself as a legitimate threat to leave Sunday's pay-per-view with the victory and a championship opportunity.
As Shinsuke Nakamura made his way to the ring, looking to join partner AJ Styles in the squared circle, Baron Corbin attempted an attack from behind. The King of Strong Style fought him off but Kevin Owens joined in on the attack, instigating a huge brawl to start the tag team main event. The heels isolated Nakamura and worked him over until a hot tag to Styles late in the match sparked excitement. Styles rolled, poised to soar through the air with The Phenomenal Forearm. Corbin pulled him off the ropes, sending him crashing to the ring apron. After joining Owens to dump Nakamura into the stands, Corbin grabbed a prone Styles for End of Days. Instead, Styles countered and set him up for the Styles Clash. He missed a blind tag to Owens, though, and the self-proclaimed New Face of America caught him with a superkick and the Popup Powerbomb for the victory.
Last week, Xavier Woods earned momentum for The New Day, defeating Jey Uso in singles competition. Jimmy looked to even the score as he squared off with Kofi Kingston. Kingston had control of the match heading into the break, wiping Uso out at ringside with a dive. During the commercial break, though, the tag team champion dropped Kingston on the ring apron and seized control for himself. Kingston fought his way back into the match, running through his signature offense and fighting his way out of a superplex. Jey provided a momentary distraction by hopping on the apron, drawing Big E and Woods in his direction. Kingston launched himself off the top but Jimmy used his momentum against him, rolling through and scoring the pinfall victory.
After weeks of interactions that turned physical last week with Mike Kanellis blasting Sami Zayn with a vase in the backstage area, the Ring of Honor exports squared off in singles competition, the former accompanied by wife Maria. The action was back and forth, with Zayn answering everything Kanellis threw at him. Sensing danger, and a potential loss in her husband's first WWE match, Maria jumped in the ring and broke up an attempt at a Helluva Kick. The distraction was just what her hubby needed to catch Zayn with a fireman's carry sit-out slam for a tainted first victory. In this match up Maria was established as being absolutely essential to her husband's success. Her interference spared him defeat and prevented an embarrassing outcome in his first opportunity to make an impact between the ropes. More importantly is the fact that the outcome allows the story to continue without damaging either Superstar. Considering the numerous booking missteps that have plagued WWE programming over the last year.
Just 24 hours removed from the shocking revelation that Jason Jordan is Raw general manager Kurt Angle's illegitimate child, Renee Young sat down with Jordan's former tag team partner Chad Gable. Gable admitted that Jordan appeared to have his mind elsewhere as if something was weighing on him. Citing Jordan and Angle's new beginning, Gable promised he was eyeing a new start but would not elude to what that meant, preserving the surprise.
John Cena hit the ring to his typically mixed reaction and wasted little time turning his attention to Sunday's Battleground pay-per-view. He ran down some of the night's most anticipated bouts, going full-on hype machine in the process, before settling on his Flag match with Rusev. He rallied the troops, admitted he had his work cut out for him but exclaimed that he was ready to represent America this Sunday. Rusev attacked from out of nowhere. He trapped Cena in The Accolade and ultimately left his longtime rival lying. He waved the Bulgarian flag to close out the segment.
Two of the best female performers in all of professional wrestling squared off in a preview of Sunday's Fatal 5-Way Elimination match as Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch set aside friendship and rekindled their competitive rivalry Tuesday night. The former women's champions exchanged counters and reversals early before Lynch nearly trapped Charlotte in the Disarmer, sending the second-generation star to the safety of the arena floor ahead of the commercial break. The women continued to trade strikes until Charlotte momentarily gained the upper hand. Lynch fired off a comeback, delivering a Bexploder suplex and a Firearm. Unlike earlier in the bout, where Charlotte thwarted an attempt at The Disarmer, she could not escape Lynch's grasp and found herself tapping out. After the match, Tamina and Lana hit the ring and Natalya rose from the announce position to join in on the three-on-two beatdown of the babyfaces. Tamina was ultimately the last woman standing, establishing herself as a legitimate threat to leave Sunday's pay-per-view with the victory and a championship opportunity.
As Shinsuke Nakamura made his way to the ring, looking to join partner AJ Styles in the squared circle, Baron Corbin attempted an attack from behind. The King of Strong Style fought him off but Kevin Owens joined in on the attack, instigating a huge brawl to start the tag team main event. The heels isolated Nakamura and worked him over until a hot tag to Styles late in the match sparked excitement. Styles rolled, poised to soar through the air with The Phenomenal Forearm. Corbin pulled him off the ropes, sending him crashing to the ring apron. After joining Owens to dump Nakamura into the stands, Corbin grabbed a prone Styles for End of Days. Instead, Styles countered and set him up for the Styles Clash. He missed a blind tag to Owens, though, and the self-proclaimed New Face of America caught him with a superkick and the Popup Powerbomb for the victory.