Battleground preview

Read on for how I'd book tonight's Smackdown-brand WWE Network special event.
-- Kickoff:
- Tye vs. Aiden:
It's a shame Tye's not doing anything. Like, at all. I'd like to see him get a chance to show what he can do in this match to remind everyone he's still here and works hard. Tye gets the win.

-- Battleground:
- Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis:
They've kind of booked themselves into a corner here, since they want to elevate the new guy, but Sami can only lose so much and still be a credible contender at the U.S. Title level (or, theoretically, above). Mike gets a dirty win here and moves on to feud with Tye. Sami faces Ziggler so he can get some momentum with a win over a credible opponent. 

- Usos vs. New Day:
I'm going with Usos winning in order to set up the Hype Bros getting a shot at the titles in Brooklyn, playing off Long Island Iced Z and all that. If they're going to have one or the other turn heel, that's the place to do it.

- Shinsuke vs. Corbin:
Shinsuke. I like both of them, and they can't have Corbin lose TOO much and still be credible as MITB holder, but I think Shinsuke should be the next No. 1 Contender for the WWE Title. Corbin vs. Harper works as a feud for me.

- Elimination Match:
-- Charlotte vs. Becky vs. Natalya vs. Lana vs. Tamina:
Lana cements her place as "the one everyone else hates" and goes out first. Becky pins her. Lana protests that "she wasn't ready" and all that as she's taken out.

-- Charlotte vs. Becky vs. Natalya vs. Tamina:
As much as I like Natalya, I don't want to see Tamina go out second. Charlotte taps Natalya out.

-- Charlotte vs. Becky vs. Tamina:
Becky gets her second fall, beating Tamina.

-- Charlotte vs. Becky:
With Charlotte's book coming out, it makes sense for her to move on to Summerslam. I love Becky and would otherwise push her here, but it's important to get Second Nature over. After some great back and forth, Tamina and Lana return to cost Becky her shot at Summerslam. Becky vs. Tamina/Lana and Charlotte vs. Naomi going forward.

- Cena vs. Rusev:
Cena "needs" the win to remind us he's a serious competitor and all that. I'm not really happy about it either, but I don't like the idea of him losing as soon as he comes back to the ring. 

- AJ vs. Owens:
AJ wins. Rusev continues to want to make America over in his own image, so he challenges the U.S. Champion next. Owens faces Cena at Summerslam.

- Jinder vs. Orton: 
Jinder retains. Orton vs. the Singhs at Summerslam. I don't really want to do Orton vs. Rowan just for the hell of it.

More wrestling coming up.