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Swagger was in control early, as the fans chanted "USA" but Rusev came right back. And he dominated the early part of the match. ... We were told that HHH just tweeted that Dean Ambrose will not be returning at tonight's Battleground PPV. That better, and should, mean that he will.
Finally, Jack got fired up and made him comeback.
The crowd is behind Swagger. He got a two with the Swagger Bomb. And then a two with a slam. It's getting competitive. ... Rusev hit a kick and Zeb got the fans to chant USA. Rusev went for the big kick but Swagger caught him and put on the Patriot Lock. Rusev almost got to the ropes but Swagger pulled him back. Rusev tried again and got to the ropes. Swagger broke the hold and Rusev went to the floor. Swagger went right after him and put the Lock on while they were down on the floor. Somehow, Rusev powered him into the ring post as the count was at six. Rusev got back into the ring at 9 to win by countout, selling the leg. ... This felt like a first match in a feud. It was solid and very storyline driven. ... While Swagger was out on the floor, Lana sicced Rusev on him and he dragged him back in the ring and put on The Accolade. Yep, this is the beginning of a feud. If WWE really wants to make Swagger, they could definitely do it with a big win down the road on Rusev. ... Good match.
They continued the Cosmic Key stuff they are doing with the Rhodes brothers. They did a promo and the fans popped for it.
Seth Rollins then came out for his match, which wasn't going to happen, with Dean Ambrose. If Ambrose doesn't appear, how will the crowd react? ... They showed us HHH's tweet as the fans chanted to Rollins that he sold out. Rollins said that since Ambrose got himself ejected from the building, he was there to accept his victory via forfeit. He wants to be announced as winner and have his hand raised. They announced him as the winner. But you know better than that! Crazy brawl time as Ambrose attacked Rollins as he left. Triple H was pissed and finally came out and had security take Ambrose away, but Rollins attacked him as they did it. Twice! Finally, told him to go to the back. Rollins said he was the winner and did. ... If I paid 50 bucks for this, I would be pissed that I didn't get the match but I didn't so I am fine with them using this as a way to continue the feud. It was good in that vein.
Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt is up next.
Bray was out first. Lots of lights in the crowd. Rowan and Harper are with him. The eye still looks fugly. ... The crowd was chanting for Jericho, well here he comes. ... Bray was in control early but then Jericho came back. Well, until Bray creamed him with a clothesline. The crowd is kind of quiet, which sucks in my opinion. Then a "Let's Go Wyatt" chant got countered with "Y2J". ... The story early is that the family is there for Bray. ... Jericho came back and tossed Bray to the floor and then did a splash off of the top on all three of them. ... He threw Wyatt in the ring and as he went in behind him, Harper grabbed his leg. Mike Chioda then tossed Rowan and Harper from ringside. Bray sold it like he was scared, then quickly dusted Jericho off of the apron and went to work on him down on the floor.
Back in the ring, Wyatt used a knee to the gut for a two but then Y2J got his knees up when Wyatt went for a senton splash. He got a two with a kick to the head and then dropped a knee on Wyatt's head. Jericho went to the top but Wyatt met him. They fought as they stood on the second rope until Jericho pushed him off. Wyatt came back and dumped him down and got a two. He played to the crowd and got a decent face pop. Jericho hit a running bulldog but as he went for the Lionsault, Wyatt got the knees up. Bray did the upside down walk bit and then hit a chokeslam. He asked Jericho how much he could take. Then he did a running splash in the corner. He tried it again but Jericho fired back by taking out Wyatt's knee. ... Wyatt nailed Jericho's head on the apron and almost got a three. ... Bray went for Sister Abigail but Jericho countered by trying for the Walls. He didn't get it and Wyatt nailed him with a running double chop to the throat from a two. Then Jericho his the Codebreaker out of nowhere for the pin. Yes, you read that correctly. Wyatt is now on a losing streak. The loss to John Cena last month looks even worse to me now. Don't get me wrong, I love Jericho and all but he is old and Bray is young, I don't see how this helps WWE going forward. ... As for the match itself, it was definitely solid. The fans weren't really into it, probably because they felt it was an enhancement match. If so, well they were wrong.
Seth Rollins was getting help out of the building by security. Why, I ask, since he is supposed to be plan B. How can he win the WWE Title from the hotel? Anyway, as he was about to get to his car Dean Ambrose popped out of the trunk of his car. They brawled briefly before Rollins got in the car and left.
So, we just had a situation where an up and comer lost to a part timer, and an up and comer who was ready to pick the carcass of a vulnerable champion chose to leave the building instead. I guess they are setting up for Brock Lesnar's return. Even at that, I don't get either of those moves.
Click to Page 3 for more thoughts from tonight's show.
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