WWE Battleground PPV Results
October 6, 2013
Buffalo, N.Y.
Report by James Caldwell (@JCTorch), PWTorch assistant editor

Third Hour PPV Results

For the the second of three "anchor" matches on the PPV, Ryback was introduced first along with Paul Heyman. C.M. Punk was then introduced as Ryback's opponent.

7 -- C.M. PUNK vs. RYBACK (w/Paul Heyman)

Punk controlled early on, so Ryback bailed to the outside to get some words of wisdom from Heyman. Heyman pointed to Punk and called him a "bully" to try to motivate Ryback, but Ryback found himself back on the outside. Punk drove Ryback into the ringpost, then took Ryback back into the ring. Punk followed with a big cross-body splash for a two count, but Ryback cut him off moments later and began working on Punk.

On commentary, Cole brought up the deal that Heyman thought Punk would take out The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but Punk failed. Now, Heyman has moved on to Ryback. Punk made a comeback at 10:00, then tried to get the crowd behind him. Suddenly, Heyman took the mic and introduced himself to boos. Heyman called himself the Best in the World, drawing Punk's attention away from Ryback, who clotheslined Punk from behind.

Ryback followed with a big powerbomb, but Punk escaped a pin attempt. Heyman demanded that Ryback powerbomb him again. So, Ryback tried again, but Punk slipped out this time and kicked Ryback in the shoulder area. Punk followed with a corner knee into a short-arm clothesline before climbing to the top rope. Punk wanted a Macho Man elbow drop, and he connected for a nearfall.

At 13:00, Punk smashed Ryback with a corner knee before glaring down at Heyman. Punk missed with another corner knee, but countered a powerbomb with a head scissors takedown. Punk wanted GTS to end it, but Ryback elbowed out and flipped Punk onto his shoulders for a powerslam that scored a two. Ryback followed with forearms in the ropes, nearly getting himself DQ'ed. As the ref talked to Ryback, Heyman pulled out a Kendo Stick, but the ref came over to stop Heyman. As the ref talked to Heyman, Punk mule-kicked Ryback. Punk then pinned Ryback for the win.

Post-match, Heyman sold frustration being outsmarted by Punk as the announcers tried to justify the babyface using heel tactics to beat Ryback, saying it's something Heyman - the most dastardly, evil, reviled heel in the promotion - would do. Cole said you do whatever it takes to win, then called it "sweet revenge" for C.M. Punk.

WINNER: Punk at 14:47. Another house show-level, unmemorable match. And on a show where the promotion is glorifying a heel conquering a giant, it's only fitting that a face needs heel tactics to beat a "bully" heel. (**1/4)

All-Star Panel: Tensai led the crowd in "Yes!" chants to preview the Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton main event WWE Title match.

Video Package: A review of how they arrived at Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton for the now-vacant WWE Title. The PPV cut out right in the middle of the package. Not "Bray Wyatt production truck" cut-out, but the PPV went down. Apparently they lost power in the building. PWTorch specialist Benjamin Tucker reports from the building that acting authority figure Brad Maddox came out and told the crowd that they would be back in three minutes.

After the delay, Justin Roberts was shown standing in the ring. WWE then cut to the announcers. No audio. Michael Cole's audio came on and he said they lost power in the building. Heyman blamed Heyman, while JBL blamed the government shutdown. Cole then hyped the WWE Title match to reset. Of note, the title belt was sitting on a podium in front of the announcers.

Randy Orton was then introduced first for the PPV main event. To cover for potential PPV refunds, but also break kayfabe, Cole told the audience that they will "see this match in its entirety" despite the power outage. Cole then drew attention to tonight's referee being John Cone following the "controversy" with Scott Armstrong last month.

After a pause, Daniel Bryan's music played to start up loud "Yes!" chants in the crowd. Bryan came out on-stage "Yes!ing" for the crowd before entering the ring as Orton waited. With both men in the ring, Justin Roberts handled formal ring intros setting the stage for the WWE Title match.

8 -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. RANDY ORTON -- match for vacant WWE Title

Bryan and Orton felt each other out early on. Meanwhile, Cole told an abbreviated version of Bryan's journey from wrestling for $25 under Shawn Michaels's tutelage to wrestling as the "American Dragon" to making it to WWE. Bryan then landed successive kicks to Orton's though before scoring with a Dragon Screw legwhip. Bryan tried to end the match with a leg submission before landing a forearm smash to the face. And several more for good measure. Kick strikes from Bryan. They went up-top, but Orton cut off Bryan and delivered a flying clothesline that knocked Bryan to the mat.

Orton followed up with ten "No!" punches in the corner before delivering a running clothesline. Orton then nailed a snap powerslam for a two count before applying a reverse chinlock to lull Bryan and the crowd to sleep. Bryan broke free, then leg-scissored Orton over the top rope to the floor. Orton stood up to recover, then turned around and ate a flying dive from Bryan. Bryan followed with multiple Yes! Kicks before whipping Orton into the barricade.

Back in the ring, Bryan tried a missile dropkick, but Orton intercepted with a throw-down powerbomb. Orton then sat down on a Boston Crab center-ring. Bryan fought the submission, then crawled inside Orton's legs to try a quick pin, which got a nearfall. Orton rolled to the outside for a breather, which drew Bryan to the floor. On the outside, Orton sent Bryan into the ring steps before smashing him into the Spanish announce table. Orton posted Bryan before back-dropping him across the guardrail. Orton then dragged Bryan back into the ring for a nearfall.

Orton continued the assault before taking Bryan up-top. He wanted a superplex, and he connected. But, Orton also felt the effects of the move, which gave Bryan enough time to escape a pin attempt. The two men then came to their feet and traded bombs before Bryan kicked Orton in the face for a two count.

At 16:00, Orton blocked a suplex and suplexed Bryan clear over the top rope to the floor. On the outside, Orton cleared the Spanish announce table and wanted a powerbomb through the table, but Bryan avoided and sent Orton into the ring steps. They had a deal where the ref reached an eight count, Bryan was in the ring, and then he broke up the count with Orton KO'ed on the floor. The announcers said Bryan cannot win the title via count-out, but the title is held up, so wouldn't a count-out win be good for the title? If there is a count-out win, what would happen? The title remains held up?

At 20:00, Bryan fired off a round of offense that got the crowd fired up, but Orton absorbed and avoided pin attempts. Orton then came back with a snap DDT from the second rope as the announcers sold dejection that the match is over. Orton mocked Bryan's "Yes!" chants before trying the RKO, but Bryan blocked and flowed into the Yes! Lock. Orton was about to tap, but Big Show's music played. Show jogged down to the ring, grabbed the ref and yanked him out of the ring, and then KO Punched Bryan. Show sold inner conflict over having to do this, then Raw GM Brad Maddox walked out on-stage and sent "fired" referee Scott Armstrong down to ringside. Scott made a count, but Big Show yanked Scott out of the ring and KO'ed him.

Back in the ring, Orton seethed as Show entered the ring. Orton cursed Show, who had enough and KO Punched Orton. Show then fired himself up and stood in the ring. Suddenly, Show's music played as Bryan and Orton remained KO'ed in the ring. Maddox sold concern on the stage. Show then left the ring as the announcers tried to focus on everything except for the lack of a finish to this title match. JBL told Show that his day of reckoning is coming as the PPV signed off at 9:51. Congrats to the 36 percent of Torch readers who selected the title remaining vacant after this PPV.

WINNER: No Decision when the PPV ended at 25:22. Cue up another round of PPV customers seeking refunds. WWE had to put the "feel-good" Rhodes Family Victory on the PPV to throw viewers a bone, but ending a title match for the vacant WWE Title without a finish and putting the spotlight on Big Show isn't going to build a lot of goodwill with an audience that is checking out of Raw right now. Overall, the main event was a notch or two below last month's offering. They just never moved into second gear. (N/A)

***

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