WWE Battleground PPV Report
July 19, 2015
St. Louis, Mo.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Live PPV Pre-Show on WWE Network

This month's pre-show panel is Renee Young with Byron Saxton, Booker T, and Corey Graves. And, Tom Phillips is at the social media lounge. Phillips hyped an interview with Paul Heyman and noted that Ryback will not be defending the IC Title on the Battleground PPV.

WWE announced that Randy Orton vs. Sheamus will open the main PPV.

Half-way through the studio preview show running down the matches, New Day crashed the NBA on TNT set to force Byron Saxton to chant "New ... Day Rocks." Xavier Woods shouted that they will regain the Tag Titles tonight against Prime Time Players.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and JBL were shown ringside introducing the pre-show action. R-Truth was out first to the ring. Truth did his mock royal routine warming up the crowd, then King Barrett was introduced as the King of the Ring.

A -- "KING" WADE BARRETT vs. R-TRUTH -- Battle for the Crown match

Truth tried to use shenanigans to get in Barrett's head early on, so Barrett rolled out of the ring to recover. Truth surprised him with a plancha on the floor, giving Truth control of the match. But, back in the ring, Barrett caught Truth with a boot to the face. WWE cut to a Network break.

[Break]

After a few Network plugs, they returned with Truth fighting back against Barrett. But, Barrett lightly kneed Truth in the face to knock him to the ring apron. Meanwhile, the announcers focused their juvenile-level pre-show commentary on Barrett's nose, to the point of obsession. Barrett missed a corner attack, putting both men on the mat.

Truth fired up with successive clotheslines and a boot to the face. He delivered a missile dropkick from the second turnbuckle, but only scored a two count. Truth followed with a leaping heel kick, then a scissors kick for a closer nearfall. Truth tried to follow up, but Barrett nailed Winds of Change for a nearfall of his own.

Barrett decided now was the time for the Bullhammer elbow, but Truth ducked and rolled up Barrett for a two count. Truth missed with What's Up, then Barrett nailed him with the Bullhammer right in the mouth. Barrett pinned Truth for the win.

WINNER: Barrett at 9:15. Slow start for another round of this lower-card match-up, but they finished strong. It's time to advance Barrett into a more-important feud.

Social Media Lounge: Tom Phillips was hanging out with Paul Heyman, who sold being annoyed to be here. Phillips talked through Heyman's interruptions trying to get in some basic Twitter questions. Heyman turned the Q&A into another sales pitch for Brock Lesnar conquering Seth Rollins tonight.

Last Monday: NXT women's wrestlers Sasha Banks, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch made their Raw TV debuts, setting off a nine-Divas brawl under the supervision of Stephanie McMahon.

At the pre-show table, Renee announced that Stephanie has requested all nine Divas (Bellas & Alicia Fox, Sasha Banks & Naomi & Cameron, and Charlotte & Paige & Becky Lynch) appear at Battleground tonight.

Renee, Byron, Booker, and Graves then broke down the Battleground main event of Rollins vs. Lesnar for the WWE World Title. A video package on the title picture ended the PPV pre-show.

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