Ahead of Sunday’s WWE Battleground show, Graham Caygill looks over the card and makes his predictions for who he sees coming out on top in the matches.

Seth Rollins to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Brock Lesnar

A hard one to call and this is what makes it such a good main event. Lesnar starts as overwhelming favourite, and deservedly so, but this feels too early for the title change to happen, and with the former UFC man still having a part-time status, it is hard to believe the WWE would want to put the belt back on him and for him to disappear off TV screens for months again. Rollins no longer has Kane, or J&J Security with him, but whether it be Triple H or someone else, I expect outside assistance to help him stay champion, either by victory or by disqualification.

Roman Reigns to defeat Bray Wyatt

Wyatt should be a huge superstar in the WWE. Great in the ring, an unique persona, yet he is floundering in the mid-card thanks to losing regularly to Cena in 2014 and then having to singlehandely build his WrestleMania match with Undertaker, only to then take the pinfall to the veteran. This should be a good match but I do not see this as being more than simply filler for Reigns as he prepares for another tilt at the WWE title in the not too distant future.

John Cena to retain the United States title against Kevin Owens

Another difficult one to predict, but Cena’s US Open challenge has become a key part of Raw and the 15-time world champion has been consistently putting on great matches. I think there is still mileage for Cena in this, and I see him squeaking out victory over Owens. The performance of Owens since moving up to the main roster has been superb, and in many ways he does not need the US title given the momentum he has right now. Owens would make a great champion, but I think, with him still having NXT commitments, that the title stays with Cena for the time being.

Randy Orton to defeat Sheamus

Both men need the victory to find some momentum, with Orton hardly been used since losing his feud with Rollins for the WWE title, while Sheamus has done nothing of note since winning the Money in the Bank briefcase. Sheamus is the man with bigger things on the horizon thanks to the briefcase, so for that reason I think he can absorb the loss to Orton, who can use the triumph to help push him back up the card.

Prime Time Players to retain the WWE Tag Team titles against New Day

I was disappointed to see New Day drop the titles last month as they were great as the heelish champions who do not realise they are the bad guys. Prime Time Players have continued to have the ascendancy in this rivalry since then, which would hint at them dropping the belts, considering past WWE reverse booking logic, but I see them triumphing here and possibly setting up a stipulation match with the same opponents at Summerslam.

King Barrett v R-Truth

Both men are better than the fodder they have been given here with a feud over who is the real king. Barrett, who was the Intercontinental champion as recently as March, should be higher up the card, and he should be the one to come out of this with the win.

Intercontinental title picture

Ryback was due to defend his title in a triple threat with Big Show and Miz, but the match is off to due to an injury to an injury. It is possible the WWE may put the two challengers together in a match to help fill out the card, and if that happens expect Big Show to go over and remain a very real threat to Ryback.

WWE’s Battleground event will be televised on the WWE Network, which is available through OSN, on Monday morning in the UAE from 3am.

gcaygill@thenational.ae