The ongoing feud between Kevin Owens and John Cena has been one of the highlights of WWE programming in 2015, and the latest instalment of their rivalry should result in the newcomer leaving WWE Battleground with the United States title.
Owens made a major splash when he debuted on WWE television earlier this year, interrupting US champion Cena during a broadcast of RAW, and that angle set up a “champion versus champion” clash with the multiple world champion at the hastily arranged Elimination Chamber event. Neither the US title or the NXT title was on the line, but WWE fans will remember the event for a long time to come after Owens shockingly pinned Cena, clean, after hitting his Pop-Up Powerbomb finisher.
The two continued their feud at the Money In The Bank event and it was Cena who ‘levelled the series’ as he got the better of the NXT champion. However, that would not be the end of the feud and it now brings us to WWE Battleground on Sunday. Owens has dropped the NXT title to Finn Balor, seemingly clearing the way for a permanent switch to the main roster, and to keep his momentum going you have to think WWE will put gold around his waist once again on Sunday.
The bookmakers certainly believe there is a good chance that Owens will be leaving St Louis with the United States title. Sky Bet is 4/5 about Owens beating Cena for the second time, but they are playing a cautious game when it comes to this match, also making the current US champion an odds-on pick at 10/11. Me, I have to go with Owens on this one. WWE have got behind him like they have few rookies in the past, and to keep his momentum going they have to book him to win on Sunday.
Will ‘The Beast’ dethrone ‘The Architect’?
The World Heavyweight Title match sees Seth Rollins (11/8) defend the belt against former champion Brock Lesnar (8/15), who is making his first pay-per-view appearances since dropping the strap at WrestleMania 31. WWE put a lot into Brock over the past 18 months, booking him to end The Undertaker’s streak and destroy John Cena at Summerslam 2014, and I cannot see him losing to Rollins on Sunday. However, I suspect we will see a screwy finish of some sort that will allow the champion to hang onto his title for a little while longer.
Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt will continue the feud that started at Money In The Bank and with WWE desperately trying to rebuild the former Shield man after some horrible booking wrecked his momentum in the build-up to WrestleMania, you have to expect him to win here, even if it is not a decisive win that halts the feud. Reigns is a 1/2 favourite with Sky Bet, while Wyatt is a 6/4 dark horse.
The undercard also sees Randy Orton go into his match with Sheamus (6/5) as the 8/13 favourite, while King Barrett is 1/3 to – hopefully – end his feud with R-Truth (9/4). The Prime Time Players are 4/9 to successfully defend their WWE Tag Team Titles against The New Day (13/8).
Recommended Bets:All odds correct at time of writing and courtesy of Sky Bet
Back Kevin Owens @ 4/5
Back Roman Reigns @ 1/2
Back Brock Lesnar @ 8/15
Back Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns & Brock Lesnar all to win @ 3.14/1
