[2016-07-24-WWE-Battleground] Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn

[RingoPlaysDrums]

After Zayn cost Owens the IC title at Mania, they had a match at Payback and then this here is the last time they wrestle for a while. They had just had the draft for the second brand split that week and I remember people being surprised that they'd both been drafted to Raw. Zayn picks up the win here but their careers would soon take quite different paths on Raw. KO would be Universal Champion within a couple of months where as Zayn seemed to be forgotten about a bit as I recall. This match is really popular. It's the 3rd highest rated WWE match of 2016 on cagematch, 13th overall. At the time I think I ended up watching it twice because it really didn't click with me the first time and while I thought it was good I didn't really love it to the same extent as others. These guys know each other so well and are meant to hate each other but it takes a while to really get going for me. It's Zayn's botched springboard moonsault that ends up leading to the best aspect of the match - Zayn's selling of his shoulder. I've seen it suggested that the "botch" was intentional but I'm not sure about that. It's terrifying when he bounces up vertically and you realise he's going to come down on his head. It could've been a lot worse. The final third of the match is really good stuff but I wasn't completely wowed like some. The double exploder suplex spot was very well received by the live crowd and perhaps it didn't do as much for me because I've seen that kind of thing in Japanese matches a lot, idk. A real good match that I still don't see as a genuinely great one. Still, it was great to see Owens and Zayn take their friendship/rivalry all the way to the WWE and get to put on a show stealing match on PPV. This was the pinnacle of their feud in terms of spotlight.

[cactus]

Just when you think you are sick of seeing these two fight each other, they deliver a match like this! This has a fairly subdued start, with the crowd not really looking interested and the sole highlight was Owens trash talking and mock chanting the pro-Zayn chants. I'm not sure if that springboard moonsault spot was an intentional choice or a botch, but it added to the drama to the match as Owens starts to work on Zayn's shoulder straight after. This has a big movez finishing stretch with a satisfying climax when Zayn boots Owen's head twice, just to make sure that's he's not kicking out. 

★★★★½

[Superstar Sleeze]

Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn - WWE Battleground

Remember really liking this in real-time felt like both guys needed this match. The feud seemed to have been going on forever and was growing long in the tooth. Owens had stalled out after the Cena feud and Zayn like Bayley couldn’t figure out how to translate the Heart & Soul of NXT gimmick to the main roster. So both needed a big time match. Owen’s would have his Kayfabe best year after this headlining the RAW brand as Universal Champ and having that killer angle with Jericho. I don’t feel like Zayn found his footing until many years after doing that Che conspiracy victim gimmick which is he tapping into now on Smackdown 2026 Main Event scene to great success. 
 

This match aged very well and they have a great story going although they don’t stick the landing. Every time Zayn tries a high risk maneuver it costs him. Rope walk he gets crotches and canonballed. Top rope Split Leg Asai Moonsault lands shoulder first on apron. Top rope dive super kick into Crossface. Dive through buckles for DDT, super kick -> Cannonball-> BullFrog Splash! The other thing this match had going for it was a really strong violent Owens performance. This was not the spot happy Owens of the Cena feud. He was working snug and tight. Trying to kick Zayn’s ass. One nitpick is that Brainbuster on the apron was absolutely meaningless. Given that the Powerbomb on the Apron is so iconic from the NXT turn and it was teased in the match. I thought the Brainbuster on the apron should have the turning point of the match that led to Helluva Kick win not some random spot in the middle. The other thing that bothered me was the Zayn comeback. All of sudden he is fired up and hitting all his spots. He didn’t really earn it. Just felt like my turn. I liked Owens getting the kick on the charging Zayn on the Helluva Kick into Pop Up Powerbomb helluva nearfall. Then it was just Super Sami no selling and kicking ass. The two Helluva Kicks was a great finish. Figure out a way to make Zayn’s come back be more organic this is a MOTYC but still a great match and terrific Owens performance. **** 1/4