On Sunday the 23rd of June, WWE will present Stomping Grounds live on Pay Per View and the WWE Network. The card looks stacked and every match should be good from top to bottom. So let's take a look. Joining me for this preview is my co-founder of Team Venom Media, David Burston and long-time columnist, Sarah Dennis.
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship Match: The Revival (Champions) vs. The Usos
This has all the makings of a match of the night candidate. Both teams are solid and you could easily see the four men ushering in a new age of tag team wrestling over on Monday Night Raw. My only complaint is that the former Champions - Hawkins and Ryder - have been left out of this match up but could easily see them coliding with whatever team picks up the win here.
Rory: The Usos David: The Revival Sarah: The Revival
Overall Prediction: The Revival (2-1)
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Tony Nese (Champion) vs. Drew Gulak vs. Akira Tozawa
The 205 Live brand seems to be getting more love on the pay-per-views these days and seeing three members of the initial roster compete in a triple threat match for the gold on Sunday night should do wonders for the often forgotten brand. I fully expect all three to go all out in this match and show everyone what they're missing on 205 Live.
Rory: Tony Nese David: Akira Tozawa Sarah: Tony Nese
Overall Prediction: Tony Nese (2-1)
The New Day (Xavier Woods and Big E) vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
This story has been playing out nicely, what with Big E being injured and Owens taking his place temporarily only to assault Kofi and Xavier to set up a match with Kofi for the WWE Title. With Big E being back from injury and looking to settle the score this match should be a barn burner. My only complaint is that this sort of negates the brand split as this is one of three matches featuring both Raw and SmackDown competitors but I fully expect this to be a solid, 4-Star affair.
Rory: New Day David: Owens and Zayn Sarah: New Day
Overall Prediction: New Day (2-1)
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: Daniel Bryan and Rowan (Champions) vs. Heavy Machinery
I've got to say, I really love what Daniel Bryan has been up to since Mania. Rather than go after the WWE Championship that he lost at Wrestlemania 35, he's been carrying the tag team division over on SmackDown alongside his tag partner, Rowan. Heavy Machinery have been pretty much treading water since being called up to the main roster since December and, as far as I'm aware, this marks their first PPV match so I'm expecting big things all round.
Rory: Bryan and Rowan David: Heavy Machinery Sarah: Bryan and Rowan
Overall Prediction: Bryan and Rowan (2-1)
WWE United States Championship Match: Samoa Joe (Champion) vs. Ricochet
Samoa Joe has been on a roll since winning the United States title prior to Wrestlemania and it's good to see him have some direction on the main roster (as he'd just kind of been there since being called up from NXT the other year). Ricochet, on the other hand, has been wowing the WWE Universe since his main roster call up back in March, so I fully expect this match to become an instant classic.
Rory: Ricochet David: Samoa Joe Sarah: Samoa Joe
Ovreall Prediction: Samoa Joe (2-1)
WWE SmackDown Women's Championship Match: Bayley (Champion) vs. Alexa Bliss
As great as both women are, the outcome of this match is very predictable, what with Bliss being on Raw. That being said, both women are cornerstones of the women's division so I fully expect great things from this match.
Rory: Bayley David: Alexa Bliss Sarah: Bayley
Overall Prediction: Bayley (2-1)
WWE Raw Women's Championship Match: Becky Lynch (Champion) vs. Lacey Evans
For the past year, Becky Lynch has been absolutely killing it while Lacey Evans has been wandering around (literally) since debuting in December with her first main roster match being against Becky at last month's PPV. I'm expecting Lynch to continue on top BUT I also expect Evans to pick up the win at some point via shenanigans to set up Becky vs. Stephanie McMahon at SummerSlam, so it could happen tomorrow. Who knows?
Rory: Lacey Evans David: Becky Lynch Sarah: Becky Lynch
Overall Prediction: Becky Lynch (2-1)
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
So now we come to third cross-brand match-up on the card and it's a good one! Roman and Drew have been clashing since last summer when the Shield were feuding with the short-lived "Dogs of War" (Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler and Braun Strowman) and seemingly came to a head as these two clashed at WrestleMania. Since then, Roman has been feuding with the "Best in the World", Shane McMahon which saw Shane pick up the victory at the last pay-per-view courtesy of Drew running interference and hitting Roman with the claymore kick. With that being said, I can forsee similar shenanigans and Shane O'ference to ensue
Rory: Roman via DQ David: Drew McIntyre Sarah: Roman Reigns
Overall Prediction: Roman Reigns (2-1)
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Kofi Kingston (Champion) vs. Dolph Ziggler (Steel Cage Match)
So far the rivalry between Ziggler has been top-notch and the matches have been superb. However, I have seen these two face off that many times for the Intercontinental and US titles that I have a hard time watching them compete for the WWE Championship. That being said, both men are workhorses and this could easily be a match of the year candidate.
Rory: Kofi Kingston David: Dolph Ziggler Sarah: Kofi Kingston
Overall Prediction: Kofi Kingston (2-1)
WWE Universal Championship Match: Seth Rollins (Champion) vs. Baron Corbin
This match has been announced as having a special guest referee that has not yet been revealed. Rumour has it that it'll be Lacey Evans. If that's the case I could see Seth losing via shenanigans and then attacking Corbin, only for Brock to come out and cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Corbin leading to Brock vs. Seth at SummerSlam.
Rory: Baron Corbin, followed by a successful cash-in by Brock Lesnar David: Seth Rollins Sarah: Seth Rollins
Overall Prediction: Seth Rollins (2-1)
Predicted Match of the Night
Rory: I personally think this will either be the US title match between Joe and Ricochet or the Raw Tag Team Championship match between the Usos and the Revival. Both match-ups look great on paper. I guess it all depends on how much time they get on the show.
David: Always got time for littlest miss bliss and match of the night Kofi and Ziggler
Sarah: I look forward to anything where Becky is concerned. And Kofi vs Dolph is up there.
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