WWE Battleground was a pay-per-view about pride.
As part of an innovative ad campaign, almost every WWE Superstar who competed on the card was featured with a flag that displayed their logo.
So it's only fitting that in a pay-per-view about pride, the best match on the show wasn't the highly touted main event, but rather a show-stealing final chapter in a blood feud between former best friends Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
With both Zayn and Owens staying put on Raw, it's highly unlikely that this will be their final encounter this year, let alone ever. But they sure did fight like it.
In a physical encounter that left nothing to be desired, Owens and Zayn were able to captivate the Verizon Center despite having an endless sizzle reel of matches, moves and stunts against one another. Of course, the match drew universal praise from fans and analysts alike, including those lame "match of the year" compliments (it's freaking July!) among others.
SamiZayn vs KevinOwens SLAMMY AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST MATCH OF THE YEAR!
— Duhop (@mewingwang) July 25, 2016
"Good luck to whoever has to follow this," said Jason Powell of Prowrestling.net.
Unfortunately, The Shield had to follow it. And although they were also able to put on an intriguing contest that captivated an audience, much of the crowd's infatuation was dedicated to jeering Roman Reigns rather than cheering for Ambrose,
Toward the end of Zayn-Owens, feint chants of "fight forever" could be heard. Before Reigns-Rollins-Ambrose even started, the Verizon Center started up a "Roman sucks" chant.
Zayn and Owens will be two pillars of Raw who figure to get much more main event real estate while they can still walk. Wrestling at such an aggressive pace does not lend itself to longevity in the WWE, so when it comes to these frienemies, it's important that WWE strikes while the iron is hot.
With Reigns apparently on punishment and interest in The Shield appearing to peak, Zayn and Owens had the match of the night and should receive a long look as two suitors to carry a potential second world championship on Raw.
Article by Alfred Konuwa. Imagery by Matt Garrett
