Road To The Battleground

Monday Night's "Go Home" Episode of RAW leading up to BattleGround was explosive! This has been one of the best episodes of RAW this year so far, along with the RAW's during the Road To WrestleMania. This past Monday, we saw some major shifts take place as WWE is shaking up their landscape heading into Sunday.

RAW presented some momentous segment, but none more so than this:

Diva Takeover (#GiveDivasAChance):

This segment was the talk of the entire Internet Wrestling World, as the #GiveDivasAChance Movement is coming to life from Twitter to the live WWE Product. The Bellas and their whipping girl Alicia Fox come to the ring as Nikki blows her horn about how dominant she has been. (We know the real reason why she is having a long reign) She talks about how there is no more competition left in the Divas Division. Suddenly, WWE Princess Stephanie McMahon interrupts Nikki's rant.

Stephanie shuts Nikki down like she knows how to. She follows up by saying that the Divas Division needs some competition and that it is time to make changes. Steph proceeds to introduce contenders for Nikki Bella's title, as Paige is the first to come to the ring. Nikki tells Stephanie about how many times Paige has failed to win back the title. Stephanie puts Nikki in her place saying that Paige came out because she wanted her to be there. When it comes to dealing with the Bella Twins, I am always on Stephanie's side.

Finally, WWE pulls the trigger to inject new blood into a dying Division. Stephanie introduces the NXT Women. First, she calls up Becky Lynch. Next, Steph gives clues for Sasha Banks by calling her the "Boss" before bringing her out. Last but not least, Stephanie introduces a woman who can style and profile: Charlotte Flair!!!

These three women came out to a monstrous ovation from the crowd because this is what fans have all been crying about and begging for across Social Media. Stephanie then asks Nikki if this is what she had in mind when she said she was looking for competition.

This segment made my night, as Stephanie is putting the pieces in place across the Chess Board of the Divas Division. Brilliant move by the heiress to the McMahon Empire. WWE has heard the cries and the complaints from the Internet about #GiveDivasAChance on Twitter, starting from AJ Lee. Maybe that AJ is gone, WWE decided to finally push the button since she is not screaming about it anymore.

It would have been nice to see them teamed up together to battle the main roster. Instead, Charlotte and Becky join Paige while Sasha joins Naomi and Tamina. I won't complain. Stephanie says that she has set the table of opportunity, and she wants to know who will take it. The action kicks off from their, as the contenders corner the Bellas.

Nikki bumps into Sasha Banks and war breaks out. Banks grabs Nikki by the hair and throws her to the mat before everyone else joins in on the fight. The NXT Divas put the Main Roster Divas on notice as they dominate them. Charlotte locks Alicia Fox in the Figure Four. Becky Lynch locks Brie Bella in an Armbar. Sasha Banks gives Nikki her finisher (Bankrupt) before locking her in a modified Crossface as the Divas Champion taps out.

Paige's Team and Naomi's Teams stand strong in victory as the Bellas and Alicia Fox crawl out of the ring in defeat. Meanwhile, Stephanie stands at the ramp with a smile on her face. WWE has been known to drop the ball many times, even when it comes to the women.

At the same time, they have not dropped the ball with every woman that has come through the company. Great Female Stars like Melina short-changed themselves with poor decisions. That is one of the exceptions.

However, I don't think it will happen this time because they cannot afford to make the same mistakes this time around. Stephanie McMahon has thrown down the gantlet as she has lit a brand new fire among the females in wrestling. I have high hopes for the Women of NXT on the Main Roster.

Even though plans are set for Nikki Bella to break AJ Lee's Record, I believe that the Bella Twins will be exposed badly by first class female wrestlers like Sasha Banks, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch. The Bellas do not outshine them at all from looks wise, to in-ring wise. Compared to them, The Bellas are pretty mediocre.

Nikki and Brie are the faces of Total Divas, but they don't have much to offer after that. The Bellas place in the company is frowned upon, because of the men in their lives.

They have made it to the top, mostly because of John Cena and Daniel Bryan's wallets. I am just telling it like I see it. Nikki has improved in the ring and on the mic, but she is not Trish Stratus or Lita. One would think that Brie would have improved as an in-ring technician because of her husband Daniel Bryan. Clearly, that talent was not transmitted as AJ Lee would say.

Nikki is the better Bella because she simply amplifies her narcissistic attitude.

Each of these three ladies from NXT has their own special qualities. Charlotte has greatness in her DNA because of who her Dad is. She is much better than her brother David ever was. Initially, there were people who picked Charlotte as the lead female. However, that is not the case as Sasha Banks is fantastic in the ring as well. The biggest difference between Sasha and Charlotte is charisma. Banks has the edge in personality and attitude, so that gives her an edge.

Meanwhile, the rest of the women on the roster are pretty much left in the dust. Nattie, Cameron and Summer Rae have fallen into the background. Natalya has wrestling in her bloodline like Charlotte, but she does not draw the kind of interest as the Bellas and Paige. Cameron was clearly the weak link between her and Naomi. Summer Rae is stuck in this dreadful Love Storyline between Rusev, Lana, and Dolph Ziggler.

Bayley is the next to make the move to the Main Roster. That way, we can finally have the Four Horsewomen.

Triple H has already made his presence known through his impact on the Men of NXT (Owens, Neville, Balor, Zayn). Now, Stephanie is making her imprint with the Females. I believe that Dusty would be proud.

Battle for the US Title:

John Cena originally came to the ring to place his Open Challenge to anyone willing to take the US Title. Rusev comes out to challenge Cena. Before the match starts, Kevin Owens sticks his nose in the scene. Owens cuts a great line about Summer Rae calling her a Lana wannabe. Cesaro steps into the picture, as Cena steps away. The match becomes a triple threat, with outstanding action.

The Value of the US Title has increased exponentially, because of John Cena. Now, it has become a hot commodity that others scratch and fight for. The match ends with Rusev pinning Cesaro after a Superkick. Rusev then goes one on one with Cena. The match ends with Kevin Owens attacking Rusev while having John Cena locked in the Accolade.

This makes the buildup for the US Championship Match even stronger, as Cena and Owens have put together back to back "Match of the Year" Candidates.








Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins (Beast vs Architect):

Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar come to the table for a contract signing for their WWE World Heavyweight Championship match to close the show. Anytime Brock Lesnar is involved in a contract signing, bad things happen. They did on Monday.

Paul Heyman is a master of the mic as he cuts a terrific face promo talking about how everyone wants to see Seth Rollins get killed. Heyman emphasized how Brock will destroy Rollins.

Earlier in the night, Seth warned Kane that if anything went bad during the contract signing, that it was all on him.

The Contract Signing completely melted down as Lesnar flipped the table over Rollins and attacked him. Kane did his best to keep The Beast away but failed. Lesnar finally wipes his hands of the Big Red has been with an F5 before smashing Kane's ankle with the steel stairs.

After Brock leaves, Seth cuts an intense promo about how he will slay the Beast. Rollins turns his attention to a fallen Kane for a moment that many people have been waiting for. Seth insults Kane and calls him a disappointment before stomping on his broken ankle.

This is how Brock Lesnar should be booked and utilized. Watching Lesnar put Kane out of his misery is what I enjoyed.

"Suplex City" has taken on a life of its own, and Brock is enjoying his greatest marketing success since he Broke The Streak. I believe that phrase had to come from Lesnar himself, and the fans can tell that it feels original.

Seth could very well be on his way to Suplex City.

Going into Sunday, Seth Rollins is on his own. Kane and J&J Security are finally out of the picture. Honestly, I don't know who will win. Brock could dominate him to win back the title. However, Seth could find a way to screw Brock out of the title.

This is what Seth Rollins seriously needs because I believe his title reign has been greatly diminished. Kane and The Midget Squad have been dragging him down during this title reign. Rollins has gone from being a potential Shawn Michaels to becoming The Miz.

Great heels know that they could win clean, but chose to cheat when they need to. Edge, Ric Flair, and Eddie Guerrero knew that they were great, but cheated when they saw it was time to. Seth Rollins has gone from someone who cheated when he knew he could beat someone to cheating because he is not able to. 9 times out of 10, Seth's wins have come because he needed two semi-retired Cruiserweights and a washed up Monster to help him win.

Ric Flair has had the Horsemen help him here and there, but Naitch has also shown that he could take care of business by himself. Edge has had help to win before, but many of his matches ended with his own dirty tactics. Same goes for HBK. Seth has had to have others fight his battles for much of his tenure as Champion.

Rollins has gone from being an Architect to an Imbecile. The Miz's WWE Title run has become more believable than Seth Rollins, and that is terrible.

Now, Seth has the green line to shine the way that he is capable of since Kane and J&J "Security" are out of the picture. WWE has been slowly planting the seeds for Seth to break away from the Authority. We have seen this plan progress even more on Monday.

Who knows? Maybe The Shield could come together to take down Lesnar.

Overall, this RAW leading up to BattleGround receives 4 Ric Flair "Big Gold" World Heavyweight Titles out of 5.