Battleground 2014 Review: Analyzing WWE's move to cancel the Rollins-Ambrose match
If you have always been an ardent WWE fan then you know that a good match card does not always meet or exceed expectations. Well, it is not possible to meet the expectation of every single person but it is possible to gather more positive reviews than mixed reviews. Last year’s Battleground had just one match that stood out and it is no shocking news that it had all three members of the Shield involved in it in some capacity. This year too, it was a tag match that came out looking like the best match. Not many expected that because that expectation was reserved for Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. But wait. That match did not happen. This move by the WWE was sure to get a polarized reaction. And I, for one, think that this move can have great returns.
The events that unravelled
Okay, so the match did not have any one winner by pinfall or submission or disqualification but rather forfeit. Ambrose attacked Rollins backstage and that led Triple H to ban the 28 year old from a ‘historic’ Pay Per View. But undoubtedly Ambrose came back the moment Rollins was done with his little celebration in the ring and a brawl was instigated. They were separated by a human chain of backstage managers all decked up in suits to make them look like security personnel and they grabbed Ambrose by his arms and legs to stop him from attacking his former partner further. And Rollins wasn’t the one who was on the receiving end throughout the segment. He took quite a beating but this was a segment which showed the heel-ness of Rollins and the eccentricity of Ambrose. It more or less showcased that Ambrose fears no one. It was rather cool to see Triple H trying to push Ambrose away to the security. I still think that Ambrose will make a really good anti-authority figure.
A match being cancelled does not make the story irrelevant
So what if there was no official ringing of the bell and a referee to call the match? A story has been told and will continue all through to Summerslam. In wrestling, storytelling is of utmost importance. Be it a match, a backstage segment or a promo in the ring- a story should always be in the works. And when a match commences it is not the result of the match but how one reaches the result is what matters. Ambrose and Rollins did not have a match but they had quite a story by WWE standards. Ambrose has still not avenged the betrayal by Rollins and Rollins is still scurrying away with his briefcase and by the backing of the Authority who run this place. And with all this guarding him what does Ambrose have to get past all this and get his hands on Rollins and finally have some closure? That question remains unanswered and that’s a good thing. It is great that the WWE chose to go this way with this rivalry. This makes the eventual match between two wrestlers even more enticing.
Afterthoughts
Does Rollins’ injury scare on Raw trigger such a move? Well, if that was the case then the brawl that ensued did not really help his case. He had much offence to undertake and he did look okay at the end of it.
Background was certainly better than last year. And it is refreshing to see so many new superstars taking centrestage than the usual faces. Even though the main event belonged mostly to theusual faces, the entire PPV had mostly the mid card shining, especially in the Battle Royal.
Over to Raw for the continuation.