Battleground 2014 - Reaction and Discussion

WWE’s prelude to SummerSlam, Battleground, is in the books, and the Number Two Contenders are here to talk all about it.  Whose star shone brightest?  How does this lead into “The Biggest Party of the Summer”?  Doc Manson and The Teacher discuss. . . Next!

 

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The Teacher:  Alright, Doc, before we go into great detail, give me your overall thoughts on Battleground in ten words or less.

Doc Manson: Solid matches, with few surprises. I want Ambrose v. Rollins.

T:  I think the vast majority of WWE fans echo your sentiments completely.  Continuing to tease the Ambrose and Rollins match is causing us to salivate with anticipation.  Their sequences throughout the night had a very “Attitude Era” feel to them, especially Rollins searching for Dean in the parking lot only to have him emerge from the trunk.  Good stuff.

WWE Battleground 2014 - Predictions and More

WWE and the WWE Network present Battleground! Live on the WWE Network on Sunday, July 20, 2014 at 8:00PM. Kick-off show starts at 7:30PM. The Number Two Contenders, The Teacher and Doc Manson are here to share their thoughts on the card and their predictions coming out of Battleground and leading into the build for SummerSlam!

 

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The Teacher:  Well, Doc, I have to tell you; this is shaping up to be a pretty good show all the way around.  Looking over the matches as they stand today (Thursday), there is only one that I could absolutely care less about, and that one is likely going to be on the pre-show, which I won’t be watching anyway.  I’m excited for Sunday night!

Doc Manson: Good to be here, Teach. How’s it going, internet? I think you’ve pretty much laid out the big picture. I’m expecting a good show. All of the matches have something to catch my interest, with a few highlights with potential for match of night. In my mind, Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose could be one hell of a match up, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the Intercontinental Battle Royal turns out.

Lab Works: Portrait of Malice, Ambrose v. Rollins

Dean Ambrose has the potential to be a very dangerous man, an observation of which his former Shield-brother, Seth Rollins, is aware. If Seth Rollins is "the Architect" of the Shield, and Roman Reigns was the heavy-lifter, then perhaps Dean Ambrose might be best described as the rabid dog.

Dogs can be dangerous creatures, particularly when provoked. In my mind, the Shield placated Dean Ambrose. He suppressed his more dangerous, unpredictable urges for the greater good. In believing in the Shield, Dean Ambrose was a part of a pack, a communal entity larger than himself into which he could invest his more chaotic and destructive tendencies. With the chair shots that ultimately disbanded the Shield, Seth Rollins awakened a sleeping dog and, as Seth is discovering, that dog is both hungry and angry.

Lab Works: The Past and Future of Cesaro

Hey, folks, Doc Manson here. I've been going over my notes, and I'd like to chat for a moment about the Swiss Superman, the King of Swing, and the winner of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestleania 30, Antonio Cesaro.

This guy became something of a fan favorite over the course of the last year, no doubt due to his natural charisma and his amazing feats of strength. The shot of Cesaro lifting Big Show over the top rope at Wrestlemania 30, paying striking visual homage to the Hogan/Andre slam at Wrestlemania III, is a moment with the potential to live in highlight reels for years to come.

The Teacher's Lounge: He is The Miz, and right now, he is Awesome!

In addition to the conversations Doc and I will be having about most things wrestling each week, we will also be sharing some more independent thoughts on the segments, matches or storylines that caught our attention.  This week, I’d like to talk about a wrestler that I have recently begun to enjoy a lot, even though I’m incredibly ashamed to admit it.  However, they say that admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, so here goes.

Hi.  I am The Teacher and I. . . . Man, this is hard.  I like. . .

*deep breath*

I like The Miz.