My predictions for WWE Battleground

Dolph Ziggler vs. Damien Sandow

Welp, this is the kickoff. Yeah, you're reading this right. Sandow is on the kickoff despite still holding the Money In The Bank briefcase and Ziggler fails to have another shot against Dean Ambrose's United States Championship.

My prediction: Dolph Ziggler. Sandow's been losing too much lately...and sadly, it's just going to continue from there, I think.

Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton

for the Vacant WWE Championship

After the fast count at Night of Champions, the WWE title has been taken away from Daniel Bryan again and has been held in advance. Since Orton lost the title to Bryan, the rematch is still on, but the title is now vacant. Can Daniel Bryan get the WWE title for good?

My prediction: Yes! Yes! Yes! Daniel Bryan all the way!

Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam

Battleground Hardcore match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Thanks to Triple H, it's official: the match from Night of Champions for the World title is on again. Hopefully, Del Rio won't disqualify himself to keep the title, but he probably won't need to: RVD was slightly banged up as of late and Del Rio will see this as an opportunity to reinjure him for an easier victory. Still, I wouldn't count RVD out just yet...especially when Triple H has made this a Battleground Hardcore match where anything goes!

My prediction: Hopefully RVD will get the title this time. I felt cheated slightly at Night of Champions when Del Rio intentionally disqualified himself. Hopefully this won't happen a second time.

CM Punk vs. Ryback

At Night of Champions, Ryback showed up as CM Punk beat up Paul Heyman to within an inch of his life and turned the tables so a downed Heyman could beat Punk in a handicap elimination match. Now Ryback's a "Heyman Guy" along with Curtis Axel, and even though he'll finally get his hands on Ryback, it might as well be a 3-on-1 match where Punk has the disadvantage.

My prediction: It'll probably get a little messy, but Punk just might get this one. Barely.

AJ Lee (c) vs. Brie Bella

for the WWE Divas Championship

Well, we have one of the Total Divas going against the Divas Champion. C'mon, you knew this was coming.

My prediction: Pretty sure that AJ Lee might retain here.

Goldust and Cody Rhodes (with Dusty Rhodes)

vs.

The Shield (Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins) (with Dean Ambrose)

Thanks to the business proposition Stephanie McMahon gave to the Rhodes family, Cody and Goldust will be fighting for the jobs...and their family's entire WWE livelihood...against the tag team champs. If they win, they get their jobs back. But if they lose, they and their father Dusty are all fired and banned from WWE.

My prediction: The Shield will probably win at this rate. With Cody heading to Pro Wrestling Syndicate and Dusty being fired as NXT commissioner (and replaced with JBL), there's not really much for me to expect here.

Curtis Axel vs. R-Truth

for the WWE Intercontinental Championship

According to WWE.com, R-Truth got his Intercontinental title shot from Brad Maddox after all.

My prediction: R-Truth will win the title. I'm picturing Curtis Axel losing the title simply because of CM Punk's mind games.

Bray Wyatt vs. Kofi Kingston

This whole thing feels last minute, since the backstory for this didn't start until the last Raw before Battleground, when Bray Wyatt spoke to Kofi...but it's happening. It wasn't until the last SmackDown before the pay-per-view that Wyatt challenged Kofi to a match as cryptically as only Bray Wyatt himself can do it.

My prediction: Bray Wyatt...because he hasn't lost yet. Period.