# Battleground (2016)
Battleground (2016) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by WWE, held on July 24, 2016, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., with a reported attendance of 15,109. It was the fourth event under the Battleground chronology and the last pay-per-view before the newly reinstated [WWE brand extension](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-brand-extension) went into full effect.[1](https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Battleground_2016) • [2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/) Its main event saw WWE Champion Dean Ambrose retain his title against former Shield teammates [Seth Rollins](https://www.edgepedia.org/seth-rollins) and [Roman Reigns](https://www.edgepedia.org/roman-reigns) in a Triple Threat match, keeping the championship on SmackDown.[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | July 24, 2016, Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.; reported attendance 15,109[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/) |
| Position in WWE calendar | Fourth event under the Battleground chronology; final pay-per-view before the brand extension took full effect[1](https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Battleground_2016) |
| Main event | WWE Champion Dean Ambrose def. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a Triple Threat match, pinning Reigns after Dirty Deeds[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results) |
| Stakes | The winner took the WWE Championship to his brand; Ambrose had been drafted to SmackDown Live, Reigns and Rollins to Raw[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results) |
| Notable debut | Bayley appeared on the main roster as Sasha Banks' mystery partner in a win over Charlotte and Dana Brooke[4](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-battleground-results-shield-triple-threat-sasha-banks-mystery-partner-classic-match/) |
## Background and the brand split
The event took place one week after WWE's 2016 Draft reassigned the main roster to Raw and SmackDown, but before brand-exclusive pay-per-views began, making Battleground the last event to feature the full main roster together.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/) Ambrose entered as WWE Champion and a SmackDown draft pick, while Reigns and Rollins represented Raw, so the main event determined which brand would hold the company's top championship.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/) The match had been two years in the making, dating to Seth Rollins turning on his Shield teammates in 2014.[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results)
## The Shield Triple Threat main event
The main event was the first televised Triple Threat match between the three former members of [The Shield](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-shield). Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon, Raw General Manager Mick Foley, SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon, and SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan all came to ringside to watch.[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results) During the match, Rollins and Ambrose briefly reunited in Shield fashion to powerbomb Reigns through the Spanish announcers' table, before Rollins turned on both men with a steel chair.[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results) After Reigns kicked out of Rollins' Pedigree and hit a Superman Punch and Spear, Ambrose re-entered the ring and pinned Reigns with Dirty Deeds to retain the title, keeping the [WWE Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-championship) on SmackDown Live.[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results)
## Other matches
Eight matches were contested on the pay-per-view broadcast. [Sasha Banks](https://www.edgepedia.org/sasha-banks) and surprise partner Bayley defeated WWE Women's Champion Charlotte and [Dana Brooke](https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-brooke); [The Wyatt Family](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wyatt-family) defeated The New Day; United States Champion Rusev defeated Zack Ryder; Sami Zayn defeated Kevin Owens; Natalya defeated Becky Lynch; Intercontinental Champion The Miz versus Darren Young ended in a double disqualification; and John Cena, Enzo Amore, and Big Cass defeated The Club. Breezango defeated The Usos on the Kickoff pre-show.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/) • [5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016)
## Reception
Contemporary reviewers also highlighted the Zayn-Owens match and the main event.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/)
## Aftermath
Because Ambrose retained the championship, Raw was left without a world title, and the promotion created the Universal Championship for Raw in the weeks that followed.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/)
## References
1. [Battleground 2016 | Pro Wrestling | Fandom](https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Battleground_2016)
2. [Battleground 2016 Review & Final Grade | WrestleFile](https://wrestlefile.com/events/battleground-2016/)
3. [WWE Champion Dean Ambrose def. Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins (Triple Threat Match) | WWE](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016/dean-ambrose-seth-rollins-roman-reigns-triple-threat-results)
4. [WWE Battleground Results: Shield Triple Threat, Sasha Banks' Mystery Partner, Classic Match | Fightful](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-battleground-results-shield-triple-threat-sasha-banks-mystery-partner-classic-match/)
5. [WWE Battleground 2016 results: Former Hounds of Justice fight to be WWE's top dog | WWE](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebattleground/2016)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestling promotions and championships › WWE promotion and brands › WWE brands and brand split*
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