Stomping Grounds Preview: Unexpected special guest referee, 4 superstars to interfere in top match? (June 23rd, 2019)

WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 is less than half a day away and fans aren't particularly thrilled about it. We understand why. The card isn't particularly great and we've not had the greatest build to the PPV either.

Fans aren't thrilled about Stomping Grounds for good reason, but that's ok. Despite the rather lackluster card, one should remember that it's these underwhelming cards on paper that end up delivering in surprising fashion. History has proven this and one can only hope that it's repeated again.

So in the PPV, we have 3 matches from RAW, 2 matches from SmackDown, one Cruiserweight bout and 3 interbrand matches (one of which is for a SmackDown title).

The Cruiserweight match will feature Tony Nese defend the title against Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa. While that isn't on the kickoff show as of this moment, don't sleep on that one. All three of them are fantastic performers and if they are on the main card, then it was likely done knowing that they could steal the show.

Either way, let's look at the rest of the card and what to look forward to for WWE Stomping Grounds 2019.

#8. Samoa Joe vs Ricochet - WWE United States Championship

Will Samoa Joe put away the up-and-comer?

Samoa Joe became a 2-time United States Champion after Rey Mysterio (who controversially beat him for the title) was forced to vacate the belt. The WWE legend handed the title back to Joe despite having been injured and beaten down by him.

In the meantime, Joe was naturally bound to face a new set of contenders. Ricochet earned that right when he defeated The Miz, Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley and Cesaro. The United States title seems to be one that changes hands a lot, so don't be surprised if The One and Only superstar picks up his first main roster title.

#7. Bayley (c) vs Alexa Bliss (w/ Nikki Cross) - WWE SmackDown Women's Championship

It's either redemption or re-humiliation for Bayley

This is certainly an interesting bout for a variety of reasons. For one, it's a RAW superstar challenging for a SmackDown title. Secondly, it all comes full circle for the SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley.

If you recall, it was a little over two years ago when Bayley was going strong as the RAW Women's Champion. She defeated 3 other superstars at WrestleMania 33 to retain her title, but right after that, it went downhill for her.

Alexa Bliss jumped over to RAW and instantly inserted herself into title contention. From then, it was humiliation for Bayley week after week, as she never got the upper hand on Bliss. It all culminated in a loss to Bliss at Bayley's home town of San Jose, California.

It's either redemption or humiliation for Bayley. Last time she lost to Bliss, her career went sliding down and only recently recovered. Will she be able to overcome the demons of her past?

#6. Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) vs Heavy Machinery - WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship

A huge opportunity awaits Heavy Machinery

This is going to be a great match. There's not been much hype or build to it, but it could be a low-key show-stealer. Daniel Bryan & Rowan won the vacant SmackDown Tag Team titles not long after WrestleMania, but they haven't done a great job as champions.

However, Heavy Machinery were the first ones to step up to the plate and challenge the champions. Being the preachy kind, the Steaks & Weights mentality of Otis and Tucker certainly has Daniel Bryan fuming.

He's not exactly been taking them seriously, but rest assured that when the night comes, Heavy Machinery will be dealt with with the utmost seriousness. It's going to be a real brawl and it'll be interesting to see how Otis & Tucker deal with veterans like Bryan and Rowan.

#5. Becky Lynch (c) vs Lacey Evans - WWE RAW Women's Championship

Will it be Becky No Belts after Stomping Grounds?

WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 will prove to be a pivotal and defining moment for Becky Lynch in her run as RAW Women's Champion. At Money in the Bank, she had to defend both the RAW and SmackDown Women's title.

She beat Lacey Evans with relative comfort under 10 minutes, while she lost the SmackDown title to Charlotte thanks to help from none other than Evans. Charlotte's night didn't exactly end in a happy way either, but this only means that Becky Lynch had to focus more on one title.

Evans has remained the #1 contender for the RAW Women's title despite having lost her last match clean. However, she has proven to be a huge threat to the title and many believe that she will be a future Women's Champion. Will that prophecy be fulfilled as early as tonight?

#4. Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre

The second interbrand match on this list, SmackDown Live's Roman Reigns will take on RAW's Drew McIntyre in a grudge match. It's not been an easy period for The Big Dog.

While he hasn't gone out of his way to challenge for the Universal Championship (despite having a clear claim to it), he has seemingly given up his pursuit for that title so that Seth Rollins can tear it up on RAW.

Reigns has been in the middle of a rivalry with SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon. The Prodigal Son has been a tyrant and a thorn in Reigns' side, even defeating him at Saudi Arabia (albeit with help from McIntyre).

While Reigns will obviously look to get revenge on Shane McMahon, he's going to have to go through Drew McIntyre first. And if McIntyre is around, so will Shane and potentially even The Revival and Elias.

#3. Kofi Kingston (c) vs Dolph Ziggler - Steel Cage match for the WWE Championship

Kofi Kingston has the toughest test of his WWE title reign yet

Is it safe to say that this is Kofi Kingston's biggest challenge as WWE Champion so far?

Despite beating Dolph Ziggler at WWE Super ShowDown 2019, The Showoff got himself a rematch - this time inside a steel cage. There's not going to be any interference from Xavier Woods or Big E.

When that cage is locked, it's going to be Kofi Kingston and it's going to be Dolph Ziggler. Expect a straightforward affair and a great match. Kingston and Ziggler have a lot of history together, having competed against each other for the United States title and even the Intercontinental Championship before.

If Kingston wins this, then make no mistake about it - the 2-time World Champion Ziggler will 100% go out of contention.

#2. The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn

Now we know that we've mentioned the line "this match could be a show stealer" on more than one occasion. However, we say this because we want to remind people that there's a very high chance that we get an exceptionally good PPV.

Of course, it's going to be hard to follow Money in the Bank, which was easily the best PPV of 2019. Super ShowDown wasn't even close but we know why that's the case.

Either way, Kevin Owens teams up with RAW's Sami Zayn to take on 2/3rds of The New Day. It's going to be an all-out war between the two teams and expect a fast-paced, action-packed match.

If Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn do win it, does it mean that Kevin Owens will return to WWE title contention?

#1. Seth Rollins (c) vs Baron Corbin - WWE Universal Championship (w/ Special Guest Referee of Corbin's choice)

Is Seth Rollins' title reign in jeopardy?

Ever since Money in the Bank 2019, Seth Rollins has had a few sleepless nights. Despite being the best kind of fighting champion there is, he knows that his Universal title reign is under threat at every given moment.

Baron Corbin is the man in front of him - the man who'll be challenging him again despite losing clean in Saudi Arabia. This time, however, he gets to choose a special guest referee for the match.

Not only that, but Brock Lesnar will also watch them and wait for the right opportunity to cash in his MITB briefcase. We expect Bray Wyatt to make his return after nearly ten full months to be the special guest referee. It could play into a future title opportunity for The Eater of Worlds.