WWE Battleground 2017: 5 things WWE could do at the PPV to set up Summerslam

Also read: WWE Battleground 2017 Results, live updates

This Sunday, we will see the airing of the Smackdown Live exclusive PPV Battleground. While the show itself ideally needs to prove itself on a similar level to Great Balls of Fire - a pretty tall ask - the Smackdown brand has numerous opportunities to set up the Summerslam card for August.

With the return of John Cena and Rusev, and the seeming conclusion of the Jinder Mahal Vs. Randy Orton rivalry for the WWE Championship, the possibilities are vast for making this year's Summerslam one of the best of all time.

Here are 5 possible scenarios that the WWE could set up for Summerslam this Sunday at Battleground:

#1 The Usos retain by count out setting up a Falls Count Anywhere match at Summerslam

With the recent dissolution of American Alpha and an already shallow tag-team roster on Smackdown Live, The Usos Vs. The New Day is pretty much the feud holding that division together at the moment. This means that even if fans might be tiring of the rivalry already, they need to find a way to keep it going until Summerslam.

An obvious way to do this would be to have New Day win the titles, giving The Usos an opportunity at a rematch next month. However, what the creative team could do instead, is to set up a rematch with a fun stipulation, giving fans a reason to look forward to the showdown.

The Usos are going into this one as the heel champions, and what better way to build heat on the Samoans than to have them retain their championships using underhand tactics? The match at Battleground could descend into a brawl outside of the ring, giving the Usos the chance to incapacitate the New Day and race back into the ring to beat the 10 count. It is still a championship retention, but one that makes the WWE Universe want to back New Day at the next time of asking.

The story would be that either Shane or Daniel Bryan, seeing how the Usos chose to win the match on Sunday, sets up a scenario at Summerslam where the two teams are free to battle outside of the ring, into the crowds and beyond.

The Summerslam match would take on a similar feel to some of the great multi-man brawls of the past where the action is almost too fast and furious to follow. The Usos have the ability to take high risks, and the sight of them leaping off the ramps or into tables set up backstage would give this tag-team division the burst of energy it desperately needs.

#2 Tamina declares her love for Lana and helps her become Number One Contender for Naomi's belt at Summerslam

Part of the reason why some were anticipating a Kurt Angle coming out storyline on RAW is that Stephanie McMahon has recently made comments about the WWE embracing more LGBTI storylines in the future. Seeing as this has not happened over on the red brand, how about setting up a lesbian storyline involving Lana and Tamina at Battleground?

Tamina appears to have made her intentions known to become Lana's new bodyguard. This angle, while a familiar one, doesn't make a lot of sense in kayfabe terms. Ordinarily, it would have been Lana manipulating Tamina into making her the bodyguard, similar to what Alexa Bliss has been trying to do with Nia Jax on RAW. Why would Tamina voluntarily decide to be Lana's bodyguard out of nowhere? Maybe there is more to this than first meets the eye.

At Battleground, the match could reach a situation where the two competitors able to win the match are Lana and Tamina. They are both looking at each other while somebody like Natalya or Becky Lynch are laid out in the ring. Tamina would take a step back and allow the Ravishing Russian to pick up the victory and become number one contender. Then, Tamina would walk up to the Victor, smile at her and kiss her on the cheek. A confused Lana would then be left in the ring not knowing quite what to think.

For the period leading up to Summerslam, the WWE could lead with the angle that Lana utilises Tamina's affections to her advantage, keeping her close for protection and assistance at Summerslam, but never quite giving Snuka what she wants. This would help give Lana her manipulative streak back after being made to look weak and stupid for so many weeks on Smackdown since her return.

This would, of course, mean that Lana would be the woman facing Naomi at Summerslam. The champion and a large portion of the audience would understandably be very angry at this, considering she has beaten the Russian multiple times.

But maybe Lana and Tamina can find a way to persuade Naomi to agree to a two on one handicap match at Summerslam where she has to take on both competitors. This would give Naomi some much-needed babyface support, and maybe even give the writers an excuse to finally make Lana the Smackdown women's champion.

#3 Chad Gable turns heel by attacking AJ Styles after the US Championship match leading to a Triple Threat at Summerslam

If the past few weeks are anything to go by, it appears as though Chad Gable is being lined up for a fairly significant singles push.

After seeing his alliance with Jason Jordan dissipate due to the Kurt Angle storyline, Gable now has the green light to show the world what kind of a star he can be.

An obvious destination for Gable would be the United States Championship scene. He has an 'all-American' inclined persona, wrestling a similar style to Angle and Jack Swagger. But as a way to test Gable's versatility, perhaps he can be thrown at the Styles/ Owens feud as a heel.

After Styles successfully defends against Owens in a gruelling match at Battleground, Owens could begin to beat down on AJ out of frustration, leading to Gable coming out, seemingly to help Styles.

Then, to the shock and dismay of the WWE Universe, Gable joins in with Owens, turning heel in the process.

A Chad Gable heel turn would make quite a lot of sense considering he must be feeling aggrieved that his partner is now on the other show.

Plus, AJ did cost Gable an opportunity at competing in the 4th of July Battle Royal by beating him on Smackdown a few weeks ago.

At Summerslam, a Triple Threat match could then be arranged for the US Championship, with three of Smackdown Live's very best technical wrestlers all competing for the belt. If the crowd respond to this dynamic positively, Gable could then be put into a fascinating one on one rivalry with Styles over the championship, which would be quite the apprenticeship for the former tag-team champion.

#4 The 'Miztourage' attack John Cena and Rusev setting up an Intercontinental Championship opportunity for Cena at Summerslam

The very second fans realised that John Cena Vs. Rusev would be a signature feud going into Battleground, many began to worry for the Bulgarian's fate going forward. Being a heel in a feud with John Cena rarely offers anything but failure and an unceremonious slip down the pecking order. But what if the WWE were to really do something big with the match, setting up several different storylines heading into Summerslam?

Before his return to Smackdown on 4th July, some in the WWE Universe were musing on the idea of Rusev coming back as a face. There is a large portion of the viewing audience that would like to cheer for Rusev.

He is an obvious talent and has shown how versatile his personality can be if the situation requires it. Something that would really shock the audience on Sunday would be the beginning of a face turn for the Bulgarian Brute.

John Cena made it clear on his return that he was coming back as a free agent. Superstars from both RAW and Smackdown can theoretically wrestle against him and this means he can go after all available championships. What if Summerslam 2017 is a way to have John Cena challenge for the Intercontinental belt, a title he has never previously held?

There still seems to be some left over animosity between Cena and The Miz following Wrestlemania. On the night following the event, Cena and Maryse came out dressed as Cena and Nikki Bella, something that was never actually dealt with by the newly engaged couple.

With Miz's feud against Dean Ambrose growing more tiresome by the minute, it's time the company did something out of the ordinary to inject some intrigue back into the championship scene. The Miz could start this off by attacking Cena with the rest of the Miztourage during the Cena Vs. Rusev match at Battleground. Rusev would initially stand there not knowing what to do, before deciding to precipitate what would be a huge crowd reaction by joining in to help Cena. The two would form an unlikely alliance for the next few weeks, helping Rusev along in his babyface push.

While this might be quite a far fetched direction for the writers to take, it would at least make Rusev more than just a place holder for Cena. Very few are expecting Rusev to win on Sunday, but at least they can help turn him into a bigger star for the future. It would also give Cena an opportunity to complete the set of championships, holding the IC belt and defending it on both brands throughout the rest of the year.

#5 Nakamura ruins Baron Corbin's chance to cash in his Money in the Bank Briefcase leading to a match for the contract at Summerslam

Speaking of undeserving placeholders, Nakamura currently finds himself in an awkward position with his feud against Corbin. Considering the latter is due for a WWE Championship reign in the near future, we don't really expect him to come out of this angle looking weak. This is making Nakamura look more like a stepping stone than a worthy contender himself.

At Battleground, Nakamura could pick up the win with a quick roll up, causing Corbin to lash out in anger, beating the King of Strong Style all around the building. The beat down would be so severe that Nakamura will be left eager for instant revenge.

At the conclusion of the Randy Orton Vs. Jinder Mahal main event where Jinder finds a way to retain his belt, Corbin would then come out in an attempt to take advantage of Mahal's weakened state. Then, just before the bell is rung for the second WWE championship match of the night, Shinsuke comes out to beat Corbin over the head with a steel chair, allowing Jinder to escape.

This would obviously continue the feud between the two on Smackdown Live. After weeks of Corbin making Nakamura's life a living hell, Shane McMahon would grow tired of seeing one of his best superstars continuously ambushed. McMahon could then give Nakamura an opportunity to take Corbin's briefcase off of him in a match for the contract at Summerslam.

Most people are expecting some kind of showdown between Nakamura and AJ Styles next month, but a lot of those same people really want to see this occur at Wrestlemania next year instead. Continuing his feud with The Lone Wolf could be a suitable replacement for him, and even give the Japanese artist something huge to fight for at Summerslam itself.