Reverse Momentum Theory results for Battleground 2017

When it comes to predicting the winners and losers of pay-per-view (PPV) matches, there is a common belief that Reverse Momentum Theory will often play a large role in determining which wrestlers get their hands raised in victory.

This theory essentially says that the wrestler who doesn’t have momentum heading into the PPV will probably end up winning the PPV match. Alternatively, the wrestler who does have momentum heading into the PPV will probably end up losing the PPV match.

With that in mind, it’s time to find out how strongly WWE adhered to Reverse Momentum Theory in determining the winners at Battleground 2017.

In order to do this, I am going to use the live blogs here at Cageside Seats to determine which wrestlers had the momentum coming out of the go-home episode of SmackDown. For more complicated cases such as group matches, the theory will only be tested on the winner of the match rather than every single participant.

First, here is a list of the quick results for all matches. Was Reverse Momentum Theory upheld? The answer to that question is in bold:

1. Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English - N/A
2. The Usos vs. New Day - YES
3. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin - YES
4. Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match - YES
5. AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens - NO
6. John Cena vs. Rusev - YES
7. Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis - YES
8. Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton - N/A

Now here are the full details on each match:

Match #1: Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English

Go-home show results:

Behold, the Fashion X-Files: The Truth is Not H. Breeze asks Fandango if he's still up to this and says the Hype Bros are right, they have to get real and serious up-- there are no ghosts or aliens and they have to believe in sky-ence. Dango doubles down on the ghosts and an eerie wail comes in the room as Tyler is telling him none of that exists but it's just Aiden English warming up.

Neither Dillinger nor English did anything of note on the go-home episode of SmackDown, so Reverse Momentum Theory cannot be tested.

Match #2: The Usos vs. New Day

Go-home show results:

Jimmy Uso vs. Kofi Kingston
Jimmy Uso wins by pinfall with a lateral press.

Jimmy Uso had the momentum after pinning Kofi on SmackDown; The Usos then lost to the New Day on PPV, so Reverse Momentum Theory was upheld.

Match #3: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin

Go-home show result:

AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin & Kevin Owens

Baron Corbin & Kevin Owens win by pinfall with the pop-up powerbomb from Owens on AJ Styles.

Shinsuke’s team lost to Corbin’s team on SmackDown, but then Shinsuke went on to defeat Corbin on the PPV. Reverse Momentum Theory was upheld.

Match #4: Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match

Go-home show result:

Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair
Becky Lynch wins by submission with Dis-Arm-Her.

Tamina and Lana introduce the post-match and Natalya attacks from behind! They clear the babyfaces out and fight among themselves, Lana saving Tamina from a Sharpshooter and Snuka running Neidhart over with a kick in turn.

Lana and Tamina beat down Charlotte, Becky, and Natalya in the post-match segment of Becky’s victory over Charlotte on SmackDown. Natalya did not have momentum coming out of that show, but she went on to win at the PPV. Reverse Momentum Theory was upheld.

Match #5: AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens

Go-home show result:

AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin & Kevin Owens

Baron Corbin & Kevin Owens win by pinfall with the pop-up powerbomb from Owens on AJ Styles.

KO’s team was victorious over Nakamura and Styles on SmackDown, and then Owens also prevailed over Styles on the PPV. Reverse Momentum Theory failed.

Match #6: John Cena vs. Rusev

Go-home show results:

AND RUSEV BLINDSIDES HIM! Stomping away, thrust kick, Cena's laid out on the mat!

Stomp to the back, Accolade locked on, wrenching it back... CENA'S STANDING IN IT! He backs Rusev into the corner, trying to break the hold but he can't get the job done! Rusev manhandles him back to the middle of the ring and wrenches back on it! Rusev breaks the hold... Cena's out cold!

Rusev retrieves the Bulgarian flag and holds it high as he walks to the ramp, kicking one of the stands away and waving it before placing the flag in its resting place.

Rusev had momentum after he ambushed Cena on SmackDown. Cena then defeated Rusev on PPV, so Reverse Momentum Theory was upheld.

Match #7: Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis

Go-home show results:

Mike Kanellis vs. Sami Zayn
Mike Kanellis wins by pinfall with Divine Intervention.

Kanellis defeated Zayn on SmackDown; Zayn then defeated Kanellis on PPV. Reverse Momentum Theory was upheld.

Match #8: Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton

Go-home show results:

He reaches the top of the outer cage and says on Sunday that's gonna be his view after he leaves Jinder's jacked up ass in the ring, his view right before he takes back what's his, and it'll be his view when Mahal hears the words "and your new WWE Champion, Randy Orton" and realizes his fate. The two then stare each other down.

Mahal and Orton had a basic talking segment with no physical altercation on the go-home episode of SmackDown. Therefore it isn’t clear which wrestler had momentum coming out of that show. Reverse Momentum Theory cannot be tested.

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The final scoreboard for Battleground 2017 is that Reverse Momentum Theory was upheld five times, failed once, and was not tested on two matches.

Overall, Reverse Momentum Theory has been upheld 17 times out of the 26 matches it has been tested on, which is a success rate of 65.4%.