Baron Corbin Takes Easy Way Out Against Shinksuke Nakamura at Battleground

08/31/2017 04:13 pm EDT

Technically, Shinsuke Nakamura beat the Lone Wolf, Baron Corbin at Battleground.

In the match's closing moments, Nakamura went for an exploder suplex but Corbin was instantly disqualified when he landed a low blow. The anticlimactic finish wasn't enough for Corbin as he slid back into the ring and hit the End of Days on a reeling Nakamura.

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This match was just OK, the best moment being the Philadelphia crowd popping loudly for Nakamura's entrance. Corbin worked old school psychology by using a methodical place to keep Nakamura's offensive fireworks at bay. It's a shame to see a pay-per-view match end via a non-finish, but WWE has priorities to keep in line.

As a guy that WWE has been behind since debuting last year, Baron Corbin doesn't need to be losing matches this closely removed from his MITB win and his prospective SummerSlam match. Keep an eye out for an opportunistic cash-in following a sure to be physical match between WWE Champion Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton.

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For Nakamura, this marks an oddly timed halting of momentum. Coming out of MITB, the Kind of Strong STyle was the hottest he had been on WWE's main roster. A few more strong appearances on SMackDon proved he had legitimate steam. To slow down now is worth a head scratch. But don't try too hard to figure out WWE's logic, they may have something special planned for Summerslam and we'll all forget about this incongruent booking.

Corbin began targeting Nakamura back at Money in the Bank where he jumped the King of Strong Style during his theatric entrance. He'd do it again on the next SmackDown. But when the Lone Wolf went in for his third helping of Nakamura's flesh, Shinsuke fiercely fought back. Their backstage beat-downs made for a no brainer of a pay-per-view match.

By the time this PPV closes, this match could be a distant memory, particularly if Corbin makes a splash with his MITB contract.

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