WWE Battleground: R-Truth Vs. King Barrett (Kickoff Pre-Show)

- The 2015 WWE Battleground Kickoff Pre-show opens with Renee Young, Booker T, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton on the panel. We see fans piling into the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. They hype tonight's pay-per-view and the WWE Network. We go backstage to Tom Phillips in the social media lounge. He will be joined by Paul Heyman to answer some Twitter questions later. The panel talks about the Intercontinental Title Match being canceled due to Ryback's injury. They run down the rest of the card.

- We get a vignette for Cena vs. Owens. The panel talks about the match and Booker gives Owens props but praises Cena. Graves says Owens needs to win the United States Title tonight. Graves believes Owens will take the title. Saxton agrees with Booker and picks Cena to retain. We get a promo and discussion for Reigns vs. Wyatt. Eden is backstage with R-Truth. He says some people think he's lost his mind but he knows what he's doing. Truth says he's busted his butt just as much as King Barrett has to get where he is. Truth says he's beat Barrett plenty of times and it's not about that. Truth says he can't wait to see Barrett's face when he has to see a guy with a plunger celebrating a win over him. That's the truth. He walks off. The panel talks about hometown hero Randy Orton battling Sheamus tonight. Renee confirms that match will open the pay-per-view. We get discussion and a video for tonight's WWE Tag Team Title match next.

- We come back and The New Day is out running their mouth to the panel. Fans have been chanting "New Day sucks" even before this. We take another break. We go to ringside with Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry Lawler for tonight's first match.

Battle for The Crown: R-Truth vs. King Barrett

R-Truth makes his way out first rapping to the crowd. Truth gets the crowd hype before the match with his plunger and paper crown. King Barrett is out next with his crown and scepter. Lilian Garcia does the introductions.

The bell rings and they lock up. They go to the corner and R-Truth backs off, taunting Barrett. Barrett takes Truth to the corner and backs off but gets in a cheap shot. Barrett mocks Truth and fans boo. Truth turns it around and hits a splash in the corner. Truth takes Barrett down for a 2 count. Barrett fights to his feet and nails a right hand. Barrett with an elbow and a headbutt to knock Truth down. Truth avoids a clothesline and dances around before catching Barrett in another 2 count. Truth with a dropkick that sends Barrett to the floor. Truth leaps out with a splash.

Barrett comes in and makes a comeback for a 2 count. We go to a quick break and come back to Barrett's knee in Truth's back. Truth fights up and out but gets dropped by an elbow to the ribs for a 2 count. Barrett keeps control and kicks Truth on the apron. He drags him back in for a 2 count. Barrett with forearms in the corner now. Barrett shows off some and hits a running kick to the gut for another pin attempt. Barrett with a headlock now.

Truth fights back to his feet and Barrett misses a big boot in the corner. Barrett runs into an uppercut. Truth with a clothesline. Barrett runs into another boot. Truth with a missile dropkick and a 2 count. Barrett tries for Wasteland but Truth blocks it and hits a heel kick. Truth hits the scissor kick for a close 2 count. Barrett counters a suplex and turns it into Winds of Change for a close 2 count. Barrett readies for a Bullhammer but Truth ducks and rolls him up for 2. Truth with a big right hand. Barrett blocks Little Jimmy and hits a Bullhammer for the win.

Winner: King Barrett

- After the match, Barrett takes his crown, robe and scepter as we go to replays. Barrett is all smiles as his arm is raised.

- We go backstage to Tom Phillips and Paul Heyman in the social media lounge. Heyman is asked what is Brock Lesnar's routine before a big match like tonight and it's eat, sleep... he does the conquering in the ring and will repeat against anyone else. Heyman is asked what will happen if Lesnar were to lose... and Heyman cuts Phillips off, calling it a stupid questions. Heyman guarantees Lesnar will suplex, F5 and pin Seth Rollins tonight. Phillips brings up the RAW debut of the NXT Divas last week and we go to a replay of their segment with Stephanie McMahon. We go back to the panel and Renee says Stephanie has requested that all 9 Divas be here tonight. The panel discusses tonight's main event and that's it for the pre-show.