WWE NXT will debut from Las Vegas’ UFC Apex for tonight’s Battleground: an event that will see both Ethan Page and Jordynne Grace challenge for NXT titles.
After making his surprise on-screen debut two weeks ago, Page will attempt to dethrone reigning NXT Champion Trick Williams who is looking for his first title defense.
Grace, the reigning TNA Knockouts Champion, will challenge NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez in an effort to become a two-company champion. Perez is looking for her fourth title defense in her second reign.
The first-ever NXT Women’s North American Champion will be crowned in a six-way ladder match between Sol Ruca, Lash Legend, Fallon Henley, Jaida Parker, Michin and Kelani Jordan.
Men’s North American Champion Oba Femi will defend against Wes Lee and Joe Coffey in a three-way while Nathan Frazer & Axiom will defend the NXT Tag Team titles against The O.C. (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson).
In an NXT Underground match, Shayna Baszler will battle Lola Vice.
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The show opened with Sexyy Red greeting the fans and proceeding to twerk until a video package for the event played.
Kelani Jordan defeated Sol Ruca, Lash Legend, Fallon Henley, Jaida Parker and Michin in a ladder match to become the inaugural NXT Women’s North American Champion
Ruca and Parker entered, confident and ready to go. Michin followed suit and she was a crowd favorite; for as intimate a setting as this was, the fans popped for her. Henley emerged with a spotted fur coat. The crowd came alive for Legend, who entered in a stunning tiara while Jordan smiled her way to the ring.
Henley instantly targeted Ruca while Legend and Jordan battled. Outside, Michin and Parker played tug-of-war with a ladder. Parker not only lost, but also fell off of the commentary table. Ruca introduced a ladder into the match and then was joined by Jordan. However, both were hampered by Legend and Henley. Ruca and Jordan then took to the skies to incapacitate Parker and Legend.
After Parker was flattened after taking out Jordan and Legend with a ladder, Henley evened the field and attempted to climb a ladder but Parker, back on her feet, bounced on Jordan to rapturous applause. Legend was denied a climb herself by Michin. Jordan and Henley assisted, further hampering Lash as she tried to climb again.
Ruca sent Parker face-first into the ladder and Henley did the same, finding herself the only woman standing. Henley, Parker, and Jordan each grappled atop the ladders, but Legend swiftly sent them plummeting and was almost flipped off the ladder by Ruca.
Sensing the impending dominant threat of Legend, every woman present in the match pried her from the ladder and tossed her into a ladder on the outside. Every woman for herself and each competitor traded offense until the dust was settled.
After dispatching Michin with a split-legged moonsault, Jordan climbed the ladder and grabbed the title, celebrating cheerfully at the summit of the ladder.
This was a great showcase of what each woman brings to the table. In particular, the standouts of this ladder match were Michin, Ruca, and Jordan. This gave time to talented women and informed fans who could be the big workhorse players in the North American title scene as it stands currently.
NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer and Axiom defeated The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) to retain
Cocky and tall, Gallows and Anderson entered the ring, now heels after AJ Styles’s assault on Cody Rhodes during SmackDown the week before. The champions in Axiom and Frazer charged swiftly in their urgent entrance.
Frazer and Axiom took turns on Anderson, who initially put up a good defense, but had to give Gallows the hot tag. This giant readily handled Frazer and Axiom, giving “The Machine Gun” enough time to recuperate. Once he did, Anderson swung for the fences until he made the tag. Back in the ring, Gallows would fall victim to a quick DDT from Axiom. Anderson would play defense again, but Frazer proved too fast, almost having a nearfall pin on Anderson.
Gallows and Anderson let loose a Magic Killer on Frazer to another nearfall. The tough and gritty veterans weren’t as speedy as the champions, so they had to play any strategy in their playbook to bring out their strengths. They almost lost their chance for gold as Axiom nearly squeezed the almost purple Gallows to sleep.
Felling the looming Gallows on the outside, the champs worked in tandem as Axiom planted Anderson with a super Spanish Fly, punctuated perfectly by Frazer’s flip off the top rope for the pin and win.
Frazer and Axiom’s speed was their greatest asset, which made for exciting moments in the match. Anderson continued his career renaissance as an all-rounder, and Gallows worked as the heavy enforcer he’s been known as. There was no coasting and each team contrasted each other well in a fairly decent match.
– Josh Briggs, Carlee Bright, and Dante Chen vignettes played. Briggs was serious and nostalgic, Bright’s rich and vibrancy gave insight into her character, and Chen vowed to make his matches matter.
Lola Vice defeated Shayna Baszler in an NXT Underground match
Baszler made her way to the ring in her gi and black belt into the ring’s ropeless canvas, and Vice followed suit, also in her gi and black belt under a red robe. True to its GCW Bloodsport origin, the feeling of the Underground gimmick was exciting as talent surrounded the mat, pounding it like drums into the Las Vegas night. The crowd of fans beyond the barricade was into it, further amplified by the percussions of the talent surrounding the ring slapping their hands on the mat.
Baszler worked the limbs of Vice, sending agony coursing through her veins. There was no dancing out of this. Vice powered out, sending Baszler into the turnbuckle post, then transitioning the “Queen of Spades” into a tight hold. The life being choked out of her, Baszler propelled herself and Vice into the crowd of talent outside. With a breath of fresh air, she was on top of Vice, battering her aggressively on the commentary table. Baszler tried a running knee to Vice on the commentary table, but Vice eluded her and proceeded to work her knee. Bending and contorting her former partner’s knee, Lola took advantage of any shot she could put in.
Resilient, Baszler grappled back and forth with Vice. After an unsuccessful Kirafuda clutch, she went for the Big Knee first and then again before Vice sent her outside. Following a rampage on the crowd of people outside the ring, Baszler held Lola in an armbar on the ring apron, vicious and unrelenting. There was no room for surrender among those forged by mixed martial arts.
The vengeful Vice sent Baszler’s head landing nastily upon the steel steps which would cost the latter the match as she clumsily fell back into the ring. The referee then called for the bell before Vice could target her head further. As if this was the end of the film Footloose, Vice went back to dancing again as her music played.
In professional wrestling’s attempts to replicate the success and appeal of mixed martial arts, I’ve seen worse as far as this match goes. Putting two WWE talents in the Bloodsport setting of an Underground match added to the feeling. With more time and the right dance partners like tonight, this approach to MMA-based matches could work. The story of Vice putting the seriousness of the match before her dancing made for an interesting wrinkle to the bout.
– There was an Eddie Thorpe vignette highlighting his culture and impending return this Tuesday.
– Kelani Jordan and Sexyy Red celebrated the former’s NXT Women’s North American Championship win backstage.
WWE NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defeated Wes Lee and Joe Coffey in a triple threat to retain
Lee entered the match with the vigor of a man who has to win something he never lost. Coffey came through with a focus on Femi’s belt. The champ himself walked to the ring with the well-deserved arrogance of a dominant title holder.
Lee and Coffey initiated a brief alliance to topple the mountain that is Femi, but he could not be deterred for long. Calculated and powerful, Oba ran from post to post, colliding with his challengers. A wall of resistance, Oba endured the offense by Lee and Coffey, but for only so long. He found a second wind and on the top turnbuckle, he launched Lee high in the air to a resounding thud.
Despite the temporary team-up with Les, it was interesting to note Coffey targeting Lee’s repaired back. His strategy so far of targeting a weakness for one opponent and the fatigue of another made for an interesting foil. Joe almost got an accidental pinfall, had it not been for Lee noticing it just in time.
Femi refused to stay down, trouncing Coffey and Lee with an unforgiving rage. He overcame the targeted assault from his foes. It took interference from Coffey’s teammates in Gallus to quell his momentum. While his cohorts were distracted by Lee kicking out of Coffey’s pin, Femi’s fire burned into furious anger, leveling the playing field. Lee took advantage, nearly gaining a pinfall, only for Gallus to break it up. Femi regained control, pounding Coffey into the mat with a power bomb, having had enough.
This was a fun triple threat. Femi was the powerhouse while Wes Lee was the high-flying heart and soul. Coffey contrasted this well with his cunning. Throughout the match, I was reminded of AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels at TNA’s Unbreakable 2005.
– An ad for a new episode of WWE 24, highlighting the Finn Balor vs Kevin Owens match from NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, aired.
– A vignette for the returning and newly sinister Wendy Choo aired.
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defeated Jordynne Grace to retain
Undoubtedly excited by this historic opportunity, the Knockouts Champion grinned from ear to ear as she and her muscles awaited Perez. The UFC Apex crowd chanted “TNA! TNA! TNA!” to cement the moment. Perez reserved all emotions and her crimson-clad appearance reflected the bloodlust within to hold tight to her title.
Jordynne, adorned in white gear, was not afraid. She met every strike Perez could give with ease, highlighting the powerhouse that she is. Roxanne absorbed it like a sponge, relying on her speed and agility, combined with dirty tactics as evidenced by her targeting Grace’s eye. Knowing she had to not only fight this strong outside challenger, she fought the shadow of this moment itself.
Grace remained tenacious, despite the bruising and light bleeding from her right shoulder. Powering through pain, anger, and the tactics of “The Prodigy,” Jordynne held as much as she could take. The more Perez dealt, the more Grace found her resolve. With the strength in her worn body, she spun Perez around and slammed her on the mat below.
Perez, screaming, threw everything she had, only for Grace’s fighting spirit to parry it. When Perez stretched Grace’s arm to damage her shoulder, Grace refused to give in. It would take more than that to defeat her. Though they are different they are in style, both women are similar in how they were forged in professional wrestling at young ages.
As the match progressed, there was a change in scenery as the match began to take a technical approach with Grace escaping a Pop Rox. Outside, Tatum Paxley attempted to steal the TNA Knockouts Championship but was interrupted by Ash by Elegance (whom Vic Joseph nearly called Dana Brooke, her former WWE name).
Distracted, Grace laid out both interlopers before returning to Perez. This effort might have been the moment that cost Grace. With the momentum and acceleration of a slam, this was successfully transitioned at the last second into a Pop Rox for the win.
A crossover such as this doesn’t happen often and certainly doesn’t occur that often in WWE of all places, so it was pertinent that both women make this count. I’d say they did just that. Grace has put in a lot of effort that has aided in carrying Impact/TNA for the past few years of her career. Couple that with Perez’s long-running tenure as a wrestler since adolescence and a long future ahead of her, this was the type of match that was needed.
However, just like at a TNA Impact episode a few weeks ago, Grace’s earring was ripped out by Perez’s fishnets. Naturally, this type of match couldn’t allow for Grace to get the win so easily, and it seems that there’s another crossover match between WWE and TNA in the works, this time in TNA, likely with Paxley, Ash and Grace involved. Still, this was a blast.
– Sexyy Red, Lola Vice, and Sarah Schrieber twerked backstage.
– Wes Lee’s bitter backstage promo was interrupted by an assault from Gallus.
WWE NXT Champion Trick Williams defeated Ethan Page to retain
Since his shocking appearance on the May 28th episode of NXT, Page generated a lot of hype for his in-ring debut. Sporting his signature logos on his gear, Page felt right at home. It was as though he was made for WWE and NXT at this exact moment in the brand’s history. His theme song was an easy listen. Williams’s entrance was as catchy as ever with Booker T giving his usual fanfare. Despite the new kid in town being over, Williams’ charisma still warranted the “Whoop that Trick!” chants.
Page came out with a flurry of fists to the champ, eliciting boos from the crowd. “Ethan sucks!” chants ensued. Williams fought back, seeking to whoop the trick that is Page. There was an Attitude Era feel to this match. Featuring big spots and the spectacle of excess, this type of main event is bolstered by one megastar colliding with another, creating a supernova of an atmosphere.
Whipping each other into steel steps, slamming through the commentary table, and brawling in the ring, there was no shortage of high-octane action expected by huge personalities. The heart of Williams contrasted well with Page’s ruthlessness. As a byproduct of the carnage wrought in commentary table spots, Booker T’s headset was broken, leaving Vic Joseph the sole vocalist calling the action.
Page almost had the match won with a gnarly Ego’s Edge and an assault in the corner. Thanks to referee interference distracting Page to prevent a disqualification, Williams snuck in a win with a Trick Shot to successfully retain the NXT Championship.
While not the best NXT PLE main event, this match did what it needed to in presenting Page as a huge presence in NXT while giving Williams an impactful first defense of his title.
As a whole, NXT Battleground was a fine change of scenery. The UFC Apex made for a stark contrast to the Performance Center with better lighting and a different atmosphere that would leave UFC fans in familiar territory while presenting an independent wrestling aura.
Both North American Championship matches and the crossover of Perez vs. Grace were the high spots of the event. The NXT Underground match provided insight as to how WWE could better utilize the gimmick match with the MMA appeal they seek.
