By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT Battleground
Streamed live May 25, 2025, on Peacock (and Netflix internationally)
Tampa, Florida at Yuengling Center
NXT Battleground Countdown Show Notes
Megan Morant and Sam Roberts were the pre-show hosts, who checked in from WWE Studios. The panel focused on monitors on the wall that had the matches from the Battleground PLE printed on them. Morant set the show first to a hype package for the Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jordynne Grace match…
Megan and Sam talked about their thoughts on the Vaquer vs. Grace match. Morant switched attention to a Kelly Kincaid interview with Sol Ruca and Zaria. Kelly asked Sol about how she’s feeling being champion going against Kelani Jordan this time. Sol talked about being a double champion (Speed and North American) and how excited she is to be champion this year.
Kelly asked Sol and Zaria how their friendship came to be. Zaria said it was a rough start. She said they tried to take each other down in Iron Survivor. Zaria said she didn’t come to WWE to make friends, look at her. Zaria said Sol stuck up for her and they came together. Sol said she took Zaria to the beach and cracked into Zaria a bit. Sol talked about bonding over things like axe throwing and stuff. Sol said no matter what happens after Stand and Deliver “Za-Ruca” will be okay.
Kelly talked about Sol and Kelani having friendly competition the last time they faced. Sol said that the last time they faced, Jordan lost a gauntlet, and that hit Kelani hard. Sol talked about Jordan not taking her last few losses well. Jordan said the last time she faced Kelani was in a knee brace, and she fought through. Sol said that Jordan hasn’t been a double champ, have a career threatening injury, or have someone like Zaria by her side. Kelly wised Sol and Zaria well. Sam and Megan gave their thoughts…
The show cut to Shawn Spears coaching his Culling students. He talked about Hank, Tank, and Briggs being formidable, but how they’ll be victorious. All three Culling students hyped up going over Briggs, Hank, and Tank. Morant and Roberts gave their thoughts on the match…[c]
A WWE ID ad aired…
The show cut to Chuey Martinez interviewing Kali Armstrong from Evolve. This hyped Kali talking about how she’s going after the WWE Evolve Women’s Championship…
NQCC were show arriving at the venue. Vic Joseph interviewed Myles Borne of NQCC, asking about how his last few weeks have felt. Borne said he’ll go back further. He said he was going thorugh a hard time when he signed with NXT, but NQCC got him ready for WWE. Borne said he felt most ready in the Battle Royal he won. He said he proved himself and he feels he’s hitting his stride. Vic noted that Borne was given a 15% chance to be alive at birth.
Vic asked Borne why he felt it was time to open up about his deaf disability. Vic said he is hard of hearing, but he both heard and felt the fans when he won the battle royal. He said if that was the case, it was time for them to finally know the real him. He said he doesn’t want his bad hearing, disability, or speech impediment to define him. None of that stereotyping. He said he wants to show people like him that you can’t be held back. He said he wants to show the world that if Myles Borne can do big things, you can do anything.
Vic asked Myles about how he feels going against the powerful Oba Femi. Myles said he’s been defying the odds since birth just to survive, from day one. He said Oba is a monster who has him beat at size, strength and power. But he doesn’t beat him at heart. Myles said he has to give credit to Dempsey, Wren, and Tavion. He said he can’t do it without them or thank them enough. He said he’s in for a fight, but that’s what he likes about it. Myles said he is against Oba, but Oba is also against him.
Myles said he’s representing a disabled community and he’s fighting for them. Myles said his high school wrestling coach told him that the wolf climbing the hill is always hungrier than the wolf on top. He said he believes he’ll leave Battleground as Champion. Vic wished Borne good luck. Morant and Roberts then gave their thoughts…
Megan and Sam sent the show to the Tony D vs. Stacks hype package…[c]
After a Kelani Jordan interview, Megan and Sam gave more thoughts on the Ruca vs. Jordan match. The show then went to a hype package for the TNA Championship match on NXT Battleground. The video package was narrated by former TNA World Champion AJ Styles, the former face of TNA. Megan and Sam gave their thoughts on the match. Sam joked how he used to be afraid of mentioning TNA on WWE TV before and is excited for this match.
The panel ran through the NXT Battleground card to close the show…
NXT Battleground Main Show Review
Separate shots of Stephanie Vaquer, Jordynne Grace, Oba Femi, NQCC, Joe Hendry, and Trick Williams were shown as they were all arriving to the arena…
Vic Joseph, Booker T, and Corey Graves were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
A intro video package aired…
Sol Ruca and Zaria made an entrance to start off the show. Kelani Jordan made her entrance…
1. Sol Ruca (w/Zaria) vs. Kelani Jordan for the NXT Women’s North American Championship. Both women showed off quick counters and reversals to start the match at a stalemate. Sol and Kelani shared a handshake after the stalemate. Sol slammed Kelani to the mat and did her signature surfboard ride. Sole came back with a STF. Kelani escaped and Sol hit Kelani with a Superkick and Delayed Vertical Suplex. Both women trade rapid pin attempts.
Kelani draped Sol and hit her with a draping Guillotine Leg Drop for a nearfall. Kelani hit Sol with a Northern Lights for a two count. Jordan hit Sol with a Twisting Samoan Drop for a nearfall. Kelani staggered Sol on the apron. Sol did a nice slingshot to accurately land on the top rope. Sol hit Kelani with an impressive Super X Factor. Sol hit Kelani with a Backpack Stunner and PK.
Jordan rolled to the apron to avoid a pin. Jordan kicked Sol to the apron. Kelani gave Sol an enziguri off the apron and gave her a Asai Moonsault. Sol gave Kelani a double boot backstabber. Sol did a flip into a Fosbury Flop to hit Jordan at ringside. Sol hit Jordan with a Slingshot Splash or a two count. Kelani reversed an F5 into a DDT. Jordan hit Sol with a Five Star Frog Splash for a few two counts. Sol and Kelani brawled to the top rope.
Jordan teased a Super Poison Rana, but Sol landed on her feet and hit Jordan with a spear for a good nearfall. Jordan caught Sol at the top rope with a Super Spanish Fly for a nearfall. Kelani peppered Sol with shortarm boots. Both women traded alternating strike. Kelani stompped Sol to the mat. Zaria pulled Sol away when Jordan went for a One of a Kind. The referee saw it and ejected Zaria.
Jordan caught a distracted Sol with a baseball slide. Kelani blocked a Sol Snatcher and dragged Sol to the top rope. Sol punched Kelani away and did Mustafa Ali’s inverted 450 into a Sol Snatcher for the victory.
Sol Ruca defeated Kelani Jordan via pinfall in 12:59 to retain the NXT Women’s North American Championship.
John’s Thoughts: Holy crap! That was was one hell of a finisher! She took Mustafa Ali’s long lost insane inverted 450 and turned it into something innovative. Sol Ruca keeps pulling out new wrestling moves every match. This was a great opening match. Sol and Kelani got comparisons to the viral match between a young Ricochet vs. young Will Ospreay from back in the day the first time they faced, and they ran things back with another innovative match. Both of these women are main roster ready, but NXT is sorta a main roster brand these days with the need for top talent. Sol has great size and athleticism and can be relied on to wow the audience. Jordan may be stalled in terms of character, but she’s one of NXT’s most reliable and season in-ring talents and can deliver on any stage.
A video aired of Shawn Spears coaching and hyping up his students in preparation for The Culling’s match against Hank, Tank, and Briggs…
NXT GM Ava was shown chatting with AAA Luchadoras Dalys and Chika Tormenta…
Sarah Schreiber interviewed TNA Wrestler Mike Santana. Santana talked about being excited for tonight, but looking forward to going after the TNA title. Santana hyped up being from New York and wanting the winner of who’s walking out TNA world champion. NQCC showed up, minus Bourne. Charlie Dempsey interrupted and called up Santana for being a TNA wrestler trying to take TV time.
Tavion Heights cut in and dapped it up with Santana, hoping to have a match in a few days with Santana. Santana dapped it up with Tavion and said that Tavion was more respectful than his homie Dempsey. Santana said he hoped that management can set up a match between them in 48 hours…
John’s Thoughts: Uhm? That and the fact that Impact did the classic HBK main event tease of two men passing in the hallway? Trick has to be going over right? And Trick has to be losing to Santana at Slammiversary, right? (Check out my TNA Impact reviews for context).
The Culling made their entrance first. Josh Briggs made his entrance alongside Hank and Tank…
2. Josh Briggs, Hank Walker, and Tank Ledger vs. “The Culling” Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen, and Niko Vance (w/Izzi Dame). The babyface trio quickly dumped all three heels to ringside. Hank, Tank, and Josh took out their opponents with stereo dives to ringside. Vance turned the tables by tossing Hank into the ringpost. Jensen tagged in and worked on Hank with methodical offense. The culling cut the ring in half on Hank. Booker T talked about Vance and Spears being a lifetime member of Supercuts based off their mohawks.
Hank managed to bring in Tank for the hot tag, who cleaned house. Tank hit Vance with a Cannonball from the apron. Tank hit Spears with a springboard shoulder block. Hank tagged in. Hank and Tank hit Spears with a double Superplex. Briggs tagged in and hit Spears with a big man Moonsault. Jensen and Vance broke up Josh’s pin.
Jensen caught Tank out of the air with a laid back kick. Spears hit Josh wiht a Suicide Dive. Vance hit Tank with a Dominator. Hank broke up Niko’s pin. Hank tossed Vance into the ringpost. Tank tagged in Briggs and dumped his opponent to ringside. Hank and Tank hit Spears with a Double Pounce. Briggs hit Jensen with a side slam and Standing Splash. Vance dragged Briggs into a boot by Dame. Jensen got a two count on Briggs.
Briggs hit Jensen with a Clothesline from Hell. Hank and Tank tagged in. Hank and Tank hit Jensen with their sandwich move. Hank gave Jensen an power slam. Tank picked up the pinfall win.
Tank Ledger, Hank Walker, and Josh Briggs defeated The Culling via pinfall in 9:26.
Vance dragged Briggs to ringside and tossed him into the barricade. The Culling put the boots to the babyface team in the ring. Izzi Dame tried to grab a chair, but Yoshiki Imamura was in the crowd and held the chair. Inamura dragged the chair into the ring to use it to fend off the heels in the ring. Vic noted that there were a lot of chunky bellies between Inamura, Hank, and Tank in the ring. Inamura and Briggs hugged to end the segment…
Sarah Schreiber interviewed All Ego Ethan Page. Page talked about Ricky Saints thinking he’s the coolest guy in NXT, but that’s all external and not real. Page said on the inside, Saints is one of the most insecure human beings he’s ever met. Page talked about Saints following in his footsteps ever since joining NXT. NXT GM Ava showed up. Ava said Saints vs. Page will open NXT, and the winner will defend the title at World’s Collide…[c]
John’s Thoughts: NXT booking hasn’t been friendly to Shawn Spears and his heel faction. That aside, this was an entertaining trios match. Hank and Tank have definitely evolved to a reliable duo, built fresh from NIL, that can put on a good match when called upon. NXT has laid it on thick by keeping Inamura’s name mentioned on the weekly NXT show ever since he left, so we all had an inkling he’ll show up, but it was good to see him ultimately back. Here’s hoping he’s in for the long hull as he made a great first impression on NXT with his unique in-ring style and good hold of the English language.
A hype package aired for the Tony D vs. Stacks match (The classic Ave Maria song was playing in the background)…
Tony D’Angelo made his entrance first. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo made his entrance with a new theme. Stacks stepped on a jacket with a logo of the Family…
3. Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Tony D had a focused glare to start the match. Tony D got a double leg takedown and Hockey Punches on Stacks. Tony D dumped Stacks to ringside. Tony hip tossed Stacks back into the ring. Stacks came back with a kick and Northern Lariat, into Northern Forearms. Tony D came back with a backdrop and right hand. Stacks used kicks to prevent his face from being pinned on the bottom rope. D’Angelo dumped Stacks to ringside.
Tony D tossed around Stacks at ringside. Tony D told Stacks he was only supposed to listen. Tony D was about to call Stacks a Motha F’er. Stacks dropkicked Tony D into the steel steps rib first. Stacks worked on Tony D with grounded knees to the gut. Stacks gave Tony boots in the corner. Stacks hit D’Angelo with a Cannonball for a two count. Booker and Vic bickered about Booker doing one of his random rants that don’t make sense.
Tony D escaped a bodyscissors with overhead chops. Stacks came back with a kick to the gut. Stacks hit Tony D with a Blackout Knee Drop for a nearfall. Tony D fought out of his jaws being curb stomped into the bottom rope, and backdropped Stacks. Tony D hit Stacks with a Belly to Belly and Spinebuster combo with strikes. Vic noted Tony D selling his ribs.
Tony D hit Stacks with his signature hockey punches. Stacks came back with a roundhouse and enzuigiri. Tony D shoved Stacks away. Tony D hit Stacks with a Delayed Deadlift German Suplex with a Bridge for a nearfall. Stacks reversed a tackle into a Kimura. Tony D deadlifted Stacks out of the Kimura into a Power Bomb.
Tony D worked on Stacks with ground and pound. Tony D stopped his punches into some melodramatic recollection. Tony D allowed Stacks to get to his feet. Stacks put Tony on the apron and hit him with a Liger Kick. Stacks tackled Tony D into te ringpost. Stacks crashed into the ringpost when he went for a Cannonball. Tony D hit Stacks with a Busaiku Knee and Fisherman Suplex for a nearfall.
Stacks recovered and draped Tony D on the 2nd rope. Stacks hit Tony D with a draping Missile Dropkick. Stacks tried ot find his crowbar, but couldn’t find anything. Tony D recovered, dragged Stacks in the ring, and hit him with a spear. Tony D rained down forearms to the back of Channing’s neck. Tony D dragged Stacks up, and Stacks apologized to Tony. Tony put Stacks on the bottom rope and curb stomped his arm.
Tony D hit Stacks with a spinebuster. Luca Crucifino suddenly appeared at ringside. He’s not dead apparently. This distracted Tony D. Stacks gave Tony D a low blow, because the referee was also distracted. Stacks gave Tony D a Northern Busaiku Knee for the win.
Channing Lorenzo defeated Tony D’Angelo via pinfall in 15:14.
Luca confronted Tony D in the ring without any animosity. Tony D shoved Luca and then walked away. Vic Joseph sent the show to a teaser for the Stephanie McManon “Stephanie’s Places” interview with her husband Triple H…
John’s Thoughts: A bit melodramatic, but I’m okay with soap opera melodrama in my pro wrestling. This was a good match. The melodrama might not be for everyone, but if you allow yourself to just get into the story it works. For me, it was wonky to have Tony D and the ref get sucked into to Tony D’s lawyer just showing up outta nowhere after being presumed “dead”, but I’m okay with this. I’m okay with this especially since they teased that Luca wasn’t betraying Tony D just yet. There’s still progression in this story and I’m happy that they are taking their time to tell a story over time. We still have Adriana Rizzo in play as well. Good to see Stacks pick up a win as it doesn’t immediately put him at the bottom of a hill he has to climb out of.
Trick Williams was shown doing bicep curls and shadowboxing backstage…
A hype package aired for the Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jordynne Grace match (Yo! If ya’ll gave Tony D and Stacks 15 minutes, give these professionals 15+ minutes! Please!!!)…
Former TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace made her entrance. Vic Joseph noted that Shawn Michaels won the Royal Rumble in this building in 1995. Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance and glared at AAA wrestlers Dalys and Chica Tormenta who were seated in the front row. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring championship match introductions…
4. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jordynne Grace for the NXT Women’s Championship. Grace used her power to dominate the initial chain wrestling sequence. After separation, both women traded rapid rollups. Both women shared a stalemate standoff after dodging spinning power strikes. Stephanie turned the tables on Grace with a overhead slap and a rollup for a nearfall. Vaquer hit Grace with a suplex. Grace ducked a 619. Vaquer hit Grace with a back suplex and teased her pelvic thrust move. Grace rolled to ringside and gave Vaquer an electric chair slam on the announce table to deprive the horny wrestling fans of the move.
Grace tossed Vaquer into the barricade. Grace put Vaquer in a Boston Crab while Booker was complaining about having blue balls from the pelvic thrust move. Vaquer countered a Fireman Carry into a Sleeper. Grace fell backwards to break the hold. Grace hit Vaquer with a world’s strongest slam. Vaquer dodged a Vader Bomb. Vaquer countered Grace into a single arm Tarantula. Vaquer hit Grace with a crossbody and Eat De-feet.
Vaquer hit Grace with a Meteora in the corner. Vaquer planted Grace in the center of the ring with a back suplex. Vaquer hit Grace with Booker T’s favorite move in pro wrestling, the pelvic humping thrusts of the face into the mat. Vaquer got a two count. Grace kept a lower base to prevent Vaquer from hitting her Package Shoulderbreaker. Grace no sold a clothesline and hit Vaquer with a spinebuster.
Grace hit Stephanie with a Sitout Package Power Bomb for a two count. Grace hit Vaquer with shortarm lariats. Vaquer came back with a German Suplex and DDT for a nearfall. Vaquer and Grace brawled to the top rope. Grace hit Vaquer with a Superplex into a Jackhammer for a nearfall. Give these women 10 more minutes!!! We’re at the 11 minute mark and it’s heating up!
Stephanie used her core to break out of a jackknife pin. Both women countered each other’s finishers. Vaquer got a rollup for a two count. Both women rolled through counters. Vaquer got a one count off a rollup. Vaquer kicked Grace to ringside. Grace dragged Vaquer into a Fireman Carry. Vaquer escaped and shoved Grace through the barricade into the timekeeper area. Vaquer hit Grace with her Package Shoulderbreaker. Grace kicked out for a great nearfall.
Grace escaped another finisher attempt. Grace and Vaquer traded strong style right hands. Grace caught Vaquer with a spinning backfist. Vaquer countered boots into a Dragon Screw in the corner. Vaquer went to the top rope for her spiral tap, but Grace met her up there. Vaquer used a backfist to dump Grace off. Vaquer hit Grace with a Spiral Tap for the victory.
Stephanie Vaquer defeated Jordynne Grace via pinfall in 16:07 to retain the NXT Women’s Championship.
John’s Thoughts: A great match and I’m happy they allowed the women to get over 15 minutes to show what they can do. Given how it seemed both women could have pulled out another act in this match, these women can run it back down the road and put on a banger with 5 more minutes. I’ve been reviewing Jordynne Grace matches for years and she’s won my trust in being able to deliver in 20+ minute bangers. Grace is someone who I wouldn’t mind see beat Vaquer for the title if Vaquer is able to move to the main roster (with Grace holding things down for a few months to keep up CW ratings). Vaquer’s next opponent seems to be Chika Tormenta or some other wrestler from AAA based off the prelude to the match.
The camera showed Joe Hendry sitting next to his TNA World Championship backstage…
Back in the ring, Sarah Schreiber introduced NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints, who made his entrance in a light blue polo shirt. Sarah talked about Ava announcing Saints vs. Page to open NXT. Saints said Page likes to believe he is a genus mastermind, but he’s more like that guy at the party who you don’t know why he’s there. Saints said that Saints is Page’s new obsession. Saints said he wanted to move on, but Page didn’t
Saints said he didn’t put the title on the line because he was rattled, but because he knew Page wouldn’t duck away at a challenge. Saints said if he gets a chance to whoop Page’s ass on Tuesday, let’s dance. Sarah talked about the winner of that match having to defend at World’s Collide. Saints took the mic and said he’s an ambassador and that the revolution will be televised. Saints was hyping up world’s collide, but was attacked by Ethan Page.
Saints saw it coming and dumped Page to ringside. The segment was about to end, but Saints jumped to the top rope to take out Page and the group of security guards in the way. Vic joseph hyped up Saints vs. Page for Tuesday’s NXT…[c]
The Vic Joseph and Myles Borne sitdown interview aired from the pre-show (which I recapped in the pre-show section)…
NQCC walked Myles Borne to the ramp. Wren Sinclair and Tavion Heights were hyping him up. Charlie Dempsey glared at Borne when Borne went for a fist bump with him and didn’t recriprocate. NQCC headed to the back while Borne made his entrance. NXT Champion Oba Femi made his entrance and strutted to the ring. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring championship match introductions…
5. Oba Femi vs. Myles Borne for the NXT Championship. Femi toyed with Borne to start the match and gave him props. Femi shoved Borne away and both men had a standoff. Borne took Femi off his feet with a dropkick. Fami came back with strikes. Femi laid out Borne with a shoulder tackle. Borne caught Femi with a enzuigiri. Femi tackled Borne into the corner. Borne came back with a high crossbody.
Femi recovered and suplexed Borne’s gut on the top rope. Oba gave Borne a vertical suplex for a one count. Oba worked on Borne with methodical offense. Vic noted how Oba has been a champion in WWE for over 400 days (a similar accolade to Gunther, in terms of being a champion most of their time in WWE). Borne got a moment of respite after hitting Oba with a dropkick. Oba recovered and put Borne in a choke stretch after a backbreaker.
Oba got his own moment to recover after planting Borne with a clothesline. Borne countered a right hand into a sleeper. Oba broke the move after slamming Borne into the ringpost several times. Borne adjusted his weight and dropkicked Oba off the apron. Oba used a right hook to block a Suicide Dive. Oba hit Borne with a backbreaker for a nearfall. Borne sent Oba into the ringpost for a window of opportunity.
Borne hit Oba with right hands and a dropkick. Borne hit Oba with a high leaping flip dive at ringside. Borne hit Oba with a diving forearm for a nearfall. Myles hit Oba with an Orton Power Slam for a nearfall. An “RKO” chant ensued. Oba backdropped Borne. Borne countered a Pele Kick. Oba countered a Standing Moonsault for a nearfall.
Oba pressured Borne into the corner. Borne came right back with a DDT. Borne went to the top rope. Oba dodged a dive. Myles countered a power bomb into a nice nearfall off a victory roll. Borne hit Oba with a great deadlift German Suplex for a nearfall. Borne hit Oba with a Frog Splash for a good nearfall. Oba and Borne traded right hands. Borne hit Oba with a dropkick to lay him out.
Oba recovered and hit Borne with a pop up uppercut. Oba hit Borne with a Jackknife Power Bomb. Bourne kicked out at two for a great nearfall. Oba gave Borne two uppercuts. Borne rolled up Oba for a good nearfall. Oba turned Borne inside-out with a clothesline. Oba shot put Borne across the ring. Oba hit Borne with two Jackknife Powerbombs for the victory.
Oba Femi defeated Myles Borne via pinfall in 16:49 to retain the NXT Championship.
An ad aired for Cardi B hosting this year’s Summerslam…[c]
John’s Thoughts: On paper, this was a foregone conclusion; but credit to these two developmental wrestlers for stepping up and dragging the viewers into the suspension of disbelief of this match going either way. I’m happy that they are allowing the wrestlers to wrestle longer matches tonight. Borne did a great job on the big stage, putting on a great match in what was a foregone conclusion. Here’s hoping he comes out elevated after this. He has a built-in feud with Charlie Dempsey down the road whenever they want to unravel NQCC. NQCC gets elevated as a result of this too, hopefully in being treated more seriously as opposed to the lighthearted segments they’ve been a part of in the past.
The show cut to backstage where Stephanie Vaquer was arguing with the AAA women from earlier. Jacy Jayne showed up and slapped Vaquer in the face. Referees ran in to hold the women apart…
Ricky Saints vs. Ethan Page, Jasper Troy’s In-ring debut, Tatum Paxley vs. Jaida Parker, and Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights were announced for the next episode of NXT…
The AJ Styles narrated hype package aired to hype up the NXT Battleground TNA Championship match…
John’s Thoughts: Do TNA another solid WWE! Allow AJ to come back at this year’s Bound for Glory?
Some guy name Carlos Silva was shown at ringside. Not the baseball player, but apparently he’s the President of TNA Wrestling (I’ve been reviewing TNA for the last ten years, and I had no clue that this guy was the president. I know there have been press releases recently, but they have been cycling through presidents for a bit after Scott D’Amore)…
Trick Williams made his entrance. “Say his name, and he appears! I believe in Joe Hendry! Clap clap!”. TNA Champion Joe Hendry made his entrance. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring introductions for the TNA Championship match. Corey Graves noted that Joe Hendry beat a former WWE star in Dolph Ziggler to win the TNA title…
John’s Thoughts: Is Elias and his guitar coming out soon? Maybe they have something different in mind?
6. Joe Hendry vs. Trick Williams for the TNA World Championship. Hendry and Williams jawed a bit with Williams showing disrespect. Hendry used a right arm to dump Trick to ringside. Hendry hit Trick with his signature Senton Plancha. Trick came back with a shortarm knee to the gut. Joe came back with a shove and delayed vertical suplex. Trick recovered and hit Joe with Joe’s signature Fallaway Slam, even doing the kip up.
Trick mocked Joe’s signature Zoolander turn, and got the camera zoom. Trick hit Joe with a Book End for a nearfall. Hendry met Trick on the top rope and hit him with a Super Fallaway Slam for a nearfall. Joe got nearfalls off three rollups before Trick came back with a big boot. Graves talked about Joe having an advantage with a close quarters judo background, while Trick thriving at footsies due to his long limbs.
Joe and Trick traded Yay-Boo right hands. Trick hit Joe with the Booker T axe kick. Trick looked at Booker and did the Spinneroni. That allowed Joe to hit Trick with a Book End for a great nearfall. Trick escaped a Fallaway Slam and hit Joe with Booker T crescent Kicks. Trick hit Joe with a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall. Joe rolled through a crossbody and hit Trick with a Fireman Carry front slam for a nearfall.
Trick rallied with right hands on Joe. Trick hit Joe with a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. Trick countered Joe with a leaping neckbreaker for a nearfall. Trick put Joe in a Bodyscissors Guillotine. Joe deadlifted Trick into a vertical suplex to escape the submission. Hendry rallied with right hands and clotheslines. Joe hit Trick with a delayed Fallaway Slam into his signsture Zoolander Turn. Trick flipped away from a Standing ovation.
Joe recovered and hit Trick with his Standing Ovation finisher. Trick got a foot on the bottom rope for the pinfall break. Joe looked at his hand and put Trick in a Fireman Carry. Graves and Vic were wondering if Hendry was going for an “attitude adjustm……..”? Trick countered Joe into a spinning Yakuza Kick. Joe pulled down the top rope to dump Trick to ringside. Trick used a drop toehold to send Joe into the steel steps. Trick gave Joe Hendry a Book End through the announce table.
Trick Williams hit Joe with the Trick Shot Knee. Joe Hendry kicked out at two. Trick grabbed the TNA title at ringside. The referee pulled the title away. Hendry rolled up Trick for a two count. Trick raked Joe’s eyes and gave him a flapjack on the TNA title. Trick hit Joe with the Trick Shot Knee for the victory.
Trick Williams defeated Joe Hendry via pinfall in 14:58 to become the new TNA World Champion.
Highlights aired with the announcers hyping about how big a deal it was for a WWE wrestler to win the TNA Championship. Trick Williams celebrated his win to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: I’m actually happy that they didn’t go with the Elijah interference because distraction finishes are way too overdone in pro wrestling. Doesn’t hurt for a heel to pluck out the win the heel way, and he did so here with the flapjack on the title belt (If they do the rematch at a TNA Plus show, they might do the Elijah turn there). The reason I keep the Elijah turn in-play is they are clearly setting up Mike Santana being the person to take down Trick Williams at Slammiversary in New York.
They had Trick and Santana pass in a hallway two weeks ago (HBK’s classic NXT and NXT UK booking of future main events). Plus they introduced Santana on NXT TV tonight. It was also something easy to predict after TNA decided not to put the Championship on Frankie Kazarian at the Los Angeles Rebellion PPV. Elijah being in play would give Joe Hendry an excuse to have a feud away from the world title. Hendry has been begging for a match with John Cena? Graves alluded on commentary that Hendry tried to finish Trick with an AA. I don’t see it happening given Cena’s on his farewell tour; but hey, Former TNA-NWA World Champ Ron Killings got all up in there? As for the match, it was another match given time and I thought they did a great job with the suspense. Overall, this was a strong NXT PLE with all the matches given a good amount of time. Even the random match that should have been on TV had Inamura returning at the end of it. I’ll be by in a bit with an audio review for the Dot Net Members and Patreon Patrons…
Vaquer vs Grace was sloppy, slow, and they were lucky neither came out of that injured. Really bad match from two women that are usually much better.
I disagree. It felt like a fight rather than a dance. Wasn’t as good at the first match but it was a different style
It felt like two dancers whose timing was off. I like matches that look more like fights, this was still all their usual stuff but it looked like two people who had never worked together before.
Myles Borne has a real future, but Oba Femi could be a star very soon.That was good with only the finisher kickouts being a negative.
Oba is gonna be a massive star!
Yep, dude just has “it.”
I would really like to see him and Jacob Fatu a few years down the road.
Joe Hendry looks like he could be a cousin of the Gyllenhaals.
Great PPV
Stephanie vs. Jordan was my favorite
Trick winning the title was shocking too. Reminds me of when Tazz was ECW champion while signed to WWE
Vaquer is a queen