Though it’s no secret that WWE NXT is a talent farm for both the Red and the Blue Brand, don’t discount the maestro ability of the legendary “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels to continually put out a damn good product.
To no one’s surprise, he was able to string together another list of compelling matches that furthered storylines heading into Sunday’s PLE (Premium Live Event) — NXT Battleground inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Timely pre-recorded promos fueled excitement for matches like Shayna Baszler versus Lola Vice in a “Tap or Nap” match between the two former MMA fighters, and a live promo of Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows being thrown out of the building for attacking Nathan Frazier and Axiom proved a titillating tease for the NXT Tag Team Championship bout in four days from Tuesday.
Have we ever seen @Axiom_WWE and @WWEFrazer this mad before?!? 😳#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/xwMTtviOap
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
Trick of the Trade
The beef between Trick Williams, the WWE NXT Champion, and “All Ego” Ethan Page has reached fever pitch, and it’s a spicy meatball.
You could feel the tension elevate that much more at the top of the show when Lash Legend challenged Williams to handle his business against Page before telling him “this thing between us” has to end to allow her to focus on her own mission (more on that later).
"Whatever Ethan Page wants, give it to him!"@_trickwilliams doesn't care what it takes, he wants a piece of @OfficialEGO 😤#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/OZ8WSckudF
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
A conversation with NXT general manager Ava later in the show saw Williams effectively telling her to make the match happen, despite Ava notifying him that Page had yet to sign a contract for one. One week after Page pummeled Williams and then turned to the camera to weaponize Trick’s own catchphrase before finishing him off has to have Williams seething for revenge.
Soon enough, he’ll get his shot at it, because that match has been officially made.
IT IS OFFICIAL!@_trickwilliams will defend the #WWENXT Championship against @OfficialEGO THIS SUNDAY at #NXTBattleground! pic.twitter.com/Gt20Dr7dhx
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
Will Trick get whooped again, or will he whoop that trick?
The Summit
I haven’t seen Booker T. move that fast since the last time he did a Spinaroonie. The Hall of Famer had the pleasure of hosting The NXT Women’s North American Championship Summit with all six contenders, each vying for the chance to be the first to strap that belt around their waist; but they’ll have to do it in a ladder match.
That said, Booker T. didn’t exactly know what he signed up for on Tuesday night, but he’d quickly find out and, as an aside, is there anyone better on the broadcasting mic than he is right now?
I’d argue no, but back to the ladies in question.
Michin led the verbal assault by reminding the other five that she’s the “HBIC” before being interrupted by Jaida Parker, who threatened to “turn you black and gold” after showing her who the Black and Gold brand truly bends the knee to.
🍿🍿🍿@Jaida_Parkerwwe wasn't trying to hear what @MiaYim had to say 😳#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/LGVeUf4qVY
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
Not to be outdone, Sol Ruca hurled a scintillating threat to “snatch five souls on Sunday” before Lash Legend scoffed, “You ain’t snatching nann thing over here.”
Trick Daddy and Trina likely co-sign that statement, and if you know, you know. The verbal tirade from all six women continued until it hit critical mass and that’s when Booker T. high-tailed it out of the ring faster than a rabbit’s fart, and just before all hell broke loose.
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024It was only a matter of time!
The Ladder Match Summit has turned into chaos, but @MrStoneWWE just made a HUGE announcement for TONIGHT 😱#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/6RyOxLAEco
Eventually, Mr. Stone would walk out and declare that, by decree of Ava, there was to be a six-woman tag team match later in the evening due to their need to work out at least some of their aggression before Sunday. Aww shucky ducky quack quack.
Great Scot!
Obe Femi is as imposing of a talent as you’ll see on any of the three WWE brands, and he’s also the reigning NXT North American Champion, and that’s not by accident.
The Nigerian nightmare is formidable on all fronts, and you can ask Wes Lee to confirm this, because he knows all too well. But, on Tuesday, it was Femi confronting Joe Coffey and his Scottish cohorts (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) to let them know that under no circ*mstances would their interference be enough to cost him the title at NXT Battleground, and that’s when Lee decided to offer up his take on the situation.
Appearing from the crowd, the former North American Champ halted Femi’s confrontation to assert that the title would be returning to his possession, but all he did was create enough of a distraction for Femi to get triple teamed Gallus in the ring.
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024G.B.O.T.
Is this a sign of things to come SUNDAY at #NXTBattleground?!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/u4YVc6BG6e
Lee would join the fray but suffer the same fate as Femi. Both were obliterated, but it’s almost time to find out what will happen when the bell rings and the title is actually on the line, and not simply a promotional beatdown for attention.
This is gonna be a banger.
Jordynne Grace vs. Stevie Turner
Result: Grace wins clean (pinfall)
Reaction: History was made on Tuesday evening when the TNA + NXT crossover was made official in a match that saw Jordynne Grace, the reigning TNA Knockouts Champion, hit the squared circle in a match against Stevie Turner with eyes on her upcoming PLE match at NXT Battleground against Roxanne “The Prodigy” Perez — who grabbed a ringside seat for the affair.
STATEMENT. MADE. @JordynneGrace wins in IMPRESSIVE fashion 😮💨#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/fzmwywmH3X
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
Credit goes to Turner for having the gumption to step into the ring against a force like Grace but it, of course, did not go well.
She was outdone easily by the TNA talent, tossed around like a ragdoll and done in by the brutality of the Juggernaut Driver for a clean three-count pinfall.
Up next for Grace is Perez, and there’s already no love lost between the two as a shoving match nearly ended with Perez becoming plant food before slithering off of the shoulder of Grace and then out of the ring after narrowly escaping her premature demise.
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024👊 HERE WE GO 👊
Things just got a little contentious between @JordynneGrace and @roxanne_wwe ahead of #NXTBattleground! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/V1UqN8dxBw
This is the perfect rivalry to launch the TNA + NXT crossover(s) to come, and Grace’s shirt literally spelled out what we can all expect from the two companies in the future.
It simply read “NXTNA”.
And just in case you thought this would be a short-lived partnership, the fact Grace cut a promo backstage of the women’s division going out of their way to make her acquaintance — in varying ways — proves otherwise.
.@ThisIsTNA Knockouts Champion @JordynneGrace is getting herself well-acquainted with the NXT Women's Division 👀#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/HVFx2Twfae
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
More, please.
Jazmyn Nyx vs. Thea Hail
Result: Nyx wins clean (pinfall)
Reaction: One of the first lessons learned by Jazmyn Nyx in her debut on NXT two weeks ago was to not play with her food. Her debut match was against Thea Hail and the former pro soccer player had Hail dead to rights late in that match after a perfectly placed Pele Kick sent Hail to the mat writhing in pain.
But instead of pinning her for the possible three count, Nyx’s inexperience cost her the match when she used that time to play up the crowd — allowing Hail to recover and ultimately win the match by forcing a tap out.
With her lesson quickly learned, the rematch saw Nyx waste little time after successfully executing moves, and while Hail put up another great fight, the veteran was distracted by the fact Chase U seemed unenthusiastic about the goings ons in the ring following The World’s Littlest Slam. She was able to refocus and get Nyx into the Kimura Lock, nearly succeeding on her promise of making Nyx submit a second time in as many matches.
But, unfortunately for her, the official forced a rope break and that led to Hail being victimized by yet another Pele Kick.
WHAT AN UPSET 😱@Jazmyn_nyx_wwe just shocked @theahail_wwe! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/apCeTEOju9
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
Only, this time, Nyx pounced on top of her immediately after for the pinfall.
Payback achieved, for now.
Someone please tell Ava that the NXT Universe would like to order the trilogy.
Unofficial: Je’Von Evans vs. Shawn Spears
Je’Von “Young OG” Evans has seen and had enough of Shawn Spears.
The final straw on Tuesday was Spears deploying a sneak attack on an unsuspecting Josh Briggs to send Evans nuclear, and it was all over from there.
He’d smile and tell Spears to “try that on me” before pummeling him all the way into the ring, where the beating continued and then spilled outside, where Spears nearly turned the tables, literally and figuratively speaking, by almost putting Evans through the broadcaster’s table.
After escaping Spears’ clutches, he’d go on to end him with a flying cutter made more explosive by trampolining off of the top rope.
This was a thing of beauty from @WWEJeVonEvans 😮💨#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/tLj0QPynoD
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
It’s doubtful Spears will let any of this go, and he might win the next encounter against Evans but, as Lauryn Hill so eloquently once put it, he just lost one.
Heritage Cup Championship Match
Result: The Don retains (two pinfalls)
Reaction: The D’Angelo Family is pleased this week, again.
It was a worthy competitor in Damon Kemp waiting to take on Tony “The Don” D’Angelo, hoping his No Quarter Catch Crew could land an upset and steal away the Heritage Cup, but it was not to be. It was definitely a close call, however. How close? Like your cell phone being krazy glued to your cheek.
Yes, the call was that close.
It took awhile but after a lot of back and forth, D’Angelo was able to land the first pinfall of the match and needed just one more to take the victory, or the simply outlast the timer. Neither of those plans would prove easy though, seeing as he nearly tapped out with only 15 seconds remaining in Round 2.
D’Angelo survived to head to Round 3, putting the pressure on Kemp, considering he had no falls to that point and had only three minutes to try and land the upset.
He’d attempt two immediate pinfalls but unsuccessfully, then trying a third with a locked in German suplex, but still to no avail. But hey, let’s try two more German suplex pin attempts, right? Someone should show Kemp the definition of insanity.
With under 30 seconds remaining in the match, D’Angelo launched an offensive onslaught that ate up all but a few seconds, so when Kemp was finally able to end him with a rolling shoulder slam for a 1 … 2 …
Saved by the bell 😳@damonkempwwe JUST missed getting a fall on @TonyDangeloWWE!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/TkpcboTgFG
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024
The official’s arm stopped in mid-air, but not because D’Angelo kicked out. It was because the clock hit all zeroes right before the third slap of the mat by the referee.
The last time I saw someone saved by the bell to that degree, his name was Zack Morris.
After the obligatory 20-second break, D’Angelo wasted no time putting an end to Kemp’s shenanigans with a spine buster that all but put Kemp to sleep — tucking him in with a three-cound and second fall to retain the Cup.
Night night, Damon.
Izzi Dame vs. Natalya
Result: Natalya wins clean (pinfall)
Reaction: Life is all about relationships, and Petrovic has a strong one with Natalya, so much so that the future Hall of Famer stepped in to take on Izzi Dame in her place following an injury suffered by Petrovic over the weekend at an NXT Live event.
And, by the way, this favor was done only 24 hours after Natalya was on WWE RAW on Monday — suffering a loss at the hands of a debuting Kiana James.
Needless to say, Dame didn’t give a damn about anything I just pointed out to you. Dame taunted Natalya the entire match and made sure the crowd knew she was ready to compete with the likes of one of the greatest wrestlers to ever grace the women’s division, though she also found herself on the receiving end of several punishing blows and a handful of near submissions.
Dame’s power was on display when she lifted Natalya out of a would-be submission and tossed her into the turnbuckle, only to be carried to the middle of the ring and power bombed into the Earth’s crust. A kickout at the two-count gave Dame some final life and the two found themselves fighting tooth and nail for leverage on the mat thereafter.
It was Natalya getting the last laugh with the experienced weight shift that turned into a three-count victory — guaranteeing her favor wouldn’t result in two losses in as many nights. “It’s time for a change,” she said after the match. These are the same words she delivered to Sonya Deville on RAW one night ago.
Maybe she means it. It sure feels that way.
But she’s going to have to get back to stringing together wins to fulfill that prophecy.
Six Women Tag Team Match
Result: Sol Ruca wins “clean” (pinfall)
Reaction: What do you get when you split up six enemies into groups of three and demand they instantly develop both a chemistry and some sort of lessened amount of hate that will allow them to work together for the greater good?
If you guessed chaos, you’re correct.
Show them what they've won, Shawn.
It was every woman for themselves throughout the match long before Michin threw caution to the wind and her temporary teammate Jaida Parker into the ring after the two argued over who deserved to be tagged in next. Parker then began wailing on Michin and Legend’s team took full advantage of the implosion in the opposite corner, at least for a moment.
In the blink of an eye, it was Legend’s team imploding as well and, again, because every woman wanted in on the action but no one wanted to share their meal.
To that point, Legend pump kicked a teammate out of the ring and enjoyed every second of it, that is until she realized (far too late) that Sol Ruca was bearing down on her from behind.
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2024Welp.
This match got out of hand FAST 😱#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Z3QXpjE3Ox
One snatched “Sol” later, the match was over by pinfall. And if you thought that was chaotic, just wait until Sunday in Vegas.
Come and get your Sol food.
