NXT Battleground delivered a lot of solid in ring action with everything delivering. We saw brutality and great matches all around and the show was a nice length. The crowd was without a doubt a step up from what we saw with LA at Stand and Deliver. There are a number of booking decisions that are intriguing come Tuesday. This show was done really well as a whole.
WWE NXT Battleground marks the rematch of Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes. Wes Lee looks to continue his championship reign in a triple threat match. DIJAK and Ilja Dragunov look to tear each other apart in a last man standing. Lyra Valkyria faces Tiffany Stratton to crown a new women’s champion. Gallus defend against the creed brothers and the Heritage Cup is set to be defended on American soil for the first time!
MUST WATCH Joe Gacy Vs Tyler Bate Vs Wes Lee – NXT North American Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 1
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 1
This had a better crowd than the stand and deliver’s five way but this was able to focus on the stories among the three of them. There was a lot of great sequences and spots in this match. Closer to the end the match was truly edge of your seat action and it was good to see. All men looked really good in this match and if the four pillar four way wasn’t what it was this would be the best multi man match of the weekend.
Results: Wes Lee By Pinfall via Cardiac Kick On Joe Gacy
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
GREAT Noam Dar With Oro Mensah Vs Dragon Lee with Nathan Frazer- NXT Heritage Cup, British Rounds Match:
Fundamentals: 0.50
Atmosphere: 0.50
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 0.75
The stipulation was intertwined with the storytelling. We have Noam’s past with Nathan Frazer and Noam Dar gaining Mensah’s trust. I think this was a much better attempt at doing this stipulation because a similar one was done before with Wes Lee and Trick Williams. The hurricanrana reversal into a powerbomb was pretty sketchy to say the least. This stipulation does rely on good psychology and good selling and we got that. There were a number of good spots in the match and it was interesting to see the formation of a new faction in Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend.
Results: Noam Dar by Pinfall via Nova Roller 2 Rounds to 1 in the fifth round.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
MUST WATCH Ilja Dragunov Vs DIJAK – Last Man Standing Match: Summary
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 1
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 1
Dijak telling his family to leave ringside is such a cherry on top as this match is set to be brutal. This match was phenomenal!! From start to finish this was a symphony of violence. The image of Dijak wiping Ilja’s blood onto a kendo stick is chilling. This was brutal, this was intense and Ilja Dragunov looked truly amazing while DIJAK looked truly sadistic.
Results: Ilja Dragunov by Referee’s 10 count via Diving Forearm to Dijaks head sending him face first into a chair.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
GOOD Gallus with Joe Coffey Vs Creed Brothers with Ivy Nile – NXT Tag Team Championship Match:
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 0.50
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 0.75
Innovation: 0.50
Overall this match was alright, we saw some good stuff including the double digit of overhead belly to belly’s from Julius. Ava attacked Ivy close to the finish as Gallus retain. I did enjoy the feeling when they engaged in a brawl in the middle of the ring. Big men brawling is always fun. Probably the weakest match of the show but it was fine.
Results: Gallus by Pinfall via Gallet Kick (?)
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
GREAT Tiffany Stratton Vs Lyra Valkyria – NXT Women’s Championship Tournament Final: Summary
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 0.75
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.50
This match excelled in two things, basic storytelling with Tiffany Stratton targeting the injured leg. Tiffany worked on the leg and the selling from Lyra was top notch. Seeing a wrestler go for a move and have their leg give out to fail at hitting a move is a lost art form. The crowd was really behind Tiffany Stratton as well. Seeing Tiffany Stratton have the crowd in the palm of her hands is great to see. One of, if not the strongest women’s match of the weekend.
Results: Tiffany Stratton by Pinfall via Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
AMAZING Carmelo Hayes Vs Bron Breakker – NXT Championship match: See Carmelo’s Entrance HERE
Fundamentals: 0.75
Atmosphere: 1
Storytelling: 0.75
Psychology: 1
Innovation: 0.75
The atmosphere and how the crowd is responding is what makes a really good match great. This was a match that saw Bron Breakker step up the aggression and really draw sympathy from the crowd. We also got to see Carmelo Hayes step up the intensity, bringing the fight to the heel Bron Breakker. The catching spear was amazing and the victory was well deserved. The crowd and the match as a whole were steps up from Stand and Deliver.
Results: Carmelo Hayes By Pinfall via Diving Leg Drop
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Overall…
NXT Battleground delivered a lot of solid in ring action with everything delivering. We saw brutality and great matches all around and the show was a nice length. The crowd was without a doubt a step up from what we saw with LA at Stand and Deliver. There are a number of booking decisions that are intriguing come Tuesday. This show was done really well as a whole.
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 1/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 4.00/5 Stars
Photo Credit: (WWE – May 28 2023)
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