Unlike his predecessor Randy Orton last week, Myles Borne emerged victorious in a battle royal to become Oba Femi’s next challenger for the NXT Championship. Borne opened the show accompanied by No Quarter Catch Crew ahead of Battleground on May 25 at the Yuengling Center in Tampa. “I want to be judged by my ability, not by my disability,” the partially deaf wrestler said. “I’m fighting for all the kids out there who are struggling fighting their own fight.” Ethan Page interrupted, enunciating enough for Borne to read his lips: “You can’t beat Oba!” NQCC leader Charlie Dempsey pitted them in a match tonight, and NXT General Manager Ava made it official with Borne’s championship opportunity on the line.
Charlie Dempsey vs Oba Femi
Borne threw Dempsey at the lion last week, and Femi gets his snack tonight. Femi lands a big back drop after picture-in-picture, and Dempsey recuperates by targeting the left arm. Booker T calls Dempsey’s catch offense a “masterclass,” but Femi makes a powerhouse comeback with Fall From Grace earning the pinfall victory.
Winner: Oba Femi
Footage from earlier shows Tatum Paxley crashing out backstage, alluding to Gigi Dolin and Shotzi’s WWE releases towards Thea Hail and Karmen Petrovic.
North American Champion Ricky Saints says Page “loves raining on people’s parades around here.” Page claims the NXT Championship needs him, and Saints will continue playing second-fiddle.
Tony D’Angelo vs Wes Lee
“It’s time for the High Rise to ascend to the top of NXT,” Lee says alongside newly labeled Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe. Lee told a mystery caller last week that D’Angelo “took the bait” for a price, presumably from “The Underboss” Channing Lorenzo. D’Angelo hits a crossbody on all three but succumbs to the numbers game during picture-in-picture. “The Don” makes a comeback until Lorenzo appears on-screen at Adriana Rizzo’s safe house, allowing Lee to capitalize with Kardiac Kick for three.
Winner: Wes Lee
NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer speaks on new challenger Jordynne Grace with a language barrier that silences the crowd. Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne of Fatal Influence interrupt with dissension teases that land about equal, and Grace finally appears. Awkward back-and-forth continues, and Grace vows to protect Vaquer enroute to Battleground.
The Undertaker and Bubba Ray Dudley speak with LFG finalists Tyra Mae Steele and Zena Sterling. Ray paints high stakes until Izzi Dame and Lash Legend interrupt to guard their yard. Meanwhile, D’Angelo hops into a car towards Rizzo’s safehouse.
Myles Borne vs Ethan Page
Borne tells NQCC to stay back and take Dempsey to the trainer’s room while he defends his NXT Championship opportunity. The veteran Page works Borne down, and the latter clotheslines him over the ropes before break. Page returns with a superplex for two, and Borne reverses momentum with a vintage powerslam to “RKO” chants. Page counters a dropkick and second powerslam, but Borne recovers with a signature dropkick and sneaky pin for three.
Winner: Myles Borne
WWE Evolve’s Sean Legacy calls out Je’Von Evans on X after creating “magic” in last week’s battle royal. Cameras catch Evans with a phone in-hand, a dangerous sight, and Ashante “Thee” Adonis says he shouldn’t worry about Legacy. Saints overhears the argument and suggests the winner of their match face him at Battleground.
D’Angelo arrives at the Rizzo safehouse, and “Stacks” immediately guts him with a crowbar. “At Battleground, I finish ‘The Don’ and put an end to the D’Angelo Family once and for all,” he says.
Thea Hail vs Tatum Paxley
No more Chase University or Chemical X, and the remnants are left to survive. Jaida Parker watches the monitors as Paxley shows out. She hits flashy offense in a distraught way, and Hail comes back with a Kimura. The former gauges the eyes, resulting in a disqualification, and officials are forced to separate them.
Winner: Thea Hail
Parker says Hail and the women’s locker room are “b—ing,” and exhibit A, Kehlani Jordan complains about losing to Zaria. They offer to run it back with Jordan receiving a Women’s North American Championship match at Battleground if victorious
For the first time on a WWE PLE, the TNA Championship will be defended at Battleground. In Ava’s office, TNA Champion Joe Hendry squabbles with challenger Trick Williams as the general manager attempts to show authority. “If anyone is gonna find out what it’s like for their 15 minutes of fame to expire, it’s Trick Williams,” Hendry closes before signing the contract.
NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker and Tank Ledger empathize with Josh Briggs after Yoshiki Inamura’s return to Japan. Shawn Spears says, “You don’t appreciate what you have till it’s gone,” referencing The Culling’s Brooks Jensen. “When it comes to relationships, you’re a cancer.” Spears walks away slyly, eyeing a perfect fit for The Culling.
Ava gives Kale Dixon and Uriah Connors of Chase University their debut tag team match next week. “Guys, what the f-!” Andre Chase reacts to their opponents, OTM.
Fatal Influence vs Jordynne Grace and Stephanie Vaquer
Can Grace and Vaquer coexist before Battleground?As usual, Vaquer wrestles circles around the opposition, but Fatal Influence gains control with outside dives before break. Grace makes the night’s most intense comeback, the competitors trade strikes, and the former sacrifices herself with Fatal Influence’s kick combo. Grace hits the Beast Mode driver on Jacy Jayne for three, and the champion and challenger look at each other menacingly at show’s end.
Winners: Jordynne Grace and Stephanie Vaquer
Cameras run backstage to Ethan Page, who holds up the North American Championship above a floored Ricky Saints. “I told you we’d pick this up later,” Page says. “It’s later!”
