It’s time for a unique one-NXT Battleground 2024 and it’s results, as we watch as WWE talent takes over the UFC Apex Arena!
More: Clash At The Castle Preview
This event, of course, is at least partly because of the still-new relationship between WWE and UFC, because they are both under the TKO umbrella. It will be a similarly intimate setting-both the Performance Center and Apex Arena seat under 1,000 fans. That tells me this one is more about the experience and the atmosphere than pushing tickets. After all, we’ve seen NXT events fill NBA arenas without too much trouble at times.
So, first, some results!
NXT Battleground Results
- Kelani Jordan makes history and becomes the first NXT North American Women’s Champion. She outlasted five other Superstars in a women’s six pack challenge to become the first ever title holder.
- Axiom and Nathan Fraser defeated Gallows and Anderson, retaining their NXT Tag Team titles. Nice win for the champs.
- Lola Vice scores a minor upset over Shayna Baszler in an NXT Underground match. This one felt closer to home, being more an MMA-style fight in the training center for UFC.
- Oba Femi outlasts Wes Lee and Joe Coffey to retain his NXT North American Championship. Lots of fun here, Gallus got involved, no shock there either.
- Roxanne Perez survives a game Jordynne Grace to retain her NXT Championship. Not a total shock here, even if I wanted to see Grace win. The nice curve was when the outside interference came into play. Tatum Paxley attempted to steal Grace’s TNA belt, was stopped by Ash by Elegance (Dana Brooke) and both were leveled by Grace. When she returned to the ring, Roxanne somehow survived a Juggernaut Driver to deliver Pop Rox and retain.
- Trick Williams secured his first title defense, defeating the debuting Ethan Page in a solid main event. Nice touch with no outside interference or other TNA related surprises.
After The Closing Bell:
Well, it was a historic night, for several reasons. Right out of the gate, we crowned a first ever NXT North American Women’s Champion. Like that NXT got a mid-card women’s title, which is something one or both WWE main shows need. Honestly, it’s something they have needed for a while. Right now, WWE is treating the women’s tag titles as that mid-card option, sort of. Perhaps soon? Either way, the NXT Battleground 2024 results have to make WWE pretty happy.
The match I was most excited for leading up to NXT Battleground was Jordynne Grace taking a shot at NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez. I called for history to be made here, and I was disappointed. Would have loved to see Grace win the title, even if it led to a rematch at a TNA show where Perez regained the belt. Instead, the more predictable (kind of) happened. Grace looked as good as you’d expect, and was poised to pull it off. But, we had to have outside interference, in the form of WWE’s Tatum Paxley…and TNA’s Ash By Elegance (formerly WWE’s Dana Brooke). The WWE/TNA version of the forbidden door has become even more open, and I am here for it. Now, we wait to see who heads over and works on TNA, because you know that is happening.
More: Possible Clash At The Castle Spoilers
I liked this NXT Battleground in the Apex because it gave us UFC talents in the crowd, as well as TNA. It seems reasonable to think that this will not be the last time we see faces from either company sharing screen time with WWE Superstars. In terms of the environment, Fightful reported that the arena layout and setup presented the crew with some challenges, but I would say it was pulled off nicely. Felt like a larger Performance Center, did not feel awkward or like it was a bad choice.
