It’s almost time for NXT Battleground!
NXT’s upcoming PLE goes down live at the UFC Apex Sunday, June 9 in Las Vegas. It will stream live on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network elsewhere at 8pm ET. WWE had previously confirmed rapper Sexyy Red as the event’s host.
Let’s explore the preview, as well as predictions, for NXT Battleground.
Axiom & Nathan Frazer (c) vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson – NXT Tag Team Championship
Background: Axiom and Nathan Frazer won the NXT Tag Team Championship on April 9. The Supersonic Duo would have back-to-back successful title defenses against The Authors of Pain and The D’Angelo Family. The duo would be attacked by The Good Brothers on the May 21 edition of NXT.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson would interrupt the champions’ fan signing setting up their tag team title match for NXT Battleground. Can Axiom and Frazer retain their titles or will Gallows and Anderson triumph via their patented Magic Killer?
Prediction: I’m actually torn between the champions and the challengers. Axiom and Frazer are, no doubt, the best tag team on the NXT roster. Every match they’ve been in has turned out to be a clinic. I’d love for them to have a lengthy reign with the tag team titles.
That said, it’s about time The Good Brothers won gold in WWE. Gallows and Anderson are veterans of the squared circle. Their run has been solid and a tag team title win would be the cherry on top.
I’m picking Axiom and Frazer to retain their tag team titles at NXT Battleground.
Oba Femi (c) vs. Joe Coffey vs. Wes Lee – NXT North American Championship
Background: Wes Lee made his surprise return from injury several weeks ago. Lee made it clear he wanted a shot at Oba Femi’s NXT North American Championship. However, Lee’s proposition was met with cold stare by Josh Briggs and Ivar both of whom wanted a rematch against the champion.
Briggs and Ivar would be attacked by a returning Gallus. The angle was run to remove Ivar from competition due to injury setback. Coffey would replace Ivar in the triple threat number one contender’s match also involving Lee and Briggs. However, another controversy ensued after both Coffey and Lee pinned Briggs earning a shot at NXT Battleground in the process.
Prediction: Oba Femi, in my opinion, is the best booked champion in WWE NXT. Everything about him screams greatness. Oba came the winner out of a MOTY contender at NXT Stand & Deliver 2024 only to find himself in another triple threat at Battleground. That means, he retains his title this Sunday.
As much as I’d love to see Lee win back the NXT North American Championship, it’s Oba’s time and it doesn’t seem to end anytime soon. The triple threat stipulation means we could witness Gallus interfering in the match-up. The trio has already caused a lot of chaos in NXT and they won’t stop until they get their hands on singles and tag team gold.
NXT Battleground hosts Women’s Underground match
Background: Natalya and Lola Vice made history by competing in WWE’s first-ever Women’s Underground match at NXT Spring Breakin’ Week 2. Miss Vice won via TKO after her sparring partner Shayna Baszler choked out Nattie’s protégé Karmen Petrovic.
The May 21, 2024, episode of NXT saw Vice betray Baszler following their loss to Natalya and Petrovic. A disgruntled Baszler would challenge her former tag team partner to a Women’s Underground match after shaking off the attack.
Prediction: I have seen much debate on the internet as it pertains to Baszler’s current booking on the main roster. To be fair, I agree with most fans that Triple H hasn’t really done anything special with the former two-time NXT Women’s Champion. She was a killer during the Black and Gold Era of NXT.
Shawn Michaels has the perfect opportunity to bring back the old Shayna this Sunday. NXT Underground is her yard. This is where she’s thrives the most. I’m picking Baszler to go over Vice at Battleground this Sunday. The loss won’t hurt Vice as some fans may want to believe.
Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Jordynne Grace – NXT Women’s Championship
Background: Roxanne Perez kicked off her second NXT Women’s Championship run at Stand & Deliver. The Prodigy retained her title in a triple threat also featuring Tatum Paxley and Lyra Valkyria at NXT Spring Breakin’ Week 1. Roxanne’s confidence was shaken when she came across TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace as her NXT Battleground opponent.
Jordynne would make her successful NXT in-ring debut this past Tuesday, picking up an easy win over Stevie Turner. The challenger attempted to take out the champion in a post-match interaction, but Roxanne narrowly survived the assault. The NXT and TNA Champions will finally collide at Battleground.
Prediction: Jordynne Grace showed the WWE Universe what she’s capable of at the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble. TNA’s juggernaut more than held her own against WWE’s heavyweights including Bianca Belair. She’s back in WWE, this time with the illustrious opportunity to take a major title with her to TNA.
Of course, she’s not winning this Sunday. This isn’t about the outcome. It’s about the relationship WWE has forged with TNA under the Triple H regime. This match has the potential to steal the show. Speaking of show-stealers, here’s another match that could end up being MOTN and even MOTY contender at NXT Battleground.
Six-pack ladder match at NXT Battleground
Background: NXT General Manager Ava announced a new title at Stand & Deliver. The NXT Women’s North American Championship was officially unveiled on May 28, 2024. The participants for the qualifiers were selected following a women’s combine.
Sol Ruca, Lash Legend, Fallon Henley, Jaida Parker, Michin, and Kelani Jordan would all punch their ticket to NXT Battleground by winning qualifying matches. All six participants compete to make history in the ladder match Sunday.
Prediction: This is a hard one. Sol Ruca prevailed in the six-woman tag team match in the lead-up to Battleground. She’s crazy athletic and that matters a lot in ladder matches. Lash Legend brings the height and strength advantage to this match. Jaida Parker has the charisma that could be fitting of the first-ever Women’s North American Champion. Between these three women, I’m going with Lash as the winner this Sunday.
Trick Williams (c) vs. Ethan Page – NXT Championship
Background: Ethan Page came out of nowhere to take out both Trick Williams and Lash Legend two week ago on NXT. The former AEW star revealed himself as the culprit behind the assault on Noam Dar and Oro Mensah as well. Page would the sign his NXT contract in exchange for a title shot against Trick Williams at Battleground.
Prediction: NXT is already treating Ethan Page like a star by giving him the top match on the Battleground card. Those who haven’t watched Page, check out some of his work from TNA and AEW and then decide for yourself. That said, Trick isn’t dropping the title in his first defense.
What are your predictions for NXT Battleground? Let us know in the comments section below!
