WWE Battleground in Tampa Bay, Florida | May 25th, 2025 | Premium Live Event | The Live Event Recap:

Trick Williams, after dethroning Joe Hendry to become the new TNA World Champion, as he is the first ever WWE Superstar to be World Champion in another company. (Photo by WWE)

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Battleground | Match Results:

The Opening Match: Sol Ruca (with Zaria) (c) vs. Kelani Jordan in a Singles Title Match for the WWE NXT Women’s North American Championship | via Pin-Fall | (12:59) - TITLE RETAINED!!!!

2nd Match: Hank And Tank (Hank Walker & Tank Ledger) & Josh Briggs defeated The Culling (Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance & Shawn Spears) (with Izzi Dame) in a Six-Man Tag Team Match | via Pin-Fall | (09:26)

3rd Match: Channing Loerenzo defeated Tony D’Angelo in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall | (15:15)

4th Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) defeated Jordynne Grace in a Singles Title Match for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship | via Pin-Fall | (16:08) - TITLE RETAINED!!!!

5th Match: Oba Femi (c) defeated Myles Bornes in a Singles Title Match for the WWE NXT Championship | via Pin-Fall | (16:50) - TITLE RETAINED!!!!

The Main Event Match: Trick Williams defeated Joe Hendry (c) in a Singles Title Match for the TNA World Championship | via Pin-Fall | (15:00) - TITLE CHANGE!!!!

My Thoughts on the Premium Live Event | WWE Battleground: Another good NXT PLE. This show had everything you need: a great women's mid-card title match, with an amazing show-stealing women's world championship bout that stole the show and got critical praise on the internet. Myles Borne became a made man tonight as he stood his own against Oba Femi and nearly won the WWE NXT Championship. Trick Williams made history in becoming the TNA World Champion while being on a WWE Contract, which hasn't been done ever in history. This was a very good show. HBK has been delivering big-time this year. This has been his best year so far as the Booker of NXT.

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Battleground | Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: Sol Ruca (with Zaria) (c) vs. Kelani Jordan in a Singles Title Match for the WWE NXT Women’s North American Championship | Match Rating: ****.50 | These two once again have a banger of a match. This is the second time they met in a singles match on a PLE, and this time it's the other way around, where Sol Ruca is the champion and Kelani Jordan is the challenger. This match was amazing. These women will be the big pieces of the WWE Women's roster for years and decades to come. The "This is Awesome" chants were justified because this match was truly awesome. This match was filled with amazing spots, and they both are so smooth in this rung. The Sol Snatcher from the top rope to secure the win was a great way to end the match. Sol Ruca's first title defense was a success, and what a great way to start her reign. Kelani Jordan needs to be Stephanie Vaquer's next challenger because a match between them would entice me. But an opener for Battleground.

2nd Match: Hank And Tank (Hank Walker & Tank Ledger) & Josh Briggs vs. The Culling (Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance & Shawn Spears) (with Izzi Dame) in a Six-Man Tag Team Match | Match Rating: ***.25 | This was a fun filler match for the card. I thought the match did a lot for Hank and Tank, as they are the current WWE NXT Tag Team Champions. What I liked was the bit of action this match displayed. Towards the end, chaos erupted. It was cool to see Yoshiki Inamura return. I thought he went back to NOAH-Pro Wrestling after his brief run in WWE, but I'm a huge fan of him, so I'm very much glad he's indeed back.

3rd Match: Channing Loerenzo vs. Tony D’Angelo in a Singles Match | Match Rating: **.50 | This should have been a TV Match Main Event because this match didn't give me the feel like the buiold of the match did they should of added a stipulation to this match because a basic singles match doesn't help the fact that these men don't like each other after the betrayal Channing Stacks did to his leader in Tony D'Angelo the ending of the match confused me a lot as Luca Crusifino distracted Tony' D'Angelo as Channing Stacks got the win. This match was a letdown for me, as the build was well done, but the match needed a stipulation.

4th Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace in a Singles Title Match for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship | Match Rating: ****.75 | The best match of the night, my goodness. Stephanie Vaquer and Jordynne Grace gave us a classic. This match was filled with everything, and I'm so glad Jordynne Grace's run in NXT has been amazing because she established herself in WWE and is one of the best in the business today. I'm very much glad Stephanie Vaquer retained and now is going to defend her title at World Collide, it seems like, after her brief confrontation with some people in the front row area. Jordynne Grace, I think her time in NXT is done, as I expect her now to go to the main roster, as I heard she's on a Main Roster Contract deal, so NXT helped her establish who she is. But man, what an amazing match, and this match is the reason why Stephanie Vaquer is the face of the NXT Women's Division and, in general, the face of NXT. She is the complete damn package.

5th Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Bornes in a Singles Title Match for the WWE NXT Championship | Match Rating: ****.25 | What a breakout performance by Myles Borne. This match made a man tonight, and the bet HBK took on this kid has been fulfilled because he swam with the sharks instead of sinking. The match had no expectations. I said I hope Myles Borne shocks everyone and swims with the big dawgs, and he did just that. I'm happy with the performance of Oba Femi. I feel like he should just relinquish the title instead of losing because no one can beat them. But man, after this match, I feel like Myles Borne should be the next WWE NXT North American Champion. he just shocked me in this match, and he looked like a baby Randy Orton with the powerslam he did, which looked identical to Randy's version of it. But I'm going to rewatch this match because this was a great match.

The Main Event Match: Trick Williams vs. Joe Hendry (c) in a Singles Title Match for the TNA World Championship | Match Rating: ***.75 | History was made as Trick Williams is the first active WWE Superstar to hold the TNA World Title while being in WWE. This match was red-hot thanks to the fans as they were on one as the match progressed. This win can be a huge opportunity for Trick Williams to improve his in-ring ability a lot, working with some older veterans in TNA. Joe Hendry had a solid performance as well. he looked very good in this match and throughout the build, he looked great. In the closing sequence, Trick Williams tried to cheat but got caught, then defeated Joe Hendry to become the new TNA World Champion. A very good event throughout and closed the night with history.

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Battleground | Match of the Night: Stephanie Vaquer (c) defeated Jordynne Grace in a Singles Title Match for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship | Match Rating: ****.75

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Battleground | Event Grade: 8.50/10 (A-) | Another great NXT PLE. All the matches on the show did their thing outside of the Tony D’Angelo and Stacks Match. That match wasn’t need could have been a good TV Main EVent Match on NXT. But the show closed history as Trick Williams is the new World Champion of TNA. All-around great show, might have to re-watch later today because this was a hell of an event, way better than WWE Saturday Night Main Event.