WWE NXT Battleground live results: Ethan Page & Jordynne Grace challenge for championships

After dispatching Michin, Kelani Jordan climbed the ladder and grabbed the title, celebrating cheerfully at the summit of the ladder.

This was a great showcase of what each woman brings to the table. In particular, the standouts of this ladder match were Michin, Sol Ruca, and Kelani Jordan. This gave time to talented women and informed fans who could be the big workhorse players in the North American title scene as it stands currently.

NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer and Axiom defeated The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) to retain

Cocky and tall, Gallows and Anderson entered the ring, now heels after AJ Styles’s assault on Cody Rhodes during SmackDown the week before. The champions in Axiom and Frazer charged swiftly in their urgent entrance.

Frazer and Axiom took turns on Anderson, who initially put up a good defense, but had to give Gallows the hot tag. This giant readily handled Frazer and Axiom, giving “The Machine Gun” Karl Anderson enough time to recuperate. Once he did, Anderson swung for the fences until he made the tag. Back in the ring, Gallows would fall victim to a quick DDT from Axiom. Anderson would play defense again, but Frazer proved too fast, almost having a near-fall pin on Anderson.

Gallows and Anderson let loose a Magic Killer on Frazer to another near-fall. The tough and gritty veterans may not have been as speedy as the champions, so they had to play any strategy in their playbook to bring out their strengths. They almost lost their chance for gold, as Axiom nearly squeezed the almost purple Gallows to sleep.

Felling the looming Gallows on the outside, the champs worked in tandem as Axiom planted Anderson with a Super Spanish Fly, punctuated perfectly by Frazer’s flip over the top rope.

Frazer and Axiom’s speed was their greatest asset, which made for exciting moments in the match. Karl Anderson continued his career renaissance as an all-rounder, and Luke Gallows worked as the heavy enforcer he’s been known as. There was no coasting by. Each team contrasted each other well in a fairly decent match.

– Josh Briggs, Carlee Bright, and Dante Chen vignettes played. Briggs was serious and nostalgic, Bright’s rich and vibrancy gave insight into her character, and Chen vowed to make his matches matter.

Lola Vice defeated Shayna Baszler in an NXT Underground match

Shayna Baszler made her way to the ring in her gi and black belt to the ring’s ropeless canvas, and Lola Vice followed suit also in her gi and black belt under a red robe. True to its GCW Bloodsport origin, the feeling of the Underground gimmick was exciting, as talent surrounded the mat, pounding it like drums unto the Las Vegas night. The crowd of fans beyond the barricade was into it, further amplified by the percussions of the talent surrounding the ring slapping their hands on the mat.

Baszler worked the limbs of Vice, sending agony coursing through her veins. There was no dancing out of this. Vice powered out, sending Shayna into the turnbuckle post, then transitioning the Queen of Spades into a tight hold. The life being choked out of her, Shayna propelled her and Vice into the crowd of talent outside. With a breath of fresh air, she was on top of Vice, battering her aggressively on the commentary table. Shayna tried a running knee to Vice on the commentary table, but Vice eluded her and proceeded to work her knee. Bending and contorting her former partner’s knee, Lola took advantage of any shot she could put in.

Resilient, Baszler grappled back and forth with Vice. After an unsuccessful Kirafuda Clutch, Shayna went for the Big Knee first, then again before Vice sent her outside. Following a rampage on the crowd of people outside the ring, Shayna held Lola in an armbar on the ring apron, vicious and unrelenting. There was no room for surrender among those forged by mixed martial arts.

The vengeful Vice sent Baszler’s head landing nastily upon the steel steps, which would cost the latter the match, as she clumsily fell back into the ring. The referee then called for the bell before Vice could target her head further. As if this was the end of the film Footloose, Lola Vice went back to dancing again as her music played.

In professional wrestling’s attempts to replicate the success and appeal of mixed martial arts, I’ve seen worse as far as this match goes. Putting two WWE talents in the Bloodsport setting of an Underground Match added to the feeling. With more time and the right dance partners like tonight, this approach to MMA-based matches could work. The story of Lola Vice putting the seriousness of the match before her dancing made for an interesting wrinkle to the bout.

– There was an Eddie Thorpe vignette highlighting his culture and impending return this Tuesday.

– Kelani Jordan and Sexyy Red celebrated the former’s NXT Women’s North American Championship win backstage

WWE NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defeated Wes Lee and Joe Coffey in a triple threat to retain

Wes Lee entered the match with the vigor of a man who has to win something he never lost. Coffey came through with a focus on Oba Femi’s belt. The champ himself, Oba walked to the ring with the well-deserved arrogance of a dominant title holder.

Lee and Coffey initiated a brief alliance to topple the mountain that is Femi, but he could not be deterred for long. Calculated and powerful, Oba ran from post to post, colliding with his challengers. A wall of resistance, Oba endured the offense by Lee and Coffey, but for only so long. That’s not to say he’d find a second wind, he can get a lot of those for he is tenacious and mighty. On the top turnbuckle, he launched Lee high in the air to a resounding thud.

Despite the temporary team-up with Wes, it’s interesting to note Coffey targeting Wes Lee’s repaired back. His strategy so far of targeting a weakness for one opponent and the fatigue of another makes for an interesting foil. Joe almost got an accidental pinfall, had it not been for Wes noticing it just in time.

Oba Femi refused to stay down, trouncing Coffey and Lee with an unforgiving rage. He overcame the targeted assault from his foes. It took interference from Coffey’s teammates in Gallus to quell his momentum. While his cohorts were distracted by Wes Lee kicking out of Coffey’s pin, Femi’s fire burned into furious anger, leveling the playing field. Wes Lee takes advantage, nearly gaining a three-count pinfall, only for Gallus to break it up. Femi regained control, pounding Coffey into the mat, having had enough.

This was a fun triple threat. Oba Femi was the powerhouse while Wes Lee was the high-flying heart and soul. Coffey contrasted this well with his cunning. Throughout the match, I was reminded of AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels at TNA’s Unbreakable 2005 event.

– An ad for a new episode of WWE 24, highlighting the Finn Balor vs Kevin Owens match from NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, aired.

– A vignette for the returning and newly sinister Wendy Choo aired.

NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defeated Jordynne Grace to retain

Undoubtedly excited by this historic opportunity, the Knockouts Champion grinned from ear to ear as she and her muscles awaited the NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez. The UFC Apex crowd chanted “TNA! TNA! TNA!” to cement the moment. Roxanne Perez reserved all emotions, her crimson-clad appearance reflected the bloodlust within to hold tight to her title.

Jordynne, adorned in white gear, was not afraid. She met every strike Perez could give with ease, highlighting the powerhouse that she is. Roxanne absorbed it like a sponge, relying on her speed and agility, combined with dirty tactics as evidenced by her targeting Grace’s eye. Knowing she has to not only fight this strong outside challenger, she fought the shadow of this moment itself.

Jordynne Grace remained tenacious, despite the bruising and light bleeding from her right shoulder. Powering through pain, anger, and the tactics of The Prodigy, Jordynne held as much as she could take. The more Perez dealt, the more Grace found her resolve. With the strength in her worn body, Jordynne spun Roxanne around and slammed her on the mat below.

Perez, screaming, threw everything she had, only for Grace’s fighting spirit to parry it. When Perez stretched Grace’s arm to damage her shoulder, Grace refused to give in. It would take more than that to defeat her. Though they are different they are in style, both women are similar in how they were forged in professional wrestling at young ages.

As the match progressed, there was a change in scenery as the match began to take a technical approach, with Grace escaping a Pop-Rox. Outside, Tatum Paxley attempted to steal the TNA Knockouts Championship but was interrupted by Ash by Elegance (whom Vic Joseph nearly called Dana Brooke, her former WWE name). Distracted by this, Grace laid out both interlopers before returning to Roxanne. This effort might have been the moment that cost Grace. With the momentum and acceleration of a slam, this was successfully transitioned at the last second into a Pop-Rox for the win.