The first-ever NXT Battleground goes down on May 28th at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts and it promises to be a belter of a show with 6 must-see matches on the card.
It may be the first-ever Battleground under the NXT banner but it is the second NXT PLE in a row that Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker have battled it for the title and the vacant Women’s Championship is on the line.
The event also sees the NXT Heritage Cup defended on a PLE for the first time in its history. Fought under British Rounds Rules, which consists of six three-minute rounds with the winner being decided once a wrestler has collected the most wins. It is a unique concept and adds an interesting outing to the event.
A Tag Team Championship match, a Last Man Standing and a Triple Threat match for the North American Championship are also announced for Battleground.
The full card is as follows:
- Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Bron Breakker – NXT Championship
- Tiffany Stratton vs. Lyra Valkyria – Women’s Championship
- Noam Dar (c) vs. Dragon Lee – NXT Heritage Cup
- Wes Lee (c) vs. Tyler Bate vs. Joe Gacy – North American Championship
- Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak – Last Man Standing match
- Gallus (c) vs. The Creed Brothers – Tag Team Championships
Let’s take a look at the matches and pick out a winner…
Gallus (c) vs. The Creed Brothers – Tag Team Championships
Champions Gallus and the Creed Brothers have clashed many times for the NXT Tag Team titles with the big Scots picking up the win on all three occasions. However, Julius and Brutus have fought their way back into title contention and will meet Gallus in the ring once again in an attempt to get the titles back they held last year for 92 days.
Prediction: These two teams know each other incredibly well having fought many times. However, this is the first time they have met two-on-two. Therefore the outcome could be different this time around as the Creed’s out-wrestle the Scottish brutes. The Creed Brothers win, and new NXT Tag Team Champions crowned.
Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak – Last Man Standing match
Dijak and Ilja Dragunov have constantly attacked and assaulted each other any chance they got resulting in an overspill of violence wherever they go. Now, after months of bitter rivalry two of NXT’s toughest performers will thrash it out in a Last Man Standing match to see who can dish out and take the most pain.
Prediction: Buckle your seatbelts because this is going to be a wild ride. Since returning to NXT Dijak has reinvented and proven himself to be one bad dude, while Dragunov is one of the most vicious and intense fighters in the business. This mix of brutality and violence is going to be an enthralling and wince-inducing outing and one that Dragunov will emerge as the winner. Dragunov wins.
Wes Lee (c) vs. Tyler Bate vs. Joe Gacy – North American Championship
Wes Lee and Tyler Bate unified in their problems against Joe Gacy and the Schism. Following an attack at the hands of Gacy’s group Lee called out the manipulative leader who then told the champion to watch his back as Bate has the title in his eyes too. Bate admitted to wanting a shot at the championship and Lee agreed to put it on the line in a Triple Threat match.
Prediction: Lee has been a brilliant North American Champion and defended it against all comers but it feels as though his time with the title could be coming to an end. Gacy is a master manipulator and will have no qualms in allowing Lee and Bate to battle it out for the belt and enter at the end to pick apart the bones. Gacy wins, new North American Champion crowned.
Noam Dar (c) vs. Dragon Lee – NXT Heritage Cup
One of NXT UK’s best exports arrived Stateside recently bringing his brash attitude and Heritage Cup with him. During his talk show segment Supernova Sessions, Dar boasted about his accomplishments much to the annoyance of Dragon Lee, who called him out for a match at Battleground.
Prediction: Dar holds the advantage over Lee due to having competed in a much more Heritage Cup matches with its set of unique rules. However, Lee is one special performer with a unique set of skills. expect to see several rounds of spectacular wrestling and Lee leaving as the new holder of the cup. Lee wins, new Heritage Cup Champion crowned.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton – NXT Women’s Championship
Due to being called to Monday Night Raw in the WWE Draft NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell vacated the title and announced a tournament would crown a new champion.
Gigi Dolin, Roxanne Perez, Jacy Jayne, Kiana James, Fallon Henley, Cora Jade, Lyra Valkyria and Tiffany Stratton all competed in matches to reach the finals at Battleground. Both Valkyria and Stratton defeated their respective opponents to get their shot to become the new women’s champion.
Prediction: Lyra Valkyria is a special performer and seemed to be building up to be the one to dethrone Mieko Satomura as the NXT UK Women’s Champion before the brand was closed. But Stratton is more than ready to take that big step to lead the division for a long time. She has the look, gimmick and skill set to be a great heel champion. Stratton wins, new NXT Women’s Champion crowned.
Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Bron Breakker – NXT Championship
Carmelo Hayes puts the NXT Championship on the line against the former champion Bron Breakker in a Stand & Deliver rematch. Hayes defeated Breakker in the main event of the PLE to win the title
Following the loss. Breakker turned heel on the new champion and has continued to take him out whenever he sees fit. In retaliation, Hayes called out Breakker for another match, which he gladly accepted.
Prediction: Unfortunately, Hayes and Breakker didn’t live up to expectations the first time around. But things have changed following Breakker’s heel turn, thus giving the rematch a clear face vs heel dynamic. Since becoming a bad guy Breakker has thrived using all of his Steiner traits to the best of his ability. However, it is far too early to take the title off Hayes, who is a megastar in the making. Hayes retains.
Tune in to NXT Battleground on Sunday, May 28, streaming live at 8 ET/5 PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.