Be not mistaken, for while the WWE RAW and SmackDown have been rather unforgettable in recent months, the promotion’s black and gold brand has more than held its own. So as the two big brother programs build off of the rabid success of “Clash at the Castle”, NXT is itself ready to do the same thing following the exciting showing at it’s latest premium live event.
NXT Battleground did not disappoint in Las Vegas, to say the very least, putting on banger after banger that including NXT Men’s Champion Trick Williams and NXT Men’s North American Champion Oba Femi both successfully defending their titles in grand fashion.
SEE FULL RECAP FROM ELECTRIC WWE RAW HERE.
An inaugural NXT Women’s North American Champion was crowned as well, as Kelani Jordan beat all odds and toppled several heavy hitters to grab the belt in a ladder match.
So what’s next for the champions, and those who would have their heads??
And my oh my, who was WWE Champion Cody Rhodes referring to when he said wrestlers from other locker rooms would be involved in the Men's Battle Royal — possibly hinting at more NXTNA deliciousness? On the heels of TNA Knockouts Champion battling Roxanne Perez in Las Vegas??
I'm thinking a Frankie Kazarian sighting all but guarantees it.
You just never know who will stop by #WWENXT
— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) June 18, 2024
8/7c @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/SUBWqT1wHX
Oh, this one might get HOT AND HEAVY, ladies and gentlemen. I guess you could say it'll be a ... Heatwave, amirite?!
Follow along for live results and reaction from the latest episode of NXT.
Oba Femi Speaks
"Who can ever take this title from me?!"@Obaofwwe can't be stopped 😮💨#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/SGVMe2LNUR
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
“Look me in my eyes and riddle me this: who can ever take this title from me?”
That was Femi’s question posed to the camera.
He got a quick answer in the form of Wes Lee, the former NXT North American Champion who has now returned from injury. Lee didn’t achieve his mission of reacquiring the belt at NXT Battleground in the three-way match against Femi and Joe Coffey. Lee hasn’t exactly had the best of luck since getting back into the squared circle, owning a losing streak, and he’s fed up.
So when Femi dismissed him and turned his back on him on Tuesday night, Lee turned his anger up to the max, demanding a one-on-one match with Femi and blaming the three-way setup for the reason he’s not the champion again.
It's now or never for @WesLee_WWE...@Obaofwwe has granted The Kardiak Kid one final shot at the North American Title 😳#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/OerGaUwp1g
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
Femi granted Lee’s wish, but with a stipulation.
“It will be the first and final time you will challenge for this as long as I’m champion,” said Femi.
And, with that, Lee better start listening to Eminem and watching Eight Mile to help prepare for this match, because all The Cardiac Kid has is one shot.
Men's Battle Royal to Decide No. 1 Contender
Result: Je'Von Evans wins
Reaction: Say his name and he appears!
The show got right to business in introducing none other than Joe Hendry to the NXT Universe. Before the match got started, it was already off the rails with Hendry’s promo that promised he’d make everyone believe — to a ring packed with all manner of superstar, including Je’Von Evans who, surprisingly enough, was set to fight despite having suffered cracked ribs in his previous match after a collision with the corner of the broadcaster’s booth.
Say his name and he appears...
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
Joe Hendry is here for the Battle Royal!!!@joehendry #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/QjVVmVccyr
You can bet your prized hog this sets up Hendry to reappear in furious fashion ahead of NXT Heatwave in a couple weeks.
Unfortunately for Hendry, his promo lasted longer than his presence in the match, as he was swiftly tossed over the top rope and onto the mat below and, just like that, his debut in NXT was over … at least for now.
A message to Hall of Famer and NXT maestro Shawn Michaels tells all.
😳😳😳@joehendry was NOT happy with his early elimination and had some words for @ShawnMichaels...#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/lSBqeIUi02
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
The melee continued as top talent rained from the top rope and Trick Williams stood backstage enjoying the show, knowing all of this was for a shot at potentially getting whooped by Trick.
It's already CHAOS!!!@OroMensah_wwe just went after @OfficialEGO AGAIN and @joehendry was eliminated by @FrankieKazarian 😱#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/67Z0SypIBg
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
Apollo Crews gave it his best shot, getting a mild push as of late on multiple brands, but to no avail. As the field slimmed more quickly than a cigarette smoker with gastric bypass, it became more and more apparent who was more deserving of the title shot at ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto.
It wasn’t simply Hendry or Crews who showed up from other locker rooms, because so did Dragon Lee on the heels of his loss on WWE RAW to Carlito.
He wasn’t able to take a victory on Tuesday either, though, but he stuck around long enough to keep everyone on their toes — making it to the final four that also included Shawn Spears and Je’Von Evans.
And, just like that, it was Evans against Lee for all of the marbles.
The sheer display of athleticism from both superstars was more than worth the price of admission, but Shawn Spears wasn’t done. After appearing to be eliminated, but technically not, he’d reappear to drag Lee off of the top turnbuckle and onto the mat — eliminating him — before going to war one-on-one with Evans.
The Young OG did it!!!@WWEJeVonEvans is the new No. 1 Contender and is heading to #NXTHeatwave!!!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/roWxB014Kd
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
In the end, it was Evans taking the victory, and with cracked ribs, no less. If that kind of grit shouldn’t be rewarded with at title shot, nothing will.
The “Young OG” is looking to become the youngest NXT Champion ever, and his PLE battle against Trick Williams will feed families.
Women’s Triple Threat Tag Team Match
Roxanne Perez, Lola Vice vs. Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson vs. Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx
Result: Perez, Vice win clean (pinfall)
Reaction: Things have gone terribly wrong for Meta-Four as of late, including the aforementioned victory at NXT Battleground by Kelani Jordan, and Lash Legend desperately needed Jakara Jackson to help change both of their fortunes.
They’d have a bit of an advantage, or so one would think when considering the backstage exchange between Lola Vice and NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez — hot off of Perez’s successful PLE defense of her title against Jordynne Grace and Vice’s victory over Shayna Baszler in an NXT Underground match.
"I'm not coming after you...yet"
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
This should be an interesting pairing between @roxanne_wwe and @lolavicewwe 😬#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/LIwLvqQAbR
Then again, to that point, Vice and Perez are never to be taken lightly, even if they don’t trust each other.
And then there’s Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nix, who are exceedingly talented in their own right but, against the four women I’ve just mentioned, had their work more than cut out for them. Legend used her power to toss the smaller opposition around virtually at-will until it became more than a one-on-one fight inside, and outside, of the ring.
Vice and Perez swung momentum fully in their favor around the midpoint of the match and, for a moment, looked the best of friends after hi-fiving each other as the other four women tried to pick themselves up off of the ground.
But something wasn’t quite right with that gesture, considering Perez paused first.
A DDT-Russian Leg combo pummeled both Jayne and Nyx simultaneously, before Vice joined her to get her hands dirty as well. Jayne was fed up though, and ended the momentum with a brutal forearm to Vice’s face, but Legend wouldn’t be forgotten in this match.
Sheesh!@lashlegendwwe and @JakaraWWE are showing out 😮💨#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/TacwqEl8fJ
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
A double slam by Legend and combo move with Jackson gave Meta-Four a great chance at taking the win … in the moment.
Perez was having none of it. She tagged herself in to finish the job, much to the chagrin of Vice.
Pop Rocks.
1 … 2 … 3.
Ballgame.
One step ahead...@roxanne_wwe had to do it before @lolavicewwe did 👀#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/dVkX57rqwU
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
But then came the Mortal Kombat fatality when Perez then served up a brutal 360-degree elbow to Vice as she held her hand up in victory.
Knowing Vice, payback cometh … and soon.
NXT Women’s North American Title Match
Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Michin
Result: Jordan wins due to interference
Reaction: Not many gave Jordan a chance to take the win at NXT Battleground, but she did exactly that — taking advantage of Sol Ruca’s rampage to cut her short and then climb the ladder to grab the belt and become the first-ever NXT Women’s North American Champion.
It’s been a rapid climb, no pun intended, for the former NIL signing out of Michigan State.
Her match on Tuesday against Michin marked her first title defense, and she didn’t choose a lesser opponent. Credit to her for instead being tested early by one of the best wrestlers on the planet. Michin’s experience and athleticism was on display early, but the former Spartan wouldn’t be denied — moving out of way, on the mat outside of the ring, to force Michin into a leap into her compatriots Anderson and Gallows.
But when Michin smiled and turned around, thinking she dodged a bullet, she instead caught a spinning body drop to the chest from Jordan, who made her way back into the ring to deliver the sneak attack over the top rope.
It’s almost like these two were destined to meet, because their skill set is so eerily similar that it makes for a terrific matchup both on paper and television.
Here comes the champ!@kelani_wwe is taking it to @MiaYim 👊#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/Wm5xayXZc9
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
Michin found herself in for the fight of her life, but a mistake by Jordan on a whiffed flip-elbow combo led to her being suplexed and nearly pinned for a three-count. She recovered and made it to the top rope, but a punch to the face from Michin awaited her before lifting Jordan on her shoulders which was a mistake in and of itself — Jordan turning it into a dose of Poison.
It took some chaos outside of the ring by way of Jaida Parker pushing Michin off of the top rope to be victimized by the One of a Kind Moonsault and the end of the match.
"And still..."
And, really, you didn’t think Parker would stay out of Michin’s business?
Silly rabbit.
Fallon Henley vs. Carlee Bright
Result: Henley wins clean (pinfall)
Reaction: An exchange backstage set the wheels in motion for Henley and Bright to try and put each other down on Tuesday, as there’s never been any love lost between the two ladies in NXT. There wasn’t a ton to this match other than some solid back-and-forth and a good showing from Bright, a former cheerleader out of the University of Minnesota.
That tidbit goes to her skill set.
Henley couldn't care less about all of that, though, especially considering she has a similar background; but I’m left to wonder if this match was owned by neither Henley nor Bright, but instead by the newly-demented Wendy Woo — who made her presence felt outside of the ring.
WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?!?@therealestwendy is taking out anyone and everyone 😳#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/sPY2AH6jSi
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
Henley wound up taking the victory, darkening the entire day for Bright.
Chase U vs. Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows
Result: Chase U wins "clean" (pinfall)
Reaction: This bout was sparked backstage when Anderson and Gallows, who had already found their way to ringside in support of Michin just ahead of her loss to Kelani Jordan due to interference by Jaida Page. Apparently, the besties of Michin and “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles weren’t content to simply stay on the sidelines this Tuesday.
So they made it their mission to antagonize Chase U, though it’s not as if they don’t have history with one of the members — if you know, you know.
Michin was present for Anderson and Gallows as they were for her match, looking more chipper than you’d expect considering what happened earlier, but OK, let’s just go with it.
The match felt like an entertaining installment of a “Revenge of the Nerds” movie, with Lamba Lamba Lambda doing all they could to put an end to “The Ogre” and the rest of the jocks.
🙌 🙌 🙌 @sixftfiiiiive is pulling out ALL the stops tonight! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/1OEZ0ItbS3
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
Duke Hudson tagged in and wrecked shop before rolling up Anderson for the victory, though it wasn't as clean as they convinced themselves it was.
You could say Chase U took Anderson and Gallows to school.
Yes, I went there with it.
Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page
Result: Page wins clean (pinfall)
Reaction: As it goes, Ethan Page is indeed “All Ego”.
Not impressed (read: furious) that Je’Von Evans was able to win the Battle Royal earlier in the evening, he confronted the Young OG as the latter celebrated the win with NXT general manager Ava.
It was all Evans could do to stop clutching his injured ribs and punch Page in the face.
“I’m not the one,” said the 20-year-old, before telling Page there was plenty of go left in him to put Page down in a main event match.
What exactly is Evans made of? Concrete and rubber cement?? The kid is a dynamo.
The champ wants a front row seat... 👀
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) June 19, 2024
New No. 1 Contender @WWEJeVonEvans takes on @OfficialEGO NEXT in our main event of #WWENXT! pic.twitter.com/rQnZScXm9I
So much so that Trick Williams continues to cheer him on, despite their now-looming PLE match at Heatwave, meeting him backstage before the match against Page who, again, Williams defeated at Battleground — to tell Evans he needs to put Evans down for good.
“He doesn’t belong in NXT,” said Williams. “I don’t care how long his contract is. He feels like an outsider.”
Evans promised to stand on business in the main event against Page and then get ready for what should be a dynamite match against Williams, but the latter wanted a closer look at the action on Tuesday night, so he made his way to the broadcaster’s table to mic up alongside Hall of Famer Booker T. and Vic Joseph.
Page got the party started early by wisely going straight at Evans’ injured ribs with several different maneuvers, led by several shoulder rushes to the midsection against the turnbuckle.
Evans was in considerable pain for much of the match and it took a while to find his groove but, inevitably, he did. He even began repaying the favor by targeting Page’s ribs as well with stomps, chops and any other tactic that aided his mission. The momentum shift began with a countered Ego’s Edge and went from there, but quickly shifted back to Page.
.@WWEJeVonEvans is fighting through the pain and taking it to @OfficialEGO 👊#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/wd3UZIIdBs
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
It was virtually even from that point forward, both superstars exchanging brutal blows but Page, overall, had the match in hand due to Evans being less than 100 percent and, lest we forget, participating in his second match of the night.
Page doesn’t believe he was ever eliminated from the Battle Royale that opened the show and, in his mind, landing a victory over Evans would give him the deserved shot against Williams at Heatwave.
Evans continually dug deep and found the grit to make life a living hell for a much healthier page, making this match deserving of the main event.
But when Page connected with the Ego’s Edge, Evans had nothing left.
He pinned Evans clean and immediately confronted Williams, before Williams jumped into the ring to put a beatdown on Shawn Spears for attacking a downed Evans — Page and Spears then double-teaming Williams before both were cut down by Evans off of the top rope.
.@OfficialEGO gets the win and EVERYTHING turns to chaos 😱
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2024
What does this all mean for #NXTHeatwave?!?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/JXaITHlp5q
This was a movie.
But the question now becomes a powerful one: who gets the shot at Williams??
Your move, Ava.