wwe nxt battleground 2025

WWE NXT Battleground Results: Review, Grades, Card For May 25

By Lovell Porter

Our WWE NXT Battleground results for tonight include NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank teaming with Josh Briggs against The Culling, Kelani Jordan challenging Sol Ruca for the Women’s North American Championship, Tony D’Angelo seeking vengeance when he steps into the ring with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, TNA World Champion Joe Hendry battling former NXT Champion Trick Williams, Jordynne Grace challenging NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi defending the NXT Championship against Myles Borne. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida.

WWE NXT Battleground Card:

  • NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Borne
  • NXT Women’s Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
  • TNA World Championship Match: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Trick Williams
  • Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Sol Ruca (c) vs. Kelani Jordan
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank (Hank Walker and Tank Ledger) and Josh Briggs vs. The Culling (Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance, and Shawn Spears)

WWE NXT Battleground Results:

NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Sol Ruca (c) w/Zaria vs. Kelani Jordan

Kelani Jordan is sporting a new look tonight to match her new attitude. Ruca is sporting war paint. Jordan and Ruca take turns avoiding each other’s strikes, ending with both women doing flips to avoid the other. Ruca offers Jordan a handshake. Jordan takes it. Ruca eats a punch but takes Jordan down and rides her like a surfboard. Jordan lands a nasty right hand. Delayed vertical suplex by Ruca. Ruca moonsaults into a pin. Jordan and Ruca trade pin attempts. Crucifix bomb by Jordan. Ruca kicks out. Ruca tries a springboard. Jordan hits the ropes, hanging Ruca on the top rope. Slingshot leg drop by Jordan. Jordan works over Ruca.

Jordan goes up top. Ruca springboards to the top and hits an avalanche x-factor. Backpack stunner by Ruce. Jordan rolls out to the apron. Jordan sets up a fisherman’s suplex on the apron. Ruca fights out of it. Jordan superkicks Ruca off the apron and hits an Asai moonsault. Ruca catches Jordan while she tries a rana. Modified backstabber by Ruca. Jordan rolls out of the ring. Ruca takes Jordan out with a handspring moonsault to the outside. Springboard splash by Ruca. Jordan kicks out. Jordan counters Ruca into a DDT. Frog splash by Jordan. Ruca kicks out.

Jordan hits a poison rana off the top, but Ruca lands on her feet. Spear by Ruca. Jordan kicks out. Jordan avoids the Sol Snatcher and hits a Spanish fly off the top for a near fall. Ruca and Jordan trade strikes. Jordan tries the One-of-a-kind Moonsault, but Zaria rolls Ruca out of the way. The referee ejects Zaria. Jordan catches Ruca with a baseball slide. Jordan sets Ruca up on the top rope. Ruca pushes Jordan to the match. Ruca leaps off the top and delivers an insane super Sol Snatcher for the win.

Winner and STILL NXT Women’s North American Champion, Sol Ruca!

Grade: B-

This match featured some pretty fast-paced (sometimes sloppy) action. Sometimes, you can go a bit too fast, leading to slips and near botches. With that, each near fall was more impactful than the next, and this match quickly became anyone’s game. Zaria blatantly attempting to help Ruca cheat was just bizarre and totally out of character for her (maybe this will lead to a turn?). The finish of this one was nothing short of amazing, with Ruca leaping off the top to hit an insane Sol Snatcher. This writer has never seen that before.

NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank (Hank Walker and Tank Ledger) and Josh Briggs vs. The Culling (Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance, and Shawn Spears)

Hank and Tank clear the ring early. Briggs, Hank and Tank all land dives. Vance launches Hank into the ring post. The Culling takes turns working over the staggered Hank. Hank manages to tag in Tank. Tank clears the ring. Hank and Tank land a double superplex. Vance and Jensen break up the pin with double elbow drops. Briggs lands a moonsault off the top. Jensen and Vance break up the pin. Dame boots Briggs in the head. Jensen rolls up Briggs. Briggs kicks out. Briggs lands a lariat. Hank and Tank follow that with their finish for the win.

Winners- Hank, Tank, and Josh Briggs

After the match, The Cullins attacks Briggs and the tag champs. Dame goes to get a chair. INAMURA appears and grabs the chair. Briggs, the tag champs, and INAMURA clear the ring.

Grade: C+

Standard stuff here. Save for the hot start, this felt like an NXT TV match. The first match of the night carried the good old NXT Black and Gold PLE energy. This one, not so much. The Culling is still a bit of an unknown quantity, and Hank and Tank are about as interesting as a jar of mayonnaise, so there isn’t a lot happening in this one.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo

D’Angelo and Stacks have a staredown. D’Angelo slaps Stacks. Clothesline by D’Angelo. D’Angelo clotheslines Stacks over the top. Stacks tries to run away, but D’Angelo cuts him off. Stacks goes low and starts working over D’Angelo. D’Angelo suplexes Stacks over the top rope. D’Angelo follows and lands another clothesline. Stacks get sent into the barricade. Stacks tries to escape into the crowd. D’Angelo pulls Stacks back in and berates him for not listening to him. Stacks pushes D’Angelo into the ring steps. D’Angelo clutches at his ribs. Stacks dropkicks D’Angelo into the ring steps. Stacks works over D’Angelo’s injured ribs. D’Angelo surprises Stacks with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.

D’Angelo fires up and lands a flurry of offense. Stacks misses a running knee. Deadlift German suplex hold by D’Angelo. Stacks kicks out. D’Angelo charges in with a spear, but Stacks reverses it into a triangle. D’Angelo powerbombs Stacks to break the hold and grounds and pounds Stacks. Stacks looks to be out. D’Angelo stops and rolls off of Stacks. D’Angelo stares at his hands and is clearly conflicted. Stacks gets to his feet. Stacks says he knew D’Angelo was weak. D’Angelo charges in and gets sent out to the apron. Stacks sends D’Angelo into the ring post.

Read More: Stephanie Vaquer Isn’t Focused On The Past, Highlights Favorite Part Of The United States

Stacks misses a cannonball and hits the ring post. D’Angelo hits Fugetaboutit. Stacks kicks out. D’Angelo tries to toss Stacks, but his ribs give out. Stacks hangs D’Angelo on the middle rope and lands a double stomp to D’Angelo’s injured ribs. Stacks looks for the crowbar he always has hidden in the ring. It’s not there. D’Angelo smiles and spears Stacks. Stacks apologies to D’Angelo. D’Angelo puts Stacks mouth on the bottom rope and stomps it. Sky high spinebuster by D’Angelo. Luca Crusifino appears at ringside. While D’Angelo is distracted. Stacks kicks D’Angelo in the nuts and hits a running knee to the back of his head for the win.

Winner- Stacks

After the match, Crusifino tries to hug D’Angelo. D’Angelo pushes Crusifino away and leaves the ring.

Grade: C+

D’Angelo and Stacks did a good job selling the weight of this contest. The family has splintered, and it’s all Stack’s fault. For good reason, D’Angelo was more aggressive than we have seen him lately. This match built to a decent conclusion, but Crusifino’s return brought this match to a screeching halt. Since this match already had several pauses (for dramatic effect, of course), this didn’t help. If Crusifino wasn’t going to turn on D’Angelo outright, he shouldn’t have factored into this finish at all. It’s just a distraction.

NXT Women’s Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace

Vaquer and Grace shake hands before the match starts. Vaquer and Grace trade submission holds and takedowns. Grace runs over Vaquer with a shoulder block. Vaquer and Grace trade pin attempts. Neither woman can get a three count, leading to a stalemate. Vaquer fires up and gets a near fall with a roll up. Grace avoids a Tiger feint kick. Vaquer sets up the devil’s kiss. Grace rolls out of the ring with Vaquer to avoid the hold. Grace slams Vaquer on the commentary desk and stares a hole through Booker T at the commentary desk. Vaquer gets to her feet. Grace continues working over Vaquer. Vaquer fires up and lands a flurry of offense. Devil’s Kiss by Vaquer. Grace walks through a clothesline and hits a package powerbomb. Vaquer kicks out. DDT by Vaquer. Grace kicks out.

Superplex by Grace. Grace holds on and hits a jackhammer. Vaquer kicks out! Grace is upset. Vaquer and Grace trade counters and pin attempts until Vaquer superkicks Grace out of the ring. Grace plucks Vaquer off the apron and runs towards the barricade. Vaquer slips off and pushes Grace through the barricade! Vaquer brings Grace back into the ring and hits the SVB. Grace kicks out at 2.9! Vaquer is stunned. Grace and Vaquer trade strikes. Grace gets hung up in the corner. Dragon screw by Vaquer. Vaquer goes up top. Grace cuts Vaquer off. Vaquer pushes Grace to the mat. Spiral Tap by Vaquer. Vaquer pins Grace!

Winner and STILL NXT Women’s Champion, Stephanie Vaquer!

Grade: B+

Grace’s power and Vaquer’s technical ability complement each other well, leading to a hell of a contest. Grace used her power to counter Vaquer’s best shots. This writer and the crowd were on the edge of their seats with each near fall. Vaquer’s title reign has never been in more jeopardy as Grace landed so many heavy shots. In the end, Vaquer’s superior skills won out. At this point, Vaquer is giving NXT Asuka vibes. How long will this reign last? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Read More: More Bans Following Recent TNA Wrestling Talent Meeting

NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Borne

Borne uses his speed to avoid Femi’s attacks. After a series of reversals, Borne lands a beautiful dropkick. Femi looks surprised. Femi runs over Borne. Borne surprises Femi with a crossbody off the top. Borne sets up a suplex. Femu counters with a suplex on the top rope. Borne writhes in pain. Femi follows that with a vertical suplex for a near fall. The referee checks on Borne. Femi works over Borne. Femi gets frustrated because Borne won’t stay down. Borne locks Femi in a sleeper. Femi eventually breaks the hold by driving Borne into the turnbuckle. Femi attempts a suplex on the apron. Borne escapes and lands another dropkick. Borne tries a dive, but Femi elbows him in the face. Press slam gutbuster by Femi. Borne kicks out.

Femi misses a corner spear. Borne sends Femi out of the ring. Tope con hilo by Borne. After a series of counters, Femi walks into an Orton powerslam. Femi kicks out. Borne lands a few strikes but misses a standing moonsault. Borne reverses a gutbuster and tries another standing moonsault. Femi catches Borne by the throat and lands a chokeslam. Borne kicks out. DDT by Borne. Borne goes up top. Femi avoids the dive.

Borne reverses the Fall from Grace into a rana hold. Femi kicks out. Delayed German suplex by Borne. Borne hits a frog splash. Kick out by Femi. Borne and Femi trade strikes. Dropkick by Borne. Borne runs into a very African Uppercut. Fall from Grace by Femi. Borne kicks out. Femi is stunned. Femi lands a few uppercuts. Borne rolls up Femi. Kick out by Femi. Femi turns Borne inside out with a lariat. Tossing powerbomb by Femi. Femi hits the Fall from Grace but rolls Borne back to his feet for another release powerbomb for the win.

Winner and STILL NXT Champion, Oba Femi!

Grade: B-

This match was exactly what it should have been. Femi is a BEAST, and he gave Borne enough here to make him seem like a credible (though outmatched) challenger. This one may have been a bit too long; the story being told here could have been told in a solid right minutes flat. Borne is good in the ring and has a solid story. Borne has a bright future in WWE. That said, as great as his dropkick is, they may want to save that for a set up for his finish.

TNA World Championship Match: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Trick Williams

Williams avoids a strike from Hendry and jaws with the crowd. Hendry and Williams go nose-to-nose. Williams slaps Hendry. Hendry chops Williams and clotheslines him over the top. Hendry dives over the top and lands on Williams. Williams hits the ropes and gets run over by Hendry. Hendry takes Williams up and nails a delayed vertical suplex. Fallaway slam by Williams. Williams does Hendry’s taunt. Hendry runs into a Book End from Williams. Hendry kicks out.

Hendry tries to fire up. Williams cuts him off with a scissors kick. Williams locks eyes with Booker T at the commentary desk. Williams does the spinaroni. Hendry immediately hits the Standing Ovation! Williams kicks out! The fight spills out of the ring. Williams sends Hendry into the ring steps. Hendry is clutching at his leg. Modified neckbreaker by Williams. Hendry kicks out. Williams traps Hendry in a guillotine. Hendry reverses the guillotine into a suplex. Fall away slam by Hendry. Hendry does his taunt and calls for the Standing Ovation. Williams does a backflip out of the hold. Williams misses a Harlem sidekick. Standing Ovation by Hendry.

Williams gets his foot on the bottom rope. Hendry goes for the AA. Williams slips off and hits a cyclone boot. The fight spills out of the ring again. Williams drop toe holds Hendry into the ring steps. Williams Book Ends Hendry through the commentary desk. Trick Shot by Williams. Hendry kicks out. Williams brings the TNA Championship into the ring. The referee takes the title. Hendry rolls up Williams. Williams kicks out. Hendry tries another Standing Ovation. Williams rakes Hendry’s eyes. Williams flapjacks Hendry on the TNA Championship. Trick Shot by Williams. Williams pins Hendry.

Winner and NEW TNA Champion, Trick Williams!

Grade: B-

Solid match with a shocking ending. This writer has never been a fan of world champions not actually being signed to the promotion they are the champion of, but this certainly makes things more interesting on the TNA side of things. Does this lead to a Williams and Mike Santana feud? Sign this writer up for that.

WWE NXT Battleground Review:

Tonight’s show was a mixed bag with two championship matches standing tall, one exciting but rough opener, and two undercard matches that didn’t embody the spirit of the Black and Gold kick a$$ PLEs we have been used to for years. Overall, the top stars delivered, but the rest didn’t hold up their end. What’s next for Oba Femi? Or the NEW TNA Champion Trick Williams? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Rating: B-

WrestleZone features weekly audio and video content on Facebook, YouTube, and your favorite podcast apps like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Subscribe now for hours of exciting wrestling content, including exclusive interviews, previews, reviews, and more!

Subscribe Now:

Lovell Porter
Lovell Porter

Lovell Porter is the lead Play-by-Play Analyst for Wrestlezone.com. Lovell handles the live coverage for Monday Night RAW, NXT, and all WWE Special Events. Lovell is a lifelong professional wrestling fan that has been covering the sport professionally since 2015.

Share article

TRENDING

Related

X