Battleground III - 5/25/2025

[Dolfan in NYC]

Well, again, never let it be said that HHH and HBK aren't petty.  As yes, this is going Head To Head with Double or Nothing.  Why pay $60 when you already have a Peacock account your wife uses to watch Poker Face!

LIVE FROM THE YUENGLING CENTER IN TAMPA, IT'S BATTLEGROUND!  (Side note, Yuengling is wildly overrated. It's Natty Light done with effort.)

THE CARD~

FOR THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP - Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Borne

FOR THE NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP -  Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace

FOR THE TNA(!) CHAMPIONSHIP - Joe Hendry (c) vs. Trick WIlliams

Stacks vs. Tony D'Angelo

 

--

I believe this is the first time ever(?) that another company's main title is defended on a WWE show. I'm only 50/50 on if the NWA title was defended on a WWWF show, but probably not? 

[Curt McGirt]

Maybe Stampede or Maple Leaf? 

Anyway Yuengling came up in the food/drink thread, my dad had some floating around here, and I finally drank some. Yeah it's absolutely nothing special. Michelob level, perhaps? Besides, they're supporters of Der Leader, so fuck 'em. 

[Eivion]

Its nice to see a fresh face getting a shot at Femi. Still, I'm guessing they went that route because either Trick/Joe or Vauqer/grace is main eventing. Both are bigger matches by decent levels.

Did not realize this was happening the same night as DON. Seeing that its NXT I'm not sure they are being petty so much as just thinking NXT can take the metaphorical hit.

Edited May 11, 2025 by Eivion

[Ramo2653]

Did they announce a start time for this yet? I'm pretty sure they've run NXT PLEs earlier in the day when there was an AEW PPV before.

[Hail Sabin]

It's probably 7pm or 8pm 

[Phantom Lord]

On 5/7/2025 at 10:23 AM, Dolfan in NYC said:

I believe this is the first time ever(?) that another company's main title is defended on a WWE show. I'm only 50/50 on if the NWA title was defended on a WWWF show, but probably not? 

The NWA Title was defended a few times in the 70's at MSG on WWWF shows. Mostly when Harley was champion.

[odessasteps]

I think Verne may have defended the awa belt in msg. 
 

edit: in 1973 vs Eddie Graham. Semi main behind Pedro v King Curtis.

Edited May 20, 2025 by odessasteps

[odessasteps]

 

[Cliff Hanger]

So now we've got Jordan/Ruca for the Women's NA and Culling vs Briggs/Walker/Ledger to round out the card.

 

My expectation is that I'll be watching AEW with friends and leave before Anarchy, and catching this the next morning. 

Grace/Vaquer will be a banger. Jordsn/Ruca will probably be enjoyable but I'm not really excited about it. Trick/Hendry is going to have nuclear heat, probably even enough to elevate a match that doesn't look all that must-see in terms of work. As for the main, when Borne won the battle royale it felt like they were doing a "fluke win" to make time until they have somebody ready to beat Femi, and now i don't think that's true. I absolutely think Oba's going to win, and I've made "Temu Randy" jokes the same as everyone else. And the near-pathological enthusiasm of the Orlando perverts can result in mirages of overseas. But the kid really seems to be stepping up to make this a real elevation, and I hope it works. I hope the Tampa crowd blows the roof off the arena and that he looks great and doesn't go right back to being the third most over member of a quartet of goofballs who are supposed to be deadly shooters but seldom win.

[Eivion]

Thought Sol/Kelani was much better than their match from last year. The two gelled pretty well and busted plenty of neat stuff different form then. Also felt like there was more personality shown this time around from both women. Loved the finish as well which might be one of the best Sol snatchers done so far. This might be the best WNA title match so far.

Spears/Niko/Jensen vs. Briggs/Hank/Tank was good outside of a late pin break up by Hank. The post match with Inamura's return was neat.

Tony/Stacks was good though some of story bits didn't quite hit home. Felt like the audience wasn't fully aware of it. Still, dug how much of it played out including Stacks being in over his head a bit the first few minutes the way Tony dominated. Not sure where things go next with how it end with Luca's return.

Stephanie/Jordynne built into a fine match. Loved Vaquer having to break out the skytwister press.

Oba/Borne was damn good. Dug Borne's uphill battle with this serving as a great showcase for him by the end. Feels like they may have something bo build on with Borne. Oba was more over, but the crowd got behind Borne a good deal throughout the match.

Trick/Hendry was good, better than expected honestly. Aside from just generally working well together I dug the interpromotional feel and how the crowd was into both. Trick also had some great dick moments. Loved him staring at Book and getting the nod of approval for a spinaroonie. Trick winning was felt like a big moment as well. Will be fun seeing how this plays out.

This was damn good show with plenty of good wrestling and some interesting directions taken here. Was nice to see Dalys and Chik Tormenta show up to sow the seeds of a feud with Stephanie. Was interesting seeing Santana show up wanting to challenge the winner of Trick/Hendry. Have to admit even thinking this show would be good it turned out even better than expected. Definitely curious to see how things continue to play out on the interpromotional front.

[Cliff Hanger]

I feel like Borne needs more time in the oven, but from the battle royale to tonight, every show I like him more. If they nurture him properly, he could be a big deal, but it isn't a guarantee. That match should probably have been a little shorter, but I couldn't tell you what to cut.

That was the most anticlimactic possible version of Luca turning up alive. 

Grace/Vaquer was rad.

I'm so glad Inamura's sticking around, because I like Briggs about 40% more when they're teaming than I like him in other contexts. Inamura doing sumo shit in NXT rules.

Vaquer/Grace was the best match of the night. I was dying laughing at the crowd booing Grace's countering the Kiss and staring down Booker.

This felt like a good night for Booker generally being on the ball and not getting sidetracked.

[Eivion]

31 minutes ago, Cliff Hanger said:

Vaquer/Grace was the best match of the night. I was dying laughing at the crowd booing Grace's countering the Kiss and staring down Booker.

That death stare Grace gave Booker was hilarious.

31 minutes ago, Cliff Hanger said:

This felt like a good night for Booker generally being on the ball and not getting sidetracked.

Felt a bit so-so on him for a lot of tonight, but he really felt on task for those last two matches.

[Cliff Hanger]

1 minute ago, Eivion said:

 

Felt a bit so-so on him for a lot of tonight, but he really felt on task for those last two matches.

That in itself feels like a good night for Booker. He paid attention the whole night, which is more than we could say for a lot of shows. And when he's on, he's on (which he was for the top matches tonight, as you note)

[hammerva]

Well the good news about Trick winning the TNA title is that we won't have to hear from people crying that Hendry losing to Orton at WM ruined the TNA title and made it nothing.  Because this should be a lot worse.   

[RazorbladeKiss87]

Sol/Jordan was a really fun match and a great opener. Loved both women's gear. To me, this is a rivalry they should keep as a running thing. I'd like to see it revisited in 6 months to a year, hopefully for the Women's title. They even have a built in hook with the interference.  Loved Sol busting out a Sasuke Special,  just wish the camera caught it better.  That Poisonrana spot was crazy and made my knees scream. 

Vaquer/Grace was really good too. Grace got a muted reaction,  I thought, but the crowd got into her. One thing I really loved was Vaquer's entrance.  I don't watch the TV as often as I used to so I don't know if it's always that way but Vaquer coming out of the smoke and never slapping hands with the crowd is great. The hands reaching towards her out of the smoke just fits her so well. Loved Grace staring down Booker. 

[Niners Fan in CT]

When Kelani/Sol put it together they could be awesome rivals.  They are both so athletic they just need to work on everything in between the MOVEZ.  

I really enjoyed Oba vs. Borne as well.  Obviously Oba was winning but Borne looked good here.  

As impressed as I've always been with Stephanie Vaquer,  I am not as impressed with Grace thus far.  I thought the match was good but Grace doesn't do much for me, there's no character work going on there. 

Trick Williams winning the TNA title is an interesting move but he should have been called up to the main roster by this point. 

Decent show.

[Hail Sabin]

The Top Rope Face Buster was Swank as Hell.

Just finished watching this 45 mins into Raw when Vaquer & Grace move to the main roster I could see as others said in 2026, Kelani/Sol being for the Top Prize. 

[Iron Moose]

7 hours ago, Hail Sabin said:

The Top Rope Face Buster was Swank as Hell.

between that, the kip-up out of the flying space tiger drop, the backflip out of the poison rana (which is what finished Sol at Heatwave) and the imploding sol snatcher halfway across the ring (because Kelani had the regular snatcher scouted and blocked it two or three times), the OMG WTF SOL contingent was well fed that night. I would also say the struggle for the crucifix bomb and the single-leg crab were less flashy but highlights nonetheless, and both are improving on their strikes and between-move spaces.