NXT Battleground 2023 Guide: Match Card, Predictions
John Castro Read update
- North American Title and Heritage Cup matches were added to the card during this week's NXT.
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UPDATE: 2023/05/17 15:31 EST BY JOSH COULSON
North American Title and Heritage Cup matches were added to the card during this week's NXT.
It's another new era for NXT, but the changes aren't as drastic as the ones that were ushered in when the brand got a 2.0 makeover. This is more like the good old days of NXT where a few of its stars have effectively graduated, being called up to the main roster via the most recent WWE Draft. Battleground will be NXT's first premium live event since the likes of Indi Hartwell and Grayson Waller left the brand, so a chance for those who believe they deserve to take their spots to show why they should be NXT's next top stars.
Battleground goes down on Sunday, May 28, 2023. Yes, that is the same day as Double or Nothing, a bold move by WWE. The NXT event appears to be going ahead at the regularly scheduled time too even though AEW's PPV will be airing at the exact same time. Starting at 8 pm EST, or an hour earlier if you want to watch the kickoff show, Battleground will air live on Peacock in the US and the WWE Network everywhere else, unless a different network carries it in your part of the world. Everything announced for the Battleground card so far can be found below.
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Bron Breakker vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship
Speaking of the draft, one of the biggest shocks may well have been Bron Breakker not being called up. It feels like Breakker doesn't have much left to do in NXT, but for one reason or another, WWE brass clearly thinks he isn't quite ready for the big time, at least not yet.
I've been enjoying Breakker's heel run since losing the title, mostly because his vicious spears now seem to hit even harder. As for the likelihood of him winning the title back, I can't really see it. Carmelo Hayes has a big future in WWE, and having him lose the title so soon after winning it would feel counterintuitive.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton for the NXT Women's Championship
Hartwell is now a Raw Superstar which means she can no longer be NXT Women's Champion. The NXT Women's Tag Team Champions are allowed to keep their titles despite being drafted too, but best not to think about that too much.
Anyway, a tournament to crown a new Women's Champion is underway and the final will take place at Battleground. I get the feeling Tiffany Stratton will be the one to win it all, especially now she has made it to the final. I'm surprised Lyra Valkyria will be her opponent and can't see her winning the vacant title in this one.
Wes Lee vs. Tyler Bate vs. Joe Gacy for the NXT North American Championship
Wes Lee has been the definition of a fighting champion since winning the North American Title, and now he has realized making that clear to all means both friends and foes will come for the gold. At Battleground, his good friend Tyler Bate will try to dethrone him while an enemy in the form of Joe Gacy will attempt to do the same thing.
This match really is anyone's for the taking. After a number of successful defenses, I do think this is where Lee's reign as North American Champion comes to an end. Bate might win, but I feel Gacy is the one who needs this most. With half of The Schism on their way out the door and Ava Raine going it alone eventually, winning the title would be a good stepping stone for Gacy.
Noam Dar vs. Dragon Lee for the NXT Heritage Cup
While not a lot of stars from NXT UK were kept around when the brand shut down, somewhat surprisingly the Heritage Cup has remained. Reintroduced by the returning holder Noam Dar, it was only a matter of time before someone challenged him to a match for it as the Scot has been parading it around backstage and on-screen.
Dragon Lee will be Dar's Heritage Cup challenger, and since the big-name signing needs a significant win, my guess is he's going to win this one. The only pitfall for Lee will be wrestling a match under WWE's definition of British rules. I think he'll handle that well enough to take the cup from Dar.
Gallus vs. The Creed Brothers for the NXT Tag Team Championships
The NXT Tag Title scene is finally starting to feel like it has a fire lit under it again. Something that has arguably been missing from the division since the likes of DIY, The Revival, and American Alpha were putting on instant classics.
Gallus and The Creed Brothers will have the chance to keep that momentum growing and build on it at Battleground. I think the Creeds win this one. WWE clearly wants them to be a big deal, and I think that want is furthered by making them champions again and keeping the titles on them for an extended period.
Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak in a Last Man Standing Match
The build to this match has been equal parts fascinating and downright bizarre. A contest in which Ilja Dragunov has tried to prove how tough he is while Dijak shows how unhinged he can be at the same time. Credit to WWE, those are all the ingredients needed for a fantastic last man standing match.
As for a winner, part of me feels like Dijak has returned to NXT to help build new stars on their way through. For that reason I see Dragunov winning this one as Dijak performs his job perfectly on Sunday.
