WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights After Battleground 2023

After an exciting Battleground event, the stars of WWE NXT were set a new path on the May 30 episode of the gold brand.

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne would write the final chapter of their personal rivalry, battling inside a weaponized steel cage.

Carmelo Hayes spoke after his impressive NXT Championship defense against Bron Breakker, while Tiffany Stratton held a "Tiffybration" to celebrate her NXT women's title victory.

Gallus and Wes Lee also made appearances on the show, and Roxanne Perez's mystery attacker finally revealed herself.

Tuesday's NXT had a chance to build upon the momentum from Sunday's intriguing event, including a brutal main event that turned some heads.

Weaponized Steel Cage: Gigi Dolin vs. Jacy Jayne

Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin wanted to punish each other, but it was the latter who had the last laugh.

Dolin chokeslammed her former friend through a table to take the win.

By the third minute, it was obvious this would be the best match these two have had. Leaning into the stipulation, they used every weapon available to keep the action fresh.

The bout started strong but could not quite keep pace throughout. It could have also been more physical. However, it was still the best either woman has looked since they started feuding with each other.

The right woman emerged victorious. Dolin is more popular and has more experience. She still needs to show she can hang with the top women in NXT, though. She could be a challenger for Tiffany Stratton if she can take the next step in the ring.

It was questionable to put the biggest match of the night on as the opener. However, by focusing on the rivalry from the moment the show started over recapping Battleground, it came off as a delayed part of the event, which added prestige to the contest.

Result

Dolin def. Jayne by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• NXT showed an in-depth vignette of this feud to start the show.
• Jayne attacked Dolin from behind during her former friend's entrance.
• Vic Joseph announced that both women had agreed this would be decided by pinfall or submission only. This was a smart move to sell the personal rivalry.
  
• Dolin used an orange baseball bat wrapped in thorns to punish Jayne.
• While the crowd was demanding tables, Dolin set up a pile of five steel chairs. Jayne turned it around and threw her rival onto the stack.

Noam Dar Interrupts Carmelo Hayes and Gets an NXT Championship Match

Carmelo Hayes put over his win against Bron Breakker, but Noam Dar and his new stable arrived to interrupt.

Trick Williams shut Dar down, but The Scottish Supernova still managed to goad The A Champion into putting his NXT Championship on the line in the main event.

NXT usually has been better about setting up a card ahead of the night, but this was a chaotic show, building off the back of Battleground. It was surprising that the creative team did not use more of the talent who missed Sunday's event, but Melo vs. Dar was smart money.

These are two veteran acts that gained momentum from Battleground. While the Scot's chance of winning was near zero, it made sense to keep building his new stable by putting them right into the main event.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Oro Mensah, Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson warned Trick to stay out of the main event, but he warned them that he was onto their schemes.
  

Wes Lee and Tyler Bate vs. The Dyad (w/ Ava)

Wes Lee and Tyler Bate worked in tandem to take out Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid.

The NXT North American champion set up his teammate to hit Reid with the Tyler Driver 98 to seal the win.

Afterward, a brawl broke out as Ivy Nile attacked Ava. Joe Gacy took out Lee from behind until Mustafa Ali ran in to make the save, standing tall with the victors.

This was a match that could have been spectacular but never quite hit the top level with the time it had. In particular, the faces dominated so much that it diminished the threat of the established tag team.

The arrival of Ali makes things especially interesting. NXT has done well with short veteran runs on the brand, and he could be the guy to take Lee over the top as NXT North American champion.

Gacy delivered at Battleground, but it does not make sense for him to remain in the title scene after he clearly lost. Schism needs to find a rivalry that the group can win, or a change needs to happen.

Result

Lee and Bate def. The Dyad by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Earlier in the day, The Dyad threatened Lee until Bate stepped up to help him.
• Scrypts found Axiom backstage and thanked him for opening his eyes by taking off his mask.
• Ali appeared in the NXT crowd, causing everyone to stop to acknowledge him. He joined commentary.
• The NXT North American champion nearly sealed the win when he hit The Dyad with a double Cardiac Kick and then set up side-by-side corkscrew sentons with Bate.
  

The Women of NXT Ruin Tiffany Stratton's 'Tiffybration'

Tiffany Stratton invited the women's locker room to enjoy her "Tiffybration," but no one came out until she promised to announce the first challenger to her NXT Women's Championship.

She told them the No. 1 contender would be decided in a Battle Royal next week. The women teamed up to send her packing, ending with a Lyra Valkyria swinging dropkick.

The Center of the Universe was not in top form for this promo and sounded poorly rehearsed. The crowd tried to support her, but she couldn't amplify it or turn it into heat.

NXT has used the Battle Royal concept with the women too often. It would have been more interesting to establish a clear first feud. Valkyria remains over with the fans, and NXT teased that as the easy direction.

It is more likely someone who was not in the title tournament will get the first shot at Stratton while waiting on the anticipated rematch of the top women. This is a chance to build someone popular but underused like Thea Hail or Ivy Nile.

Grade

F

Notable Moments

• Hail joined Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey's technical class, even after Duke Hudson told her she did not have to attend.
• NXT showed a vignette highlighting the journey of Ilja Dragunov to Battleground, promising he would return next week.
  

Blair Davenport Reveals Herself as Mystery Attacker

Dani Palmer called out the woman who attacked her and her friend, Sol Ruca. She attacked Palmer and laid her out before revealing herself to be Blair Davenport.

This was the easy answer for the mystery attacker. The Top Gaijin is one of NXT's best underused women. She gets instant heat for taking credit for the injuries of Nikkita Lyons, Wendy Choo, Sol Ruca and Roxanne Perez.

It was odd that Palmer was the only one who cared about the attacker revealing herself, though. Perez should have gotten involved as well. NXT is likely waiting on those two colliding.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Dante Kemp continued to taunt Eddy Thorpe backstage, setting up a rematch between them next week.
  

Joe Coffey vs. Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo

Without Gallus at his side, Joe Coffey still dominated this match. He sent Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo into the steel steps and then hit the Glasgow Send-Off and All the Best for the Bells to win.

This was a fine match, but it did not show anything more from the competitors than they have done in the past.

It was surprising that Coffey beat Stacks in a fair one-on-one fight, but he needed this victory. NXT has struggled to make him the top guy of Gallus. Wins like this help.

Stacks has looked like a solid act in recent months in the ring. However, he cannot escape the shadow of The Don. That may be changing soon as the signs begin to point to him as the culprit who ratted on D'Angelo (despite his best efforts to sell otherwise).

Result

Coffey def. Stacks by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• NXT showed Tony D'Angelo taking his mugshot photos.
  
• Backstage, Stacks picked a fight with Gallus, certain they ratted on The Don. The tag team champions were thrown out of the arena after beating him up.
• The referee had to stop his count and go outside because Stacks and Coffey lost track of the count-out number.
  

Cora Jade vs. Ivy Nile

After an earlier altercation in the locker room, Ivy Nile wanted to shut up Cora Jade.

Only interference from Ava could save The Generation of Jade, and the distraction allowed her to hit an impact DDT to win.

Jade has struggled to find chemistry with many top names in NXT, but she may have found it with Nile. The Diamond Mine's Heart brought out The Generation of Jade's cleanest performance in months.

It was not the most involved contest, but there is more to explore with these two. Nile continues to improve on all fronts and may be the dark horse of the NXT women's division.

Before she can thrive, though, she has to put this Ava rivalry to bed. She should be a good first singles opponent for The Schism member.

Result

Jade def. Nile by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• In the locker room, Jade complained about Lyra Valkyria costing her the NXT Women's Championship until Nile shut her up.
  
• Jade was one of multiple NXT wrestlers sporting shiners from recent matches.
• Diamond Mine and Schism got into it again backstage after The Creed Brothers and Nile challenged them to a six-person tag team match for next week.
  

NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) (w/ Trick Williams) vs. Noam Dar (w/ His Crew)

Dragon Lee and Nathan Frazer got one back on Noam Dar by distracting him and Oro Mensah long enough for Carmelo Hayes to dive onto them, setting up Nothing But Net to win.

The second free-agent arrival of the night shocked fans as Baron Corbin arrived to plant Melo with End of Days.

This was unsurprisingly Dar's best match in NXT so far. His technical offense looked smooth, playing off the high-flying flair of The A Champion. The ending was fine but did not live up to the early chemistry.

NXT has something special in Trick Williams. He was immensely over with the crowd at ringside, and the fans didn't appreciate it when he got sent to the back.

The final image of Corbin laying out The A Champion was genuinely surprising. The Lone Wolf needs a reset, and he could be Melo's Dolph Ziggler, the veteran who pushes him to the next level as NXT champion. It is a smart pairing.

Result

Melo def. Dar by pinfall to retain the NXT Championship.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• It could have been a great proof of concept to make this a Rounds match as Dar was already working this like one, taking a few breaks with his crew.
• Trick Williams got the crowd chanting "lock it in" as he encouraged Melo to lean into his technical offense.
• Dar nearly knocked out The A Champion a snappy elbow to the face.
• Trick Williams knocked out Mensah at ringside, and he got thrown out by the referee for it.
  

Overall Show

NXT is finally finding its groove. Battleground was a strong night of action followed by the best episode of the gold brand to date in 2023.

The pacing was tighter, and every segment mattered to further a variety of stories. A few relatively big names arrived to shake up the top title picture.

While it is easy to quibble whether Baron Corbin and Mustafa Ali were paired off with the right stars, they have a chance to look like genuine top guys in WWE's third brand while elevating two of NXT's best.

Gigi Dolin vs. Jacy Jayne closed a mixed rivalry on a strong note. The main event was also a great match. In fact, there were no in-ring duds or easy squashes.

The typical three-minute match circus was not present on this episode, and that should continue as NXT builds toward the Great American Bash on July 30.

Overall Grade: B