Tossing Salt Presents:
WWE NXT Battleground
Thoughts & Predictions
May 28, 2023
DougMaynard.com

WWE presents NXT Battleground in Lowell, Massachusetts tonight. It’s available for viewing on Peacock & The Network. It’s prediction time so here’s my take on what will happen in the matches. Let’s do this.

NXT Men’s Champion Carmelo Hayes vs. Bron Breakker.

A rematch and I don’t think we’ll see surprises here. Carmello just won the title a month ago and while I know there are plans to move him to the main roster eventually, I can’t see them taking the belt away so quickly. The only way that Carmelo loses is if his partner-in-crime, Trick, gets too involved and costs him the match.

Winner and STILL NXT Champion: Carmelo Hayes

Tiffany Stratton vs. Lyra Valkyria for the Vacant NXT Women’s Championship.

Lyra is going into this match with an injury and Tiffany is getting ready to be pushed to the moon. It should be a good match with Lyra playing the underdog and fighting from behind with a never-quit attitude, but the winner isn’t in any doubt.

Winner and NEW NXT Women’s Champion: Tiffany Stratton

NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus vs. The Creed Brothers

Eeny-meeny-miney-mo. Who should win and wear tag team gold? I smell a title change. The Creed Brothers win.

Winners and NEW NXT Tag Team Champions: The Creed Brothers

NXT North American Champion Wes Lee vs. Tyler Bate vs. Joe Gacy

All three of these men are good in the ring and fun to watch. This may be the dark horse match of the night that ends up stealing the show. Bate is damn good and so underrated, he’s just looking for a breakout moment. Gacy will have, of course, The Schism with him to interfere a bit and cause chaos, but that might hurt more than it helps. Lee has been really good so far as the Champion. I don’t see any title changes here.

Winner and STILL NXT North American Champion: Wes Lee

NXT Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar vs. Dragon Lee

To be honest, I’m not sure how the Heritage Cup rules work, but I think it’s in rounds and points, kind of like classic UK and European wrestling, but I could be wrong on that. It’s nearly 4:00 in the morning as I’m writing this and I’m too tired to look it up. I like Lee in the ring, but he’s not anything special in my opinion. Dar is damn good from what little I’ve seen of him so let’s go with the Champion. No title changes here.

Winner and STILL NXT Heritage Champion: Noam Dar

Last Man Standing Match Dijak vs. Ilja Dragunov

Both of these men are damn impressive and this match will be one for the ages. Dijak is tough as nails, but Ilja Dragunov’s whole gimmick is that he never quits fighting so this match is tailor-made for someone like him. Dragunov wins.

Winner: Ilja Dragunov

And there you go with my thoughts and predictions for this instant NXT Classic. So what do you think? Who are you picking to take those trips to the pay window and who will go home doing the walk of shame? Let me know in the comments, along with any other thoughts, ideas, or questions. And with that, let’s wrap this up. I still have some AEW predictions to make before I call it a night and my eyes are already starting to close. Take care and be well my friends, and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!