WWE NXT Results, Live Recap, and Grades: JOE HENDRY blasts TRICK WILLIAMS two times ahead of Battleground! NEW SIGNEE attacks OBA FEMI!

FULL RESULTS FOR WWE NXT FOR MAY 20TH, 2025.
SEAN LEGACY defeats Je'Von Evans and Ashante Adonis by pin.
SHAWN SPEARS defeats Josh Briggs by pin.
OTM (LUCIEN PRICE/BRONCO NIMA) defeats Chase U (Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon) by pin.
LOLA VICE defeats Fallon Henley by pin.
KELANI JORDAN defeats Zaria by pin.

Hendry gets Trick with the dreaded "Guitar to the knee" spot!

GRADE FOR WWE NXT FOR MAY 20TH, 2025: B.
The Borne/Femi was the best promo exchange, while the opening match set a hard bar to reach. The rest of the action was decent and predictable, especially OTM vs. Chase U and Zaria vs. Kelani Jordan. It's a bit strange that Jaida Parker, Thea Hail, Lola Vice, and many of the other talented women aren't getting a title shot, but Jordan gets another one after one win. By that logic, it should be a triple threat with Zaria added.

WWE is trying to break up a lot of its teams.

After Hendry insults Trick some more, he comes out in a huff because he showed footage from two years ago when he was with Carmelo Hayes. Williams decks Hendry in the face and hits the spinning kick. He goes for another move, but Hendry blasts his knees with one of the guitars in the ring. Hendry hits Trick with the Standing Ovation.

He then replays footage from when Trick was "the crappy sidekick" to Carmelo Hayes, like when he was scared in a haunted house and ran away screaming.

Joe Hendry is out for his version of a concert. He calls Trick's "rap" a nice first attempt. "You used to work so hard, the people were with you for years, but now you're the world champion of tears."

They already had the graphic ready, so Sol Ruca will defend the Women's North American title against Kelani Jordan at Battleground. They fought last year too when Jordan was the champion. Also announced is Meat Madness (Josh Briggs, Hank, and Tank) taking on the Culling.

Jordan gets a near fall and lands more offense after it, including a short DDT. She hits more moves, but Zaria blocks a Tornado DDT. She lands an ugly-looking one for another near fall. Kelani gets another near fall, but Zaria blasts her with a Lariat. Zaria lands a Cannonball in the corner with Jordan on her shoulders. She hoists her up for another move, but the action spills to the apron. Jordan Superkicks Zaria into Sol's arms. They regroup, but Jordan trash-talks Sol after the move. Sol then gets on the apron, but Jordan moves out of the way as Zaria goes for a spear. She hits Sol instead, and Jordan rolls her up to get her win back.
Result - KELANI JORDAN defeats Zaria by pin.

GRADE: B+.
Both women played to their strengths, but the match was only going to play out one way - with Jordan wining. It had plenty of good exchanges, but commentary played up Zaria as the heel because she was being a territorial friend, whereas Jordan was acting like Sol was shady like Ethan Page or the MIz.

La Primera says Jordynne Grace will burn in flames at Battleground.

Jordan goes for a small splash, but Zaria catches her. She hoists her on her shoulders, but Jordan locks in a Sleeper Hold. Jordan kicks Zaria off the apron and goes for a Hurricanrana, but Zaria catches and slams her head-first into the barricade.

Zaria hits two German Suplexes right off the bell. She lands some shoulder blocks in the corner. Sol left the title belt on the ring apron for some reason. Kelani hits a move that sends Zaria out of the ring. She then hits a Pescado Splash before sending Zaria into the steel steps.

They re-air the random Tyrese Haliburton/Jalen Brunson bit from RAW.

DarkState cuts a pre-taped promo with each member hyping up other members.

NXT's version of breaking up A-Town Down Under . . .

Up next is Kelani Jordan battling Zaria for the second time in three weeks.

Vic, Booker, and Corey wished Zoey Stark well after suffering a devastating injury during last night's RAW.

Kelly Kincaid interviews Stephanie Vaquer ahead of Battleground. She says she had her first tryout in 2018, but wasn't ready. She then went to Japan and Mexico to hone her craft. Those moments were learning experiences to get to this spot.

Fallon hits a rolling neckbreaker and a springboard blockbuster for a near fall. Lola pulls Fallon down for an armbar. Jacy gets on the apron to yell at Lola, but she ends up getting shoved into Fallon. Lola hits a spinning backfist for the win.
Result - LOLA VICE defeats Fallon Henley by pin.

GRADE: B.
The ad break hurt things a little, but you knew Jacy would factor into the finish, and likely loss, for Fallon. Both women are ready for the main roster, and this feels like a holding pattern until something happens.

Fallon and Lola exchange strikes before Lola lashes out with some kicks. Vic is arguing with Booker and Graves, and Graves has to tell him to calm down. Thought it was Cole and McAfee simping for Jey Uso again.

The women trade offense off the commercial break. Fall lands a sliding forearm for two. The women have a strange exchange before both go for a clothesline at the same time.

Vice goes for an armbar, but Henley gets a rope break. She hits a Hurricanrana and a kick that sends Fallon to the apron. Fallon kicks Vice and pulls her to the outside. She lands a 619 type kick around the ringpost.

Fallon slams Lola's head into the turnbuckle before laying in a forearm. Lola shrugs it off and lands a few kicks. Vice rolls into a leg lock. Jacy trashtalks her teammate as she struggles to break the hold.

Up next is Lola Vice and Fallon Henley.

Tony D cuts a promo about Stacks turning on him. He has trouble understanding why he turned because he thought they were built the same. The Don says he allowed Stacks to only see what he wanted him to see.

Myles Borne already cuts better promos than some second-generation stars with multiple title reigns.

As Borne starts to leave the ring, Jasper Troy jumps Oba Femi from behind. He hits him with a Blackhole Slam. Borne chases him off. Femi denies Borne's help to stand up. Borne picks up the title and hands it to Femi after staring at it briefly. Backstage, Ethan Page and Ricky Saints are yelling at each other in front of Ava's desk. They make the match, and Ava says they don't make them, so she makes the match. Great stuff, there. It's next week and not at Battleground.

Borne says that he's not alone because he's carrying an entire community on his shoulders. Everyone has underestimated him, but he's proven them all wrong.

Up next is the face-to-face between NXT Champion Oba Femi and Myles Borne. Femi says he's not sure if Borne is stupid or brave because he came out alone. He didn't think he'd make it this far, but now he's the top contender. The champ says while Borne is probably hoping to inspire people with his performance, the fact is that life is cruel, and not everyone gets a happy ending.

Connors and Dixon hit a Superkick/Side Russina Legsweep combo. It doesn't last long as OTM regroups to hit their finisher for the win.
Result: OTM (Bronco Nima and Lucien Price) defeat Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon.

Grade: C.
It was clear this was a tune-up match for the returning OTM and that Chase U had zero chance of winning. There wasn't much to it.

Price and Nima easily bully Connors and Dixon early on. Connors and his bad haircut battle back briefly. Dixon chops Lucien's back before adding a DDT for a one count. Corey Graves says he feels bad for Kale Dixon because his parents named him after a "cr*ppy vegetable."

Chase U 2.0 takes on a returning OTM. Wonder who will win . . .

Tatum Paxley is backstage, despondent after losing her friends and husband recently. Thea Hail walks up angrily because Paxley raked her eyes last week. Jaida Parker then blindsides Thea before punking out Paxley.

Kelani Jordan whines about getting another title shot if she beats Zaria tonight. Sol Ruca says she'll stick to her word, but Jordan doesn't believe her. Zaria takes exception.

Spears hits a neckbreaker for a one count. He winds up for a kick, but Briggs catches it. He hits a sidewalk slam and short splash. Briggs goes for a chokeslam, but Spears counters out and sends him from the ring. Spears jumps off the apron, but Briggs catches him and dumps him onto the announce table. Niko Vance rushes at Briggs, but is sent into the steel steps. Brooks Jensen distracts the ref, allowing Izzi Dame to kick Briggs with a cheap shot. Spears then rolls Briggs up for the win.
Result - Shawn Spears defeats Josh Briggs by pin.

Grade: B-.
The match was short and sweet, with some good exchanges. The Culling's presence ringside telegraphed the outside interference. Hank and Tank making the save was also expected after last week.

Briggs vs. Spears starts during the commercials. Briggs drops Spears with the Culling surrounding the ring. He goes for more damage but Spears rolls out of the ring. Briggs follows him, but Spears sends him into the ringpost.

Hendry is backstage with his guitar, getting ready for his retort. Kelly Kincaid interviews Josh Briggs ahead of his match with Shawn Spears. He still misses Inamura since he recently went back to Japan.

Trick Williams' rapping is next. He starts by saying Hendry's mama calls him Average Joe. He repeats, "I ain't never backing down to an Average Joe." He says Joe has a dad bod and some other insults.

Jordynne Grace cuts a promo ahead of her NXT Women's Title match at Battleground. She says they've both sacrificed everything to make it to WWE. Grace claims Vaquer won't escape Battleground with the title. Lola Vice and Vaquer watched the interview, and will presumably talk after Vaquer takes care of some business. Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne walk up to her to mock her, but they argue instead after Vice points out that they don't seem like a team.

Troy says he'll make an impact tonight.

Sean Legacy gets a shocking win to open NXT!!

Backstage, we see Ava essentially booking Saints vs. Page for Battleground. She then welcomes the two LFG winners, Tyra Mae Steele and Jasper Troy, who will debut over the next few weeks.

Adonis hits a DDT and a Superkick, but Legacy breaks up the pin with a 450 Splash. Evans hits a Cutter on Legacy before unloading with a German on Adonis. He hits Legacy with a Splash on the outside before landing a Frog Splash on Adonis, but Legacy breaks up the pin again! With Ricky Saints looking on, All Ego Ethan Page arrives to attack Saints. Evans decides to land another Tope Con Giro on Saints, Page, and security, leaving Legacy and Adonis. Legacy hits Shambles, a spinning neckbreaker variant for the shocking win!
Result: Sean Legacy defeats Ashante Adonis and Je'Von Evans by pin.

GRADE: A-.
This felt like a great match to open an NXT PLE due to the frenetic pace, near falls, and work from all three. Adonis hung with his opponents but was outclassed and outshone by Evans and Legacy.

Legacy hits Evans with a Spanish Fly, but Adonis breaks up the pin. He hits a Tope Con Giro on Ashante on the outside. He climbs to the top, but Evans meets him for a top-rope Hurricanrana. He lines up for another move, but Adonis runs in and tosses him from the ring. Evans breaks up the pin attempt.

Adonis 'tunes up the band' for a Superkick, but Legacy catches it. All three trade strikes. Evans goes for a move but is met with a clothesline from Adonis. Legacy hits a springboard kick to drop Adonis.

Ashante completely misses a spinning jump off the top onto Evans. Je'Von returns to the ring to hit both opponents. He lands a Suicide Dive that almost breaks his neck.

He stops before some random chick in the audience and tells her to kiss him. She does, and instead of getting it on his cheek, he moves to kiss her on the lips. Adonis rushes both men while still wearing his shade. Evans and Legacy battle in the ring until Evans rolls out after a kick. Legacy goes for a move but is met by a clothesline from Adonis.