Unleashing the Ultimate WWE NXT Battle: 2023 Preview

WWE's Battleground event is set to air on Peacock for the first time on May 28, 2023. This year's event will be unique as it will be the first Battleground produced under the NXT banner, featuring a mix of NXT and NXT UK talent. Although some championships will not be present due to the WWE Draft, the event promises to be action-packed with the NXT Championship, North American Championship, NXT Tag Team Championship, and the newly rebranded NXT Heritage Cup all up for grabs. Additionally, the finals of the NXT Women's Championship tournament will take place, crowning a new champion after the previous titleholder was forced to relinquish due to injury and draft-related changes.

A violent standoff between Ilja Dragunov and Dijak has ensued, with Dijak repeatedly attacking Dragunov in recent weeks, even resorting to torturing him. This has led to a last man standing match between the two at Battleground, with Dijak seemingly the favorite due to his physical dominance over Dragunov. However, Dragunov's resilience in the face of such brutality is just a glimpse of his capabilities. He has already made history by ending the 870-day reign of current Intercontinental Champion Gunther (formerly known as Walter) as the NXT UK Champion. With the motivation to emerge victorious after enduring so much at the hands of Dijak, Dragunov is sure to put up a formidable fight to remain the last man standing.

NXT North American Championship

Wes Lee claimed the North American Championship at last year's Halloween Havoc in a grueling ladder match against some tough competition. Since then, he has put his championship on the line in a number of physical and intense battles. His next challenge comes in the form of Tyler Bate and Joe Gacy. Bate is a decorated wrestler who has held multiple championships outside of WWE, including the NXT UK Championship twice. Gacy, on the other hand, is a member of the Schism and has yet to taste victory in NXT. With potential interference from his Schism teammates, Gacy may finally get his hands on some WWE gold.

The NXT Heritage Cup, rebranded and renamed, will finally make its appearance on American soil at NXT Battleground. Noam Dar, who has held the prestigious cup for over 500 days, will put his reign on the line against Dragon Lee in what promises to be an epic showdown. Dar has been flaunting the cup since his arrival in NXT, but his recent loss to Nathan Frazer might have shaken his confidence. Will he use this as motivation to retain the cup, or will Lee be able to take advantage of the doubt planted in Dar's mind? The NXT Universe eagerly awaits the outcome.

NXT Tag Team Championship

Gallus' Mark Coffey and Wolfgang have already made a name for themselves in the WWE by winning the NXT Tag Team Championship in February. Now, they are looking to make more history by defending their title against former champions Julius and Brutus Creed. The Creed brothers are determined to regain their crown after losing it to Pretty Deadly, and will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. It's going to be an exciting match this Sunday as these two formidable tag teams face off once again.

After Hartwell's departure and injury, the NXT Women's Championship was left vacant and a tournament was announced to determine the new champion. The final match will take place at Battleground and will feature Lyra Valkyria up against Tiffany Stratton. Valkyria defeated Kiana James in the first round, while Stratton beat Gigi Dolin. Valkyria proceeded to defeat Cora Jade in the semi-finals, but was attacked by Jade afterwards, leaving her potentially less than 100% for her match against Stratton. With the title in sight, Stratton has her sights set on becoming the next NXT Women's Champion.

NXT Championship

Carmelo Hayes dethroned Bron Breakker from his almost year-long reign as NXT Champion at Stand & Deliver. Since then, Breakker has resorted to unusual tactics to get inside Hayes' head, attacking him and his partner Trick Williams repeatedly. Although Breakker appears to have all the momentum heading into Battleground, Hayes' cunning and skill cannot be underestimated.

Hayes, a two-time North American Champion with a combined reign of nearly 300 days, is a formidable opponent both in and out of the ring. However, Breakker's combined reign of 425 days as the second-longest reigning NXT Champion in history, only behind Finn Bálor, makes him a challenging adversary. In fact, Breakker's second reign as the NXT Champion is the second-longest in NXT history, surpassed only by Adam Cole.

As Hayes and Breakker prepare to face each other once again for the NXT Championship, they will showcase their remarkable talent and skills. Hayes will have the added advantage of competing in his home state, giving him an even greater motivation to win.

WWE NXT Battleground 2023 will stream live from Lowell, Massachusetts on May 28, 2023, on Peacock at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.