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(water splashing) (crowd cheering) (upbeat surf music) (bell ringing) The following contest scheduled for one fall is for the NXT Women's North American Championship. Introducing first, accompanied by Zaria, from Honolulu, Hawaii, she is the NXT women's North American Champion, Sol Ruca. What a way to kick off Battleground, the first championship match of the night. (upbeat surf music continues) We wanna welcome you to ringside, Vic Joseph alongside two-time WWWE Hall of Famer, none other than Booker T.
And also there to my left, that being Corey Graves. And look, Corey, careers are gonna be defined, history is gonna be made. The atmosphere is always special here in Tampa, a city where many of us began our WWE journeys not far down the road on Dale Mabry Highway. I wanna know who's gonna take the next step tonight at Battleground. And the ladies kicking this thing off. This could be a main event, guys, anywhere in the world.
(upbeat dance music) And her opponent from Boynton Beach, Florida, Kelani Jordan. And Graves, when it comes to the challenger, has she developed that killer instinct? Kelani Jordan has never been a slouch in the ring, if inexperienced, but what we've seen over the past several months has truly been an evolution of Kelani Jordan as a competitor.
Booker, I think you'll agree with me, we've asked to see a little more aggression, a little bit more of a mean streak from the first ever North American women's champion. I say we got it. That caterpillar that turned into the butterfly that stings like a bee, that's Kelani Jordan. She's grown up so much over this last year. The first, guys, the first Woman's North American Champion, stand up, stand up, man. And Booker hit this point moments ago, Graves, and I think you'll agree, this is gonna set the tone for Battleground tonight. Absolutely, you could feel
the energy backstage all day. Every single match on the card is gonna have a follow-that mentality. Every superstar on the roster knows how special tonight is and how massive each opportunity to compete here in NXT is. You can see on the face of Sol Ruca, a little tip of the cap to Zaria on the outside. Also looks like a little bit of war paint, so to speak, here at Battleground. Sol Ruca taking a page out of Zaria's handbook, ready for battle at Battleground. Look at the athleticism right off of the opening bell.
Oh yes, I'm loving it. Expect to see a lot more of that. Misdirection by Sol. Shoulders down and rolling right back through is Ruca, sidestepping the drop kick. And again, both these women know each other so very well. Longstanding rivalry between these two over the women's North American Title. Jordan's First defense was against Sol. It's fitting Sol's first defense is against Kelani. Both were in that ladder match last year at Battleground where Kelani became the first woman to hold this title, both at Stand and Deliver, and both again competing here tonight.
(crowd cheering) Beautiful work. You can hear the appreciation for these two athletes throughout the Yuengling Center. Don't do it, don't do it. Come on, Booker, it's all about sportsmanship. Again, these two have been through the trenches and they did get a little shake of the hand and now right back to it. Sol overpowering Kelani early on and up front. Listen, I think it can be all about sportsmanship, but you can't be afraid to bend a rule here and there.
Take a shortcut, thumb somebody in the eye. Kelani earned this opportunity by beating Zaria this past Tuesday on NXT. Oh my, wow. that's what se need to see out of Jordan. Is that killer instinct you both were talking about? No doubt. No time for shaking hands right now, this is about competition. This is about the championship. This is about the North American Championship. Look at this submission, stepping through like a man did last night. STF applied Trying to reach out to that bottom rope, Kelani, but look, Kelani wants to fight her way through this hold right here, right now.
But right now, desperation may be setting in via Sol Ruca, has this cinched in deep, almost in the center of the ring, shifting weight, shoulders down and the near fall. You know, Graves, when we take a look at these two, are they really starting to set themselves up to be the foundation of this division? Potentially and only time will tell, but both Sol Ruca and Kelani Jordan have got very, very bright, hopefully long futures in WWE ahead of them.
They could fight forever, as they say. Close to many, many battles, guys. Letting Kelani think about, Sol with a suplex into a moonsault, standing style, cover, shifting again, count her shoulders down, another near fall, coming right back in, flipping over is Sol, center of the ring, another near fall. Kelani getting out this time. She's gonna take down the champion and the champion just able to wiggle free at the count of two, again back and forth, looking for maybe a crucifix, Sol blocking it though, showing that strength. And Ruca, oh, the crucifix bomb.
Whoa, that was close. Based solely off the opening moments of this contest, I think this one's gonna come down to which of these two ladies makes the first mistake, period. I think Sol Ruca's got a bad strategy right now because I don't think she's gonna outwit Kelani Jordan in this matchup. Oh, and there could have been that mistake, Graves, you were alluding to and now make, oh, Oh baby, oh baby, that could be it. Hook of the leg and another near fall Booker, how much different is Kelani now opposed to one year ago? Because again, it was at battleground last year in Vegas, she wore the gold for the first time Like I said, we've watched Kelani Jordan grow up
in the middle of that ring and, like I say, being the first North American champion that tells me she's got all the skills. She's a special, special talent, Victor. I think something also that's important to remember is, nice northern lights with a bridge, shoulders down, and again, another kick out by Sol Ruca. Kelani lost the title at Halloween Havoc. She faced three different opponents on that night, Booker, those of course being Fatal Influence.
I mean, Kelani Jordan, she's one that's gonna fight, she's gonna stay in the game, and right now she's doing a hell of a job with Sol Ruca. I'm wondering if she can become a two-time champion at this young age. Oh, look at this innovative offense. Oh, with a little bit of a twist from Kelani. Kelani now stacking up Sol and another kick out. But now trying to transition, I don't know, Graves, in to maybe a single leg Boston crab.
Seems apparent to me thus far that Kelani Jordan has certainly done her homework on the champion. But this is where the inexperience can factor in. Kelani Jordan's certainly not a submission expert by any stretch of the imagination. She's obviously added some new wrinkles to her game, some aggression, we've seen the cross face chicken wing in the past serve her very well. Into the nice half crab. This half crab is locked in to Sol Ruca, doing a nice job of keeping the pressure off her lower back. And now looking at her partner, that being Zaria on the outside, trying to navigate her way to that bottom rope to break the hold.
And there's Kelani now trying to sit down in this single leg crab. And this is one way to counter that high-flying ability of Sol Ruca. Ruca's been able to maintain her knee underneath her, minimizing the pressure, while this is still painful, not likely to force a submission and the champion able to escape into a jackknife cover goes Jordan. Shoulders down and another kick out. Some people have said about Sol Ruca being a double champion, there's pressure. Graves, on WWE Speed, have you noticed pressure getting to Sol?
Well, listen, some athletes thrive under pressure and that's what we've seen from Sol Ruca thus far in both of her championship reigns, albeit young reigns, nothing short of impressive. And to that point, whoa. Wow. Wiggling for a moment. Catching her balance is Sol, precarious position. Oh my God! An X factor, X from the spot. She's out. If Ruca can make the cover, this one is over. Without a doubt. But Sol Ruca landed almost on her tailbone, as well. Wow. Listen to this place. Take another look as Kelani Jordan driven face-first into the canvas. But you were right, Vic, rough landing for the champion at the same time.
You know, Booker, you are someone who knows just how difficult it is to defend two separate titles. I mean, it's almost impossible to defend two titles, I mean, the time on the road alone you must take that out of the equation. (crowd chanting and clapping) Bam, now we're kicking off battleground, starting to pick up some steam now is Ruca. Big knee right under the jaw, rocking Kelani. And Kelani wisely rolling to the outside. That was smart because she has been rocked around in this matchup Smart decision, but Kelani also has to take into account the fact that Zaria is only a few feet away and you should never take your eyes off of her.
Sol Ruca, of course, becoming champion after Stephanie Vaquer, who was a double champion, relinquished the title for the betterment of the women's division, Vaquer, Jordynne Grace, still to come. Oh my God, no, no, no, no. Jordan may be looking for a fisherman's suplex on the apron. Countered by Sol for a moment. You gotta imagine Zaria being out there helping Sol in this moment. Ruca showing she's got some dynamite in her fists. Talk about athleticism, take a look at Kelani. Of course, the background at Michigan State, just rocking, though, Ruca to the floor.
Now Booker, I would say Kelani has, Look out, guys. Kelani has shed that little sister stigma. Oh, baby! We talked about Kelani Jordan and how much she's grown up. You can feel it. You can feel it in the air tonight, man. Kelani Jordan is about to cash in, perhaps become two-times North American champ. Phil Collins couldn't have said it better than you, Book, as now Kelani could be looking for the knockout blow here against Sol Ruca.
Going up, oh. Soul said, nuh uh. Said that you certainly did, now trying to hoist up, another counter, trying to roll through again is Kelani. But Sol being able to stay one step ahead of, oh, that was innovative, that was almost like a back stabber of sorts. Modification on the back stabber, both feet to the spine of the challenger and Ruca thinking about taking it high-risk. What is she thinking, man. Oh my god! Oh my God. The judges give a 10 to Sol Ruca. And as we've seen in this matchup, (crowd cheering)
I mean this place, It's in Tampa, let these ladies know. We knew this place would be rocking, we always talk about the athleticism, Sol showcasing some power, as well, but a big splash off the top. Hook of the leg, into the cover to retain, and another near fall. That's something, No, no, go ahead, go ahead. No, you go ahead. No, I was just saying Sol Ruca's showing me something, guys, because in her first title defense, she's doing a hell of a job.
They say you're not a champion until you go out there and defend that championship in the middle of that ring, this is Battleground. And again, hard to argue, but another thing to point out, Sol is trying to take a page out of Zaria's book and paid for it. It looked like maybe she was trying to enter into the zone of destruction, didn't work out, and Kelani now. we've seen her win in the past with that five-star frog splash. Got all of it, wow. And another near fall. Go ahead. Cover again, and a kick out. Damn. For a third time, still not the charm.
Gotta stay focused, though, and there's that rage starting to boil out, that killer instinct we talked about. Have to realize, every time the champion is forced to kick out, Sol is forced to exert energy. Jordan trying to become a two-time women's North American Champion, first to do so. Sol Ruca looking to be successful in her first championship defense. A lot on the line in this matchup here, Book. Right now we're in a prone position, not a great position for both of these ladies.
What is she thinking? Oh baby, oh. Not a poison rana? She's not gonna do it. Sol able to counter! Kelani took too much time, poison rana. Spear, she did enter the zone of destruction! Cover, count. Wow. Unreal. Take another look, first at the splash, full extension, full impact for Jordan. Not enough to finish the job. And this is insane impact, a spear from Sol Ruca borrowing a maneuver from her friend, Zaria, but still not done.
(crowd chanting) Looking for the Sol snatcher, counter though by Kelani. Again, these two have had so many battles over the last year, bringing it to tonight. Sol now trying to go up top, take another high risk, but Kelani able to cut her off at the pass. I mean, there is nothing, Booker, stopping either of these women. Yeah, right there, Sol Ruca just wasted a little bit too much time, maybe one, maybe two seconds, and right there Kelani trying to capitalize.
Oh baby, oh baby! Super Spanish fly! Another, here Kelani, this just shows you the prestige, how much, Corey, this championship means to the locker room and to the two fighting over it. And you see Zaria on the outside barking orders, perhaps motivation to the champion Sol Ruca. Incredible effort thus far by both of these women, but neither able to pick up the W just yet. (crowd clapping) You can feel Tampa right now. I wonder whose corner they're in? Who are they trying to rally in this moment?
We've heard the chant a few times over the years, both these guys, I think both these girls would be apropos in this instance, Counter for counter. Oh my God, Kelani just dropping bombs. What I like about Kelani, she will fight you, man. She will throw hands, I love it, man. I think that's what it's gonna take at this juncture. Sol has always said she wants this championship. She wants to prove herself.
She's certainly doing it here. She's certainly doing it now. Fully focused in, Kelani though, able to counter and then just stomp through. But look at where she's at, Graves, looking for that one of a kind split-legged, hey. Zaria just, (crowd cheering) Take a hike, Zaria. Zaria helped her partner, but at what cost? Sol, keep your head in the game! Incoming! Jordan from behind with what could be the dagger that ends Sol's title reign. And Booker, did you just feel the momentum shift in this matchup?
I mean the air just seemed to have gone outta the room right now. Right now, Kelani Jordan is in perfect, Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Countered again, was looking for that Sol snatcher. Kelani right now, nothing will stop Jordan. She continues to persevere and push through. She was so happy, she was so excited, elated to be the first champion, to carry that lineage. She wants to make history one more time here tonight by becoming the first woman to hold the women's North American Title twice. But Sol now perched high again.
Going up, oh, Sol freaking snatcher from the top! And Sol secures her first successful defense. Man. Here is your winner and still the NXT Women's North American Champion, Sol Ruca. Graves, you are a man of many words. But the look on your face when we just saw that, you were speechless, My jaw about hit the table in front of us. Take another look at Zaria getting caught red-handed. Her heart may have been in the right place, but she got a one-way ticket back to the locker room as a result.
Sol Ruca took her eye off the prize for just a moment. But when you are capable of that sort of breathtaking athleticism, you can afford a mistake from time to time. What a victory by the champion Sol Ruca. Absolutely unbelievable, standing O for Sol Ruca, who continues to roll and ride the wave of momentum as champion here in NXT. (upbeat surf music)
