WWE NXT Battleground 2024: Title retained in historic match amid surprise appearance

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History was made at last night's NXT Battleground 2024 which was the first WWE premium live event to emanate from a UFC venue that's the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plus, it had a cross-promotional co-main event in store on the card.

For the first time, a wrestler from the TNA promotion that's the reigning Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace challenged Roxanne Perez for the NXT Title in one of the major attractions of the night.

Ultimately at Battleground, Roxanne Perez defeated TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace to retain the NXT Women's Championship. The win came after multiple interferences occurred in the match to create a chaotic environment.

The UFC Apex crowd chanted "TNA" to greet Grace for her second-ever WWE PLE appearance for a singles contest to boost her energy to become a dual champion but ultimately she came up short to the NXT youngster.

Grace escaped a Pop-Rox attempt from Roxanne as Tatum Paxley attempted to steal the TNA Knockouts Championship (thinking that it was the NXT Women's Title) but she was interrupted by Ash by Elegance (formerly known as Dana Brooke in the WWE).

Distracted by this, Grace came out of the ring and hammered away at both of them before focusing back on Perez. However, Perez capitalized on the distraction by countering the Juggernaut Driver into a cutter followed by Pop Rox for the pin to win.

Ash by Elegance taunted Grace after the match which could be a sign of a future feud between the two following Ash's surprise appearance at NXT Battleground. For a moment, commentator Vic Joseph mistakenly referred her to be "That's Dana...Ash by Elegance."

Ash was released by WWE in September 2023 when she was still in NXT which ended a ten-year-long run with the company. She signed a contract with TNA in January and made her maiden TV appearance at Hard to Kill PPV.