WWE NXT Battleground 2025: Trick Williams creates history, beats Joe Hendry to win the TNA World Championship
It was the first time the TNA World Title was defended on a WWE Premium Live Event. And by the end of the night, it was also the first time an active WWE Superstar won that title. Trick Williams has etched his name in wrestling history.
Controversial finish in a wild NXT Battleground main event
The match itself had everything. Big entrances, loud chants, hard hits, and even a spot where Trick put Hendry through the announce table. Hendry, the face of TNA, had the crowd behind him, but Trick wasn't fazed. He brought the energy and aggression that made him a two-time NXT Champion.
EVERYTHING has changed... 😱Trick Williams just made HISTORY in Tampa! #WWEBattleground pic.twitter.com/fvOQL1QJM7
As expected in a Joe Hendry match, the build-up was full of humour and spectacle. But when the bell rang, it got serious quickly. Hendry looked to finish things with the Standing Ovation, but Trick saw it coming. Moments earlier, the TNA belt had been brought into the ring. Trick didn't use it directly as a weapon, and the referee didn't see anything illegal. But Hendry was driven face-first into the title.
That was enough. Trick hit one final Trick Shot and pinned Hendry to win the TNA World Championship. The crowd exploded. Even with the questionable ending, it was a moment that will be remembered for years.
#AndNew TNA World Champion @_trickwilliams #WWEBattleground @WWENXT pic.twitter.com/P9sJLkFgRy
Joe Hendry may still be the heart of TNA, but on this night, Trick Williams stood tall as a champion from another company, holding a title no WWE Superstar ever had before. And he did it on WWE turf. History was made, and Trick Williams became the name everyone will remember from Battleground 2025.
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