AND NEW — NXT’s Trick Williams is the new TNA Champion!
Trick Williams defeated TNA’s Joe Hendry to win the title at NXT Battleground in Tampa. The final moments of the match saw Trick bring the title into the match, but the referee stopped him from using it. Hendry tried to take advantage with a rollup, but Trick kicked out.
The ref got the title out of the ring as Hendry went for the Standing Ovation. However, this allowed Trick to rake Hendry behind the ref’s back. Williams then hit a Trick Shot and made the cover to win. Williams looked shocked at picking up the win, as was the crowd in Tampa, which included TNA President Carlos Silva.
OH. MY. GOD.
TRICK WILLIAMS IS THE NEW TNA WORLD CHAMPION!!!#WWEBattleground pic.twitter.com/7BfAkTMKRO— WWE (@WWE) May 26, 2025
Trick Williams makes history with TNA title win
This is Trick Williams’ first championship win outside of WWE/NXT, where he is a two-time NXT Champion and a one-time NXT North American Champion. Williams is not only the first WWE contracted talent to win the TNA World Championship, but this was the first time in history that the title changed hands outside of TNA. (AEW’s Kenny Omega also won the TNA Championship while under contract with AEW, but that title change took place at TNA Rebellion 2021.)
Joe Hendry‘s first TNA World Championship reign ends at 126 days. He initially won the title from Nic Nemeth at TNA Genesis on January 19, 2025.
Shawn Michaels recently put over Trick Williams as one of the two men he would consider being “Mr. NXT.” Michaels also told Brad Gilmore of Reality of Wrestling he expects Williams to be a RAW or SmackDown star in the future.
“Look, I think it’s a toss-up on our men’s side. I think they’d probably argue about it, but I think Trick Williams and Oba Femi are two guys with — Trick has unlimited charisma, but Oba also has a mystique and an aura about him. They’re two very different individuals, but they’re both guys that are easily superstars that people see are going to be Raw and SmackDown superstars in the very near future, I’m sure.”
Shawn Michaels might not have seen him being a TNA Impact regular, but that might be the case now! Michaels also named his “Ms. NXT” but that pick was less of a toss-up.
Catch up on everything that went down at NXT Battleground here.
