On the evening of the 2023 edition of WWE NXT Battleground, Tiffany Stratton reached the biggest milestone of her young career. She had a face-off with Lyra Valkyria for the first time in a singles match to crown a new NXT Women’s Champion. After a back-and-forth co-main-event matchup, she eventually emerged to be the winner via a clean pinfall win over the former UK-born NXT wrestler.
As seen in the tournament, Tiffany Stratton earned her way into the finals by winning highly competitive matches against the likes of former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and then a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, Gigi Dolin. These wins in the quarterfinal and semi-final rounds did elevate her status to be a championship material on the NXT roster.
Tiffany Stratton reveals details about her mentor
Speaking about her so-far success on NXT, Tiffany Stratton has revealed that she learned the basics of professional wrestling from the legendary Greg Gagne. During an interview session on Busted Open Radio, the new NXT Women’s Champion credited the son of the legendary Verne for setting her up for the big leagues.
“He helped me a lot,” said Tiffany Stratton. “He set me up for success [before] coming to the WWE. I would not have caught on as quickly as I did if it weren’t for him. We butt heads a couple of times. I’m a very outspoken person. I will tell you how it is. If I have a problem with you, I will let you know. Greg also gives it to me back. He’s not afraid as well to tell me to shut up. And I think that helped me. He is a big factor in why I’m so successful.”
The 24-year-old WWE NXT Superstar also noted during the conversation that getting in the ring with the former AWA competitor helped her to learn that she was born to be a wrestler. “I took my first bump and it came so easy, so natural to me,” she added. “And I’m sure he would say the same thing.”
Tiffany Stratton captured her maiden title at NXT Battleground 2023
At NXT Battleground 2023, Tiffany Stratton defeated Lyra Valkyria in her first one-on-one title match opportunity to become the new NXT Women’s Champion. It only marked her 26th overall televised match since debuting on NXT TV, last year. She picked up a clean pinfall win over Valkyria after connecting with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever finisher.
Via that win, Tiffany Stratton also became the 17th overall NXT Women’s Champion. Indi Hartwell was the former champion who won the title at NXT Stand & Deliver in a six-way ladder match in what marked Tiffany’s first championship matchup of her NXT career.
