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Pauly Kover

Pauly Kover

Pauly Kover

Shawn Michaels Is Humbled To Bring WWE NXT Battleground Las Vegas To The UFC APEX 

Author Slone Terranella
Pauly interviewed Michaels back in 2014 at the WWE Network launch party.

WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, Shawn Michaels is “humbled and extremely excited” to bring WWE’s next generation of Superstars to Las Vegas, he said in a recent interview with X107.5. 

From crotch-chops to calling the shots, the “Heartbreak Kid” has gone from being one of the best and most controversial in ring WWE Superstars to overseeing creative for WWE NXT, which develops the pro wrestlers and sports entertainers of tomorrow. 

NXT Battleground Comes To Sin City For The First Time At The UFC APEX

And those Superstars will be on display, when NXT Battleground Las Vegas invades the UFC APEX on Sunday, June 9. Start time 4pm PDT. This marks the first time, since the WWE/UFC merger, that a WWE event is being hosted inside the state-of-the-art, 130,000-square foot event and production facility. Yes, we’re talking about the giant UFC Headquarters we all see, while driving along the 215 near Rainbow Boulevard. 

When asked if there’s a chance WWE could move or open a facility in Las Vegas next to UFC, Shawn Michaels said those decisions are way above his pay grade, but as much as he loves living in Orlando, he wouldn’t mind trading in the humidity for the dry heat. Afterall, HBK started much his wrestling career here in Vegas, wrestling for the AWA at the old Showboat Arena before beginning his Hall of Fame career in WWE. 

Listen To Shawn Michaels Discuss ‘NXT Battleground,’ Jordynne Grace, Ethan Page & More 

WWE’s NXT Battleground comes to Las Vegas, Sunday, June 9 with a stacked card. As seen on WWE NXT on USA, another company’s Champion showed up on WWE TV, when TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace challenged NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez. The two will go head-to-head in Sin City. We also saw another outsider, “All Ego” Ethan Page, attack the NXT Champion Trick Williams in the middle of the ring. Will this lead to a showdown at the UFC APEX? 

Also on the line, the NXT Tag Team Titles, the North American Championship will be defended in a Triple Threat Match, and a 1st ever Women’s North American Champion will be crowned in a 6-Pack Ladder Match. Plus, MMA Fighters turned WWE Superstars, Shayna Baszler will battle Lola Vice in a brutal NXT Underground Match, which is the most appropriate match for the UFC APEX because the only way to win is by knockout or submission. 

Limited tickets are on sale now as well as NXT Battleground Priority Passes, which provide the ultimate fan experience. 

The action will also stream LIVE for subscribers on Peacock. 

Ranking the Best Boxers in the World Right Now

Canelo Alvarez is truly king in the ring. The super middleweight champion towered over Jaime Munguia in their much-anticipated fight on Saturday (May 4), and he scored a unanimous win. So, who are the best boxers in the world right now, pound-for-pound?

Best Boxers in the World Right Now: Latest Fight

Before we get to the best boxers in the world right now, let’s look closer at Alvarez and his win. Now that he’s consistently pulled off definitive wins, the public wants to see him fight David Benavidez, “The Mexican Monster,” who caught everyone’s attention after beating both Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade.

After the May 4 fight, Alvarez was asked about fighting Benavidez, who has been talking smack about him, as they say. “If the money’s right … I can fight [Benavidez] right now,” Alvarez said in a post-fight press conference. “I don’t give a s—. It’s only a matter of money at this point. Everybody is asking for everything. When I fought [Erislandy] Lara, Austin Trout, Miguel Angel Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, Billy Joe Saunders, GGG, everybody said I don’t want to fight them, and I fought all of them. So right now … I can do whatever I want.”

It’s true that Alvarez can do whatever he wants, as he’s very successful. But, is he really the best if he won’t fight the one guy that everyone wants him to fight? Hey, I can’t contest Alvarez’s record and legacy. But, give the people what they want, Alvarez. Everyone would love to see some of the best boxers in the world duke it out.

Benavidez wants the fight with Alvarez. He wants it badly. He was there Saturday, promoting his June 15 Las Vegas fight vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk. “The fans now are getting upset because this is the biggest fight on the table,” Benavidez told ESPN during a news conference. “And why are we going to leave it on the table for no reason? This is a fight that has to happen. … And I’m going to keep putting these types of performances on where people are going to want to see it. The demand of this fight is really high. It’s bad blood. I don’t like him. He doesn’t like me.”

So, we all want to see the fight. If it happens, it will draw a lot of money and interest. For now, lots of interest rests on Benavidez’s upcoming fight against Gvozdyk. He’s moving up to light heavyweight for the fight. I’m such a fan of boxing, since it’s so classic and old-fashioned. My dad was actually a boxer in Detroit when he was in high school, and I’ve always loved the sport. Now, let’s get into some of the best boxers in the world right now, pound-for-pound. Reach out to me with your thoughts, too.

  • 5. Dmitry Bivol

    Dmitry Bivol is the current light heavyweight champion. The Russian currently lives in California and has been in the spotlight for years, but especially took the limelight when he beat Canelo Alvarez in 2022 in a controversial fight. He’s super fun to watch in the ring.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Gt-iEAYnI/

  • 4. Canelo Alvarez

    Canelo Alvarez just upped his game with another win, as he took down Jaime Munguia in the two’s much-anticipated fight on Saturday (May 4). I want to see him fight David Benavidez. Make it happen, guys and agents.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C6h9VrnLMYh/

  • 3. Oleksandr Usyk

    Oleksandr Usyk has held the the unified heavyweight titles since 2021. The Ukrainian professional boxer is one of the best Ukrainian boxers and cruiserweights of all time. He has a May 18, 2024, fight against Tyson Fury. He also takes on David Benavidez June 15, 2024, in Las Vegas.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C55h12_NJMY/

  • 2. Naoya Inoue

    Naoya Inoue is such a versatile boxer. The Japanese boxer is actually only the second male boxer, behind Terence Crawford, to be the undisputed champion in two weight classes in the four-belt era. He has also won multiple world championships in four weight classes.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C6kx4KXrHhq/

  • 1. Terence Crawford

    It shouldn’t be a surprise that Terence Crawford is ranked No. 1 on this list. He has won multiple world championships in three weight classes and multiple World Boxing titles. On Aug. 3, 2024, he’ll go up against Israil Madrimov.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C5qkLwtr6tX/

  • Bonus: David Benavidez

    He’s not one of my top five, but David Benavidez absolutely deserves a mention. He’s more than proven himself after beating both Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade. He talks a lot of smack, too, which fans love. Let’s see if he finally gets his fight with Canelo Alvarez.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C6KdhlPLUHX/

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Author Slone Terranella
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