NXT FEUD TRACKER: Brandler’s assessment of the top feuds and developments from the latest episode including Zaria, Kendal Grey, Tony D’Angelo

The Aug. 11 edition of NXT television started setting up the title matches for NXT Heatwave which is on Sunday, Augu. 30. It also showed us the direction NXT is heading for other possible matches.

NXT WOMEN’S NORTH AMERICAN TITLE
Champion: Zaria

Zaria vs. Speed Champion Wren Sinclair: Zaria has been the NXT North American Champion for 64 days. She was challenged by Wren Sinclair who received the title shot after defending her NXT Speed Championship last week. Zaria is pure power. She is right out of the Brock Lesnar playbook – suplexes, body slams, with the F5 as her finisher.

Wren is more diversified in her offense and her selling of Zaria’s moves. During the match, Wren showed that diversity by hitting Zaria with several pierrotaza’s (Lucha Libre palm strikes). They went back and forth with offense. Mid match, Dion Lennox and Saquan Shugars hit the ring continuing their backstage fight. This created a distraction allowing Zaria to win the match with an F5.

Later on, General Manager Robert Stone (sometimes he has a first name) had a backstage segment. Wren stated that she could have beaten Zaria and is willing to put her Speed title on the line for a rematch at NXT Heatwave. Stone agreed.

At Heatwave, Zaria vs. Sinclair, both the Speed and Women’s North American titles at stake.

Brandler’s Bit: What a great match for Heatwave! Both titles at stake make this a very high-profile match considering they are wrestling for secondary titles. Wren should not be in a division where time is the mechanism for deciding wins and losses. She is a much better WRESTLER than that. Zaria has great fan support. This is a must-watch match in two weeks at NXT Heatwave.

NXT WOMEN’S TITLE
Champion: Kendal Grey

Tonight they set up Kendal’s future title contender. Grey had a bandage on her left ear. She was accompanied by BFF Wren Sinclair. As Grey was speaking in the ring, Kelani Jordan came out demanding to be the next person in line for title contention.

Kendal happened to have a contract for Kelani to sign for a title match at NXT Heatwave. Kelani agreed. Kendal stated, “You can’t keep up with Kendal.” Good catchphrase! However, Kali Armstrong was also demanding a title shot. Grey stated you will get your match after Kelani. Conflict broke out resulting in all four throwing punches. Armstrong was trying to hit Wren but hit Kendal in the damaged ear.

Next week: Tag team match with Kendal & Wren vs. Kelani and Kali. It is questionable that Kendal will be cleared by the medical staff by next week.

Brandler’s Bit: Kelani Jordan has so much athleticism. Either her character is supposed to be extremely whiny, or her presentation of her character is extremely whiny. Either way it does nothing for her as a wrestler. Kali has the musculature and attitude to be a smaller Jade Cargill but needs more reps to get there. I’m curious how this match will turn out next week.

NXT MEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
Champion: Tony D’Angelo

This week we had a number one contender match between Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller. Tony D’Angelo was on commentary so he could get a good look at the action. Montana and Waller traded big moves. Late in the match, Waller hit Montana with a Stan Hansen-like lariat which led to a long two count. From nowhere, Zilla Fatu made his NXT debut and interfered in the match. He hit a Samoan drop and an Uso Splash on both contestants leaving both Waller and Cruz decimated.

Brandler’s Bit: Zilla Fatu, the 26-year-old son of Umaga made a shocking and impactful debut. With two weeks until NXT Heatwave, what will happen next week? Will we have a Triple Threat match with the winner getting Tony D or will NXT take the easy way out and book a Fatal 4-way for the title at Heatwave?

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

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MID-CARD MATCHES
Rounding out the show, there were four short Mid Card matches.

(1) There was supposed to be the Culling Civil War match between the active Culling members Izzy Dame and Niko Vance taking on former Culling member Shawn Spears and his partner Lizzy Rain. Spears did not show up. This led to a handicap match. EK Prosper came in to be Lizzy’s partner and changed the dynamics of the match. Rain & Prosper demonstrated a high energy, fast-paced style which got the Capitol Wrestling Center (CWC) energized for the match. Rain & Prosper won with Rain’s “Thunderstruck” into Prosper’s Moonsault.

Brandler’s Bit: A peculiar “bait and switch” by NXT. There was no discussion about Spears’ no show. Later it became clear why Prosper was inserted into this match. AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix will be defending that title at NXT Heatwave. NXT decided that in order to determine Fenix’ challenger, they would have a Fatal Four-Way match next week. Prosper’s entrance was a showcase for him to be one of the four members in the match. The other three contenders are La Parka, Romeo Moreno, and Tristan Angels.

(2) Dark State—Dion Lennox (with Cutler James and Osirus Griffin) vs. former Dark State member Saquon Shugars. This was a very short match which Lennox won with a powerslam. After the match, the other Dark Staters beat up Shugars.

Brandler’s Bit: Where is this feud going? We’ve had several one-on-one matches, and we have had the six-man match to even up the odds. This feud needs an ending so that we can see how Shugars moves up on the roster.

(3) Mason Rook vs. Kam Hendrix. These two have had a long-standing feud. The match was quite short. Kam removed the padding to expose the turnbuckle. He threw Rook into the buckle and then pinned him.

Brandler’s Bit: The stock for Rook and Hendrix have really dropped. Kam had a title match a few weeks ago and prior to that Rook & Hendrix defeated NXT North American Champion Myles Borne & Tony D’Angelo in a tag team match. Now they are wrestling each other in what amounted to a filler match.

(4) Lexis King (with Birthright) vs. Lucien Price of OTM. Price has recognized that his partner Nima is with Los Perros Del Mal and that he needs a “plan B.” He challenged King, the NXT Men’s Speed Champion, to a singles match. Price was great in this match, showing us another side to him. In one spot, he split open King’s chest with a chop!! Price had to overcome interference from Birthright and won the match with a powerslam.

Next week: Price challenges King for the Speed Title.

Brandler’s Bit: I like the pace of the Price and Nima storyline. This doesn’t look like a breakup. It seems that they are adding depth to the Price and Nima characters.

NEXT WEEK ON NXT

• Jackson Drake of the Vanity Project goes against Shiloh Hill. If Drake wins, Vanity Project will all get title matches at Heatwave:
• Drake goes one on one with NXT North American Champion Myles Borne. His stable mates, Baylor & Smokes get an NXT Tag Team Title rematch against Borne & Heights (Yes Borne would wrestle two matches!)
• Men’s Speed Title: Lexis King defends against Lucian Price (It would be great if Price’s push continues with a title win)
• NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey a&nd NXT Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair goes against Kali Armstrong & number one contender Kelani Jordan (Can Jordan and Armstrong work together?)
• Fatal 4-Way Match for the Number One Contender for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship
• EK Prosper vs. La Parka vs. Tristan Angels vs. Romeo Moreno (Prosper has been getting a big push; is he ready for a Premium Life Event title match?)

NXT HEATWAVE Aug. 30, 2026

• NXT Women’s Title Kendal Grey defending her title vs. Kelani Jordan
• NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria vs. Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair with both titles on the line.
• AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix vs. The winner of the Fatal 4-Way match

Probable:

• NXT North American Title: Myles Borne vs. Jackson Drake
• NXT Tag Team Title: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights vs. Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes
• NXT Men’s Heavyweight Champion Tony D’ Angelo will defend his title (opponents not known)

Maybe:

• Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shugars
• Nattie vs. Jaida Parker