SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
This edition of NXT television moved along the story lines for title matches for NXT Heatwave which is on Sunday August 30th. It also set up two major matches for next week’s show.
NXT WOMEN’S TITLE
Champion: Kendal Grey
Kendal Gray and NXT Speed Champion Wren Sinclair (WrenQCC) fought number one contender Kelani Jordan and rising on the depth chart, Kali Armstrong, in a tag team match. Grey was still wearing the bandage on her ear which made it easy for Kelani to strategically target her ear. Kelani continued the assault on Kendal and hit a drop toe hold which took Kendal into the steel steps. This knocked both out of the match. Armstrong took over on offense with Wren. After some stiff back and forth strikes, Armstrong took advantage and won with the “Kali Connection.”
Brandler’s Bit: NXT is working this ear injury well. Will Kendal Grey’s injury allow Kelani to finally win a big NXT match and give her the NXT title?
NXT MEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
Champion: Tony D’Angelo
There were no matches on the show this week, but there were lots of promos. Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller are both angry at Zilla Fatu for causing them not to be the number one contender. Both want a match with Tony D’Angelo for the title. Later in the night, Zilla signed his NXT contract which has a provision that gives him a title shot in his first match. As a result, we will have a Fatal Four-Way match for the NXT Heavyweight title at Heatwave.
Brandler’s Bit: Both Waller and Montana have been solid in their promos. Zilla had his debut to tell NXT about himself. Fatu, who is the son of Umaga, made a great gaffe in his promo. Zilla meant to say “Nepo baby” but said “Nympho baby” instead. This certainly changes the meaning of what he was trying to get across.
It is very frustrating to have title matches that are not one on one matches. I admit that I have an “old school” mentality about wrestling. Title matches used to only have two people fighting for a title. There was a winner and a loser. In the multi-person match of the modern era, the champ can lose the title without being pinned. I think this weakens both the match and title reign.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
Check out the latest episode of “PWT Talks NXT” with Kelly Wells and Nate Lindberg, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
NXT WOMEN’S NORTH AMERICAN TITLE
Champion: Zaria
Zaria and Wren Sinclair are having a title for title match at NXT Heatwave. In a backstage segment, Kali, after her win in the tag match, demanded a title match. Zaria agreed to a match next week in which if Kali wins, she will be added to the Women’s North American Title match at Heatwave.
Brandler’s Bit: What started out as a match with each participant putting their title on the line, now has the potential to be a triple threat match. Doing this dilutes the intensity of the match. Groan!
MID CARD MATCHES
Nattie (with Evolve Champion Nikkita Lyons and Karmen Petrovic) vs. Thea Hail (with Jaida Parker)
Nattie did a great job of putting over Thea. She put over Thea’s Kimura lock as a dangerous move. At the end of the match, Nattie reversed the hold and made Thea tap out to the “Sharpshooter.”
Brandler’s Bit: Nattie has been used perfectly in NXT. She has made both Jaida Parker and Hail look like top contenders. Will Nattie and Jaida end their feud at Heatwave?
MEN’S SPEED CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion Lexis King
Lexis King (with Birthright) defended his Speed title in a five-minute match vs. Lucien Price of OTM. This match was full of stalling by King and interference by Birthright. Price had several furies using his heavy hands to chop King. (Last week Price opened a cut on King’s chest with the same chops.) Whenever Price developed momentum, Birthright would interfere. At 4:30 in the match, King won with the “Coronation.”
Brandler’s Bit: Lexis King wins the Larry Zybysko (AWA) stall your way through a title defense award. His constant stalling made sure Price could never have a strong continuous offensive attack. Nima came out at the end of the match to help Price ward off a 5 on 1 attack. OTM looked strong at the end.
FATAL FOUR-WAY MATCH (to determine the number one contender for Rey Fenix’s AAA Cruiserweight championship.)
EK Prosper vs. La Parka vs. Romeo Moreno vs. Tristan Angels.
This match would have played well for an AAA audience. It was full of high-flying moves, dives to the outside, and high-risk spots. I do believe these four set a record for the number of “Superkicks” in one match. All looked good. Prosper won with a moonsault.
Brandler’s Bit: Booker T, as NXT commentator, often says many inane and inaccurate things. Tonight he topped himself. He stated that La Parka has “found the fountain of youth” and is “in great shape.” He went on to say that he wrestled him in WCW. Fact check: The current La Parka has only been doing the gimmick for one year. The one he wrestled in WCW in 1998 is the second La Parka (the original one died due to injuries that occurred in a match) who is now known as LA Park due to copyright issues. Does anyone produce the commentary team?
Prosper vs. Fenix next week will be a high flying, fast paced, exciting match.
Jackson Drake (w/The Vanity Project) vs. Shiloh Hill
If Drake wins, all of VP get title matches at Heatwave. Drake is significantly better than Hill and led him to a competitive match. Towards the end of the match, as VP was interfering, the referee spotted the interference and sent Baylor, Smokes, and Lockwood to the dressing room. This led to a brief one on one match. Just when it appeared that this would be a fair match, Nakaru came from under the ring to blow red mist in Hill’s eyes which blinded him. Drake took advantage and hit his 450 Splash for the win.
At Heatwave:
- NXT North American Title: Myles Borne vs. Jackson Drake
- NXT Tag Team Title: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights vs. Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes
Brandler’s Bit: So much to unpack here. Nakaru is apparently not done in NXT. His next feud is with Hill. This will be great for Shiloh since he is incredibly green and inexperienced.
Myles Borne is wrestling twice at Heatwave defending both the North American title and the Tag Team Titles. There are so many booking possibilities for how this can go. I think NXT is far stronger with the Vanity Project as Tag Champions than with Borne & Heights.
NXT referees must have upgraded their training to spot cheating in Vanity Project matches. The refs have spotted outside interference two weeks in a row!
Saquon Shugars vs. Dion Lennox—Backstage Promo. Shugars and Lennox both wanted a Cage Match to end the feud. Shugars wanted weapons in the cage.
Brandler’s Bit: In the promo, Dion Lennox sounded like he was reading a script. Shugars was incredibly real, forceful, and genuine. Shugars needs to be moved up the card.
NEXT WEEK ON NXT:
- AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix vs. EK Prosper (Prosper has gotten an incredible push; Fenix is better fit for AAA.)
- Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shugars in a Weapons filled cage match(Please allow the cage stipulation to keep out the other Dark State members.)
- Kali Armstrong vs. Zaria (If Armstrong wins, she gets added to the title unification match at Heatwave.)
NXT HEATWAVE August 30, 2026
- NXT Women’s Title Kendal Grey defends her title vs. Kelani Jordan
- NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria vs. Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair—Both titles on the line. (Kali Armstrong can be added to this match with a win vs. Zaria.)
- 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 Title Match, Fatal Four-Way Match:
Champion Tony D’ Angelo vs. Cruz Montana vs. Grayson Waller vs Zilla Fatu. - Maybe: Nattie vs. Jaida Parker
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