SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
On the Oct. 20 edition of NXT tightened up the main event matches of NXT’s Halloween Havoc. The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic advanced to the semifinals.
NXT MENS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Men’s Champion: Grayson Waller
Grayson Waller and number one contender former NXT champion Tony D’Angelo had a promo segment. Both had great intensity. Waller continues to assert that he has brought prestige back to the NXT title. This of course infuriated Tony D, a former holder of the Heavyweight Title for 148 days. This segment showed the personalities of both participants. Waller, the very obnoxious antagonist, made several barbs toward D’Angelo ”….you didn’t know anything, you were chosen.” D’Angelo defended his position stating that he is looking forward to the title match “…It comes down to you and me one on one….”
Brandler’s Bit: This was a strong segment with two strong males with strong personalities. Many NXT segments between two top contenders sound like Middle School trash talk. This was different. These two stated that the better person was going to be the champion after the match. As a result of this promo, Waller vs. D’Angelo is a must-see match at Halloween Havoc.
NXT WOMEN’S TITLE
Women’s Champion: Kelani Jordan
Kelani Jordan and number one contender Wren Sinclair were going to have a contract signing. That did not happen! As Wren was challenging Jordan to come out and sign the contract, Kelani came out with Wren’s BFF, a beat-up looking Kendal Gray. Sinclair left the ring to care for her friend.
Brandler’s Bit: Usually when segments are advertised and not delivered, it leaves most viewers with the bait and switch feeling. This segment did the opposite. It heated up the match between Kelani and Wren and now it is personal. Wren is now going to get revenge for what Kelani did to Kendal. This match is now WAY more interesting. If I wanted to make this even more interesting, what if Kendal’s injuries are a ruse–she is now aligned with Jordan and turns on Sinclair at Halloween Havoc? This probably won’t happen but if you wanted to do fantasy booking, I’d go with this shocking angle.
MID-CARD MATCHES
• Cruz Montana vs. Dion Lennox
This Main Event match between Montana and Lennox was set up over the past few weeks. Both Montana and Lennox cut promos about the other, including Lennox contacting Montana’s mom on the phone. Lennox vowed to take Montana to that dark place that Cruz apparently was in prior to his sobriety. If that was his goal, mission accomplished! Cruz beat up Lennox with hard chops, strikes, senton’s, superkicks, cutters. Montana’s connection with the NXT audience is as good as anyone who has ever been in NXT. The fans roared with every hard shot. Late in the match, the conflict went to the outside. Both Lennox and Montana continued to beat each other up. They were consumed with beating each other up and both were counted out. At that point, Montana’s assault increased. He beat up security, agents, and referees. No one was going to stop him. At the end of the beat down, Cruz slammed Dion into the exposed concrete at ringside.
Brandler’s Bit: This match has the unsatisfying outcome of the double count out. However, since we need to have further matches between these two combatants, the finish is not that bad. The follow up to this match will be interesting. Does Cruz’ personality change into a total badass with no respect for the rules or anyone else? Will Dark State members get revenge for the beatdown on Lennox?
• Izzy Dame vs. Layla Diggs
This match was set up by a backstage segment. Dame is invested in knowing who the “real Zaria is.” Diggs came to her defense, and a match was set up. Diggs is coming back from injury. Dame has had a stop start NXT run. Diggs was good in this match but lost to the more experienced Dame. Dame won with her “Dame Over” finisher. Post match, the Women’s North American Champion Zaria came out (which fed right into Dame’s plan.) Zaria offered Dame a title shot in order to get Dame to stop her bullying. Dame stated that she would take the match but didn’t want the title shot!
Brandler’s Bit: Both Diggs and Dame were good. The match was a backdrop to the post match angle with Zaria and Dame. There is something dark and sinister in Dame’s manipulation. A wrestler turns down a title shot? Interesting! I’m not sure I understand any of this but their match at Halloween Havoc will be good.
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CUP CLASSIC MATCHES
There were two matches in the Dusty Cup.
• The Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius) vs. Hank & Tank
This was a matchup of former NXT Tag Team Champions. Brutus and Julius held the title for 92 days. Hank & Tank had a title reign of 127 days. This was as advertised—two hard hitting teams battling it out to move on in the tournament. The Creeds are a pure wrestling machine; everything they do looks like it hurts. Hank & Tank are more popular with the NXT audience. Hank and Tank won the match using some double team moves. The finish came when Julius went for a powerslam which was stopped by Hank. This led to a pinfall win.
Brandler’s Bit: A surprising win by Hank & Tank or the “Belly Boys” as Booker T calls them. Belly Boys? Is this what we want the commentators to focus on? This is how we want to think about the Hank & Tank tag team? The Creeds made a dull match look good.
• Birthright vs. Los Wagner Brothers
El Hijo de Dr. Wagner, Jr. and Galeno del Mal (AAA tag team champions) vs. Birthright (Charlie Dempsey & Lexis King (with Arianna Grace and Uriah Connors). The AAA champions demonstrated why they are the champions. The two teams had a wrestling match with hard hitting moves, and some dives to the outside by the Brothers. Dempsey demonstrated his top-notch wrestling skills. Towards the end of the match, Zilla Fatu, cast and all, came out and caused a distraction. This led to Galeno hitting a “Frog Splash” for the win. The Brothers advance and will face Hank & Tank.
Brandler’s Bit: Super Zilla had a cast on his hand selling last week’s beatdown. This did not stop him from interfering in the match and beating up the three members of Birthright (Stacks was injured over the weekend). After the match, he stated that he wanted a match with Dempsey. He alluded to a “Spin the Wheel” match.
PROMO
Tavian Heights
Tavian Heights came out to share his feelings about the attack from his friend Myles Borne. Heights stated, “he stabbed me in the back.” After saying these words repeatedly, Borne came in and attacked Tavion.
Brandler’s Bit: This was one of the worst promos that I have seen on NXT. There have been some amazing ones and some pretty bad ones (Tiffany Stratton, Kendal Gray) but this was worse. This was Ahmed Johnson bad. Tavion forgot the promo, spoke about nothing for a few minutes. I know, I’m not supposed to cheer for the heel to beat up the baby face. I think my cheering was relief that my misery at watching this promo was going to end. I suspect that they will meet at Halloween Havoc. I think the personal issue could make it a good WRESTLING match. I do not think it will be entertaining since neither Heights nor Borne have demonstrated that part of their character.
THIS WEEK ON NXT
- EK Prosper vs. Jackson Drake. (Drake puts his NXT North American Title on the line against the hottest wrestler in the company.)
- Lizzy Rain vs Chantel Monroe (Monroe debuted an annoying character this week and Rain wants to shut her down)
Saquon Shugars vs Sean Legacy (Two wrestlers with no current direction—the booking of Shugars is confusing; Legacy lost his tag team partner Van Dux to injury
Dusty Rhodes Classic Semifinals:
- Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno vs The Vanity Project (Can Dar and Moreno pull an upset over the tournament number one seeds?)
- Hank and Tank vs Los Wagners (Could Hank and Tank have enough to beat the AAA Champions?)
HALLOWEEN HAVOC October 31, 2026
Havoc will be hosted by Danhausen
Official Matches:
- Men’s Heavyweight Title: Grayson Waller vs Tony D’Angelo
- Women’s World Title: Kelani Jordan vs Wren Sinclair
- Izzy Dame vs. Zaria (apparently NOT for the North American Title)
- Shiloh Hill vs Nakuru (Something about a new “black mist”?)
- Proposed match: Charlie Dempsey vs Zilla Fatu in the “Spin the Wheel Make the Deal match”
- Myles Borne vs. Tavion Heights (This is not confirmed but will probably happen)
