SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
This edition of NXT moved along the storylines for NXT Halloween Havoc on Saturday Oct. 31, 2026. We now know all the matches for this Premium Live Event. We also know the two tag teams that will wrestle for the Dusty Rhodes Classic Cup.
NXT MENS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Men’s Champion: Grayson Waller
Grayson Waller took the opportunity to play “head games” with the number contender and former champion Tony D’Angelo. Waller showed up at Tony D’s home, his former restaurant, before coming back to the performance center. Once there, Waller gloated about manipulating D’Angelo. Tony D showed up and Waller met him in the parking lot. They had a pull apart brawl, with both combatants ending up in the cargo bed of D’Angelo’s pickup truck.
Brandler’s Bit: On commentary, Vic and Booker wondered if Waller going to Tony D’s house crossed a boundary “I think he went too far.” These small segments added fuel to their rivalry and sets up a solid Heavyweight title match at Havoc.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN TITLE
Champion Jackson Drake
EK Prosper vs. Jackson Drake (with The Vanity Project and Myka). Drake put his NXT North American Title on the line against the hottest wrestler in the company EK Prosper. Prosper is coming off a loss to Grayson Waller for the NXT Heavyweight title a few weeks ago. EK challenged Drake in a backstage segment and the cocky Drake agreed and called it an easy match. This was an amazing athletic match with the high flying Prosper going against the very skilled Drake. Prosper hit some amazing moves including a somersault/ddt combination. He followed that with a jumping rana into a shining wizard. After he hit a poison rana, it appeared that he was going to win the title. However, a returning Kam Hendrix interfered. Drake took advantage of the interference and won with his “Un-aliving” knee strike finisher.
Brandler’s Bit: The Vanity Project (VP) uses their “old school” formula to win matches. With three members at ringside, one of them usually interferes in some way. The distraction usually gives the (VP) a win. In this case, it was an outsider whose interference gave Drake the win. Kam Hendrix’ return was telegraphed by an earlier video. This segment echoed the 1988 “Mr. Perfect vignettes. Prosper will now go against Hendrix to get revenge. Kam’s “Lights, Kam, Action” as a catch phrase needs some work!
MID-CARD MATCHES
• Lizzy Rain vs. Chantel Monroe
This was the NXT debut for Monroe. This was a short basic match. Monroe would hit a move, and Rain would deliver another move. During Rain’s “Make it Rain” chop sequence in the corner (Make-chop/ It-chop/ Rain-chop), Chantel countered the chops with a suplex and then a spinebuster. These moves got Lizzy off balance. Monroe won with a roll up and in which she held the ropes for extra leverage.
Brandler’s Bit: Monroe is a former gymnast who began wrestling in 2024. You can see her gymnastic background and athleticism. I am very impressed with her poise in the ring considering that she only has two years’ experience. Rain looked good as usual. I’m not sure I understand her place on the roster. She should be in the title picture, not being used to get new talent over.
• Saquon Shugars vs. Sean Legacy
These are two wrestlers with no current direction; the booking of Shugars is confusing. He was pushed to the NXT Heavyweight title match six weeks ago. He lost that match when Tristan Angels interfered. He then lost his revenge match to Angels. Legacy and his tag team partner Dorian Van Dux were being pushed up the card. Van Dux got injured so Legacy is in limbo. Tonight we got the match between these two “Lost Boys.” Saquon was very aggressive during the match. Legacy was quite smooth and demonstrated good comeback skills. Legacy won with a 450 splash.
Brandler’s Bit: Legacy is 30 years old and has wrestled for 10 years. This experience shows up in his smooth delivery in the ring. Shugars is 26 and has 8 years’ experience. Shugars connects well with the NXT audience and has an intensity in his matches. NXT, you have two very talented wrestlers who need to move out of limbo. Why not make them a tag team? There’s precedence to that move. In 1997 ECW combined Kronus (from the Eliminators) and New Jack (from the Ganstas) when both of their partners were unavailable and they became the “Ganstanators.”
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM CUP CLASSIC MATCHES
There were two matches in the Dusty Cup
Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno vs the NXT Tag Team Champions– The Vanity Project (VP) with Drake and Myk Lockwood
Dar came in with a bandage on his head protecting a wound that he received last weekend. VP demonstrated good ring psychology by attacking the wound right from the start. Eventually the bandage came off. Dar may have bled briefly. The attack on his cut infuriated Dar. As a result, he upped his offense. He used three submission moves: knee bar, ankle lock, and cross arm breaker. Moreno was great here as well. He used a combination of high flying and ground techniques. VP showed tag team wisdom beyond their years. They dominated the match early with great tag team fluidity. The ending came when VP accidentally hit each other. Moreno & Dar took advantage of this miscue and won with their high/low finisher. Moreno and Dar go to the finals next week.
Brandler’s Bit: What a great match! All four men worked really hard. The match had a great pace, with either team having a realistic chance of winning. The upset of the champs should put Moreno & Dar right on the top of the list for the tag team title shot.
Hank & Tank vs. Los Wagners
Los Wagners, the AAA Tag Team Champions (El Hijo de Dr Wagner , Jr. and Galeno del Mal) brought out their father Dr. Wagner, Jr. who sat in the stands. Hank & Tank (Hank Walker and Tank Ledger) were not impressed by this third-generation team. The champs started strong with Plancha’s to the outside. Hank and Tank countered these moves and used many strikes. Late in the match, Galeno hit a beautiful “Frog Splash” which was impressive for a man who weighs 280 pounds! Hank & Tank. Hank came back and hit a “Boss Man Slam.” Ledger and Walker hit their double team splashes for the win. Hank and Tank advance to the finals next week.
Brandler’s Bit: This match was okay. The AAA champs are either very slow and plodding or purposely worked at a slower pace. I am not a Hank and Tank fan, but let’s “acknowledge them.” They have gotten in great shape, and their double team moves have good precision. They scream “mid card” but here they are in the finals of the Dusty Cup.
PROMOS
• Both Cruz Montana and Dion Lennox had pre recorded segments. Cruz stated “the worst thing you could have done was to bring my family into this… My past becomes your future.” During the promo, Dion appeared with Darkstate. He laughed about how he brought out the “dark side” of Cruz. Next week they meet in an “Unsanctioned” match.
Brandler’s Bit: I am surprised the fans have not chanted “Cruz is going to kill you” because that’s what comes across on screen. I expect a three-on-one handicap match with all members of Dark State going against Montana because the match is unsanctioned
• Tavion Heights and Myles Borne had an in-ring segment. They were surrounded by security guards so they could not attack each other. They hyped their match for next week at Halloween Havoc which will be “Weapons Wild Match.”
Brandler’s Bit: Better promos by Heights and Borne. They still echo the lyrics of the song “Psycho Killer” “You’re talking a lot but not saying anything” This is the second “Weapons Wild” match at Havoc and the third overall. Roxanne Perez has been in the other two with Cora Jade in 2022 and Blair Davenport at the Great American Bash in 2023.
NEXT WEEK ON NXT:
Because NXT is on Wednesday next week, it will go head-to-head with AEW. As a result, NXT called in top tier talent. Cody Rhodes will present the Dusty Cup to the winner of the tournament and John Cena will make an appearance.
Dusty Rhodes Classic finals:
- Hank Walker and Tank Ledger vs. Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar
- Unsanctioned match: Cruz Montana vs. Dion Lennox
HALLOWEEN HAVOC October 31, 2026
- Havoc will be hosted by Danhausen
- Men’s Heavyweight Title: Grayson Waller vs Tony D’Angelo
- Women’s World Title: Kelani Jordan vs Wren Sinclair
- Izzy Dame vs. Zaria
- Shiloh Hill vs Nakuru
- Charlie Dempsey vs Zilla Fatu in the “Spin the Wheel Make the Deal match”
- Myles Borne vs. Tavion Heights “Weapons Wild Match”
