In another busy day of wrestling, WWE NXT closes up the weekend with Heatwave live from Lowell, Massachussetts.
The headliner will see reigning WWE NXT champion Oba Femi defend against top prospect and high flyer Je’Von Evans. This will be Femi’s ninth title defense and his second defense in which Evans is involved.
In a three-way for the TNA Knockouts title, reigning double champion Jacy Jayne will defend against Ash by Elegance and former champion Masha Slamovich.
In a grudge match, Jordynne Grace will finally get her shot at going one-on-one with Blake Monroe.
NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defend against two members of DarkState (Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, Saquon Shugars or Cutler James).
In a three-way to determine the next contender for the NXT Women’s title, it will be Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice.
The main card is rounded out by Chelsea Green & Ethan Page vs. Tyra Mae Steele & Tavion Heights.
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To quote the immortal Robin Williams in the film Good Morning, Vietnam: “It’s damn hot. Real hot. Hot. My shorts, I can cook things in them. Little crotch-pot cooking.” Which can only mean it’s time for NXT Heatwave!
After the traditional mandatory footage of wrestlers arriving to work, Heatwave kicked off with a confrontation that was definitely more than lukewarm.
NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender Match: Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice
Jacy Jayne can’t hold onto that NXT Women’s Championship forever and the next in line to try and take it from her will be determined in this match. Given her popularity, one would probably safe in saying that this was Lola Vice’s match to lose, but WWE does love itself an “unexpected” win.
The match started with Vice and Jordan teaming up to kick Parker out of the ring. Vice and Jordan went went back and forth after than until Parker rejoined the fray, knocking both women’s heads together like proverbial coconuts.
Parker stacked Jordan and Vice up on the second rope in the corner and dropped a hit on both. Parker tossed Jordan out of the ring to hit a Samoan drop on Vice. Jordan got right back into it though, climbing the ringpost, but missing the splash on Vice. She made good on the following leg drop though.
Jordan hit a split-legged DDT on Vice, but only got a two count. She went back up top, but Parker shoved her off the ringpost. Parker and Jordan fought on the ring apron (the most #1 contender part of the ring!) with Parker taking a superkick from Jordan. Jordan then hit a corkscrew over the top rope onto both Vice and Parker.
Jordan hit what looked like a Lethal Injection but with the splits on Vice, but Vice kicked her off and locked in a dragon sleeper. Parker joined and both she and Jordan received a flurry of soccer kicks from Vice, before throwing multiple hips in the corners.
Vice tried another dragon sleeper on Jordan but Parker interrupted her fun with a blockbuster. Parker laid out Jordan with a spinebuster that was so good it made Booker T mumble something about Ron Simmons.
Parker and Jordan continued to battle in the ring and Vice joined in, literally kicking Parker in the butt. Jordan and Parker were on the top turnbuckle, when Vice scooped them up for a double suplex off the ropes.
All three tried to stagger to their feet, with Vice and Parker locking up. Parker subdued her with a back elbow in time to catch Jordan coming off the top rope. Parker got the knees up though, but was taken out by Vice. Jordan put Vice on her shoulders and hit a big spin. She went up top for a 450, but Vice scouted it and put her in a sleeper submission.
Just as Jordan was about to pass out, Parker broke it and Vice rolled her up to get the 1-2-3 and become the new #1 Contender to the NXT Women’s Title!
Match Result: Lola Vice defeated Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan
Great opener! It was indeed Vice’s match to lose, but Jordan in particular looked really good while she did it. Parker’s lack of finesse might have cost her here, but she was a force to be reckoned with all throughout.
-Next, multiple promos for Evolve, a show that I had literally forgotten was on, aired to remind me that Evolve, was in fact, still on.
-The Culling joined us from therapy(?) next, discussing how Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame are going to tag against Wren and a mystery partner next week.
NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank vs. DarkState
The first title match of the night featured mystery partners as well, seeing how we didn’t know which members of DarkState would be taking on Hank & Tank. It turned out to be Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox, but Shugars and James stayed at ringside.
Hank and Tank were on fire off the top with quick tags and heavy work on Darkstate. A quick double team on Tank from Griffin and Lennox changed the favor though. All four men entered the ring and a brawl broke out. Hank and Tank took out Griffin and Lennox, then hit a stereo dive through the ropes to take out all four members of DarkState.
Once things settled down, Hank and Lennox fought in the ring. Hank went up top, but Lennox pulled him down and beat him on the steel ring steps. He bounced Hank’s head off the ring apron then tagged in Griffin, who felt the need to do it again. A few times.
Hank got an elbow into Griffin’s gut though and tried to crawl to a tag. Griffin got to him though, preventing the tag and hitting a big powerslam. Lennox tagged in and the two sent Hank into the corner face-first.
Lennox squeezed on a chinlock, but Hank powered out, still too far away for a tag. Finally, Tank got the tag he craved, and he took out Griffin and Lennox with some spingboard moves. Shugars climbed up to cause a distraction, but Tank took him out and then hit at Bubba-Bomb on Lennox.
On the outside, Hank took a beating from the three members of DarkState, while Lennox hit a spinebuster on Tank. Griffin and Lennox isolated Tank in their corner, trading quick tags until Tank fought them off and hit a swanton from the top rope on both men.
Hank dodged multiple attacks on the outside and got the tag from Tank. Hank hit a Bossman slam on Lennox then splashed the reamaining three on the outside. Shirts came off and Hank and Tank hit their big slam on Lennox. James pulled Hank into the ropes crotch-first though, which allowed Lennox and Griffin to hit a Doomsday Device and win the NXT Tag Team Championship!
Match Result: DarkState (Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox) defeated Hank & Tank
I did not see that coming! Though, the next time someone takes on DarkState they may want to even those numbers up. Either way, it’s cool to see a group like DarkState with some gold and now we get to see what other havoc they can wreak as champions.
-Lexis King and Ava were shown talking in the latter’s office. Ava said that Miles Borne and King will have a blindfold match on Tuesday’s NXT episode.
TNA Knockouts Champion Jacy Jayne vs. Masha Slamovich vs. Ash by Elegance
Always cool to see TNA titles up for grabs on NXT shows! Also, fun to have Ash By Elegance back in NXT.
Ash and Slamovich zeroed in on each other off the top, but Jayne soon got involved and Ash was sent to the outside. Jayne hit a blockbuster on Ash on the outside, but jeft herself open to a corkscrew through the ropes from Slamovich.
Back in the ring, Slamovich and Ash fought with Slamovich hitting a series of kicks on Ash. She went for a move off the ropes, but Jayne grabbed her and Pele’d Slamovich off the ring apron. Jayne hit ASh in the corners, but only got a two count.
Jayne hit a standing senton on Ash, but that brought Slamovich back in just in time to eat a kick from Jayne. Ash caught her second wind and hit a blockbuster on Jayne for a near fall. Ash hit a handspring into the corner on Jayne who climbed the ringpost, allowing Ash to grab her for a sit-down powerbomb.
Slamovich tried to get involved, but Jayne hit her from behind. Slamovich responded with a dropkick and then a couple of hell-of-a-kicks in the corners. Then a series of dueling cannonballs and a white noise into the corner.
Ash bailed, leaving Slamovich and Jayne trading punches. Jayne hit a huge knee and pulled Slamovich into the ring for a neckbreaker, but Ash broke up the pin. Ash then disposed of Jayne and turned her attention to Slamovich, hitting a moonsault that missed. Jayne was right there with one of her own though, but only got a two-count.
Jayne put Slamovich on the ring post and hit a big hurricanrana followed by a big kick. Ash broke up the pin though with a meteora and tried to pin Jayne. Fatal Influence put her foot on the ropes, causing a shouting match with the Elegance Brand at ringside. The ref tossed Fatal influence and Slamovich tried to get a quick pin on Ash in the confusion, but it was only a two.
Ash took out both women on the outside and dragged Slamovich back in, but eat a kick. Slamovich went back to the kick, but Ash caught it and returned the favor. Ash hit a tornado DDT and then a moonsault, but Jayne interrupted with a high knee to Ash for another near fall.
Jayne hit a rolling encore on Slamovich, but the Elegance brand pulled Jayne out. Ash hit a swanton on Slamovich in the ring and got the 3-count to bring the Knockouts Championship back to TNA!
Match Result: Ash by Elegance defeated Jacy Jayne and Masha Slamovich
Great fun, its amazing how far Ash By Elegance has come since her NXT debut. Jayne has superstar written all over her and Slamovich is a veteran not to be messed with. Three distinct wrestlers, each showcasing their best talents. More of this please!
-Wow, they really went with it, huh? All right. A promo for “Wrestlepalooza” in September aired and then, Ricky Saints and Je’von Evans had a chat about Evans’ title match tonight. Saints said that he and the WWE Universe believe in Evans. Saints asked for the first shot at the title should Evans win.
Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe
A VERY long recap of the relationship between Monroe and Grace aired before this match. The TLDR version is that they were friends, then Monroe turned on Grace at Evolution. So, they aren’t friends anymore.
Off the bell, Monroe delivered a big slap to Grace and then did the smartest thing she could and tried to run away. Grace chased her though as Monroe tried to hie behind the announce team. Grace dragged to the ring and started pummeling her.
Grace flipped Monroe with a big back slam followed by a twisting suplex. Monroe tried to get away again, bailing from the ring. Grace followed and backslammed her on the floor. Grace put Monroe on her shoulders and climbed the ring steps. Monroe wiggled free though and ripped Grace across the steel steps.
Monroe jumped back in the ring to break the count and Grace followed. Monroe took her turn to stomp and pummel ending with a pin attempt for two. Monroe hit a dropkick on Grace against the ropes, sending her back to the outside. She then wrapped Grace’s arm around the ring post, wrenching and twisting it before tossing her back inside.
Monroe tried to get a submission with an armbar, but Grace reversed it. Monroe stepped over Grace, working her arm for another submission, but Grace stood up and using the ropes, reversed it into a suplex.
The two began trading punches with Grace favoring her arm. Monroe took advantage and tried to hook her, but Grace put her down with a clothesline. Grace landed a spinebuster and jackhammer, but Monroe kicked out at two.
Grace hit a flapjack, but Monroe had grabbed the bottom turnbuckle, tearing the pad off. Monroe kicked out of the ensuing pin and hit a side russian leg sweep into a reverse armbar, continuing to wrench the arm of Grace.
Grace hit a back body drop and a bridge suplex, but Monroe kicked out at two. Grace began stomping Monroe and the two started trading head butts. Monroe hit a Nasty Suplex, but Grace kicked out at two. Monroe seemed distressed, unsure how to put Grace away for good.
Grace tried to lift Monroe, but her arm gave out on on her. Monroe pulled her up to the top of the ringpost, but Grace reversed it into a sit-down powerbomb from the top rope. Somehow, Monroe kicked out at two.
Monroe then stomped Grace into that exposed turnbuckle, crushing her head against it. Monroe then hit a DDT and got the pin.
Match Result: Blake Monroe defeated Jordynne Grace
That was a NASTY match. It got really really rough and there were a couple of spots that made me wince. Not becuase they were badly done, but because they were so hard and intense. These two could be on the edge of “Fight Forever” status.
-Backstage, Jaida Parker lamented her loss tonight when Lash Legend appeared. The two jawed at each other and a pullapart brawl ensued.
-Further backstage, Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence were backstage, with Jayne screaming at her minions for costing her the Knockouts title. Lola Vice, Sol Ruca and Zaria arrived to make fun of her, with Jayne claiming she was sick and leaving.
Chelsea Green & Ethan Page vs. Tyra Mae Steele & Tavion Heights
Before the match, it must be stated that Chelsea Green is a treasure and should be protected at all costs. Also, I am a Canadian and as such, I’m legally bound to liking Ethan Page (for some reason, there are tariffs on American wrestlers? I don’t get it either).
Green and Steele started things off and for those not in the know, in WWE Mixed Tag Matches, women fight women and men fight men, so a tag changes the players on both sides. Heights joined Steele in the ring and they hoisted Green and Page on their shoulders and tossed them out of the ring.
The crowd began chanting for “Can-a-da” at this point which, in complete honesty, was surprising. Page turned that around by grabbing a mic and promising not to sponsor the crowd for Canadian citizenship. Then he got in the ring to wrestle Heights, landing several stomps and elbows.
Page grabbed a headlock on Heights and tossed him into the ropes. Heights changed direction and bounced back into a clothesline. Page and Heights knocked noggins and Green sprinted across the ring to dropkick Steele off the apron.
Page tagged in Green and the crowd erupted. Green tried to slap Heights who caught her hand, leaving her open to a spear from Steele.
Green battled back and dropkicked Steele into the ropes, followed by some stomps in the corner. Green tossed Steele into the ropes, but Steele used it to her advantage and the two collided in the center of the ring. The women crawled to their corners to tag in their partners.
Heights burst out of the corner for a suplex and massive power slam. Green tried to kick Heights through the ropes, causing enought distraction for Page to get up. The men ran into each other and Heights tagged in Steele.
Steele grabbed Page and hit a gutwrench on him, followed but a spinebuster on Green. Alba Fyre of the Secret Hervice tried to get involved, but Steele suplexed her and Page at the same time and tried to put on an ankle lock. Green was the legal person though and grabbed Steele for an Unpretty-her, picking up the pin and the win for her team.
Match Result: Chelsea Green & Ethan Page defeated Tyra Mae Steele & Tavion Heights
Loved every second of this. Green and Page were awesome and made Steele and Heights look great, not that they needed much help. Steele in particular has a ton of up side and I’d love to see her and Heights hanging out more going forward.
-Backstage, Oba Femi was approached by Josh Briggs. Briggs said that the grind of being champ is wearing Femi down. Femi responded by saying “thank you for you insignificant opinion. Now leave” which may be my new e-mail signature.
-Ava joined us next from her office to announce that the Speed Titles will be moving to NXT. Sol Ruca, current Women’s Speed Champion arrived to learn that she will be facing the winner of an NXT/WWE/AAA/??? four way match at no Mercy.
NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans
Femi is an absolute monster of a champion, but Evans is gunning for the Sami Zayn “Ultimate Underdog” title. The real question is will Kevin Owens arrive after the match to powerbomb the winner on the ring apron (the most remember-when-that-happened part of the ring!)
Evans played it cool and kept some distance between he and Femi of the top. When Femi charged, he worked around him, trying for a waistlock. Femi shook him off and Evans tried a chop. Evans tried kicks and punches, but Femi absorbed most of it. Evans tried for a bouncing cutter, but Femi caught him, sending him into the corner.
Femi began pounding on Evans, delivering hammering blows to the back and kicks to the gut. Evans relied heavily on his agility, but every time he jumped off the ropes, Femi would grab him. It wasn’t until a surprise superkick from Evans that Femi even left his feet.
Evans hit a double stomp and hurricanrana on Femi, not giving him a chance to recover. Femi rolled outside the ring and Evans tried to dive after him, but Femi caught him by the throat and smacked him into next week.
Femi then grabbed Evans in a military press and tossed him over the top rope back into the ring. Femi stepped on Evans, putting all his weight onto his stomach. Femi picked up Evans and hit a double gutbuster, but Evans kicked out at two.
Femi tried a submission tactic, but Evans struggled up and tried to suplex Femi. Femi reversed it in the air though and ended up crushing Evans under his weight. Evan slipped away and managed to kick Femi in the head, sending him out of the ring.
Femi scrambled back in though and hit a massive spinebuster on Evans before he could recover. Femi then sent Evans to the corner, whipping him against the turnbuckle. Evans crumpled after each attack. Femi sent him into the corner again, but Evans got a foot up and kicked Femi in the head.
Dazed, Femi staggered back and Evans tried to take him down, but Femi countered with a huge backbreaker followed by a chokeslam. Evans kicked out at two though, and Femi continued clubbing him around the ring.
Evans stood up in defiance and began raining punches on Femi, driving him back into the corner. Evans hit a springboard lariat, connecting this time and began bouncing around the ring hitting springboard moves and getting a two count.
Evans got caught by Femi, but reversed it into a DDT before scrambling up the ring post. Evans hit a splash, but didn’t quite connect, showing how beaten up he was. Evans went back up top and hit a picture perfect frog splash, but it wasn’t enough to get Femi down for the count.
Evans hit a german suplex on Femi, but that seemed to charge up the champion who nailed him with a massive lariat and began running the ropes. Evans interrupted with a cutter though and went up top. Femi was waiting for him to come back down though with a Eurpoean uppercut.
Femi pulled Evans to the top rope, but Evans squirmed out. Femi pushed him off the top rope, taking out the official. Femi tried a pop up powerbomb but Evans caught him with a cutter! A second ref arrived and counted 1-2-3!!
BUT!
Femi’s foot was under the ropes! So the original Ref waved off the new guy. Femi then picked up Evans and tossed him over the top rope through the announce table. He dragged Evans back into the ring for a signature powerbomb and that was it. Oba Femi retained the NXT Championship.
Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Je’Von Evans
After the match, Evans’ friend Ricky Saints came down to the ring. He stood toe to toe with Femi, indicating that he wants the next shot at the Champion.
Wow, That match had every indication of an uneventful squash, but damn did it deliver! Femi looked great as always, but he also made Evans look like he was a very worthy adversary. When Evans got that three count, I genuinely gasped in surprise. Fun night of wrestling!!
