Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley will be wrestling on next week’s NXT.
On Tuesday’s NXT, Rhea Ripley laid out the challenge to Lee and Valkyria, upset that it wasn’t enough for Valkyria to get an endorsement from Ripley. Mysterio had successfully defended the North American title against Dragon Lee on last week’s show thanks to help from Ripley.
A match between Baron Corbin and Von Wagner is also set. Wagner confronted Corbin on Tuesday’s show, with Mr. Stone running down Corbin. Corbin responded by saying that he wanted to hear what Wagner had to say. Wagner said that Corbin could bring any of his eight characters to the ring next week, promising that he would ‘table’ Corbin. After the talking ending, Corbin attempted to cheap shot Wagner, but Wagner countered with a clothesline out of the ring.
In a video posted on social media following NXT, Ava challenged Ivy Nile to a match at Heatwave, saying after she gets done with Nile, The Creed Brothers will be forced to reveal themselves.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton will also make an appearance on next Tuesday’s show.
Here is the updated lineup for next Tuesday’s Heatwave:
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes defends against Wes Lee
Ilja Dragunov vs. Trick Williams
NXT Heritage Cup: Nathan Fraszer defends against Noam Dar
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley vs. Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria
Wes Lee will be getting a NXT Championship match next week at NXT Heatwave.
Lee defeated Dijak on Tuesday’s show to become the new number one contender for the title, currently held by Carmelo Hayes. The finish had Lee connect with the cardiac kick, then pinned Dijak with a sky twister press.
Lee had confronted champion Carmelo Hayes earlier in the show as he was signing autographs. Lee told Hayes he would soon be NXT Champion. Hayes told Lee to worry about winning the match first. After Lee had won, he again confronted Hayes, destroying his autograph table and told him to sign the contract in the ring. The main event segment of the show had the two exchange words before signing the contract for Heatwave.
The two have had issues with one another since they teamed together on the August 1 edition of NXT, where they lost to Noam Dar and Oro Mensah. Lee was upset and confronted Hayes about the loss after the match.
Here is the current lineup for Heatwave:
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes defends against Wes Lee
Ilja Dragunov vs. Trick Williams
NXT Heritage Cup: Nathan Fraszer defends against Noam Dar
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley vs. Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria
The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about in our breakdown of AEW Dynamite and NXT 2.0. Dynamite was a great show but also very newsworthy, and NXT Heat Wave had some screwy finishes but was overall a good show. A fun time as always so check it out~!
An NXT UK invasion began at NXT Heatwave last night.
The special NXT 2.0 episode featured appearances by NXT United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, Blair Davenport, and Gallus. Bate appeared at the end of the episode, confronting Bron Breakker and seemingly challenging him to a champion vs. champion match.
Davenport was involved in a backstage segment with Indi Hartwell. Davenport called herself the future NXT Women’s Champion.
Gallus attacked Diamond Mine on last night’s show. It was also announced that Gallus will challenge Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen for the NXT UK Tag Team titles next Tuesday.
NXT Champion Breakker, NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose, and NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes all retained their titles at Heatwave. Two grudge matches also took place on the show. Cora Jade defeated Roxanne Perez, while Santos Escobar is now banned from NXT after losing a street fight to Tony D’Angelo.
Worlds collided at WWE NXT Heatwave, as NXT United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate appeared and confronted NXT Champion Bron Breakker in the show-closing segment.
Bate, whose title win has yet to air on NXT UK television, appeared after Breakker’s successful title defense against JD McDonagh in the Heatwave main event. There was no physicality in the angle, but both champions raised their titles as they stared each other down to close the show.
A tournament to crown a new NXT United Kingdom Champion began airing on last week’s NXT UK show after Ilja Dragunov vacated the title due to injury.
Three of the eight competitors in that tournament appeared on Tuesday’s Heatwave show — Bate, Joe Coffey, and Wolfgang.
While not announced, it was strongly hinted on commentary that an NXT vs. NXT UK: Worlds Collide show is on the horizon, which jibes with a report that WWE is planning to run an NXT premium live event on the same day as AEW All Out on Sunday, September 4.
Bate, Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang), and Blair Davenport all appeared at Heatwave, with a Gallus vs. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen NXT UK Tag Team title match announced for next week’s NXT episode.
Blair Davenport appeared on Tuesday’s WWE NXT Heatwave show, another NXT UK star showing up on the main NXT brand.
Davenport appeared in a backstage segment with Indi Hartwell. Hartwell was reading a message, hinted to be from Dexter Lumis, when Davenport appeared and took the card out of Hartwell’s hands.
Davenport made her NXT UK debut in 2021 following a lengthy run in STARDOM, plus a stint in NJPW as Will Ospreay’s second as a member of United Empire.
In a pair of unsuccessful title challenges, Davenport faced NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura on episodes that aired in January and February of this year.
In her most recent match, Davenport went to a no-contest with Isla Dawn in an NXT UK Women’s title number one contender’s match on the August 4 episode of NXT UK.
Davenport joins Gallus’s Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, and Wolfgang of Gallus as members of the NXT UK roster that made appearances at Heatwave.
Title bouts and grudge matches make up the card for tonight’s special Heatwave edition of NXT.
The NXT Championship, NXT Women’s Championship, and NXT North American Championship will all be on the line tonight. Bron Breakker defends his NXT Championship against JD McDonagh, Zoey Stark challenges Mandy Rose for the NXT Women’s Championship, and Carmelo Hayes and Giovanni Vinci clash with the North American title on the line.
Former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade will face off for the first time tonight. Last month, Jade betrayed Perez and cost her a shot to become NXT Women’s Champion.
Tonight’s show also features what may be the final chapter in the rivalry between Legado del Fantasma and the D’Angelo family. Santos Escobar will take on Tony D’Angelo in a street fight tonight. If Escobar wins, all of Legado del Fantasma is free from the D’Angelo family. If D’Angelo wins, Escobar is banned from NXT.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
The show begins with Paul Heyman narrating a video package where he runs down the card for tonight’s supercard. Heyman voicing over the intro to a show titled “Heatwave” is fitting since Heyman presided over several “Heatwave” supercards in ECW during the late ’90s.
Aside from some different graphics, the soundstage basically looks the same as it does every week. However, the live studio audience seems to have a ton of energy, and they make it feel more like a supercard than the setting itself. The crowd is lively from the start.
Opening bout on the card is a title match. Two foes that are often portrayed like heels clash in this bout, so shades of grey type of storytelling.
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeats Giovanni Vinci to retain his title
Hayes pins Vinci despite interference from Williams backfiring on them. Really good opener to kick off the show.
They get going and the crowd comes alive as the pace and intensity soon quicken. Double down before the show cuts to a commercial break. Trick Williams distracts Vinci during the break, allowing Hayes to take over.
One highlight is Vinci executing a rolling fireman’s carry slam, and then transitioning into a springboard moonsault. Hayes at one point springboards backwards into a guillotine legdrop.
Vinci shines a ton, with more high spot highlights. Vinci does a double springboard into a flying crossbody off the top rope to the floor into the waiting arms of Hayes and Williams. Vinci does another even more impressive double springboard into a moonsault press.
Vinci goes for a cover, and Williams interferes by putting Hayes’ foot on the rope to break the count. Moments later, Hayes is turned inside out with a short-arm clothesline, and Vinci goes for a powerbomb.
Williams jumps into the ring to interfere again. Vinci powerbombs Hayes onto Williams, and Vinci gives Williams a powerbomb. Vinci then goes to powerbomb Hayes a second time, but Hayes counters him. Hayes spikes Vinci with a hurricanrana, and Hayes hooks a leg to score a pinfall.
The top singles champions meet in the parking lot after arriving to the building. NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose, who is flanked by Toxic Attraction, and NXT Champion Bron Breakker run into each other. They say we will see who remains champ after tonight.
Von Wagner, alongside Mr. Stone, cut a promo in a pre-taped vignette.
Gallus jumps Diamond Mine in surprise attack
Julius Creed in a promo from social media hints something is going tonight with Diamond Mine. The faction heads to the ring for a summit of sorts. NXT Tag Team Champions The Creed Brothers are joined by Roderick Strong and Damon Kemp.
Julius on the house mic at first puts over Strong by saying they jumped on the chance for him to coach them. However, Julius says recently someone is trying to bring down Diamond Mine, and he wants to call that person out.
Julius then calls out Strong to his face, and Strong defends himself by saying he started the group. Strong puts over the Creeds with gushing words. He calls them one of the best tag teams in WWE. Strong would put them up against the Usos any day. He calls them the future.
Julius responds by saying they are not the future, they are “now.” Julius also claims Strong will stab them in the back. Brutus asks his brother if he is sure, and Julius nods. Brutus them says he has his brother’s back. That puts the Creeds on one side facing Strong and Kemp.
Strong tells Julius to be careful with his next words. Julius then throws to a video clip from three weeks ago in an eight-man tag involving Diamond Mine. Julius claims the footage shows Strong costing them the match on purpose.
Strong grows angry and begins yelling at Julius. Suddenly, the faction known as Gallus runs in to attack Diamond Mine. Gallus is a group from NXT UK consisting of Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey and Wolfgang. They beat down the four members of Diamond Mine, and they leave them laying.
Gallus’ theme songs plays as they pose over the fallen Diamond Mine. The implosion of Diamond Mine will have to wait, as Gallus has arrived in NXT 2.0.
Cora Jade defeats Roxanne Perez
Jade pins Perez after they tussle over a kendo stick.
The grudge match begins with a melee as Perez rushes into the ring to attack Jade as the bell sounds. Perez shows a ton of fire at the start, but Jade soon cuts her off.
Perez is a babyface in peril as the show goes into a commercial break. Jade is working over Perez when the show returns from the break. Perez fights back, and they fight to a stalemate.
They trade strikes, and they go on to trade near falls. Jade retrieves the kendo stick she now brings them her everywhere she goes like she is The Sandman. Swing and miss by Jade, and Perez grabs the kendo stick.
Perez threatens to hit Jade with the stick, but she pauses to reflect on it. Ever the babyface, she decides against it, and she throws down the stick. Jade jumps her, and Jade delivers a Cactus Jack double arm DDT. The move was supposed to be executed on the stick, and the announcers on commentary sold it like it did. Jade then covers Perez for a three count.
A skit backstage leads to Gallus challenging Brooks & Jensen to a title match for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship. Looks like the tag title match is set for next week on NXT.
Apollo Crews wishes Bron Breakker luck ahead of his title match tonight. Before leaving, Crews takes a long look at the NXT Championship belt. Breakker notices Crews looking at the belt.
Tony D’Angelo (with Stacks) defeats Santos Escobar (with Legado del Fantasma) an “all or nothing” street fight
D’Angelo pins Escobar in a really good match. Probably D’Angelo’s best match so far, and Escobar was great.
Escobar strikes first by jumping D’Angelo before the bell. Escobar hurls a folding chair at D’Angelo just before the ring calls for the bell to start the match.
A hurricanrana sends D’Angelo onto the chair, and Escobar gets some early near falls. Early part of the match is all Escobar, as he is in complete control.
Stacks jumps off the apron into a senton on Legado del Fantasma, which was an odd time for such a spot it took all focus off the match itself. Stacks takes a clothesline on the floor moments later as a receipt.
D’Angelo smacks Escobar with trash can lid, and D’Angelo is in control on offense for the first time as the show cuts to a commercial break. D’Angelo works over Escobar during the break, and D’Angelo has Escobar’s arm trapped behind the ring steps as the show returns from commercials.
D’Angelo targets an arm. He also suplexes Escobar on a pile of folding chairs on the floor. D’Angelo continues to work over Escobar, and D’Angelo begins to slap him around. D’Angelo also taunts him. That fires up Escobar, and he answers back at D’Angelo with strikes.
Escobar is on fire and starts to fly. Escobar launches himself like a torpedo through the ropes into a tope suicida. Stacks on the outside went to find a crowbar that was stashed away, but Legado del Fantasma found it first, and Stacks is laid out with the crowbar. Escobar tried to get a pair of brass knux, but the knux get dropped on the mat.
Escobar goes out to ringside to get the crowbar from Elektra Lopez. She takes a bump when D’Angelo collides with her. Escobar rages after seeing Lopez, but Escobar hits him with a low blow.
Double down after they get back into the ring. The crowbar lay on one side of the ring and the brass knux on the other. They glare at each other and each glances at a weapon. They both rush to grab a weapon. Escobar grabs the brass knux, and D’Angelo gets the crowbar.
D’Angelo is first to strike, landing the final blow. D’Angelo hits Escobar with the crowbar as Escobar is throwing a punch with the knux. D’Angelo then covers Escobar for a pinfall. With the loser leaves town type of stipulation, Escobar now must leave NXT 2.0.
Indi Hartwell is backstage when she is given some artwork supposedly from Dexter Lumis. Blair Davenport (Bea Priestley) snatches the artwork away and rips it up. Davenport, in what is her NXT 2.0 debut, declares she will be the next NXT Women’s Champion.
A hype video announces Wendy Choo vs. Tiffany Stratton in a “lights out match” next Tuesday on NXT.
A QR code shown on screen links to a picture of Zoey Stark standing over Mandy Rose with Stark holding the women’s title belt high overhead. Foreshadowing perhaps?
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose defeats Zoey Stark to retain her title
Rose pins Stark, after Rose uses Stark’s own knee brace against her.
The match goes through a commercial break, with Rose working a leg. Rose targets Stark’s knee as she works her over. Nevertheless, Stark fights back.
Stark continues to sell the leg, as they fight on. Stark delivers her modified GTS finisher, but Rose rolls out of the ring to keep from taking a pin.
Stark goes for a wrecking ball dropkick, but her injured knee gets caught in the ropes. Rose kicks at Stark’s knee while Stark is trapped in the ropes. Rose then attempts to take off Stark’s knee brace.
Starks counters Rose to gets some near falls, and they go on to trade near falls. Starks takes a jumping knee from Rose, but Stark kicks out. Rose then puts Stark’s knee brace on Rose’s own knee.
With Stark’s brace on her knee, Rose hits a jumping knee strike. Rose then covers Stark for a three count, and Rose retains the title.
Quincy Elliott cut a promo proclaiming himself “The Super Diva.”
Grayson Waller bickers with McKenzie Mitchell in a backstage interview. They argue about Apollo Crews. Waller announces that next week on NXT is the debut of a talk segment called “The Waller Effect.” Waller invites Crews to be his first guest.
NXT Champion Bron Breakker defeats JD McDonagh to retain his title
Breakker pins McDonagh to win. NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate confronts Breakker after the match.
Breakker during his entrance uses a sledgehammer to smash a box with “J.D.” painted on the box. This was supposed to be another special entrance for the champ, but it is lackluster. Similarly, the match is also kind of lackluster in terms of drama. It is seemingly all about making Breakker look good, often at the expense of McDonagh.
Some chain wrestling early on. Breakker lifts McDonagh into a delayed vertical suplex. Cat-and-mouse chase for a moment, and Breakker catches his prey. Standing moonsault by Breakker for a two count.
Breakker manhandles McDonagh, and McDonagh takes a lariat. He is trouble, and the champ dominates as the show cuts to a commercial break. McDonagh apparently pops his shoulder back into place during the break.
McDonagh also cuts off Breakker during the commercial break, and McDonagh is finally able to take control. Breakker fires up as the show returns from the break, but McDonagh eventually cuts him off again.
McDonagh targets Breakker’s neck, but Breakker soon begins a comeback. Breakker explodes with shoulder tackles, and he follows with a Rick Steiner powerslam.
Breakker posts himself when charging into a corner, as McDonagh sidesteps him. McDonagh then applies a crossface on Breakker, but Breakker reaches the ropes to break the hold.
Super Frankensteiner nets Breakker a two and half count. McDonagh answers back with a Spanish Fly off the top rope. McDonagh follows with a brainbuster for a close near fall.
McDonagh rolls through on a missed moonsault, and Breakker spears him. Breakker measures and delivers a second spear. Breakker pulls down the straps on his singlet, signaling the end of the match.
McDonagh is not done yet, though. He rises to his feet with blood pouring out of his mouth. Through bloodstained teeth, McDonagh flashes a sinister smile. McDonagh stretches out his arms, opening himself up for a third spear. Breakker obliges him, and he spears McDonagh a third time. Breakker lifts McDonagh into a miliarty press, and Breakker drops him into a powerslam. Three counts later, and Breakker retains via pinfall.
NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate appears after the match, and Bate gets in the ring to confront Breakker. Bate holds up his title belt, and Breakker holds up his title belt as their face off closes the show.
Looks like NXT UK is invading NXT 2.0, or something like that.
Job Listing: Onlamp php/mysql developer. Experience with vbulletin and drupal/WordPress a plus. Email [email protected] with subject PHP DEVELOPER with resume.
The life and times of Gene LeBell, MMA, stunt work, pro wrestling, an accessory to a murder, being trained by Lou Thesz, national judo champion, enforcer work in boxing and wrestling, details on the supposed first mixed match in history and later refereeing Ali vs. Inoki, the Bearcat Wright story, Steven Seagal, Bruce Lee, Chuck Morris, Ronda Rousey, Roddy Piper, the Los Angeles wrestling territory
Updated G1 Climax report with all the bouts last week, the standings and the final shows
Clash at the Castle update
Vice’s Tales from the Territory, what is and isn’t confirmed
UFC Saturday night coverage
AAA Triplemania preview and Verano de Escandalo coverage
The death of the Mexican star TNT, and a look back at a boom period for wrestling in that country
The most detailed look at the pro wrestling TV business over the past week
Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Tuesday News Update
WWE
WWE stock today closed at $73.25, up $1.09 a share.
Triple H has a thread on Twitter running down each match ahead of tonight’s NXT Heatwave event on the USA Network.
This week’s Main Event will have Shelton Benjamin vs. Cedric Alexander and The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy.
Natalya was interviewed by CityNews. On her recent Guiness Book of World records accomplishment: It’s just a testament to my body of work. The fact that I show up and I work hard and I am very driven. I have had one injury in my career that sidelined me for three weeks. My work ethic and my body of work, and my ability to show up and work hard is second to none. I am proud of that.”
A clip from Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions featuring Charlotte Flair.
The New York Post has a story on Ronda Rousey’s recent storyline.
This week’s AEW Road to, focusing on Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia, Kris Statlander’s injury, and the mystery partner of The Young Bucks as they will take on Andrade el Idolo, Rush, and Dragon Lee.
Three matches have been added to the August 16 Heatwave episode of WWE NXT.
Tony D’Angelo will face Santos Escobar in a street fight with a stipulation. If Escobar wins, Legado Del Fantasma will no longer be part of Tony D’Angelo’s family. If D’Angelo is victorious, Escobar is banned from NXT, and the rest of Legado will remain with D’Angelo.
A North American title match is also set for next week, as Carmelo Hayes will defend the title against Giovanni Vinci.
A grudge match has also been added to the Heatwave card, as former tag partners Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez will do battle.
A segment with Sanga showing Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon “how to find balance” as they gear up for a future Women’s Tag Team title match has also been announced for the show.
The updated Heatwave lineup:
WWE NXT Heatwave, Tuesday, August 16 —
NXT Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. JD McDonagh
NXT Women’s Championship: Mandy Rose (c) vs. Zoey Stark
NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Giovanni Vinci
Street fight: Santos Escobar vs. Tony D’Angelo – If D’Angelo wins, Escobar leaves NXT, if Escobar wins, Legado Del Fantasma is free of D’Angelo