Daily Update: Vince McMahon, WWE NXT Heatwave, Tay Melo

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*The most detailed coverage of the WWE’s deal with ESPN starting early, why the different moves were made by all sides, the costs, more details on Wrestlepalooza, the embarrassment to sports journalism that ESPN has been and emphasized this week, how WWE benefits and doesn’t from the changes,and  more.
*Will Ospreay, his neck issues, comparisons with other major stars and their serious problems, and his future.
*More questions regarding the death of Hulk Hogan.
*A look at Forbidden Door and the card, AEW injury rate ,NXT Heatwave, WWE Clash in Paris, France attendance record and more.
*Full coverage of TripleMania, lots of behind the scenes stuff, why the next show is where it is and when it is, what Nick Khan told AAA talent, records set and a  record claimed that was so far from accurate, actual  viewer numbers for each match and more.
*A look at The G-1 Climax tournament, the booking, the business, Konosuke Takeshita, new record set and upcoming book New Japan bouts.
*Real attendance figures for WrestleMania in Las Vegas and stats on who traveled for the show vs. who lived in Las Vegas and bought tickets,
*Full coverage of UFC 319, business,  Chimaev and his future.
*Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate 2025 show
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all pro wrestling and MMA shows this past week, including weekly standings, nightly standings, head-to-head shows, segment numbers and more notes.
*Details of another big CMLL week
*Stardom Five Star Grand Prix update
*Kents vs. Marufuji
*Women’s legends show packs Korakuen Hall
*Cauliflower Alley Club awards
*Man who claims to have saved Scott Steiner’s life.
*Wrestler charged with murdering a neighbor in a brawl
*Sami Callihan retires
*Lots of thoughts on Chris Jerich as a free agent
*Tony Khan media call
*Unionizing wrestlers
*Ticket advances for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows.
*Dana White talks Jon Jones
*Sean Strickland suspended.
*PFL crowns new world champions.
*The farce that is Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis.
*Gable Steveson’s MMA debut.
*BJ Penn back in court.
*Time changes for a lot of the WWE TV shows over the next month.
*High level athletes being recruited by WWE.
*Rhodes talks about leaving AEW.
*Bronson Reed talks about his injury.

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Tuesday Update

 WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

New champions crowned at WWE NXT Heatwave

Two new champions were crowned at NXT Heatwave.

The TNA Knockouts title changed hands on Sunday, with Ash by Elegance winning the title and bringing it back home to TNA. The finish had Jacy Jayne hit Masha Slamovich with the rolling encore, but the Elegance Brand at ringside pulled Jaye out of the ring as she went for the cover. This gave Ash the opportunity to hit Slamovich with the swanton bomb, pinning her to become champion.

Jayne had held the title for a little over a month, defeating Slamovich to become a double champion. She remains the NXT Women’s Champion and is next set to defend the title against Lola Vice at WWE NXT No Mercy next month.

Meanwhile, Darkstate were successful in their attempt to defeat Hank & Tank for the NXT Tag Team titles. It was Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox that represented Darkstate, winning after Cutler James interfered, allowing Lennox and Griffin to hit a doomsday device on Tank for the win. 

In the main event, Oba Femi successfully retained the title against Je’Von Evans. After the match, Ricky Starks came out and the two had a staredown as the show went off the air.

WWE NXT Heatwave card finalized, new number one contender crowned

Sunday’s WWE NXT Heatwave card is finalized with a new number one contender challenging Oba Femi, plus a new match added to the lineup.

Je’Von Evans defeated Trick Williams in a number one contender’s match in Tuesday’s NXT TV main event to cement his spot in the NXT Championship match at Sunday’s Heatwave where he will challenge Oba Femi for the title.

Evans was the benefit of a distraction by Mike Santana whose issues with the TNA World Champion Williams continue to play out across both NXT TV and TNA Impact.

A mixed tag team bout has also been added to Heatwave.

North American Champion Ethan Page and Chelsea Green will team against Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele in a tag bout at Heatwave, the match made official following a failed “peace summit” between the two teams on Tuesday’s show.

WWE NXT Heatwave streams on Peacock in the US and on Netflix internationally on Sunday, August 24 beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

The finalized card:

WWE NXT Heatwave, Sunday, August 24 —

  • NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against Je’Von Evans
  • TNA Knockouts World Champion Jacy Jayne defends against Masha Slamovich and Ash by Elegance in a triple threat
  • NXT Women’s Championship number one contender’s triple threat: Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker and Tank Ledger defend against two members of DarkState
  • Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe
  • Ethan Page and Chelsea Green vs. Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele

Two matches announced for WWE NXT Heatwave

Two matches have been announced for NXT Heatwave.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Hank & Tank will defend the NXT Tag Team titles against two members of Darkstate at NXT’s next PLE on August 24 in Lowell, Massachussets. Meanwhile, Jordynne Grace will face off against Blake Monroe.

As Monroe was wrestling Kelani Jordan on Tuesday’s NXT, Jordynne Grace emerged in a neckbrace and chased Monroe out of the area and into a car that quickly whisked her away. In a later segment, Grace met with Ava, who said she would make a match between the two.

In the segment that followed after, Hank & Tank were wrestling Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon when all four members of Darkstate entered the ring after the match and attacked both teams. When they went to Ava to complain about the situation, the NXT GM announced that the two would defend their NXT Tag Team titles against two members of Darkstate at Heatwave.

Oba Femi will be defending the NXT Championship at Heatwave as well. He will face the winner between Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans on the August 19 edition of NXT in Philadelphia.

Here is the updated card for Heatwave:

WWE NXT Heatwave (August 24):

  • NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against Je’Von Evans or Trick Williams
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank defend against two members of Darkstate (Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin)
  • Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace

WWE reveals date and location for NXT Heatwave 2025

WWE has officially confirmed the date and location for NXT’s next PLE.

During this afternoon’s Great American Bash event, WWE announced that NXT Heatwave will emanate live from Lowell, Massachusetts on Sunday, August 24. The Lowell Memorial Auditorium is the venue for the show.

August 24 is the same day that AEW & NJPW are running their Forbidden Door pay-per-view in London, England. While the shows are happening on the same day, it doesn’t look like they’ll be going head-to-head. The Heatwave graphic lists a 6:30 p.m. Eastern start time for ticket holders. Forbidden Door will be taking place in the afternoon due to the time difference between the United States and United Kingdom.

Tickets for Heatwave are going on sale to the general public this coming Wednesday (July 16).

Heatwave has been an annual event for NXT since 2022, first starting as a TV special before becoming a PLE. The show will stream live on Peacock in the United States and on Netflix elsewhere.

Ahead of Heatwave, NXT is heading on the road for a TV episode in Houston, Texas on July 22. WWE has announced that the coaches of WWE LFG — The Undertaker, Michelle McCool, Booker T, and Bubba Ray Dudley — will be appearing on that episode. LFG is a reality competition series that airs on A&E.