Tag: Wwe Speed

First competitor in men’s WWE Speed title tournament advances

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The first match to crown the next men’s Speed Champion went down on NXT.

Lexis King defeated the debuting Chaz ‘Starboy’ Hall on Tuesday to advance to the finals. The former Starboy Charlie looked impressive, but with under a minute to go King got the knees up after a shooting star press attempt and scored the pinfall with the Coronation. He will now face the winner between the debuting Dorian Van Dux and EK Prosper, which will take place on next week’s show.

The men’s Speed title became vacant after Elio LeFleur tore his labrum at a house show last month, putting him on the shelf for the next six months. Upon that announcement, he encouraged Prosper to enter the tournament to win the title.

Van Dux was introduced as a friend of LeFleur on Tuesday who was excited to make his NXT debut. A former WXW standout from Belgium, he made his AAA televised debut over the weekend where he teamed with LeFleur and Axiom to defeat Charlie Dempsey, Nathan Frazer, and Tristian Angels as part of new international trios teams competing in the promotion.

Speed tournament finals set for next WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Matches involving both men’s and women’s Speed titles are set for next week.

Wren Sinclair picked up the win over Nikkita Lyons on Tuesday, setting the stage for next week’s finals, where she’ll face Thea Hail. Sinclair picked up the win after submitting Lyons with the final wrench, aka Bryan Danielson’s cattle mutilation submission, with five seconds left to go. Whoever wins next week will go on to challenge current champion Fallon Henley.

Hail advanced on last week’s show, defeating Blake Monroe after Jaida Parker interfered. After their match for Vengeance Day was announced over the weekend, Parker and Monroe ended up brawling on this week’s show and later agreed to face off in a street fight this Saturday.

It was also announced on NXT that Jasper Troy will meet Eli Knight and Sean Legacy next week in a triple threat match, with the winner meeting new champion Elio LeFleur in a title match. This would be an unsual step to determine the next challenger for the men’s Speed title as tournaments are usually held to determine number one contenders.

Since moving to NXT, the Speed title tournaments have been moving along at a rapid pace. It was only one week ago that the men’s tournament finals took place, which saw LeFleur defeat champion Troy and Knight in the first-ever three-way Speed title match to become the new champion. Unlike most title matches, their match had a seven-minute time limit.

WWE NXT (March 10)

  • Women’s Speed tournament finals: Wren Sinclair vs. Thea Hail
  • Number one contender’s match for men’s WWE Speed title: Jasper Troy vs. Eli Knight vs. Sean Legacy

New WWE Women’s Speed Champion crowned on NXT Gold Rush night two

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new Women’s Speed Champion has been crowned.

Fallon Henley is the new champion, defeating Zaria at NXT Gold Rush night two which aired on Tuesday. The two initially went the full five minutes, with the bell ringing as they were still wrestling. After the initial confusion, Ava came out and said the match would go into sudden death so a new Speed Champion could be determined. 

Towards the end of the match, Zaria went for a spear on the outside but Laney Reid pulled Fallon out of the way, sending Zaria crashing into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Fallon followed with a shining wizard then landed the famouser to capture the vacant Speed Championship.

The title was vacated when Ruca in storyline decided to relinquish it rather than have Zaria defend it for her, as Zaria lost Ruca’s Women’s North American title to Blake Monroe at Halloween Havoc. A tournament was then held to crown a new champion.

At Gold Rush night one, Zaria threw in the towel for Ruca was she was looking to win the North American title back from Monroe, causing further friction between the two friends.

Two wrestlers advance in WWE Speed title tournament

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Two wrestlers have advanced in a tournament to determine the next challenger for the WWE Speed Championship.

Axiom and Jasper Troy have moved on to the next round in the Speed title tournament, both winning their first round matches on Tuesday’s WWE NXT TV episode.

Axiom defeated Evolve talent Sean Legacy, while Troy advanced by defeating TNA wrestler Zachary Wentz.

Troy and Axiom will now square off at a later date to determine who will challenge El Grande Americano for the WWE Speed Championship. Los Americanos were shown ringside for the tournament matches on Tuesday’s episode.

The Speed title tournament appears to have originally been slated to wrap up at Halloween Havoc, with WWE.com writing that tonight’s winners would square off later in the show and move on to challenge Americano at the PLE set for this Saturday. It appears as though that is no longer the case after a Women’s North American title match was added to the Halloween Havoc lineup after an injury to Sol Ruca, and Axiom and Troy did not square off on Tuesday’s program.

The updated Halloween Havoc lineup is here. Our full report from Tuesday’s NXT is here.

Finals set for WWE NXT Women’s Speed Championship tournament

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The finals for the Speed Women’s Championship title shot at No Mercy is now official.

Laney Reid will face Candice LeRae in the finals after she scored a surprising victory over Faby Apache on Tuesday’s NXT. As the match neared its conclusion Natalya, Apache’s opponent for Worlds Collide, came out of the crowd and stared down Apache. The brief distraction allowed Reid to dodge a swanton bomb attempt and connected with a running knee strike for the shock win.

Candice LeRae, the first-ever Women’s Speed Champion, defeated TNA’s Xia Brookside last week to advance. The winner between Reid and LeRae will go on to face Sol Ruca at NXT No Mercy on September 27.

It was announced back at NXT Great American Bash that the Speed titles would be coming to the NXT brand, weeks after Sol Ruca began appearing on television with her title despite winning it earlier in the year. The fate of the men’s title remains unknown, as El Grande Americano has not shown his championship on television nor has he appeared on NXT.

WWE NXT Heatwave notes: Speed titles coming to brand, Ricky Saints

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes from Sunday’s WWE NXT Heatwave.

After Sol Ruca has been appearing in recent weeks with the Women’s Speed Championship, it was announced that the titles would be defended in NXT moving forward. Ruca will defend her title next month in a tournament that begins on the September 2 edition of NXT. The participants will include a participant from NXT, TNA, AAA, and a participant from the Raw & SmackDown brands. The winner of this tournament will challenge Ruca at WWE NXT No Mercy on September 27 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

El Grande Americano currently holds the WWE Speed men’s championship. It wasn’t announced when he’d defend his title next

In the main event of Sunday’s show, Oba Femi was successful in defeating Je’Von Evans. After the referee was knocked out, Evans hit a springboard cutter as another referee came out and counted three. However, the original referee called it off, saying Femi’s foot was under the rope. Femi dodged a top rope maneuver by Evans and shot put him into the announcer’s table below. He then put him back into the ring and pinned Evans to retain the title.

After the match, Ricky Starks came out and had a staredown with Femi as the show went off the air.

Sol Ruca on status of WWE Speed: ‘I honestly don’t really have an answer either’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The status of WWE Speed remains a mystery to fans — and Sol Ruca doesn’t have any definitive answers either.

WWE Speed, a weekly show that aired on X/Twitter, has not broadcast a new episode since July 9. There’s been no official word from WWE as to what’s going on, but the show looks to be done at least for right now.

Ruca is the current NXT Women’s North American Champion and was also the Speed Women’s Champion, having retained against Alba Fyre on the last episode of the show. She told Ten Count Media that she doesn’t know what’s going on with Speed, but she still considers herself a double champion.

“I’m definitely still a double champion,” Ruca said. “I am, you know, the Speed Champion and the North American Champion. I know there’s a little confusion about what’s going on. I honestly don’t really have an answer either. But until they tell me I’m no longer a double champion, I am still a double champion.”

Ruca added that she believes WWE is trying to figure out what it wants to do with the Speed title.

“Maybe we’ll start doing stuff on NXT with it,” she said. “I mean, I was starting to wear it on NXT, which before wasn’t allowed because it was a separate — you know, technically a separate universe being on X. But I think there was a little bit of leeway, and now I think we’re just trying to figure out what we want to do with it. But, I mean, as of now, I’m still technically a double champion. So I’m not complaining.”

Speed debuted in April 2024, featuring short matches that had time limits of either three or five minutes. El Grande Americano was the men’s Speed Champion when the show came to its apparent end.

Update on disappearance of WWE Speed

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave an update on the status of WWE Speed.

The X/Twitter-exclusive show has not aired a new episode since July 9, and WWE has not explained Speed’s absence or addressed when — or if — it will be returning. A new tournament was not announced at the end of the most recent episode, which saw Sol Ruca retain her Speed Women’s Championship over Alba Fyre.

Meltzer notes that he’s asked what’s going on with Speed, but sources have not known one way or the other, “basically giving the impression it was so insignificant that nobody has talked about it.”

“It appears WWE Speed is gone. They haven’t been taping new episodes and the titles have been forgotten,” Meltzer wrote. “The deal with X probably expired. Whether it will be renewed or brought back isn’t clear. Those we’ve asked haven’t known one way or the other basically giving the impressions it was so insignificant that nobody has talked about it. There was no official word one way or the other.”

WWE Speed premiered as a weekly series on X in April 2024, and it was said to be a two-year deal between WWE and X for the show. Matches on Speed have featured short time limits of either three minutes or five minutes.

The current Speed champions are El Grande Americano and Ruca. Since Chad Gable was forced out of action with an injury and Ludwig Kaiser took over the Americano character, there has been no follow-up on whether Kaiser will be defending the Speed title.

Ruca is a double champion, holding the NXT Women’s North American Championship and WWE Speed Women’s Championship. She has recently appeared with both belts on NXT television.

Sol Ruca retains WWE Speed title in second defense

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On WWE Speed today, Sol Ruca was successful in the first of three title matches she has set for this week.

Ruca retained her WWE Speed Women’s Championship over Alba Fyre, delivering a Sol Snatcher to get the victory with 49 seconds remaining of the five-minute time limit. This was the second title defense Ruca has made as champion. She won the Speed belt from Candice LeRae this April and has now defeated Ivy Nile and Fyre during her reign.

The full title match can be watched below. It was taped at the WWE Performance Center last night prior to NXT.

Coming up this weekend, Ruca has both a title defense and title challenge scheduled. She’s defending her NXT Women’s North American Championship against Izzi Dame at NXT Great American Bash this Saturday afternoon. She’ll then be part of a fatal four-way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles at Evolution the following night. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez are defending the titles against Ruca & Zaria, Asuka & Kairi Sane, and Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss.

Alba Fyre to challenge for WWE Speed Women’s title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Alba Fyre has the chance to bring some gold to the Secret Hervice.

Next Wednesday, Fyre will challenge Sol Ruca for the WWE Speed Women’s Championship. The title match was confirmed with Fyre prevailing over NXT wrestler Thea Hail in the finals of a number one contender’s tournament on Speed this week. The energetic Hail started strong and seemed poised to win in the closing moments after getting her knees up on a Swanton attempt. But when Hail tried to follow that up with a springboard, Fyre caught her in mid-air with a Gory Bomb for the victory.

Ruca became Speed Champion in April and has made one defense so far — a victory over Ivy Nile. Ruca also currently holds the NXT Women’s North American Championship.

Fyre is part of the SmackDown roster, where she and Piper Niven are aligned with Chelsea Green as the Secret Hervice. To earn this title shot, Fyre defeated B-Fab in the first round of the contender’s tournament before advancing to face Hail.

After next week’s Ruca vs. Fyre match, we should get some clarity on what’s going on with the men’s WWE Speed Championship. Chad Gable — who holds the title as El Grande Americano — underwent shoulder surgery this week. There was a backstage segment on Monday’s Raw where Ludwig Kaiser briefly appeared as the Americano character.

Thea Hail defeats Nikkita Lyons in WWE Speed debut

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two NXT wrestlers made their WWE Speed debuts today with Thea Hail prevailing over Nikkita Lyons.

A jackknife pin earned Hail the victory over her larger opponent with 21 seconds remaining on the three-minute clock. In the final stretch of the match, Lyons was able to get to the ropes after Hail applied a Kimura. She then hit a spin kick and tried for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Hail rolled through and reversed the pin for the win.

Hail vs. Lyons was taped last Friday at SmackDown and was a number one contender’s tournament first-round match. With her victory, Hail advances to face Alba Fyre in the finals on Speed next Wednesday. The winner of that match earns a Speed Women’s Championship shot against Sol Ruca.

Ruca is a double champion at the moment, holding both the WWE Speed Women’s title and NXT Women’s North American title. She dethroned Candice LeRae for the Speed Women’s title this April and has made one successful defense of the belt so far in her reign, defeating Ivy Nile.

Alba Fyre advances in WWE Speed tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new number one contender’s tournament began on WWE Speed today with Alba Fyre prevailing over B-Fab in a first-round match.

Taped last Friday at SmackDown, the match ended with Fyre using a Gory Bomb to get the victory with 30 seconds remaining of the three-minute time limit. B-Fab had momentum on her side in the final minute after a pump kick, but Fyre was able to counter with a superkick before hitting the Gory Bomb.

The tournament continues this Friday with an opening-round match between NXT wrestlers Thea Hail and Nikkita Lyons. The winner advances to face Fyre next Friday to determine the next challenger for Women’s WWE Speed Champion Sol Ruca.

Ruca currently holds both the Speed Championship and NXT Women’s North American Championship. She’s the second wrestler to ever hold the Women’s Speed title, dethroning inaugural champ Candice LeRae back in April. Ruca’s only title defense so far was a victory over Ivy Nile.

Fyre (the former Kay Lee Ray) is a heel on the SmackDown roster, aligned with Chelsea Green and Piper Niven as one of Green’s “Secret Hervice” agents.

El Grande Americano retains WWE Speed title in first defense

Posted on by Joseph Currier

El Grande Americano is still WWE Speed Champion after making his first defense of his belt.

Though he needed to cheat to win, Americano (Chad Gable) prevailed over Berto in a title defense on this week’s WWE Speed episode. Berto was going for a cradle when Americano was able to counter and deliver a headbutt with a weapon loaded into his facemask. He then pinned Berto with 1:16 remaining of the five-minute time limit.

Americano, a supposed legendary luchador with a rich history of success in Mexico, became Speed Champion this May by defeating Dragon Lee. There have been four champions since the title was introduced in 2024: Ricochet, Andrade, Lee, and Americano.

The Americano vs. Berto match was taped last night at the WWE Performance Center.

He failed to capture gold here, but Berto did become a champion at Triplemania Regia on Sunday, winning the AAA Tag Team titles with his cousin Angel.

A new tournament starts on Speed next Wednesday to find a challenger for Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca. It will feature the following first-round matchups:

  • B-Fab vs. Alba Fyre
  • Thea Hail vs. Nikkita Lyons

WWE crowns new number one contender to Speed Championship

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Legado del Fantasma member Berto is first in line to challenge El Grande Americano for the WWE Speed Championship.

On a new episode of Speed that premiered today, Berto defeated Noam Dar in the finals of a number one contender’s tournament. The two went back and forth in an evenly contested match until Berto was able to hit a flying kick and land a sit-out powerbomb, pinning Dar with 26 seconds remaining on the three-minute clock.

El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) vs. Berto for the WWE Speed Championship will air on X/Twitter at noon Eastern time next Wednesday. It’s the first title defense for Americano since he defeated Dragon Lee for the belt.

The title match will continue Gable’s ongoing feud with the luchadors of WWE. In a post-match promo after securing the title shot, Berto called El Grande Americano a disgrace to lucha culture and said he’ll prove next week that Americano is nothing.

Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Angel & Berto) were victorious at Worlds Collide last weekend, defeating the Lucha Libre AAA team of Psycho Clown, Pagano & El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. in a trios match.

This coming Sunday, Angel & Berto will be in action in Mexico when they compete in a four-way tag match for the AAA Tag Team titles at Triplemania Regia. It will be Sanson & Forastero defending the belts against Angel & Berto, Psycho Clown & Pagano, and Nic & Ryan Nemeth.

Noam Dar replaces Joaquin Wilde on WWE Speed, defeats Lexis King

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Serving as a replacement for the injured Joaquin Wilde, Noam Dar picked up a victory in his WWE Speed debut.

A new Speed episode premiered on Friday with Dar defeating Lexis King in a number one contender’s tournament match. Pitting two NXT wrestlers against each other, the match was taped at the Performance Center on Tuesday after Wilde’s injury forced WWE to change up its plans. Dar connected with Elbow Galactico to defeat King with 18 seconds remaining of the three-minute time limit.

Dar vs. Berto (Humberto Carrillo) will now take place on Speed next Wednesday with the winner earning a title shot against WWE Speed Champion El Grande Americano (Chad Gable). That will be the first title defense Americano has made since dethroning Dragon Lee for the belt.

In NXT, Dar is the current Heritage Cup Champion.

It was originally supposed to be Wilde vs. King in the first round of the Speed tournament. Their match was being filmed before Raw on Monday when Wilde was knocked out cold, causing the bout to end in a no contest.

Wilde posted on social media that he’s doing well despite that scary moment. Because of the injury, he will not be able to compete at WWE & AAA’s Worlds Collide event this weekend.