Joe Hendry made a notable return to WWE NXT by defeating Charlie Dempsey in a technically charged match on this week’s episode. The bout, which originated from last week’s storyline buildup, highlighted the wrestling skills of both competitors before Hendry secured victory with his signature move, the Standing O.
Nia Jax Overcomes Lash Legend in Physical Contest
The episode opened with a fierce confrontation between Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Despite Legend’s strong offense, Jax leveraged her experience as a former WWE Women’s Champion to mount a comeback, countering a high-risk top-rope powerbomb into her finishing move, the Annihilator. A second Annihilator completed the matchup, granting Jax a hard-earned win.
Jacob Fatu Comments on IShowSpeed’s Memorable Royal Rumble Moment
In a recent interview on the Club 520 podcast, Jacob Fatu praised IShowSpeed’s resilience after taking a spear from Bron Breakker during the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble. Humorously referencing Travis Scott’s controversial slap to Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber: Toronto, Fatu suggested the rapper should also experience a spear.
Shout out to Speed. Bro did a back flip and went like this [celebrating] and got his ass tore down, for real. Travis Scott, man, his a*s should get speared too. I’m gonna spear your a*s. It wasn’t even a punch [to Cody Rhodes], he hit him with a [straight palm], you know what I mean? Nah, but Bron Breaker murdered [Speed] though. [Breakker] different. They asked him at ComicCon, my cousin Jey Uso, they said, ‘Hey, who spears harder?’ I mean, he took out Jey this past Monday, took him and Roman out.
—Jacob Fatu, Professional Wrestler
Full WWE NXT Heatwave 2025 Card Announced
The WWE has unveiled the official match lineup for the August 24th WWE NXT: Heatwave event, featuring top-tier contests across various divisions. The card includes:
- NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi versus Je’Von Evans or Trick Williams
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger versus DarkState
- TNA Knockouts Championship Match: Jacy Jayne versus Masha Slamovich versus Ash by Elegance
- Singles Match: Jordynne Grace versus Blake Monroe
Upcoming WWE NXT Episode Matchups Confirmed
Alongside the Heatwave event, the WWE NXT roster’s weekly programming features several high-profile matches and story developments. Next week’s show will present the following:
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Trick Williams versus Je’Von Evans
- Street Fight: Josh Briggs versus Yoshiki Inamura
- Jasper Troy versus Ricky Saints
- Fatal Instinct versus The Elegance Brand
- A confrontation between Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe
- Ethan Page and Chelsea Green negotiating a Peace Treaty with Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele
Context Behind Recent WWE Developments and Star Appearances
Amid these competitive matches, backstage reports have highlighted some tension regarding WWE’s treatment of veteran talents and recent booking decisions. Notably, several WWE stars reportedly declined participation in a tribute involving Hulk Hogan during a recent event, revealing ongoing fractures related to legacy acknowledgment and roster sentiment. Additionally, discussions about Cody Rhodes potentially moving to a part-time schedule and other contractual updates have emerged.
Significance of NXT Heatwave 2025 and Future Prospects
The forthcoming WWE NXT Heatwave 2025 event promises to elevate rising stars while solidifying championship hierarchies within the brand. Matches like Oba Femi’s defense against challengers and the multi-competitor TNA Knockouts Championship bout underscore WWE’s commitment to spotlighting emerging talent. With Joe Hendry’s successful return and Nia Jax’s convincing victory, momentum is building toward a dynamic summer schedule for WWE NXT fans.
