This week’s WWE NXT featured a variety of matches, including Fatal Influence teaming up against Sol Ruca, Zaria, and Lola Vice, as well as Ricky Saints taking on Josh Briggs. The NXT Heatwave pay-per-view event was held on Sunday night and delivered a solid but not outstanding show. The best match was Oba Femi versus Je’Von Evans, which included controversy and a brutal table spot. As expected, Femi retained the NXT Championship. Though the matches were all serviceable, none reached a spectacular level.
The commentary team was Vic Joseph and Booker T, with Corey Graves absent due to Raw duties in Birmingham, England. Graves’ absence led to speculation that he may be transitioning to Raw on a full-time basis, potentially ending his role on NXT.
Ricky Saints Declares His Intentions for the NXT Title
Ricky Saints received a strong crowd reaction during his promo, where he expressed his excitement about starting his NXT journey on a high note. Saints acknowledged Je’Von Evans but emphasized that Oba Femi’s reign as NXT Champion is the ultimate prize he aims to claim. Reflecting on his six months in NXT, Saints pointed out his previous North American Championship reign and past battles, highlighting that championship gold like Femi’s is what he truly desires. He boldly proclaimed himself the contender to dethrone Femi.
His promo was interrupted by Josh Briggs, who dismissed Ricky‘s chances of taking the title, criticizing outsiders like Inamura and Saints for getting opportunities. The tension escalated as both men exchanged insults, culminating in NXT General Manager Ava stepping in. Ava noted Je’Von Evans’ absence since Heatwave and decided to pit Ricky Saints against Josh Briggs for a chance to face Oba Femi at No Mercy on September 27th. Both competitors agreed to the match eagerly.
This setup was straightforward, building on recent wins for both men — Briggs over Inamura, and Saints against Jasper Troy — legitimizing their upcoming title shot. Saints’ prior North American Title losses and Briggs’ recent victories place them both as credible challengers.
Women’s Division Action Highlights Competition and Rising Storylines
Post-Heatwave, Blake Monroe requested a title opportunity from Ava but was interrupted by Kelani Jordan. Jordan emphasized her long wait for a title shot, asserting she wasn’t pinned in her last match. Ava then scheduled a singles match between Monroe and Jordan to resolve matters.
In their encounter, both wrestlers exchanged pin attempts and momentum shifts. Jordan secured a victory with a spinning moonsault after around four minutes. Although the match served to further tensions in Blake’s ongoing feud with Jordynne Grace, it showcased Jordan’s in-ring capabilities with a significant victory.
A video package set the stage for a Blindfold Match between Lexis King and Myles Borne, emphasizing Borne’s partial deafness. The match featured comedic elements as both wrestlers struggled to connect strikes blindly. King, using underhanded tactics including an accidental thumb to the referee’s eyes and a groin kick to Borne, secured the win with his finishing move, The Coronation. Booker T praised King’s smart heel tactics post-match.
Tag Team Showdowns and Emerging Alliances in NXT
On the backstage scene, Wren Sinclair sought a tag team partner, eventually teaming with Kendal Grey despite Grey’s reluctance for outside help. Their team faced The Culling’s Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley, who worked cohesively to take the win after about four minutes. The match further established The Culling as an established team, with Dame’s dominance highlighted as she used Paxley strategically. The encounter also introduced potential character development paths for Grey and increased visibility for Sinclair.
Elsewhere, Trick Williams, the TNA World Champion, delivered a promo boasting his role as the main event star for upcoming events including NXT Homecoming, No Mercy, and Halloween Havoc, asserting his confidence and dominance.
Ricky Saints vs. Josh Briggs Delivers a Hard-Hitting Showcase
In a 13-minute main event match, Ricky Saints used his agility and speed to counter Josh Briggs’ power offense. Both competitors traded impactful moves, including running kicks, slams, and nearfalls that kept fans engaged. Notable moments included Saints hitting a Michinoku Driver, a Spear, and finishing with his Tornado DDT, which is his signature finisher against larger opponents. Briggs responded with power moves like the Bossman Slam and a Chokeslam, maintaining match tension throughout.
Ultimately, Saints emerged victorious, earning the right to challenge Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at No Mercy on September 27th. This match was praised for its balance of veteran savvy and well-executed storytelling.
Backstage Interactions and Rivalries Fuel Future Storylines
The babyface trio of Lola Vice, Zaria, and Sol Ruca were backstage engaging in lighthearted ‘Maybelline‘ makeup promotion when Jaida Parker arrived to commend Lola. Lash Legend interrupted, taunting Jaida and prompting a verbal exchange. Meanwhile, Parker encountered Stacks flirting with Arianna Grace, a pairing that aligns with their real-life relationship.
Later, Ricky Saints confronted Oba Femi backstage, challenging the champion directly and vowing to end Femi’s reign. Femi responded with a confident tirade, warning Ricky that he would reduce him to mediocrity when they clash at No Mercy. This promo exchange emphasized Femi’s complex character as a tweener—neither pure heel nor babyface—and foreshadowed a heated main event.
Darkstate made an appearance in the crowd wielding the NXT Tag Team Titles, leading to a brawl that required Hank and Tank to intervene. The conflict set up a tag team match featuring Femi, Saints, Hank, and Tank versus Darkstate.
Introduction of New Championship Formats Raises Stakes
A video package introduced the upcoming WWE Speed Championship for NXT, highlighting the unique feature of five-minute title matches and even shorter three-minute tournament bouts. Ava announced a Women’s Speed Tournament for a chance to challenge reigning Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca.
Tyra Mae Steele Scores a Key Victory in Women’s Division
Tyra Mae Steele, escorted by Tavion Heights, faced Alba Fyre with Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, and Ethan Page supporting Fyre. The match involved a variety of suplexes, kicks, and submission attempts. Steele secured a win after catching Fyre with a rollup, signaling an important rebound for Steele following her Heatwave loss.
Afterward, Green attacked Steele, escalating the ongoing feud. Tavion Heights and Ethan Page also became involved in the altercation, with Page assaulting Heights using his North American Title to heighten tensions. This rivalry is expected to continue, with speculation about Heights as a future NXT North American Champion and Page’s readiness for the main roster.
Tag Team and Faction Rivalries Develop Further on NXT
Hank and Tank approached GM Ava seeking a tag team title match against Darkstate. Ava revealed Darkstate’s demand to face all four members of Hank, Tank, Femi, and Ricky Saints. The babyface group accepted, setting up a high-profile multi-man tag team confrontation.
In a backstage segment, Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence discussed Jayne’s claim to the TNA Knockouts Title and her status as the first to hold both that and the NXT Women’s Title. A debate about challenging for the Women’s Speed Title followed, indicating internal friction that may evolve in coming weeks.
Preview of Next Week’s Matches and Featured Storylines
Next week’s NXT will showcase an opening round Women’s Speed Championship match between Candice LeRae and Xia Brookside, in addition to a singles match between Lash Legend and Jaida Parker. The much-anticipated main event will be an eight-person tag match featuring Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, Hank, and Tank against Darkstate.
Women’s Six-Person Tag Delivers Strong Performance
The main event featured Sol Ruca, Zaria, and Lola Vice against Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, and Jazmyn Nyx. The match began with a birthday tribute to Sol and included numerous nearfalls and momentum shifts. All six competitors were actively involved, particularly in tag dynamics that built anticipation for future singles bouts, especially Lola Vice versus Jacy Jayne at No Mercy.
After approximately 14 minutes, the babyface team of Ruca, Zaria, and Vice secured victory following Vice’s spinning back fist finisher. The bout was praised for its pacing, coherent storytelling through tags, and effective buildup of characters, especially Vice’s momentum as a rising contender.
Final Reflections on WWE NXT Heatwave Week
This week’s show had a slow start but picked up momentum in the latter half, improving the overall experience. While the event was considered below average in NXT’s recent standards, the program effectively utilized much of the roster and delivered solid performances. Ricky Saints and Lola Vice stood out as emerging title contenders, showing promise as fresh faces in their respective divisions heading into No Mercy.
The upcoming NXT No Mercy pay-per-view on September 27th will feature the marquee matches of Oba Femi defending the NXT Championship against Ricky Saints, and Jacy Jayne defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Lola Vice, promising a pivotal point in the current NXT storylines.
