Commemorating the August heat was NXT Heatwave, where NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo opened the show with swimming-pool cannonballs and solo cups. They previewed the night’s lineup where both Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes had headlining matches against Ilja Dragunov and Wes Lee respectively. And in Williams’ case, he undoubtedly proved that he wasn’t just the “purse holder” of the potential-filled Trick-Melo gang – or in layman’s terms, the Jannetty.
Ilja Dragunov vs Trick Williams
Williams’ new entrance song is accompanied by “Whoop that Trick” chants, screaming superstar before his first breakout singles match. But death is his opponent, and Dragunov’s chops get Orlando standing. Williams shows inexperience before picture-in-picture, but his authentic underdog fire is unteachable. A pretty running knee gets him two, Dragunov recuperates with DDTs, and Williams comes back with an Avalanche Uranage for a close near-fall. Continuing NXT’s most electric opener in some time, Williams kicks out of Dragunov’s finisher, but a diving forearm makes the latter victorious. “Trick Willy” has arrived, and the conversation about his potential over Carmelo Hayes received some validation.
Winner: Ilja Dragunov
Heritage Cup Champion Nathan Frazer asks Tyler Bate to be his cornerman against counterfeit champion Noam Dar tonight, and the fellow Brit accepts. “Let’s take care of those Meta-Four massive frauds,” says Bate.
Mustafa Ali barges into Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio’s locker room, telling the latter to “actually break a leg.” She gives him 10 seconds to leave, and Ali responds, “Sounds like something you guys are used to.”
Ivy Nile vs Ava
Countless Schism masks surround the ring, but nothing can mask the greenness of Ava – last name redacted. Fortunately, Nile cinches the Dragon Sleeper early for the submission victory and single-handedly drops the female members of Schism in an unnecessary addition to Heatwave.
Winner: Ivy Nile
Ilja Dragunov banters with Wes Lee, who vows to defeat Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship tonight. Lee passive-aggressively looks forward to defending against “Mad Dragon,” who will inevitably fulfill his “destiny.”
Noam Dar vs Nathan Frazer – Heritage Cup Championship
Meta-Four arguably has the best faction entrance in WWE, and hopefully their win-loss ratio starts reflecting it. First round concludes in a draw, and amidst round two in picture-in-picture, Dabba-Kato takes out Tyler Bate with an apron chokeslam. Dar capitalizes with a roll-up pinfall and cheapshots Frazer post-round three, but the latter evens it thereafter with a Superplex combo. Frazer takes out both Dar and “Main Man” Oro Mensah, but Lash Legend restricts him from the pinfall at round five’s end. Frazer misses the Phoenix Splash, and Dar follows with Nova Roller to win back the Heritage Cup Championship – right back where it belongs.
Winner: Noam Dar
Ava claims Ivy Nile tried ending her career but failed, encouraging her to catch some hands outside. Later, Nile arrives, but two masked Schism members reveal themselves as the Creed Brothers. They demand a steel cage match against The Dyad, stipulating that they’ll be reinstated into NXT – presumably creative had nothing for them elsewhere.
In-ring, NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton says, “The summer of Tiff Tiff is coming to an end,” yet she’s been the most forgettable, overlooked champion in years. Gigi Dolin interrupts, followed by Kiana James, and proceeded by Blair Davenport. An annoying back-and-forth commences before Roxanne Perez steps in to attack Stratton, and a pull-apart brawl fades away.
Charlie Dempsey chokes out protege Myles Borne after admitting to Drew Gulak that he’s tired, and an interesting arc for the deaf wrestler begins.
Meta-Four pops bottles in celebration, and a letter from “the Heritage Cup committee” reveals a new eight-man, number-one contendership tournament. “I don’t have to defend this for five weeks!” cheers Dar.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley vs Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria
“Pendejo” chants are directed towards Mysterio, who’s floored by the overwhelmingly more agile Lee. Ripley and Valkyria tag in for a solid Davida and Goliath exchange, and the faces take control with stereo dives preceding picture-in-picture. Ripley turns the tide with her strength advantage, but Lee makes a speedy comeback with a hurricanrana. “What the hell is going on!” asks Booker T when Raquel Rodriguez fights off with Ripley – to a blind-eye referee, and Lee gains the pinfall victory.
Winners: Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria
Trick Williams meets up with Carmelo Hayes, subtly eying the NXT Championship. Hayes wants to “silence any doubters” of his reign tonight against Wes Lee.
Tiffany Stratton makes a correction to her earlier promo, claiming that Becky Lynch was a former NXT Women’s Champion. She then announces a fatal-four way between Gigi Dolin, Kiana James, Blair Davenport, and Roxanne Perez to declare her next challenger.
Footage from last week shows Thea Hail pleading with a referee to reverse a decision via Andre Chase interference. “We’ve all been let down by someone around here,” says opponent Jacy Jayne in a petty jab. “People like us, we always get through it,” she adds.
Baron Corbin blindsides Von Wagner before their scheduled matchup, and a ringside brawl commences. But Bron Breakker obliterates Wagner with an out-of-nowhere spear – proving once again that he’s the best spear in the game. So, the Corbin-Wagner match is presumably postponed, coming off a genuinely great promo from the latter last week.
An angered Schism will accept the Creed Brothers’ demands if they release Ava. “Next week, we end this once and for all,” says Jagger Reed – all collectively befuddled that Julius and Brutus Creed were hiding within their ranks for months.
A promo package from an understandably upset Dijak threatens Eddy Thorpe for costing him an NXT Championship match. “Not only will your body be broken, but so will your spirit,” he says.
Wes Lee vs Carmelo Hayes (c) – NXT Championship
Commentary mentions that tonight’s main event is the first time two African American males have headlined for the NXT Championship. They’re neck-and-neck with reversals and kip-ups before abruptly cutting to picture-and-picture a minute in, and a strike exchange follows thereafter. Both bring their signature flashy offense, like Lee’s Spiral Tap and Hayes’ Burst 48. But the champion eventually hits an insanely innovative, reverse springboard DDT through the announce table and looks for Nothing But Net. Lee reverses with the Kardiac Kick but misses an outside dive, colliding with the barricade but making the 10-count. And finally, Hayes capitalizes with Nothing But Net, retaining the title in a spectacle rather than a fight.
Winner: Carmelo Hayes
NXT Heatwave 2023
Orlando, FL
Sans a couple matches, there was some beautiful wrestling on tonight’s card that was elevated by a lively audience. In particular, Trick Williams looked like an absolute star – and compared to the others, it looked like a legitimate struggle against “Mad Dragon.” Like somebody said on X recently, NXT has found the perfect sweet spot between wrestling and character work.
