NXT Post-Heatwave: Waller Reigns, Creed Brothers Return, and Title Chaos Erupts

Key points

• Grayson Waller retained the NXT Championship and booked a six-man tag match for the following week to determine the next challenger, involving Saquon Shugars, EK Prosper, Mason Rook, Tony D’Angelo, Cruz Montana, and Keanu Carver.
• Zilla Fatu defeated Tristan Angels in his first NXT TV match, winning with a spinning flying Samoan Spike, and rejected an invitation to join the faction Birth Right.
• Naraku defeated Shiloh Hill by spraying mist into Hill’s eyes after Hill ducked the initial spray, allowing Naraku to apply his finisher.
• The Creed Brothers returned to NXT, attacking Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno after their tag team victory over Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux.
• Kelani Jordan, the new NXT Women’s Champion, accepted a title challenge from Jaida Parker for the following week, while Zaria unified the North American and Speed Titles, rendering the Speed Titles defunct.
• Myles Borne explained his attack on Tavion Heights at Heatwave, claiming he acted preemptively, while Heights challenged North American Champion Jackson Drake for a title match next week.

Background

This episode followed the Heatwave PLE, where Grayson Waller and Kelani Jordan won their respective titles, and Zaria unified the women’s North American and Speed Titles. The show also addressed the aftermath of Myles Borne’s attack on Tavion Heights and the Vanity Project’s acquisition of the North American and tag titles. The archive notes that WWE had recently scrambled after crowd splits at a double-header event in Texas, highlighting the importance of NXT’s programming in retaining audience interest.

How outlets are covering it

Cageside Seats noted that while the show had a chaotic feel with multiple title matches, the in-ring action was not as strong as the storytelling, and the six-man tag match might dilute the spotlight on the champion. POST Wrestling agreed that the show was crowded and some matches felt rushed, but praised the Zilla Fatu showcase and the intrigue of the title pictures. Fightful provided a basic review of the show, confirming the results and appearances, while PWTorch listed the announced matches and location, emphasizing the return of the Creed Brothers and the title challenges. All sources agreed on the key results and the booking of the six-man tag match, but differed in their assessment of the show’s pacing and quality.

Why it matters

The episode sets the stage for the road to Halloween Havoc, with key title matches and a new #1 contender’s series. The return of the Creed Brothers and the rise of Zilla Fatu and Naraku indicate a shift in the developmental brand’s roster and storylines. The retirement of the Speed Titles and the unification of the women’s titles also signal a consolidation of championships, which may impact future booking and title significance.

What to watch

Next week’s NXT show will feature a six-man tag match to determine the #1 contender for Grayson Waller, followed by a triple threat match to finalize the challenger. Kelani Jordan will defend her title against Jaida Parker, and Jackson Drake will face Tavion Heights for the North American Championship. The show will also likely feature further developments in the Naraku vs. Shiloh Hill feud and the Zilla Fatu vs. Birth Right storyline.