NXT Heatwave 2026 Preview
It’s the middle of the three shows on the latest HERE IS A BUNCH OF WRESTLING ON ONE DAY BECAUSE YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING ELSE THIS WEEKEND weekend. NXT has turned this into one of the bigger cards of the year and they have some matches that are leaving me a bit curious about where they’re going. Hopefully it lives up to its hype, as the potential is certainly there. Let’s get to it.
Jaida Parker vs. Nattie
This is a submission match, as per Nattie’s request. These two feel like they’ve been feuding forever and I’m not sure why this is something that has needed to go on for such a long time. I’m assuming the theory is that Parker will get a lot out of feuding with a legend like Nattie, but that only has so much of a success rate. Now I just want the feud to wrap up and this should be it.
There is no reason for Nattie to win here so I’ll take Parker to win, just because it is time for her to get the big signature win. Making Nattie, the submission star, give up would be a great choice for that spot, though you never know as Nattie has pulled off some ridiculous wins before. I’ll go with Parker here though, as there is pretty much no reason to her to lose whatsoever.
North American Title: Myles Borne(c) vs. Jackson Drake
Ok so this is going to be confusing and a lot of it depends on which order the matches follow. The idea is that Borne is a double champion (because that has to be a thing) and is defending both titles in a single night. I’m not sure which one he’s going to be defending first but it feels like he’ll be losing the second one due to being banged up in the first match. Now which one will that be?
The more logical way is Borne loses the Tag Team Titles here so I’ll say that he retains the title over Drake here. Drake is someone who has moved up the ladder from pretty much nothing to a fine midcard star. He’ll get his chance down the line, though I’m not sure if I can imagine it happening here. I’ll take Borne to win here, though that’s all going to depend on the order of the matches.
Tag Team Titles: Myles Borne/Tavion Heights(c) vs. Vanity Project
So this is the second half of the equation and it follows the first half, with Borne defending again. I’m liking the idea of having Borne out there this much as he’s a talented star, but odds are he has to lose at least one of the titles here. There is no reason to have him keep both titles and while he been North American Champion for a long time, it would make sense for him to hang onto that belt. So what does that mean?
This one has me a bit more sure as Borne/Heights doesn’t exactly feel like a long term team at the top of the division. Throw in the whole double champion thing and there is no reason to believe that they’re going to retain the titles. The Project just dropped the belts a few weeks ago and it would be nice to see them getting the titles back, if nothing else to have them drive people a bit crazier by retaining against better teams.
Women’s North American Title/Women’s Speed Title: Zaria(c) vs. Wren Sinclair(c) vs. Kali Armstrong
This is a winner take all unification match as the Speed Title is going away, as it should be doing. The title had an idea behind it but it never felt like a long term concept. That’s why we’re getting rid of the belt, as it doesn’t need to stick around. I’m just not sure who is going to walk away with the title, as they have a match that feels a bit thrown together but I could see it going any way.
I think I’ll actually go with Armstrong leaving as champion. Sinclair is someone who hasn’t gotten much out of being champion so there isn’t much of a reason to keep the belt on her. On the other hand Zaria has been champion for a bit and doesn’t really need to hold onto it that much longer. I’ll go with Armstrong winning here, just because it would be weird to add her to the match to not have her win. It could go any way, but I’ll take Armstrong.
Women’s Title: Kendal Grey(c) vs. Kelani Jordan
This is a story that we’ve seen time after time, as Jordan has spent months complaining that she can’t get a title shot and is finally getting a chance to see what she can do. At the same time you have Grey, who feels like the next big thing and I’m not sure where they’ll go here. Having Jordan lose would be weird, but Grey losing would feel like a setback out of nowhere.
I’ll go with Grey retaining here, as it feels like the better option. Jordan has already established herself and I don’t see the need for her to win the title here. Grey is someone who feels like she could be on her way to the main roster sooner or later, but she probably needs some more time down in NXT. At the moment though she needs to do that as the champion while Jordan can find something else to do. Grey retains.
NXT Title: Tony D’Angelo(c) vs. Zilla Fatu vs. Grayson Waller vs. Cruz Montana
Oh boy we’ve saved the best for last, as I have no idea who is leaving with the title here. You have D’Angelo, who has been champion for several months now, Waller who cut the promo of his life a few weeks ago, Montana as the hot newcomer, and Fatu as the smooth newercomer who is rather different than just about anything I was expecting. Any of the four could leave with the title and that means we could be in for something interesting.
Actually, I think I’ll go with Waller winning here. Fatu is someone who can get the title in a big moment later on, D’Angelo…..no, and Montana is already the most over of the four and will be just fine with getting the title later on. Waller is someone who would get a lot bigger with a win here and he could steal a pin without making anyone look weaker. It makes sense and while I might not be the most confident in the pick, I’ll go with Waller here.
Overall Thoughts
The good thing here is that the TV shows have made me care about what is going on here. They very well could have a lot of changes taking place in the title pictures and that might be something that NXT needs. The show has been going through a bunch of roster changes and now we get to see what the new group can do. It very well could work out and I’m optimistic about where this is going.
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