NXT – September 1, 2026: The Heat Has Broken

NXT
Date: September 1, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Heatwave and a lot of things have changed. There are a bunch of new champions, including Grayson Waller winning the NXT Title. That’s in addition to new Tag Team, Women’s and North American Champions. We’ve got a lot of things to cover on the way to next month’s Halloween Havoc so let’s get to it.

Here is Heatwave if you need a recap.

Long Heatwave recap.

Here is Zilla Fatu for a chat. Fatu: “HELLO!” Things did not go well for him at Heatwave but he’s not ready to give up. This brings out Tristan Angels, who doesn’t want to hear Fatu go on about Heatwave. These people have the attention of fruit flies and there is no need to put them through this over and over. Fatu isn’t even the main one in his own family but he says he’s ready to beat Angels up in front of his family here in Orlando. So Fatu is a good guy. Huh.

EK Prosper and Saquon Shuggars get in an argument in Robert Stone’s office and both want to be in line for an NXT Title shot. Keanu Carver comes in to want to same thing and asks Stone what he’s going to do.

Naraku says Shiloh Hill has done research on the mist but he doesn’t understand it.

Myles Borne doesn’t regret striking out at Heatwave. Yes he turned at Tavion Heights because he knew Heights was going to turn on him. So he turned on Heights first. Well yeah. It’s certainly a smart idea and makes sense here.

Shiloh Hill vs. Naraku

Hill wrestles him down to start but gets chopped up against the ropes. A cravate doesn’t work for Naraku as Hill is back up with a flying shoulder. Back up and Naraku shoves him off the top and loads up the announcers’ table as we take a break. We come back with Naraku missing a charge into the corner and getting planted down for the inverted Swanton. Naraku is back with a sitout fireman’s carry slam before they clothesline each other. With nothing else working, Naraku sprays the mist into his hand and, after teasing spitting it in Hill’s eyes, rubs it in his face. Into The Abyss finishes Hill at 9:44.

Rating: B-. There is a very good chance that this isn’t going to be finishing here and it could be interesting to see Hill trying to get his revenge. Hill’s random ranting about the mist a few weeks ago turning into a feud is certainly unique and I’ll take that over doing the same thing you see from everyone else. The match wasn’t bad either, but it’s the story that has me more intrigued here.

Romeo Moreno, Noam Dar, Dorian Van Dux and Sean Legacy argue over the future of the tag team division.

Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno vs. Dorian Van Dux/Sean Legacy

Well that’s good timing. Legacy and Moreno take turns flipping over each other to start until Legacy armdrags him into a dropkick. Moreno comes in to strike away at Dux, who gives him such a hard clothesline that Legacy’s jaw drops. Dux charges into a boot in the corner though and everything breaks down with Dar and Moreno grabbing stereo ankle locks. Those are broken up and they go outside with Legacy and Dux getting in powerbomb backbreakers as we take a break.

We come back with Moreno missing a moonsault, allowing Dux to come back in. Dux’s moonsault doesn’t miss and Dar has to dive in for the save. Dar comes in to kick away at Legacy and European clutches him for two. Everything breaks down again and Moreno gives Dux a super Death Valley Driver but Legacy powerbombs Dar onto Moreno to leave everyone down.

Dux Asai moonsaults onto Moreno and Legacy, with Legacy getting caught in a hanging cutter with a top rope double stomp to his back. Dar accidentally elbows Moreno though and walks into an AA from Legacy and Dux adds a top rope splash. Legacy’s springboard 450 hits raised knees though and Dar gets the pin at 11:37.

Rating: B. This got going in the middle and that’s enough to make the whole thing a good match. It’s a match designed around having a bunch of action and maybe Dar and Moreno can get into the title hunt. They’re doing well enough as a team and the Vanity Project need some challengers to start their title reign. Fun match here.

Post match the Creed Brothers run in and wreck both teams. Well it’s not like they have anything else going on on the main roster.

Zaria retires the Women’s Speed Title, which has Robert Stone officially retiring the men’s version as well. Birthright isn’t happy and are ready to take the power back into their hands. With the team gone, Cruz Montana comes in to ask for an NXT Title shot. Keanu Carver comes in to say it’s bad to be Stone right now.

Here is new Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan for a chat. She brags about winning the Women’s Title but she doesn’t need the YOU DESERVE IT chants, because she earned it. Jordan praises Kendal Grey, but if Grey was so great, what does it make Jordan when she beat Grey? The reality is that Grey was in over her head at Heatwave and she got sent into the turnbuckle.

When the ear heals up, she can come get a title rematch but for now, let’s talk about how great Jordan really is. No one does it like her but here is Jaida Parker to interrupt. She won at Heatwave too and that makes her championship material. Parker has beaten her before so let’s run it back tonight. Jordan says Parker is always talking and the match can happen…but we’ll do it next week.

Thea Hail vs. Nikkita Lyons

Lyons’ Evolve Women’s Title isn’t on the line. Hail takes her straight down and goes after the arm but gets catapulted throat first into the middle rope. The reverse chinlock has Hail in trouble but she pops up for a running flipping neckbreaker. Lyons punches her back down for two and she breaks up a quick Kimura attempt. The Vader Bomb misses though and the Hail Mary gives Hail the pin at 3:17.

Rating: C. Well I wasn’t expecting that. Hail winning a match clean is hard to fathom these days but it should at least move her into the Evolve Women’s Title picture. Granted she was already there in the first place but it’s better than nothing. The ending was clean here and that’s been missing for Hail for a long time now.

Kendal Grey is suffering from vertigo. I hope that’s not a legitimate issue as that stuff can wreck you.

Mason Rook vs. Kam Hendrix

Rook jumps him in the aisle to start fast and they head inside, with Rook missing a charge in the corner. Hendrix stomps away and gets two off a backsplash before they both miss clotheslines. Crossbodies connect at the same time though and they’re both down. Rook is back up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two so Hendrix is back up with a Showtime Kick. The turnbuckle pad is taken off but Rook crushes him into the steel. A sitout fireman’s carry bomb finishes Hendrix at 4:36.

Rating: C+. Rook gets a win and moves up the ladder a bit, though it’s probably only going to mean so much as Hendrix doesn’t mean the most right now. The two of them both need something to do and it could be interesting to see what they do in the next few weeks. Hendrix continues to feel like he could be something, but that’s not going to matter if he keeps losing.

Tavion Heights is annoyed at the loss at Heatwave but above that, he feels betrayed. The Vanity Project comes in to mock him but Heights wants to face Jackson Drake for the North American Title. Drake doesn’t seem thrilled.

Zilla Fatu vs. Tristan Angels

Angels backs into the corner to start so Fatu knocks him into a different corner for the running splash. Back up and Angels is sent outside, with the suicide dive knocking him over the announcers’ table. The fans rather approve but Fatu gets crotched on top to cut off the cheers. We take a break and come back with Fatu getting ticked off and sending Angels into various turnbuckles. A release Rock Bottom into a backsplash gets two but Fatu misses a charge. Angels’ Backstabber gets two but he misses an enziguri in the corner. The Triple Z (running Samoan Spike) finishes Angels at 9:30.

Rating: C+. Well Fatu is already easy to like and feels more natural as a good guy than he did in his earlier weeks. It’s a different way to go and he has the charisma to back it up so let’s see what he can do. Beating Angels is good enough and the Triple Z is a cool looking finisher. Not bad for a singles debut.

Post match Birthright comes out to interrupt and offers Fatu a spot on the team. He’s got a long line of family members to deal with so how long until he’s the Main One? Fatu says no and superkicks Lexis King before leaving to avoid the beating.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Robert Stone introduces new NXT Champion Grayson Waller for a chat. Waller mocks the fans for thinking that someone else was going to win on Sunday. He makes fun of Vic Joseph for freaking out over Waller’s win, but why was he surprised? Waller is a star who has main evented Raw and Smackdown and won a title at Wrestlemania. Now he’s thanking everyone who got him here, which is just himself. He’ll get back to Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis when he has time but for now, who is coming to knock him off his pedestal?

The fans want Cruz Montana and Waller agrees that he’s good. Waller: “But just TNA good.” He wants someone to step up to him so here is Saquon Shuggars of all people. Waller doesn’t seem impressed but here is Cruz Montana to interrupt as well. Montana says that Waller may not be ready but he sure is, only for EK Prosper to interrupt. Before that can go anywhere, Mason Rook says let’s see how tough Waller is.

Tony D’Angelo joins in but Robert Stone says we’re not doing this (despite us already doing this). Keanu Carver comes out and says make a six man tag next week, with the winners in a triple threat #1 contenders match the week after. Stone points out that there are only five people so Carver goes less than subtle with his recommendation for a sixth entrant.

Stone gets the idea and makes the match, with Carver sliding in to go after Waller. The champ leaves so the other six fight to end the show. I like the idea, though having so many people coming after the champion, including some new faces, was an amusing way to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show did a good job of following up on the pay per view, with a bunch of champions receiving challengers right out of the gate. I like what we’re getting around here at the moment, with Fatu already feeling like he could be something in the near future. They still need to make these ideas work, but it’s a good sign coming off the big summer show.

Results
Naraku b. Shiloh Hill – Into The Abyss
Noam Dar/Romeo Moreno b. Sean Legacy/Dorian Van Dux – Rollup to Legacy
Thea Hail b. Nikkita Lyons – Hail Mary
Mason Rook b. Kam Hendrix – Sitout fireman’s carry bomb
Zilla Fatu b. Tristan Angels – Triple Z

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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411mania.com Exclusive Review: Monday Nitro – October 13, 1997

This one, they got right.

 

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-wcw-monday-nitro-10-13-97/




Monday Night Raw – August 31, 2026: Check The Tape

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 31, 2026
Location: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re taped this week and in this case we have a heck of a main event. The tournament to crown a new #1 contender to Roman Reigns wraps up this week with a battle between brothers Rey Fenix and Penta. Other than that, Royce Keys and OTM are officially a thing and that isn’t going to go well around here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

OTM and Royce Keys pull up in the back and wreck the Usos with pipes and smash them onto their car. The Usos are busted open (I’m assuming that’s what the censoring is for) but Jacob Fatu runs up to chase the other three off.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Sol Ruca vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Rodriguez, with Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez, is defending as we keep going to a split screen to look at the bleeding Usos being tended to (the shattered window of their car is ignored). Wait hang on as we have the Big Match Intros but here is Jacob Fatu to call out Royce Keys and OTM. Fatu threatens violence but his mic is cut and Adam Pearce and the agents come in to get rid of Fatu.

With Fatu leaving through the crowd, we’re officially ready to go with Rodriguez going after the arm. Ruca flips away from a spin of the arm and clotheslines Rodriguez to the floor. The running flip dive takes Rodriguez down again but she runs Ruca over back inside. Ruca’s springboard spinning crossbody gets two but she misses the middle rope crossbody to the floor. Rodriguez runs her over again and we take a break.

We come back with Ruca hitting a running forearm against the ropes, followed by a Backstabber with her feet. They go to the apron with Rodriguez grabbing her by the head, only to get caught with a sunset bomb. The rest of Judgment Day try to get involved so Ruca hits a springboard corkscrew dive. Back in and Ruca loads up the Sol Snatcher but Lyra Valkyria runs in to break it up, allowing Rodriguez to hit the Tejana Bomb to retain at 9:13.

Rating: C+. Ruca trying to overcome the odds and getting caught in the end was a good way to go as Ruca can go after Valkyria while Rodriguez gets another opponent. The best thing about Ruca is that she is starting to feel like she belongs around here and is over her early yips. That should help carry her a long way and her star power and athleticism can get her the rest of the way.

Valkyria’s “who me?” look is rather amusing.

Video on Rey Fenix and Penta, who dominated AAA together and are now getting the biggest chance of their career.

We look back at the opening attack on the Usos.

Here is Chad Gable for a chat. Gable says he loves the energy around here and he thought that winning the Intercontinental Title was the big goal. Now though, he realizes that the real work begins and he would not be here without the Mexican people. He wants to thank them and that’s why when Raw returns to Mexico in two weeks, he’ll be defending the title.

Last week someone had a career making performance in the #1 contenders tournament and it has earned, which brings out Dragon Lee. Gable seems ready to make the announcement but Ethan Page interrupts, saying he gets what is going on around here. Page says he should get a title shot, with Gable saying that Page is on the list of challengers. Right under Honky Tonk Man.

Page tells him to stop being a charity case or he’ll become a paper champion. Lee cuts him off and Page says the adults are talking. That gets Page some yelling from Lee, who tells Page to prove that he’s the better man. Gable likes that idea and says let’s make this for the title shot in Mexico City (Page: “I’m in.”).

Ethan Page vs. Dragon Lee

For the Intercontinental Title shot in Mexico City. Lee kicks away to start fast but Page is back up with a powerslam. A heck of a big boot drops Lee again but he’s able to knock Page into the corner for the running dropkick. The big running flip dive connects for Lee and we take a break.

We come back with Page being thrown over the top and out to the floor. That’s fine with Page, who grabs a double underhook swinging backbreaker for two back inside. Lee’s tornado DDT gets the same and he knees Page to the floor for a running hurricanrana. The big running flip dive is cut off with a shot from Page though and he throws Lee into Gable. That’s enough for Page to take a turnbuckle pad off and avoid a charge to send Lee into the steel. The referee sees it though and won’t count the pin, meaning Operation Dragon can finish Page at 11:45.

Rating: B-. Page is a good choice for someone to put Lee over and set up the title match. It’s nice to have Lee win a match rather than getting the title shot coming off of a loss. Lee continues to look awesome and seeing him bust out that flip dive in Mexico is going to be great. Page needs something to do and hopefully that happens soon, as he’s a good hand as a heel.

We look back at Solo Sikoa turning on the Bloodline two weeks ago.

Roman Reigns arrives and finds Jacob Fatu, asking him about the twins. Fatu fills him in about the attack and is assigned to take out Royce Keys. Reigns will handle the rest, which includes going to the arena. In the ring, Reigns says everyone wants what he has and he should be dealing with Penta or Rey Fenix. Instead, everyone has complaints to make and that brings him to Solo Sikoa. Reigns gave him the chance to give Reigns what he earned but Sikoa picked LA Knight. He gets it: Knight reminds Sikoa of the Rock but HE’S NOT IN THE FAMILY.

Let’s talk about Knight, who is right here in person. Knight says Reigns is just reusing material from three years ago and putting things in Knight’s way. He didn’t realize that OTC stood for One Tremendous Coward and it’s time to do this one on one. Knight gets in the ring but we see Sikoa down in the back, and Fatu standing near him. Adam Pearce and company check on Sikoa (and someone else who is down that we can’t see) as Knight comes in to yell at Fatu. They’re held apart and Reigns Superman Punches Knight before telling Fatu that Fatu can handle Royce Keys while Reigns will handle Knight.

Video on Lola Vice (again unnamed but obvious) on the beach and in the gym. She’s here September 14.

Dominik Mysterio vs. Je’Von Evans

Mysterio’s AAA Mega Title isn’t on the line and JD McDonagh is here with him. This is fallout from Judgment Day jumping Evans after his loss to Big Cass last week. Mysterio jumps him before the bell but gets caught in a springboard hurricanrana. McDonagh offers a distraction though and Mysterio gets in an elbow to the face to take over. Evans isn’t having that and sends him outside for a big dive as we take a break.

We come back with Mysterio choking on the ropes, with McDonagh getting in a shot to the face. Back up and Evans kicks him into the corner and a heck of a springboard high crossbody sends Mysterio outside. Evans starts running around the ring but gets cut off by McDonagh for the DQ at 7:25.

Rating: C+. Evans is such an athletic marvel and it’s great to see him getting a chance to show that off. He can fly like few others these days and has some size to make it feel even more unique. The ending was a bit annoying but Mysterio has lost enough lately and you want him strong going into TripleMania.

Post match the beatdown is on but Joe Hendry runs in for the save. A livid Adam Pearce comes out to restart this as a tag match because he’s sick of Judgment Day.

Joe Hendry/Je’Von Evans vs. Judgment Day

The bell rings and Evans gets a running start to dive over the barricade and take the villains out. We take a break and come back with Hendry giving McDonagh a rather delayed vertical suplex for two. Mysterio gets in a cheap shot on Evans and McDonagh rakes the face in the corner.

Evans is fine enough to go up top for a spinning moonsault, because of course that’s something you can do. Hendry comes in to clean house, including a double fall away slam. McDonagh cuts him off with the big headbutt though and the frog splash gives Mysterio the pin at 9:11.

Rating: C. This was only so interesting but dang it’s hard to see what is happening to Hendry. He just feels like he has nothing to do and is only there for the sake of losing matches like this one. I get that he might not be the biggest star in the world but he was popular and should be able to do something more than this. Mysterio and McDonagh work well enough together but they’re not really the story here, as Hendry looks like nothing and Evans was getting beaten up for a lot of the match.

We look at Stephanie Vaquer teaming up with Becky Lynch to go after the Judgment Day.

Vaquer interrupts Lynch and they seem to respect each other, though Vaquer says she doesn’t owe Lynch anything. Lynch says if Vaquer wins the title from Liv Morgan, she’s first in line. Vaquer says that Lynch doesn’t deserve the title but it deserves her. This was rather tense.

Video on Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker.

Paul Heyman is asked about the match and says that it’s a match both men have to win and neither can afford to lose (the exact words he used to hype up Austin vs. Rock at Wrestlemania XVII). He knows what Femi did to Brock Lesnar but he knows what Breakker does in the gym and the work he puts in. No predictions or spoilers, because we’ll find out this Sunday.

Sunday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Judgment Day celebrates their good night and Roxanne Perez says she has Liv Morgan’s back against Becky Lynch.

We recap the Usos and Solo Sikoa being attacked.

#1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Penta vs. Rey Fenix

For a shot at Roman Reigns in Mexico City in two weeks and Fenix’s AAA Cruiserweight Title isn’t on the line. They shake hands to start and Penta kicks away but gets rolled up for a fast two. Fenix snaps off a hurricanrana but Penta sends him to the floor for the big running flip dive. We take a break and come back with Fenix sending him into the corner for some kicks to the head. A corkscrew dive to the floor takes Penta down again and a handspring cutter does it again back inside. Penta kicks him in the face to cut things off and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets two.

We take another break and come back again with Penta knocking him down for two more. The Mexican Destroyer on the apron is blocked though and Fenix hits a moonsault press for two. Penta flips him into the air for a heck of a powerbomb and another near fall. Fenix cuts Penta off on top so Penta tries a super sunset bomb, with Fenix landing on his feet. The Mexican MuscleBuster is countered into a Penta Driver for two and they’re both down again.

With nothing in the ring working, it’s time to head to the announcers’ table, with Penta grabbing another Penta Driver for the big crash. Somehow that’s only good for two so Penta Sacrifices Fenix’s arm (Wade Barrett cringes) but Fenix snaps off a running hurricanrana for two. That leaves Penta to pop back up though and the Mexican Destroyer gives Penta the pin at 19:11.

Rating: A-. Yeah this was great, with the two of them beating the fire out of each other for a big prize. There is something about watching Fenix in the ring where you get the feeling that he is just leaving everything he has in the ring and it was on full display here. Penta winning was pretty much the only realistic result here, but they put in a heck of a match on the way there. Outstanding main event.

Respect is shown post match. Roman Reigns comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event was more than great but the rest of the show was more about setting things up for the future. That included a lot of focus on the Mexico City show, which makes sense as next week is going to be taking place on Labor Day and might not be the biggest draw. Not a must see show, but the main event is definitely worth a look.

Results
Raquel Rodriguez b. Sol Ruca – Tejana Bomb
Dragon Lee b. Ethan Page – Operation Dragon
Je’Von Evans b. Dominik Mysterio via DQ when JD McDonagh interfered
Judgment Day b. Je’Von Evans/Joe Hendry – Frog splash to Hendry
Penta b. Rey Fenix – Mexican Destroyer

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT Heatwave 2026: The Other Big One

Heatwave 2026
Date: August 30, 2026
Location: Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg, Texas
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s another big event and the card looks to be backing it up. We have a four way for the NXT Title with Tony D’Angelo defending against a trio of challengers in Grayson Waller, Cruz Montana and Zilla Fatu. Other than that, the Women’s Title is on the line with Kendal Grey defending against Mercedes Mone. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at how hot it gets in Texas and how hot it has gotten in NXT, with a focus on the bigger matches on the card.

Women’s North American Title/Women’s Speed Title: Zaria vs. Wren Sinclair vs. Kali Armstrong

Zaria (North American) and Sinclair (Speed) are defending and this is a unification match, winner take all. They trade the rollups to start fast and Armstrong is sent outside, which just seems to make her mad. Back in and Zaria suplexes both of them (barely getting Sinclair over) before nailing a big boot each. Sinclair is knocked outside and Armstrong hits a big charge to take Zaria out. Another charge misses Sinclair though and Armstrong crashes into the steps as we take a break.

We come back with Armstrong spinebustering Zaria for two but charging into Sinclair’s elbow in the corner. Sinclair’s high crossbody takes out the two of them at the same time Sinclair chokes Zaria, who cannonballs the two of them into Armstrong in the corner. Armstrong sitout powerbombs Zaria for two, with Sinclair diving back in for the save.

The Final Wrench is blocked so Zaria spears both of them down. The Kali Connection is loaded up but countered into an F5, which is countered just as fast. Now the Final Wrench has Zaria in trouble, with Armstrong making the save. Sinclair is sent outside and it’s the spear into the F5 to finish Armstrong and give Zaria the titles at 11:46.

Rating: B-. It was a pretty basic triple threat match and that’s the right way to go in a match like this. The Speed Title needs to go away and having Zaria run through both of them is a good way to get rid of it. It’s not a match that burned the house down, but it’s something that took care of a job in an entertaining enough way, which I’ll take for an opener.

Cruz Montana is here to accomplish his dream and he thrives with his head on a swivel.

Tag Team Titles: Vanity Project vs. Myles Borne/Tavion Heights

Borne and Heights are defending and it’s Borne against Baylor to start things off. Borne takes over without much trouble and it’s off to Heights for a gutbuster, meaning the Project needs a meeting on the floor. The distraction means Borne gets taken down with a cheap shot and a slingshot knee to the back has him in more trouble as we take a break.

We come back with Heights cleaning house, with an ankle lock having Baylor in trouble. A rake to the eyes breaks that up and Smokes dropkicks Heights down. Heights kicks his way out of the corner though and a diving shoulder/tag is enough to bring Borne back in. House is quickly cleaned, with Smokes being neckbreakered while DDTing Baylor at the same time. Back up and a dropkick/spinebuster combination gets two on Borne, who is chopped into the corner for the tag to Heights.

A dropkick/sitout powerbomb combination gets two on Baylor and we slow down a bit. Baylor snaps off a powerslam on Borne but Heights catches Smokes on top. That means a belly to belly superplex to send Smokes crashing into Baylor for quite the crash. Borne and Baylor trade suplexes but Borne is sent into Heights on the apron. Smokes sends Borne into the corner and Hit It And Quit It gives us new champions at 14:07.

Rating: B-. The interesting situation here is that Borne is going to be wrestling again tonight and that now we get to see what he does next. The Project getting the titles back is probably the right move as it isn’t like Borne and Heights felt like a long time team. Having them lose here could open some doors later tonight and that’s the interesting way to go so they did the right thing here. The Project even got a mostly clean win and that’s a step forward for them, so maybe things are looking up.

We recap Jaida Parker vs. Nattie. A few months back, Nattie showed up and decided that she saw something in Parker, which resulted in her accusing Parker of being soft. Parker tried to show her that she wasn’t soft, which involved them trading wins over the months. Therefore, we’re having a submission match.

Jaida Parker vs. Nattie

Submission match and Nattie tackles her to start, with the brawl heading straight to the floor. Parker is back with a hard chop against the barricade, followed by a suplex on the floor. We take a break and come back with Parker running her over, setting up a cobra clutch. Cue Karmen Petrovic for a distraction as Nikkita Lyons pops up to grab Parker’s hair for the save.

Hold on though as AAA’s Los Perros del Mal (Petrovic is a member) pop up and Petrovic leaves with them. Nattie hammers on Parker but she’s right back up with the Tear Drop in the corner. The Rings Of Saturn has Nattie in more trouble until she slips out and grabs a rear naked choke.

Parker escapes that as well and grabs a short powerbomb but gets knocked right back down. The Sharpshooter goes on until Parker crawls out through the ropes for the escape. Lyons gets in a kick to the chest so cue Thea Hail to chase her to the back, with Parker going after the leg and kicking Nattie around. Parker grabs a (not so great) Sharpshooter and, after a lot of crawling, Nattie taps at 12:49.

Rating: C+. There was a lot here and the story was only so interesting in the first place. Parker getting through the odds and beating Nattie one on one is a good way to go, but what matters the most is that Parker gets away to face someone else. This feud has been going on for months and even this win only feels so important. Nattie has given her just about all you can ask from her here and it’s time for them both to move on. And for Parker to not try to do a Sharpshooter again.

Wren Sinclair gives Kendal Grey a pep talk and Grey tells her to get some rest.

We recap Kendal Grey defending the Women’s Title against Kelani Jordan. Grey is the young star with a rocket on her back but Jordan has been demanding a title shot for months. Now she’s finally getting one and is hoping to continue her success rate in her first chances to win pretty much anything.

Women’s Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Kendal Grey

Grey is defending. Jordan grabs a headlock to start and avoids a dive off the top to knock Grey outside. The Asai moonsault connects but Grey is right back with a hurricanrana off the apron. Back in and a double clothesline connects but they both pop back up as we take a break.

We come back with Grey getting caught with a flipping legdrop. Jordan bends her around the post but gets sent crashing out to the floor. Back in and Grey’s moonsault gets two but the bad ear is causing her even more trouble. Grey gets up and hits some elbows to the face, meaning the straps can come down. Jordan pulls her into a northern lights suplex for two, only to miss a 450. That leaves Jordan with a banged up ankle so Grey grabs an ankle lock, with Jordan kicking her out to the floor.

We take another break and come back again with the two of them going up top. Grey manages to get her into a reverse super Spanish Fly for the big crash and they both need a second after that one. Jordan gets to the apron and nails a slingshot cutter, followed by a middle rope forearm. Grey is back up with a superkick and flips her into a knee to the face for two more.

Jordan goes creative with a slingshot German suplex but Grey gets in one of her own, minus the slingshot, to leave both of them down. Another ankle lock is broken up and Jordan’s 450 gets two more. Shades Of Grey gives Grey two more so Jordan kicks her in the bad ear. A staggering Grey gets in a clothesline but crashes out to the floor, allowing Jordan to send her crashing into the post (or maybe the buckle). One Of A Kind gives Jordan the pin and the title at 21:58.

Rating: B. Well it got some time. This was a big deal for Jordan as she got the important win, albeit with a bit of chicanery in the process, but the result is what matters. In theory Grey is going to be getting a rematch but it wouldn’t stun me to see her move up to the main roster soon. It might be too soon, though there is only so much more for her to do in NXT than get more ring time.

Robert Stone is ready for the next two matches. Also, next up is Halloween Havoc, which will actually be on Halloween.

Video on Naraku, who is back and going after Shiloh Hill.

Tavion Heights isn’t happy with the Tag Team Title loss but gives Myles Borne a pep talk.

North American Title: Myles Borne vs. Jackson Drake

Borne is defending and tries to slug away to start but gets knocked back down. A Cactus Clothesline puts both of them on the floor and Drake stomps away. Borne’s suplex puts Drake down again as Tavion Heights is down here to cancel out the Vanity Project. Drake is fine enough to suplex Borne over the top but crashes down with him as we take a break.

We come back with Borne hitting a dropkick and powerslam for two as Heights approves. Borne Again is countered with a hot shot though and a handspring cutter gives Drake two more. The suicide dive connects with Borne, who is right back with a pair of powerbombs for another near fall. A suicide dive connects for Borne but Myra Lockwood gives him a powerbomb into the powerslam to plant him on the floor. Heights is busy going after Baylor, leaving Drake to 450 Borne for the title at 10:00.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have a ton of time here but it made sense to have Borne lose fairly quickly as he was banged up from the earlier match. Drake winning the title is certainly interesting, as I wasn’t sure if he was going to have success on the next level up from Evolve but it worked out here. Borne is probably not going to be happy with Heights but that could go in a few different ways. Either way, nice match here.

Post match the Project leaves and Borne lays Heights out with Borne Again. I guess that’s a heel turn, but Borne as a heel might be a difficult trick to pull off.

Kam Hendrix is sick of Mason Rook and is ready to beat him on Tuesday.

NXT Origins video on Gunther.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

We recap the main event. Tony D’Angelo is the reigning champion, Grayson Waller is back and wants to be taken seriously, Zilla Fatu is here and wants to be a big star and Cruz Montana is here after being the biggest star in TNA and wants to prove himself again.

NXT Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Cruz Montana vs. Zilla Fatu vs. Grayson Waller

D’Angelo is defending and Montana charges at Fatu to start slugging away. Waller is thrown away for daring to interfere and we get the Fatu vs. D’Angelo showdown. The spinebuster drops Fatu so Montana is back in, leaving D’Angelo to hit a dive to the floor. Montana hits a big flipping dive as we take a break.

We come back with Waller cleaning house until Montana cuts him off with a chop. Fatu is knocked to the floor, leaving Montana to hit a rolling cutter on Waller. Montana and Fatu chop it out until D’Angelo is back in with a clothesline to Fatu. Montana gets suplexed into the corner and an overhead belly to belly superplex sends Waller flying as we take another break. We come back again with Waller getting dropped off a Doomsday Blockbuster.

Fatu gives D’Angelo a top rope splash and Montana Canadian Destroyers Waller out to the floor. Back in and Montana hits a big running cannonball to Fatu, who is back up with a jumping Samoan Spike to D’Angelo. Waller pulls the referee out at two and it’s time to load up the announcers’ table. D’Angelo is back up and spears Fatu in half before putting him on the aforementioned table.

Montana and D’Angelo go up top and crash down so Waller drops a top rope elbow to drive Fatu through the wood. Back in and Montana slugs it out with D’Angelo, with the latter grabbing a release German suplex. Montana pops up and counters Dead To Rites into a Codebreaker. Spin The Block hits D’Angelo but Waller is back in with the rolling Stunner. Waller steals the pin on D’Angelo for the title at 21:30.

Rating: B. That’s the right call, as it not only gives you a fresh name in the title picture but also mixes things up quite a bit. You can have a few people coming after the title, but Waller has looked rather good since his return. It helps that the match was a heck of a fight on the way there, with Waller winning making it even better. He probably won’t hold the title long, but to go from where he was three months ago to where he is now is quite the turnaround.

Overall Rating: B. This started off slowly but got better as the night went on, with the last few matches certainly feeling important. NXT has turned Heatwave into one of their bigger shows of the year and it’s nice to see them having something other than Stand & Deliver. Solid show here and NXT is going to look a bit different starting next week, which might be a good thing for its future.

Results
Zaria b. Wren Sinclair and Kali Armstrong – F5 to Armstrong
Vanity Project b. Myles Borne/Tavion Heights – Hit It And Quit It to Borne
Jaida Parker b. Nattie – Sharpshooter
Kelani Jordan b. Kendal Grey – One Of A Kind
Jackson Drake b. Myles Borne – 450
Grayson Waller b. Tony D’Angelo, Zilla Fatu and Cruz Montana – Spin The Block to D’Angelo

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AEW All In 2026: They Did Well

All In 2026
Date: August 30, 2026
Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We have finally arrived at the biggest show of the year and that means we should be in for some major happenings. The show has a special two hour Buy In and the usual huge card, which should make for a pretty awesome night. There are a lot of British wrestlers challenging for titles, including Will Ospreay going after Kenny Omega’s World Title. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: The Opps vs. Lio Rush/The Rascalz

Rush is now in a rainbow poncho and runs around on all fours, as is his custom. The suicide dive connects on the floor but Andretti takes Rush down back inside. A double backbreaker and running shooting star from Andretti gives Bowens two and it’s off to Shibata. That means Rush can get over to Xavier to come in and take over. Everything breaks down and Reed breaks up a double whip, only to get dropkicked into a suplex.

Reed kicks and Stunners his way out of trouble, setting up the running diving cutter to send Andretti out to the floor. Back in and we hit the parade of knockdowns, via a selection of strikes and throws. Bowens gives Xavier the running Fameasser, followed by a wind up hanging DDT. Rush gives Bowens the springboard Stunner into the Final Hour for the pin at 9:06.

Rating: B-. This was basically a way for Rush to get his momentum back after he lost the ROH TV Title last week. It’s a match with a bunch of people flying around and getting in a spot here or there, which is about all you can do in a match like this. Rush continues to be so weird that it’s hard to not pay attention to him so this went well enough.

Zero Hour: Sisters Of Sin vs. Kris Statlander/Harley Cameron

Cameron and Blue shove each other around to start until it’s off to Statlander. That means Cameron can be dropped onto Blue for two but Hart gets in a middle rope hurricanrana. Statlander shrugs that off and Cameron is back in to catch Hart on the apron. Back up and Hart grabs Cameron from the ropes and snaps the arm across the top, allowing Blue to get in a running knee for two.

Statlander is back up and strikes away, with a double cover getting two. Hart gets in a quickly broken Black Widow and it’s back to Cameron, who is taken down with a swinging neckbreaker. A crucifix driver gets Cameron out of trouble and everything breaks down, with all four being knocked down. Back up and Statlander gets in a quick Staturday Night Fever to pin Hart at 9:54.

Rating: C. This match was thrown onto the card last night after an attack on Collision and that didn’t give them much time to really make it work. Cameron can have a weird partner of the week and make it work with anyone as she’s more than charismatic to pull the idea off. It’s another match that belongs on Collision, but if everyone has to get on the show (because reasons), it makes as much sense as anything else.

Zero Hour: Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Boom & Doom/Hurt Syndicate

The rest of the Promotions and Big Justice are here too. Benjamin and Moriarty go face to face to start and it’s Benjamin glaring at Moriarty for daring a chop. Benjamin slams him down and it’s off to Boom & Doom to do the same. That just earns Marshall a trip to the apron for a string of shots to the back.

Moriarty slaps on an assisted Abdominal stretch until the cheating chain falls apart. Marshall flips over for the tag to AJ, who is dropkicked down for two. Dean gets in the Bronco Buster but AJ clotheslines his way out of trouble. That means it’s off to Lashley for the running clotheslines, followed by a spear to Taylor on the floor.

A running powerslam gets two on Dean, with Bravo making a questionable save. Bravo and Dean get in a belly to back neckbreaker combination but Benjamin is back in with an ankle lock. That’s broke up so it’s time to go after Taylor, with an assisted Powerboom planting him hard. The good guys are up with the string of strikes and Justice even gets in for a spear. The Dominator finishes Bravo at 11:24.

Rating: C+. This went about as well as it could have as, again, there were so many people involved in a single match. That’s been a problem for a long time around here and it’s continuing on the Kickoff Show, which already has twenty wrestlers in three matches. There is only so much you can do to get attention in that span and it only kind of worked here, even with the Syndicate getting to dominate.

Post match the Syndicate gets a $50,000 check from the Rizzler, which seems to work for them.

Bryan Danielson joins commentary.

Zero Hour: Maya World vs. Persephone

World is defending as Persephone’s CMLL Women’s Title isn’t on the line. World’s headscissors takes Persephone down to start and a springboard version does it again. Persephone is back with a corner clothesline and some stomping but gets knocked outside. The dive off the apron gives World two back inside but Persephone ties her up with a leglock.

With that broken up, Persephone grabs a Samoan driver for two and a fall away slam sends World flying again. World pops up with a springboard Stunner though and they’re both down. They go up top for a fall away slam and the tabletop suplex gets two on Persephone, who has to grab the rope. Cue a masked woman to shove World off the top though and the Razor’s Edge gives Persephone the pin and the title at 11:09.

Rating: C+. That’s a surprise title change as World didn’t feel like she was ready to drop the thing, but at the same time Persephone does seem to be a project for AEW. I’m curious about the interference as it could be just about anyone (Ted Arcidi is always an option) and that gives World another option of something to do. It wasn’t a great match, but it opens some doors and that’s always nice to see.

Post match the masked person is….back inside to give World the Lockjaw, as it’s Britt Baker. Well dang that’s a big surprise.

Thekla climbs onto the Zero Hour desk and confirms that she is back. She’s here to drink and watch the show closely because she’s coming for Willow Nightingale no matter what.

Persephone is glad to have a good doctor watching her back. Britt Baker comes in to say she’s glad to be back because she has some new perspective. They don’t seem to like Thunder Rosa either.

Trios Titles: Roulette Royal

Hangman Page/Brodido are defending and this is a Royal Rumble, with timed (intervals not listed) entrances and all three members having to be tossed. The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White/Colten Gunn/Austin Gunn) are in at #1 (of seven total teams) and the Dogs (Clark Connors/David Finlay/Gabe Kidd) are in at #2. They start with the exchange of right hands but the Gang spends too much time posing and get punched down. The Gang gets beaten down and the Demand (Ricochet/Bishop Kaun/Toa Liona) are in at #3.

The Dogs and the Demand get in an argument though and the Gang fight back up. Colten is sent to the apron though and a spear gets rid of him for the first elimination. The Conglomeration is in at #4 as the ring is starting to get full. Cassidy of course takes his time to get in as his partners beat various people up, only to get caught by Liona. Austin is launched into a cutter and knocked out, leaving White alone for his team. We slow down a bit and the Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli/Wheeler Yuta/Pac) are in at #5.

After the bouncing circle, they get inside with Marina Shafir joining them for a showdown with Roderick Strong, who gives her a backbreaker. Oh he’ll be hearing about that later. The Conglomeration strikes at Pac and it’s Page/Brodido (Brody King/Bandido) in at #6. The three of them get in as Cassidy is holding onto the post to stay out of the way in a smart move. Nine people get stacked up in three corner and the champions fire off cannonballs. A bunch of people get together to toss King but it’s Page getting caught in the corner or running shots from just about everyone else.

O’Reilly and Strong seem to have been tossed at some point in there, leaving Cassidy alone. White is almost thrown out but hangs on and grabs the rope in a smart move. Cassidy is brought back in and splashed but he fights out of the corner. White is still alive with a sleeper suplex as the Cages send Cassidy…well beyond the apron actually but he gets back inside. Kidd bashes his own head into the buckle because reasons and Cassidy is back up with a string of Orange Punches.

Cassidy is the only one standing and falls down as we go off the air with about thirty seconds left in the Zero Hour. We come back to the regular show with Swerve Strickland and….the new Level (Kofi/Austin Creed in a less than stunning yet still cool enough surprise) are in at #7.

The Level and Strickland take over on Yuta but get jumped by the Demand. A springboard Doomsday Device hits Kofi but the Level is back up to strike away at Liona. That means the Gates are knocked out and Cassidy sends Yuta to the apron, where Yuta grabs him with a choke. That’s broken up and another Orange Punch gets rid of Yuta, only for Ricochet to dump Cassidy and clear some of the ring out. Strickland cuts off Bandido’s 21 Plex to Castagnoli and there’s the required Page vs. Strickland showdown.

A Buckshot Lariat off the back of Strickland hits Ricochet but the Dogs spear both of them down. Bandido gets piledriven and tossed, as does Connors. White and Finlay go over the top and to the apron, with White eliminating him but getting pulled out by Finlay to eliminate the Gang. Page gives Castagnoli the Deadeye but gets sent to the apron and is dropkicked out by Ricochet, meaning the champions are gone.

Strickland flips Ricochet out to eliminate the Demand and we’re down to Strickland, Kofi, Creed, Kidd, Castagnoli and Pac. Kofi is sent out but hangs on by his feet, with Prince Nana helping him hand walk back inside. What used to be known as Daybreak hits Kidd and he’s gone and a double clothesline eliminates the Riders to give Strickland and the Level the titles at 40:07.

Rating: B-. You know what you’re getting with a 21 man Royal Rumble and it’s not like Creed/Kofi were big surprises. Once it was confirmed that they would be involved, there was no reason to think anyone else was leaving. It’s not like these titles have any kind of a lasting legacy and losing them pretty quickly is hardly some terrible thing. Fun match, though stretching it out to be on the start of the main show was a bit tedious.

Quick note now that the show has started: it might only be about half full (which is still a ton of people) but the stadium looks great. This feels like a major show on a big stage and that’s what they’re going for by running the venue.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Brawling Birds vs. Lena Kross/Megan Bayne

Kross and Bayne are defending. Bayne shoulders Hayter down to start but a double shoulder drops Bayne as well. Everything breaks down and they go to the floor, with the Birds actually losing the brawl. Back in and Hayter gets caught in the corner, with Bayne standing on her throat.

Kross gets the sliding German suplex for two but Hayter clotheslines her way out of trouble. Windsor chops away at Bayne and Blue Thunder Bombs Kross for two. That earns Windsor some running shots in the corner and Bayne sends her flying with a release German suplex. Everything breaks down again and the Birds grab stereo German suplexes.

They all knock each other down again and it’s Bayne up to German suplex both Birds at once. Hayter gets in a double DDT but it’s a running boot into a German suplex to drop her again. Divine Intervention gets two with Windsor breaking the cover and another German suplex drops Bayne. The Haytebreaker sets up Two Birds One Stone to finish Kross for the titles at 11:40.

Rating: B-. This was the result I had the most confidence in all night as there was no reason to believe that the Birds were losing. Kross and Bayne had held the titles long enough and the Birds winning would be the feel good moment. They didn’t overthink it (save for spamming the German suplexes) and it was pretty much exactly what it should have been.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley vs. Nigel McGuinness

Moxley is defending and this is the finals of a tournament where the champion was involved because that’s a thing we spent most of a month doing. McGuinness is coming in with a bad ankle as well so Moxley already has a target. They go with the wrist battle to start and McGuinness backs him up against the ropes for the break. Moxley gets smart by going for the leg and McGuinness uppercuts him out to the floor.

Back in and McGuinness starts in on the arm, setting up quite the arm stretch. With that broken up, Moxley goes after the leg and McGuinness gets creative by offering his back to protect his own ankle. Moxley works on the leg and hammers away in the corner before unwrapping the tape on McGuinness’ ankle. McGuinness gets smart again by grabbing the tape and wrapping it around Moxley’s face to escape.

A missed charge in the corner lets McGuinness grab the Tower Of London for two but Moxley is right back with the LeBell Lock. That’s reversed into the same thing from McGuinness, with Danielson making sure to compare their grips. Moxley escapes again and stomps on the ankle, which just wakes McGuinness up for the exchange of forearms. A pair of lariats put Moxley down but McGuinness can’t follow up.

Moxley’s rebound lariat is cut off with a lariat from McGuinness, which of course has Moxley popping up for the bulldog choke. McGuinness drives his chin into the arm to escape and the London Dungeon goes on but Moxley rolls out into an ankle lock. McGuinness escapes again so Moxley grabs the same hold, followed by a running Stomp. Another ankle lock makes McGuinness tap at 17:13.

Rating: B. Forgive me for not getting excited about Moxley getting to be the tough submission star, again, and retain his title, again, after we had a tournament for the sake of a wrestler getting to show how awesome Moxley is, again. I know McGuinness winning here was the longest of long shots and they shouldn’t have changed the title, but dang I’m over Moxley. He’s presented as the ultimate fighter in every aspect and it gets more than a bit tiresome. Just do something else with him already. Like send him on vacation.

As for the match itself, this was McGuinness trying to think his way through the injury and survive until he could find an opening but he made the mistake of trying to brawl with Moxley. Throw in the submission game and Moxley was too much for him. Some of the stuff McGuinness was doing out there was brilliant but it just wasn’t enough in the end.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher is defending and this is the Don Callis Family match, as Takeshita has been thrown out of the team while the other two are still in but don’t get along a lot of the time. Fletcher knocks Okada outside and Takeshita looks stunned in a funny opening. Okada is back up and pulls both of them outside for a double hanging DDT, followed by the running dive. Back in and Okada knocks Takeshita down and flips off the crowd, only for Fletcher to come in and flip him off from behind.

Fletcher knocks Takeshita down and then Okada gives Fletcher a brainbuster, only to walk into a Rainmaker from Takeshita. Fletcher’s Raging Fire drops Takeshita and all three are down off the stolen finishers. The screwdriver is brought in and Takeshita German suplexes Fletcher while rolling Okada up at the same time. Now Takeshita grabs the screwdriver but can’t commit a bad case of murder.

Instead he knees Fletcher for two with Okada getting up to kick at both of them. Okada gets double teamed to the floor so Takeshita and Fletcher can slug it out, only to get rid of Okada again. Fletcher hits the turnbuckle brainbuster on Takeshita….but gets Rainmakered by Okada for the pin and the title at 13:12.

Rating: B. Good enough here and I liked that it didn’t run as long. They had told their story and Okada stole the pin at the right time. Hopefully this is it for the multiway feud (it won’t be, at least not entirely) as they all need to just find something else to do. It’s a solid match and didn’t overstay its welcome, which is a perfectly acceptable result here.

Post match Fletcher reluctantly raises Okada’s hand.

Casino Gauntlet Match

There are an unknown number of entrants at unspecified intervals with the winner of the first fall getting a future World Title shot. Andrade El Idolo is in at #1 and MJF is in at #2 and since they hate each other, the brawl is on in a hurry. MJF fights up and struts a bit, setting up a crotch to the face. Andrade is back up, takes his pants off, and hits his own thrust to the face. We pause for the photo with the woman and here is Nick Wayne to poisonrana Andrade on the floor as he’s the #3 entrant.

MJF wants an alliance with Wayne but here is Mike Bailey in at #4 to start firing off the kicks. Bailey kicks Wayne down and MJF is sent outside, leaving Bailey and Andrade to hit big dives. They’re all down on the floor and it’s Tommaso Ciampa in at #5…but he takes so long posing that Chris Jericho is in at #6 to jump Ciampa on the way to the ring. Jericho fires off a bunch of right hands to clear the ring so MJF comes in to mock him. That earns him the Walls, with Mark Davis coming in at #7 to break it up.

Davis starts snapping off the piledrivers, including one to MJF, with commentary being surprised at the kickout. Komander (or Mistico according to Justin Roberts) is in at #8 for his rope walk flip dive. NOW Roberts gets the name right and Komander hits the Cielito Lindo for two on Ciampa. Mistico is in at #9 (Roberts: “You guessed it!”) but Daniel Garcia is in at #10 to jump Mistico on the ramp.

Mistico is back up and gets to clean house before staring it down with Komander. A quick La Mistica has Komander in trouble but MJF makes the save. MJF blocks Garcia’s piledriver and Bailey is back in for the save. Ciampa knees Bailey for two and Jack Perry is in at #11. Perry gets to clean house and Snare Traps Ciampa until Wayne makes a save of his own.

Davis is back in and Perry actually gives him a piledriver before Jericho is back in with the Judas Effect to MJF. Wayne’s Phoenix splash lands on Davis’ face so MJF shakes Wayne’s hand…and then kicks him low. The Heatseeker plants Wayne but Andrade is back in with Dia de los Muertos to MJF and pins Wayne at 21:07.

Rating: B. On one hand, it was a lot of the same people you would have expected in this match with pretty much nothing in the way of surprises. At the same time, the right person won and that should make things more interesting for whomever leaves as World Champion. Andrade is on a roll right now and putting him in a title match is a good idea. Just don’t have him have to defend the shot or something as that’s rarely interesting.

Tag Team Titles: Young Bucks vs. Adam Copeland/Christian Cage

Copeland and Cage are defending in what is a battle of the best teams of their generations (that uh, might be up for debate). Cage and Nick start things off and everything breaks down in a hurry, with Nick getting stomped down in the corner. The Bucks are right back up with the running bulldogs, completely with high fives. That means Cage gets caught in the wrong corner with the Bucks starting in on the arm.

That doesn’t last long as it’s already back to Copeland, who is superkicked down just as fast. Copeland is fine enough to piledrive Matt on the apron (Taz: “That’s a game changer.” Not in AEW it isn’t.). Cage neckbreakers Nick for two and chokes on the ropes but misses the right hand. That’s enough for Matt to get in a kick from the apron and Copeland’s spear is sent into the buckle. Matt gives Copeland a jumping stomp to the back and Backstabbers Cage out of the corner, setting up Risky Business for two.

Copeland is right back up with a half crab but Matt gets out and heads to the apron. Another spear is loaded up but Nick flips away and grabs a Stunner on Cage on the floor in a slick counter. Back in and Matt suplexes both of them at once but Nick’s leg gives out on the Meltzer Driver. Cage is back up with a Twist Of Fate to Matt, setting up a 3D for two more. A double superplex drops Matt but Nick 450s onto both of them for the big crash. The Bucks try the BTE Trigger but Copeland spears Cage by mistake for the failed save attempt.

Now the BTE Trigger hits Cage for two, with the kickout freaking Matt out. Another Meltzer Driver is speared out of the air and the Killswitch into a pop up spear gets two more on Nick. Cage: “F***!” The belt is brought in but the referee takes it away, allowing Cage to pull out what looks like a wrench. A shot to the leg keeps Nick in trouble but Matt rolls Cage up for two. The wrist brace to the head knocks Matt silly and another spear retains the titles at 20:07.

Rating: B+. This was another rather great match and I’ll take the Bucks losing another shot at the titles. I’m not sure how much of a dream match this was (though that term is horribly overused) but it did wind up being pay per view worthy with Cage and Copeland still having incredible chemistry. Rather good match here and I’m not sure who is next for the champions. Just not a ladder rematch. Please.

Post match the Motor City Machine Guns come out for the staredown. Yeah that works. Then FTR comes out to join everyone. Yeah that’s not as interesting. Then it’s New Level, because only having a belt each isn’t enough.

TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. Darby Allin

Knight is defending in a falls count anywhere match after attacking Allin after he lost the World Title and then attempting to murder Allin (a few times). After skateboarding down to the ring, Allin dropkicks Knight into the corner but gets choked back down. Knight takes too long loading up a table (of course) and is knocked down with a suicide dive. Allin has to dive over the steps but gets taken down, allowing Knight to put him on the announcers’ table.

There’s the springboard dive onto Allin onto the table for two and it’s time to throw in some chairs. That takes too long as well though and Allin sunset bombs him onto the chairs for the crash. Cue the Don Callis Family to take Allin out though and load up a ladder. Knight is dropped onto the chairs and let’s tape his hands together. Steven Borden runs in for the save with a good dropkick but gets powerbombed through the table. Allin is back up with a top rope hurricanrana, even with his hands still taped back.

Cage superplexes him though and ties him in the Tree Of Woe…and the lights go out. The fans go nuts as Sting is back for the save and Allin bats Knight into the Scorpion Death Drop. Borden loads up a ladder and climbs at the same time as Sting, with Borden telling his dad that he has this. Borden’s big dive takes the Family out and then brawls to the back, with Sting joining them. Allin and Knight go to the stage and Allin climbs the set for a huge Coffin Drop through Knight and through the floor. Knight is put on a stretcher but gets crushed with another Coffin Drop to give Allin the title at 15:47.

Rating: B-. Ok so this was a weird one, as the people who weren’t involved were the stars. The deal with Borden doing the dive so his father didn’t have to was a great moment and it’s cool to see Sting getting to do that with his son rather than Allin. At the same time, I am so utterly over Allin trying to find another way to do his insane dives or whatever ideas he has that day. He does them so often and it is just not interesting for me anymore but he got his revenge here and can move on to get blown up another day.

We recap Willow Nightingale defending the Women’s Title against Mercedes Mone. Basically Mone seems to blame Nightingale for all of the bad things that have happened in her career so it’s time for her to get revenge and the title.

Women’s Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale, with a broken hand, is defending and Mone comes out with a bunch of ballet dancers. On the other hand, Nightingale has a storybook theme of a knight who kept getting knocked down but kept getting up and smiling. As a bonus, Nightingale has chest cannons (exactly what they sound like) which are likely a Dolly Parton reference. Mone is sat on the top to start and gets slapped out to the floor, with Nightingale taking her out with a dive.

Nightingale is getting a bit confident so Mone goes after the hand, only to be sent crashing into the barricade. Back in and Mone pulls a turnbuckle pad off and sends Nightingale into the steel for two as things slow down. Mone takes her down by the arm and cranks away a bit, setting up a camel clutch. That’s broken up so Mone grabs the Three Amigos, with the third seeing them to go the apron.

Nightingale suplexes her down to the floor for the big crash though and they both have to beat the count. The slugout goes to Nightingale as Mone seems to have a broken nose. A missile dropkick gives Nightingale two and Mone’s Backstabber gets the same. Mone grabs a wristlock to really crank up the pain but Nightingale takes her up top for a super Spanish Fly. The Cannonball misses though and Mone powerbombs her into the corner. The Meteora is broken up as well and Nightingale forearms her down.

A moonsault gives Nightingale two more but she gets caught in the Mone Maker, with Mone driving her into the exposed buckle before slamming her down. Nightingale kicks out again and Mone’s face is just covered in blood. Back up and Nightingale knocks her into the referee so Mone sends the bad wrist into the announcers’ table. Mone takes the glove off and bends the fingers back but stops to pick up the belt.

That’s enough for Nightingale to send her into the steps and get in a belt shot of her own. The Babe With The Powerbomb connects for a rather delayed near fall so Nightingale hits an (exposed) buckle bomb. A superbomb is countered into a hurricanrana but Mone reverses another Babe With The Powerbomb into a Statement Maker, with the arm trapped, for the tap and the title at 21:53.

Rating: B. Yeah of course Mone won. I’m not sure why I thought she was ever in danger because Mone has to win because otherwise we might forget that she is a million times better than everyone else. As usual, Mone is the biggest star in the division and we have to remember it, no matter how popular Nightingale was getting. Thank goodness Mone got another big accomplishment, as she just doesn’t have enough to get the point across.

We recap Will Ospreay challenging Kenny Omega for the World Title. Ospreay is back from a broken neck and wants to win the big one in his home country. The idea was that they were fighting to see who was best but then Omega started messing with Ospreay’s mind by bringing up their past and Ospreay’s family, which sent Ospreay over the edge. Omega went a bit nuts as well and feels like a villain coming into this.

AEW World Title: Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega

Ospreay is challenging with a video narrated by his mother, talking about how far Ospreay has come and never gave up. Ospreay walks through the back and finds Henare, Akira Francesca and Callum Newman, but stops to get the Union Jack from Jon Moxley. On the other hand, Omega has a video about his career, plus the Young Bucks, Brandon Cutler and Michael Nakazawa with him, which goes nicely with the Assassins Creed (or so I’m told) entrance.

They take their time staring at each other before locking up and trading chops against the ropes. Ospreay pops up from a shoulder and grabs a hurricanrana, followed by a running knee out to the floor. The required dive puts Omega down again and the fans rather approve of Ospreay. Back in and a Phenomenal Forearm is countered into a gorilla press slam, allowing Omega to crank on the neck.

Omega chokes in the corner and hits a backbreaker to move on to the other end of the spine. A nasty neckbreaker lets Omega take the pad off of the turnbuckle bar, with the neck being crushed against the steel again. Ospreay is fine enough to hit the Phenomenal Forearm and a pair of enziguris gets two. The standing corkscrew moonsault hits raised knees but Omega is sent outside for a dive. They fight out to ringside and Omega loads up a table, which can’t possibly end well.

Ospreay fights back and shoves the referee down, allowing Omega to get in a monitor shot to the head. The bleeding Ospreay is sitout powerbombed onto the table, which is good for a nine, with Omega smashing him with a V Trigger on the way back inside. A dragon suplex drops Ospreay onto the apron and Omega yells at the camera. Omega knocks him silly again and it’s a missile dropkick to the back of the head back inside.

A V Trigger in the corner looks to set up a super One Winged Angel but Omega has to settle for a German superplex. Omega fires off some hard knees to the head and some snapdragons have Ospreay in more trouble. Another V Trigger is loaded up but Ospreay scores with a much needed Hidden Blade. Back up and Omega starts firing off some boxing style punches, earning himself a hard headbutt. Ospreay hits a heck of a punt to the head and a hard elbow to the back of the head.

Omega has to get up at nine, where a Hidden Blade connects to give Ospreay two more. Back up and Ospreay rolls him into the Styles Clash for another near fall but Omega knees him out of the air. They get up and slug it out until Omega hits a poisonrana, with Ospreay popping back up to his feet. Omega grabs a Tiger Driver 91 and the fans go rather quiet. The One Winged Angel connects….for two in quite the moment. Well at least he didn’t kick out at one.

Omega sits next to him on the ropes and hits another big running knee, only to get Tiger Driver 91’d to leave them both down again. Ospreay can’t stand up so Omega knees him in the head again but a running version is blocked. Ospreay’s own One Winged Angel gets one, as do a Hidden Blade and Stormbreaker. Another Hidden Blade gives Ospreay the pin and the title at 34:47.

Rating: A-. The fans going silent at the Tiger Driver 91 was a great moment and while this took some time to get going, it turned into an awesome back and forth match by the end. I never quite bought Omega having a realistic chance to retain the title but they had enough hard hitting violence that it worked. Heck of a main event here, with AEW doing exactly what they should have in crowning Ospreay on his home soil.

Ospreay celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Yeah it’s a rather good if not great AEW show. Film at 11 and all that. The stadium looked very nice and the crowd was huge, but I’m not sure if it got up to that epic level that some AEW events reach. The main event was great and there were some very good parts throughout, but this didn’t so much feel like an all time major show as much as a really good show taking place in a big stadium. Certainly good, but not in their upper tier of shows.

Results
Lio Rush/The Rascalz b. The Opps – Final Hour to Bowens
Harley Cameron/Kris Statlander b. Sisters Of Sin – Staturday Night Fever to Hart
Hurt Syndicate/Boom & Doom b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Dominator to Bravo
Persephone b. Maya World – Razor’s Edge
Swerve Strickland/New Level won Roulette Royal last eliminating the Death Riders
Brawling Birds b. Lena Kross/Megan Bayne – Two Birds One Stone to Kross
Jon Moxley b. Nigel McGuinness – Ankle lock
Kazuchika Okada b. Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita – Rainmaker to Fletcher
Andrade El Idolo won the Casino Gauntlet match – Heatseeker to Wayne
Adam Copeland/Christian Cage b. Young Bucks – Spear to Matt
Darby Allin b. Kevin Knight – Coffin Drop onto a stretcher
Mercedes Mone b. Willow Nightingale – Arm trap Statement Maker
Will Ospreay b. Kenny Omega – Hidden Blade

 

 

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AAA Ola de Calor – August 30, 2026: The Opposition Party

Ola de Calor
Date: August 30, 2026
Location: Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg, Texas
Commentators: Rey Mysterio, John Bradshaw Layfield, Corey Graves

This is a rare special event for AAA as we have a much bigger than usual card. It seems to be a way to mess with AEW’s All In event taking place at the same time but that’s hardly a new idea. The big draw here will be the crowning of a new Latin American Champion in a four way so let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at how things are heating up around here and that means AAA is changing. There are all kinds of things going on and now it is time to shake things up around.

Various wrestlers arrive including Dominik Mysterio, who gets on the phone and says “let’s go with Plan B.”.

LWO/Lince Dorado/Mini Abismo Negro vs. Mr. Iguana/Axiom/Noisy Boy/Mascarita Sagrada

Axiom and Wilde start things off with Wilde getting two off a rollup but walking into a dropkick. Back up and Wilde kicks him inside out, only for Boy to come in with a slingshot crucifix. A superkick and anklescissors let Boy flip into a pose, only to get caught with a dropkick from behind.

Del Toro takes over in the corner and it’s Dorado coming back in but a roll across the ring allows the tag to Sagrada. That means del Toro is taken down and Iguana comes in to take over as everything breaks down. Dorada busts out an awesome corkscrew moonsault to the floor and Iguana gets caught in the wrong corner. Abismo’s tilt-a-whirl backbreaker puts Iguana down but Dorado misses a shooting star press.

That and an enziguri allow Iguana to bring in Sagrada to clean house. A rather spinning crucifix gets…nothing on Abismo as he isn’t legal. Everything breaks down and Boy busts out a top rope springboard corkscrew dive. That leaves Sagrada to get in quite the spinning headscissors to Abismo and Iguana throws Yesica at Wilde. That sets up an electric chair spun into a DDT to give Iguana the pin at 9:47.

Rating: B-. This was all it needed to be with a bunch of people getting a chance to do a bunch of dives. Boy continues to look good in spots like this and it was nice to see him doing something like this. Iguana continues to be someone who can get over with the sheer oddness that he presents and it was on full display here. In other words, putting him out there was a layup and they got it right.

Gauntlet Match

We have an unknown number of unknown entrants for a Reina de Reinas Title shot against Flammer at TripleMania. Adelicious is in at #1 d Lady Shani is in at #2 with Shani taking her down a few times to start fast. Adelicious is back with a Matrix into a headscissors and they trade some rollups. Back up and Adelicious’s rather flipping shoulder to the ribs sets up a missed 450. Instead Shani grabs a Texas Tumbleweed for the pin at 2:57.

Thea Hail is in at #3 and goes after Shani’s arm for an early near fall. Shani knocks her right back down and starts on the leg, followed by a quick cross armbreaker. That’s broken up so it’s another Texas Tumbleweed, which is countered into a rollup to give Hail the pin at 7:11 total. La Catalina is in at #4 and starts fast with a suplex. The running hip attack in the ropes misses though and Hail is on the arm. Hail sends said arm into the corner but gets crossbodied for her efforts.

Catalina gets in a running knee in the corner and lifts her into an electric chair, with the arm going on. Hail grabs the Kimura, with Catalina flipping over for the pin at 11:40. La Hiedra (Flammer’s stablemate) is in at #5 and Flammer is NOT happy as Hiedra starts in on Catalina’s arm as well.

Hiedra wraps the arm around the rope but gets her neck snapped across the top. Catalina goes up and gets Iconoclasmed back but is still able to grab a rollup for two. Flammer gets sick of the near falls and grabs her belt, only to hit Hiedra by mistake. With Flammer sent to the floor, Catalina hits a pump knee for the win at 17:35.

Rating: B-. Catalina felt like the strong favorite even though she wasn’t actually announced for the match in advance. The women’s division continues to feel like something of a mess and it’s nice to have one definitive woman seem ready to challenge for the title. Flammer and Hiedra not getting along could be interesting too but we can get there when it’s t he right time.

Tag Team Titles: Los Americanos vs. War Raiders

The Raiders are defending. Erik shoulders Rayo to start but gets sent into the corner. A double elbow gives Bravo two but he’s powered into the corner so the champions can start the beating. Bravo manages to send Erik into the corner but he shrugs that off just as fast. Bravo comes in and gets dropped by Ivar’s clothesline. A flipping escape into the diving tag brings Bravo back in for a rather impressive spinning slam.

The super hurricanrana hits Ivar and Rayo’s Swanton gets two on Ivar. That earns Bravo a heck of a spinning kick to the face but he slips out of a double spinebuster. A snap of the finger slows Erik down and a springboard headbutt connects, with Erik having to make a save. Ivar’s Bronco Buster misses in the corner so Bravo gives him the rather impressive airplane spin. Bravo goes up for the Swan Dive but Erik throws in a belt, with Bravo crashing onto it to give Erik the pin at 10:20.

Rating: B. This was a basic power vs. speed match and the speed team had them in trouble until the cheating came into play. That’s a classic, simple story and these teams made it work perfectly well. The Raiders are a good choice for the titles right now and they very well may hold onto them for quite a while, which isn’t a bad idea as it’s working.

El Carnicero vs. Chris Carter

We get a vignette showing Carnicero being let out of a truck and walking to the arena, looking like something out of a horror movie. The beating is on quickly, with Carter clearly being in trouble. A gorilla press sends Carter crashing out to the floor and Carnicero chokes him down back inside. The beating continues until the referee calls for the bell at 2:24, giving Carnicero the win.

Post match Dave and Murder Clown run in for the save but get beaten down as well. Psycho Clown comes in with a kendo stick to clear the ring. Psycho wants a street fight at TripleMania. This went fine, as Carnicero felt like a monster and gets his big match set up.

Jack Cartwheel vs. Mini Vikingo vs. Nathan Frazer

For a Cruiserweight Title shot and we get a three way handshake to start. Vikingo avoids an armdrag so Cartwheel rolls both of them up for a double near fall. Frazer is sent outside, leaving the other two to trade flips and misses. Back in and Frazer dropkick both of them down before running Vikingo over. Cartwheel and Frazer fight over a suplex until Cartwheel settles for a headscissors.

Cartwheel knocks both of them down for two but Vikingo is back up to send Cartwheel outside. Vikingo hits a big corkscrew dive to knock Frazer again but he gets up to Spanish Fly Cartwheel off the steps. Back in and Frazer wins a kickoff to Vikingo, setting up a reverse springboard Spanish Fly for two more. Cartwheel cuts Frazer off and gives him a crucifix bomb for two before dropkicking Vikingo in the corner.

Frazer cuts Cartwheel off though and Vikingo’s top rope crucifix bomb gets a rather near fall. With the other two knocked outside, Cartwheel moonsaults onto Vikingo but gets dropkicked hard into the steps. Frazer’s big running flip dive hits both of them and he frog splashes Cartwheel for two. Cartwheel muscles Frazer up for a German suplex and a near fall and grabs a fireman’s carry, with Vikingo coming in with a top rope double stomp into the Death Valley Driver.

Everyone needs a breather until it’s time for the circle of forearms. Cartwheel is back up with a space flying tiger drop onto the other two but Frazer superplexes him into a swinging suplex for a rather near fall. Vikingo catches Frazer with a super Spanish Fly but doesn’t cover, allowing Cartwheel to catch him on top. Cartwheel splashes Vikingo for two, with Frazer making the save. Frazer misses the Phoenix splash and gets caught with Vikingo’s Phoenix 630. Cartwheel dives onto the cover for the save and time expires at 20:20 (eh close enough). JBL: “NO! NO!”

Rating: A-. Yes it was a bunch of flips and dives, but it was 20 minutes of flips and dives. It’s an incredibly athletic spectacle and they didn’t stop for almost the entire thing. This was a good example of knowing what you’re getting into with the match and it’s really a lot of junk food, but DANG this was fun to watch.

Post match Rey Fenix comes out to praise all three of them and announce a four way for the title at TripleMania.

Latin American Title: El Fiscal vs. La Parka vs. Damian Priest vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

For the vacant title. Priest and Fiscal go straight to the floor, leaving Parka to backbreaker Wagner for two. Priest is back in to wreck everyone, with Wagner being kicked outside. The Broken Arrow gets two on Parka and a lifting Downward Spiral plants him for the same. Wagner is back up to superkick Priest into a brainbuster but Fiscal is back in with a moonsault.

Parka is up with a moonsault of his own and then runs Wagner over for two more. Fiscal kicks Priest in the head, which just makes Priest mad. Wagner superkicks Fiscal and a Spanish Fly takes Parka down. Priest punches Fiscal out of the air and gives Fiscal and Wagner a Razor’s Edge each. South Of Heaven hits Fiscal but Parka makes the save and gives Fiscal a Bone Breaker for the pin and the title at 9:23.

Rating: B. Well, the fans love Parka so there are worse ideas. I wasn’t expecting this one but Fiscal can move on to a big blowoff with Abismo Negro Jr., Wagner can do whatever and Priest can head back to the main roster. This was another action packed match and the ending was quite the surprise so we’ll call it another success.

Here is General Manager Rey Mysterio for a contract signing. It’s his job to put together the biggest TripleMania card possible and that includes the Mega Title being defended. It’s time to make the match official but here is Dominik Mysterio, with Dorian Roldan, to interrupt. Roldan gets to a different point, as he wants Omos’ suspension lifted. Omos wants to apologize but Rey doesn’t seem sure.

Dominik says Roldan is wasting his time here but Rey brings out El Grande Americano to sign the contract. Americano brings up Dominik calling himself the King Of The Luchadors but Americano doesn’t buy it. At TripleMania, Americano will prove him wrong and signs the contract. Dominik says that he’s not signing until Omos’ suspension is lifted. Rey threatens to strip the title and give it to Americano but that’s not how Americano wants to win.

Cue Omos through the crowd and of course he has a ticket. Omos pats the top of Rey’s mask and Rey goes after him, with Americano breaking it up. Dominik jumps Americano and sends him into the steps, followed by the beating with a chair. Rey saves Americano and says if Omos wants to come back to AAA, he has to beat Rey at TripleMania. If Rey wins though, Omos is gone forever. Now Dominik signs. There was a lot here but having Rey on the card is a good idea.

Los Perros del Mal vs. Penta/Dragon Lee/Rey Fenix

Fenix and Berto start things off with Fenix missing some running flips and grabbing a sunset flip for two. Fenix gets sent into the wrong corner though and it’s Garza coming in for a suplex and a six count (three near falls). A running boot in the ropes gets two and it’s back to Berto for some choking in the ropes. We pause for Berto to mock the Penta strut but Fenix gets in a pop up hurricanrana. That’s enough for the tag off to Penta to clean house and it’s off to Lee, who gets sent into the wrong corner.

That doesn’t last long either as Lee flips out and brings in Penta to chop it out with Daga. They kick each other down for a double tag off to Berto vs. Fenix, with Berto getting two off a kick to the head. A rolling cutter drops Berto so it’s back to Garza to take over on Lee. Everything breaks down and Berto powerbombs Fenix for two. Penta and Lee hit stereo running flip dives and Berto’s moonsault is kicked out of the air. The Mexican MuscleBuster gives Fenix the pin on Berto at 11:55.

Rating: B. I get that you can’t have the good guys lose with the tournament final coming up on Monday, but Los Perros feel more and more like the Nexus every single week. They don’t really win anything and while they might be intimidating, it stops mattering as much when they just lost in the main event. It was another fast paced match, but Los Perros don’t feel like they matter whatsoever.

Post match Los Perros run back in for the beatdown to end the show. You really couldn’t have had them do that after pinning Lee?

Overall Rating: B+. The last three matches more than carried the show, with only the women’s match feeling a bit less than important (which isn’t due to the action we saw here). Overall, this felt like an extended version of the weekly TV show and that’s a good situation to have, as it’s regularly one of the most entertaining things throughout the week. I wouldn’t want this to be something that is regularly done, but I’ll absolutely take it for a special like this.

Results
Mr. Iguana/Mr. Iguana/Noisy Boy/Mascarita Sagrada b. LWO/Lince Dorado/Mini Abismo Negro – Spinning electric chair DDT to Wilde
La Catalina won a gauntlet match last eliminating La Hiedra
War Raiders b. Los Americanos – Swan Dive onto a belt to Bravo
Mini Vikingo vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Jack Cartwheel went to a time limit draw
La Parka b. El Fiscal, Damian Priest and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. – Bone Breaker to Fiscal
Penta/Rey Fenix/Dragon Lee b. Los Perros del Mal – Mexican MuscleBuster to Berto

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AEW All In 2026 Preview

We have arrived. This is the biggest AEW show of the year and once again we are over in England at Wembley Stadium where tens of thousands of fans are going to be in the house. As big as the stadium may be and how high the capacity may be, that is absolutely nothing to sneeze at and AEW deserves credit for drawing that many people. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Trios Titles: Royal Roulette

From what I can tell, this is a gauntlet match for the titles, with basically every trio in AEW at the moment, plus a wild card entry. Now I don’t think there’s much of a secret as to who is going to be in the wild card spot, but that has never stopped AEW before. As usual, this would be better off as a one off six man tag, but why do that when you can have another twelve people in a match instead?

I’ll go with the wild card team winning the titles here, in the form of Swerve Strickland and whatever New Day will be called in AEW. Assuming they’re the wild cards, there is almost no reason to not have them win the titles. I’m still not sure why they need to be involved in a trio (it worked so well with Odyssey Jones) but I guess the Bucks have the tag match sewn up so here we are.

Kickoff Show: TBS Title: Maya World(c) vs. Persephone

Champion needs challenger, challenger pins champion in tag match, title match ensues. It’s a story that has worked for the better part of ever in wrestling and it should work fine here. World has done well enough as champion but is feeling a bit like Rocky Maivia in his first reign, in that she is just kind of there with the title and having random matches. This might not help things, but at least she’s on the show.

I don’t see any reason to think that the title reign is already ending so I’ll go with World to retain here. It’s the most logical choice of the two and while Persephone feels like someone AEW wants to feature, she already has the CMLL Women’s Title and I don’t think I can take another double champion at the moment. World retains here and hopefully moves on to something more important.

Kickoff Show: The Opps vs. The Rascalz/Lio Rush

Here we have the first “does this really need to be here” match of the card, as the Opps continue to be a thing that exists for whatever reason. I’m not sure why Tony Khan insists on keeping the team around when Samoa Joe isn’t there to lift them up but how else will Hook fail to get over? This is also fallout from Rush losing the ROH TV Title to Action Andretti thanks to the Opps, because that’s a thing that happened.

I’ll take Rush and company to win here, even if there isn’t much for any of them to do. It’s probably a way to set up Rush’s rematch against Andretti for the title, which doesn’t really need to happen but how else are we getting eight more people on the show? There isn’t much of a need for this to be one of five pre-show matches but how else can Ring Of Honor be included here?

Kickoff Show: Kris Statlander/Harley Cameron vs. Sisters Of Sin

I’ll take more Cameron and Statlander so this is hardly a terrible thing, but it feels like filler on Collision rather than a match that needs to be happening here. Statlander and Cameron aren’t exactly a regular team but Cameron could get fans cheering for her in a coffin and the Sisters are a ready made heel act. It’s not exactly a complicated idea here and it should be fine.

Uh we’ll go with…..eh the Sisters I guess. It’s such a nothing match that it doesn’t really matter which way you go and that’s not the best feeling. Cameron tends to lose more often than win on the big stage but this is about all she can do at the moment. I still don’t see how AEW couldn’t find something better for her to do but that’s a list that we absolutely don’t have time to cover. I’ll take the Sisters here in a “someone has to win” situation.

Kickoff Show: Boom & Doom/Hurt Syndicate vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

And where would we be without the Costco Guys? It feels like these guys were a big deal for about five minutes and that was well over a year ago but here they are again. It’s another case of putting people on the show for the sake of getting them on there and now that we’re having as many matches on the Kickoff Show as we had on this week’s Dynamite, it’s kind of hard to get enthusiastic about another one.

Of course I’ll take the good guys to win, with the Syndicate getting some more momentum before a big showdown with the Promotions. There’s nothing to get excited about with this one, but I’m sure the Rizzler will be there to do his oh so funny face. That really does feel like the only thing this match has going for it and that’s hardly enough to get my interest up. But then again, something something celebrity star power I guess.

Women’s Title: Willow Nightingale(c) vs. Mercedes Mone

I wanted to get this one out of the way first because it has the potential to make me the angriest. I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’m not a fan of Mone. She’s incredibly talented and feels like a star, but she’s often presented as being light years ahead of the rest of the division. Nightingale already put Mone over to end a short title reign and it does not need to happen again.

While I don’t believe that it’s happening, I’ll take Nightingale to retain here. I know she’s injured and Mone is likely winning anyway, but Nightingale has made a connection with the fans and it would be a shame to see her lose again so Mone can get yet another accolade that won’t make her feel any bigger. Nightingale needs to win here and would benefit a lot more and I’ll say she will, though I won’t be surprised if/when Mone gets another big moment.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Lena Kross/Megan Bayne(c) vs. Brawling Birds

So there is going to be a theme to this show as there is a good chance that a lot of British wrestlers will pick up titles. That very well may start here, as the Birds are more than good enough to be the first team to stop Kross and Bayne. The only guaranteed thing here is that it’s going to be a heck of a fight and that is exactly what it should be with the British team involved.

There is no reason to think that the champions will retain here so I’ll go with the Birds taking the titles. Kross and Bayne are the monster champions and that means it is going to take a special team to stop them. A very British team in the most famous stadium in England is about as perfect as it can get. That’s exactly what should happen here and I’ll go with that, as the titles change hands.

TNT Title: Kevin Knight(c) vs. Darby Allin

This is Falls Count Anywhere and Knight has gone the extra mile with Allin, attempting to murder/injure him multiple times in the same segment. I know Allin gets attacked a lot but this was extreme even for him. Therefore we’re doing a match for revenge, and to allow Allin to do some kind of insane thing at the stadium. You know, as he does pretty much every time he’s around.

I’m actually going to go with Knight retaining here, as Allin is as made of a man as you can get in AEW and Knight could get a lot more out of retaining over a former World Champion. It is far from a guarantee as Allin needs to get revenge and such, but he can do that without taking the title. The TNT Title doesn’t mean anything to Allin here so let Knight keep it and get more out of the thing.

Tag Team Titles: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage(c) vs. Young Bucks

This is the dream match of the show and it falls firmly into the “yeah I guess” category that a lot of so called dream matches hit these days. That’s just the way it goes as I’m not sure how many people were clamoring for this in the first place. That being said, it should work out well as the Bucks can be very entertaining and the champs know how to do the old person version of their match.

As sick as I am of the Bucks, there isn’t much of a reason to believe that they’re going to lose here, so I’ll say new champions. Copeland and Cage winning the titles was a big moment but they haven’t exactly done much with the belts. That’s what happens with a lot of these title reigns, and now they can put the Bucks over so the Bucks can continue to be the biggest, most amazing team in AEW history because of course they are.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley(c) vs. Nigel McGuinness

So here we have the finals of a tournament, which has taken almost an entire month, and ended up with Moxley defending the title against a British challenger. In short, why have one match to set up a title defense when you can have fourteen of them? That’s where we are now and it leads to an interesting final, which should go one way but will probably go another.

In theory, this should be McGuinness winning the title but that would imply Moxley has to lose, which won’t happen, so I’ll say Moxley wins to retain. He has to you see because he needs to be in the next tournament for this belt later on in the year. I’m still not sure why this tournament, or title for that matter, needs to exist, but at least Moxley can get a big win that he hasn’t had in at least a week.

Casino Gauntlet

Remember when this was the most fun that AEW had? So much of that was due to the surprise entrants that you would see, but lately it has just been the regular midcard group and that’s not the most thrilling. Anyway the winner here gets a World Title shot at some point, but since we don’t know who all is involved, I’m kind of limited in the guesses that I can make.

The one entrant announced who makes the most sense here is MJF so I’ll go with him, though it would be rather hilarious if the match ended while he was on the way to the ring or something like that. Andrade El Idolo is an option, but he needs to continue his rather unnecessary National Title reign. There is always the chance that it’s someone we don’t know yet winning the thing, but I’ll go with MJF of the entrants involved.

International Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita

This is the most Don Callis focused match on the card and thankfully it’s pretty much the only thing they’re doing here. The feud has been going on in some form for the better part of a year now and somehow this still doesn’t feel like the blowoff. The idea is that Fletcher and Okada are both part of the Family and want to keep the title between them but they might not trust each other, which gives Takeshita an opening.

I think I’ll go with Fletcher retaining, as he hasn’t been the champion for very long and while Takeshita thwarting the team’s plans makes more sense, odds are the feud isn’t even close to over with anyway. Fletcher feels like someone AEW wants to make into one of their bigger names and that could go well, though I don’t think he loses here. There is a good chance he does lose, but I’d call that much uncertainty a good sign.

AEW World Title: Kenny Omega(c) vs. Will Ospreay

I do these things for every pay per view and occasionally, there are times where I have no idea what is going on with one of the matches. In this case though, I’m getting a little bit of a break. I’m not bothering to try and build up suspense for this match, as, at least in theory, it should be the biggest layup in the history of AEW, as even their screwiness shouldn’t be able to get in the way.

It doesn’t matter if Ospreay loses all of his limbs and nose. His deformed face and torso with the bleeding stumps will be put on top of Omega for the pin and the title to the roar of the British crowd. There is no reason to think that anything else is going to happen here and there is nothing else that should happen here. The match has been built up and Omega has gotten his big title reign to show he’s still go tit. Now make Ospreay champion already.

Overall Thoughts

I’m really not sure what else to say about this show. It’s AEW’s Wrestlemania and there will be tens of thousands of fans in a massive stadium eating up everything thrown at them. AEW has done a great job of turning this into a spectacle and this year they have the card to back it up. If they can make this work, they’re going to be fine and it should be a massive success, as long as Ospreay ends the show holding the title. Now don’t screw it up.

 

 

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AEW Collision – August 29, 2026: They Had One Job

Collision
Date: August 29, 2026
Location: OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

We’re still in Scotland on the eve of tomorrow’s All In extravaganza, meaning tonight is likely going to be a hold the fort show. The main event is a twelve man tag, which should be a lot of stories getting their final push at once. Throw in a lot of promos and this could be a bit of a different kind of Collision. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We start with an All In rundown.

Mercedes Mone vs. Isla Dawn

Dawn is the hometown star. Mone backs her into the corner to start and yells a lot but has to duck a running shot to the face. The Backstabber hits Dawn and Mone starts in on the arm. A hammerlock has Dawn fighting back so Mone quickly knocks her down. Dawn gets up for the running clotheslines and a suplex puts Mone down for two. A sunset bomb sends Dawn crashing into the corner and the Mone Maker and Statement Maker finish Dawn at 4:08.

Rating: C. This was a quick match to get Mone more ready for her big showdown against Nightingale tomorrow and it certainly took some of the energy away from the Glasgow crowd. That’s fine enough for this spot, though I’m still hoping that Mone doesn’t win tomorrow. Nightingale deserves a chance to win on the big stage and run with the title for a bit, while Mone is already treated as the biggest star in the world.

Post match here is Nightingale to chase Mone off and say that Mone is obsessed with Nightingale’s smile. The reality is Nightingale is the champion and she’s leaving All In with both the smile and the title.

Jon Moxley says Nigel McGuinness has lightning in a bottle but what is he going to do with it? This is the kind of thing that they make movies about and Moxley would watch that movie. In the real world though, Moxley is going to rip the leg off in front of McGuinness’ family and feed it to their dog. It’s the fourth quarter or third period or whatever and Moxley’s hand isn’t the one that’s shaking.

Tommaso Ciampa/Mark Davis/Nick Wayne vs. Chris Jericho/Mike Bailey/Komander

Ciampa bails away from Jericho to start, with Jericho pointing at Don Callis on commentary. Back in and everything breaks down with the good guys connecting with the big dives. We take a break and come back with Jericho fighting out of Wayne’s chinlock. Bailey gets the tag and comes in with a double missile dropkick as everything breaks down again.

The villains get pummeled in the corners and it’s a trio of super hurricanranas to bring them back down. Bailey’s shooting star press gets two on Wayne, who hammers away on Bailey to take over again. Ciampa starts in on the leg and we take another break. We come back again with Bailey hitting a dropkick and rolling over for the tag off to Komander.

House is quickly cleaned and everything breaks down with a springboard splash getting two on Ciampa. The Walls have Davis in trouble and we get a triple Walls until the other two villains break out and make the save. Bailey comes back in to clean house again and Ciampa hits Wayne by mistake. We get the parade of shots to the face until Bailey gives Wayne a flipping powerslam for the pin at 19:44.

Rating: B. This was rather fun and it was nice to see some unique combinations out there. The good thing is that the result here is something that could happen in the Casino Gauntlet match so it’s hardly some waste of time. I’m not sure I’d believe that Bailey is a favorite to win tomorrow, but that’s part of the appeal of such a match.

Video on the Brawling Birds vs. Lena Kross/Megan Bayne for the latter’s Women’s Tag Team Titles.

The Dogs vs. Ronan King/Landon Riley/Judas Grey

The Dogs jump them fast and the beating is on outside. Back in and King is caught with a spear, piledriver and knee to the face for the pin at 2:56. It was even more lopsided than it sounds.

Video on Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone.

Nigel McGuinness says it’s coming home because he’s coming to Wembley. He’s been against the odds over and over and he wants to do it again.

Lethal Twist/The Demand vs. Bang Bang Gang/Brodido/Hangman Page

The villains go with a jump start but gets cleared out to the floor, leaving Bandido to slug it out with Johnson. Bandido gets in a superkick and hands it off to Page, with White tagging himself in immediately. The Gang takes over on Johnson, with a DDT giving Austin two. Christian comes in to take over on Austin, with Lethal grabbing a cutter. That doesn’t last long as Austin jumps over Lethal and dives for the tag to King.

That means house can be cleaned, with Austin being dropped onto Lethal. White breaks up the five way Macarena before opting to join in, with the villains breaking up the six way version. Ricochet and Christian hit stereo dives to the floor and we take a break. We come back with King in trouble and Christian mocking the good guys, as he tends to do. Kaun grabs the chinlock as Ricochet is yelling at various people, including commentary.

King fights up and hits a clothesline, allowing Page to come in and wreck everyone. The dive and moonsault to the floor connect with the Twist and a Liger Bomb gets two on Christian. Back up and the villains take over with a rather nifty string of combinations, capped off by a springboard 450 to Page. Brodido is back up with their own dives and Page Buckshots Lethal into the Blade Runner for the pin at 13:40.

Rating: B-. It was fun while it lasted and I can go for getting as many trios onto this show as possible before they overrun the pre-show. I’m still not sure how necessary it is to have that many people involved in a single match but that has never stopped AEW before. Otherwise, good action here, which you probably expected given all of the people involved.

Post match the Dogs run in to beat the winners down, with a bunch of other trios getting involved with the brawl.

Skye Blue vs. Harley Cameron

Blue pulls her down by the hair to start and hammers away while mocking the crowd. That earns Blue a running clothesline, which is enough for Schiavone to say that Cameron is looking “spectacular”. That’s quite the reaction to a single clothesline but Schiavone is easily impressed. Blue is knocked outside for a dropkick through the ropes but sends Cameron into the steps to cut her off again.

We take a break and come back with Cameron joining her on top but getting powerbombed out for two. Blue: “WHAT DO YOU MEAN TWO???” A superkick catches Cameron and Blue gets in a running knee. Cue Julia Hart to throw in a belt, which the referee throws out. Another belt is thrown in and Blue knocks Cameron silly for the pin at 8:18.

Rating: C. Odds are that ending was designed to set up a Kickoff Show match, or one that was already announced but it was barely mentioned. Cameron continues to be one of the most entertaining and underutilized stars around here, so at least she is getting a chance. Then again it comes after another loss, so it might only mean so much.

Maya World is mad about Persephone pinning her on Dynamite and their title match is set for the Kickoff Show.

Here is Don Callis to give Kevin Knight a rather nice introduction. Knight talks about how far he is willing to go to beat Darby Allin and wonders where Allin is right now. Cue a masked man to go after Knight but the Don Callis Family cuts him off. It’s Steven Borden, who has had Callis’ interest.

Callis lists off some of Borden’s football stats and talks about his success with young stars like Borden. The offer is made but Borden says he’s looking forward to seeing Allin take the title. That earns him a beating and the villains stand tall. As the Family leaves, Kyle Fletcher comes out for commentary on the next match but Knight doesn’t seem happy.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Beast Mortos

Kyle Fletcher is on commentary. They trade shoulders to start until Takeshita hits a jumping elbow to take Mortos down. Mortos comes back with a reverse Sling Blade and headbutts him to the floor for the corkscrew suicide dive. A big backbreaker drops Takeshita inside and we take a break.

We come back with Takeshita hitting a running flip dive to the floor and glaring at Fletcher. They get back inside and slug it out with Takeshita getting the better of things. Mortos gets in a spear but runs into a knee to the face to leave them both down. A running crucifix bomb drops Takeshita but he gets in one of his own, setting up Raging Fire to pin Mortos at 10:11.

Rating: B-. It’s nice to have Takeshita back and hopefully he is able to get in one of his outstanding performances at All In. Takeshita can do just about anything with anyone and it was good to have Mortos back to have a good match with him. It was a good main event to help set up what could be a show stealer on Sunday and that’s a smart way to wrap up the show.

Post match Fletcher comes in and lays Takeshita out, including the brainbuster to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show where they had to just get through two hours with a few minor adjustments before the pay per view. That’s all it should have been as the All In card is already set up. It had the usual good action and while nothing was must see, it did exactly its job before the biggest show of the year.

Results
Mercedes Mone b. Isla Dawn – Statement Maker
Mike Bailey/Chris Jericho/Komander b. Mark Davis/Nick Wayne/Tommaso Ciampa – Flipping powerslam to Wayne
The Dogs b. Ronan King/Landon Riley/Judas Grey – Knee to the face to King
Bang Bang Gang/Brodido/Hangman Page b. Lethal Twist/The Demand – Blade Runner to Lethal
Skye Blue b. Harley Cameron – Belt shot
Konosuke Takeshita b. The Beast Mortos – Raging Fire

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AAA Ola de Calor Preview

This is the first of the trio of shows taking place on Sunday and this one is probably the most unique. We’ve got a rather big AAA card and while the regular hour long show works, I’m not sure how well that is going to translate to something that is probably a good bit longer. If it’s anything like the regular show, we’re going to be fine, but you never can tell. Let’s get to it.

El Carnicero vs. ???

This is Carnicero’s (the Butcher) in-ring debut and he’s the man who has been attacking Psycho Clown, and probably the rest of the Psycho Circus. The match should be just a getting to know you destruction and the fact that an opponent hasn’t even been announced yet should tell you all that you need to know. Carnicero has done well in his limited appearances and now we get to see what he can do.

We’ll say Carnicero is going to smash…oh we’ll go with Noisy Boy in a total destruction. This should be nothing more than a squash and odds are that’s exactly what we’re going to get. Carnicero is being treated as a monster and there is a good chance that the Psycho Circus, or at least Psycho Clown, comes in after the match. That’s going to be more interesting than the match itself, which should be an absolute decimation.

Gauntlet Match

This is for a Reina de Reinas title shot at TripleMania and that means…well it’s hard to say, as we have no idea who is in the match. Granted you can probably guess, but there are so many options out there that it could go in a bunch of ways. Odds are there are going to be some people from the main roster involved and that could be quite the threat for the title shot.

Without knowing who is going to be involved, I’ll take La Catalina to get the shot. That seems to be the showdown that AAA is building towards and it would make sense to do it at TripleMania. Odds are it’s going to be someone from the main roster getting the shot for the star power, as it isn’t like the women’s division in AAA is all that great. Flammer needs some fresh competition, but Catalina seems to be the best bet.

Los Perros del Mal vs. Penta/Dragon Lee/Rey Fenix

This is the big grudge match and it even has the star power of Penta and Fenix teaming together, which is quite the rarity around here. It’s even more interesting when you factor in the #1 contenders tournament on Monday, with Fenix and Penta facing off. Los Perros debuted as a big deal around here but they have only done so much around here since that great star. They could use a win and this might be the chance.

I’ll actually take Los Perros to win, with Fenix and Penta getting into it to cost them the match. It covers a couple of bases at once and that’s always going to be appreciated. What matters the most here is getting Los Perros a win, as they would be instantly damaged if they lost here. The star power on the other side makes for a heck of a team, but it seems like they’re losing here.

Tag Team Titles: War Raiders(c) vs. Los Americanos

This is oddly a big match but the interesting thing is that the Raiders already seem to have something going on over on Smackdown. It would be kind of strange to see those titles change hands so quickly before they can be defended on the main roster, but Los Americanos are certainly a threat to take them. I’m not entirely sure which way this is going and as usual, that’s a nice feeling to have.

It’s a match that could go either way but I’ll take the champions retaining here as it feels like the better option. The Raiders have been smashing through people for a bit and while Los Americanos are tied to the biggest star in the promotion, they don’t need to win here. You know they’re going to be involved with the main event of TripleMania and that’s enough, so stick with the champions holding the titles here.

Mini Vikingo vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Jack Cartwheel

This is for a Cruiserweight Title shot at TripleMania and this kind of match has become one of the standards for AAA. They know how to have three guys get in the ring and fly around for a bit until one of them gets the fall and that’s something that will work every time. It’s a good collection of talent again here and they have something to fight for, which should make it even better.

I’ll take Vikingo to win here, as he is by far the highest profile name in AAA. He’s already been dealing with some bigger names and the fans like him, so putting him in a title match on the biggest stage that AAA has to offer isn’t a bad idea. This should be quite the spectacle though as all three have more than impressed in their time around here. It’s something you see a lot of in AAA and that’s because it works so well.

Latin American Title: La Parka vs. El Fiscal vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Damian Priest

This is for the vacant title after El Hijo del Vikingo got hurt. Odds are this is going to headline the show as it has been treated like a big deal and a new champion is always a good way to wrap up a show. There are multiple realistic options to win the title here and that helps a lot, as there is little benefit to having a glorified countdown to someone being crowned champions.

The more I think about it, the more I’m leaning towards Fiscal. I can’t imagine Priest winning the title when he’s already a big star on the main roster. Wagner was champion for a long time and doesn’t need to be the champion again. That leaves Parka and Fiscal and I’m not sure I can imagine a skeleton man having one of the bigger titles in the promotion. Fiscal wins here and gets to have a big showdown with Abismo Negro. Maybe he can even get a Wikipedia page out of it.

Overall Thoughts

At the end of the day, there are a lot of holes in this card as some of the participants aren’t announced yet. It doesn’t help that the show is just a few weeks away from TripleMania, but this is just around to take away a little bit from All In anyway. If it winds up being good then so be it, but the action should be good enough to carry things, as tends to be the case with AAA.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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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.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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