SEScoops

Category: NXT

  • WWE NXT Preview (7/23): 4 Matches

    WWE NXT Preview (7/23): 4 Matches

    Catch a new episode of WWE NXT tonight, July 23, at 8 PM ET on the USA Network. Tonight’s WWE NXT match card will include:

    • No Disqualification: Josh Briggs vs. Brooks Jensen
    • Singles Match: Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King
    • Singles Match: Ashante Adonis vs. Oro Mensah
    • Singles Match: Carlee Bright vs. Wren Sinclair
    • Interview: Sit-down interview with Thea Hall

    Check back later for news and results from tonight’s show and head over to our NXT News section for more.

    What Happened Last Week? (7/16)

    Catch up on all the action from last week, featuring Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Dante Chen, Oba Femi defending the North American Title against Duke Hudson, and more.

    Next Week

    Next week’s WWE NXT (7/30) kicks off the 2-week NXT Great American Bash 2024 special.

  • Charlie Dempsey’s Bloodsport Opponent Announced

    Charlie Dempsey’s Bloodsport Opponent Announced

    Charlie Dempsey is a busy man and he may get his newly announced opponent bloodly in Brooklyn for Bloodsport XI.

    The pugilist proprietor of Bloodsport Josh Barnett recently revealed that Dempsey would be partaking in the action, and now we know who the NXT star will be facing.

    Dempsey is set to face Royce Isaacs in singles action who already has a resume on the event. Barnett provided further details on the forthcoming fight.

    “Two mat grapplers set to lock up and go hold for hold, submission to submission, catch to catch. Dempsey proved he belonged in Bloodsport in his last outing, capturing victory in a hard fought match with Matt Makowski. Isaacs has been a staple of Bloodsport and was trading hold for hold with submission wizard Minoru Suzuki last time. Both are on the rise and both want a souvenir to hang on the wall – a limb taken from a defeated opponent. Charlie Dempsey vs Royce Isaacs at Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport XI.”

    Royce Isaacs has previous experience both in AEW and the NWA and should compliment the “catch style” of Charlie Dempsey. Isaacs already expressed his excitement on social media, stating, “This is Bloodsport, This is what I live for, Nos vamos!”

    RELATED: Shayna Baszler & WWE NXT’s Charlie Dempsey Triumphant At Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X

    The son of William Regal, Dempsey has been a notable force for the No Catch Crew and is already well-traveled. In December of 2023, Dempsey competed under the All-Japan banner representing NXT. Saturday night, the No Catch Crew will challenge for the TNA Tag Team Championships.

    During the NXT Heatwave media call, Shawn Michaels praised the ability of Charlie Dempsey and commended him for personality and adaptability.

    Dempsey will be joining Shayna Baszler and The Creed Brothers for the GCW event on July 28 in Brooklyn, NY.

    RELATED: Shayna Baszler Returns To GCW For Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI

  • TNA Champion Moose Praises WWE NXT as Best Partner in TNA History

    TNA Champion Moose Praises WWE NXT as Best Partner in TNA History

    TNA World Champion Moose likes what he’s seeing from his company’s working relationship with NXT and WWE. The NFL alum recently chatted with Alistair McGeorge for Metro and praised the ongoing situation as, “the best relationship that TNA’s ever had.”

    TNA has worked with AEW, AAA and others throughout the years, but Moose says the talent exchange with NXT has been second-to-none. Moose says both companies are acting professionally, which is not always a given in wrestling. “There’s not one company that is being selfish,” he said.

    NXT & TNA

    Wrestling fans have been treated to WWE’s own version of the ‘Forbidden Door’ over the past few months. TNA Wrestling stars Jordynne Grace, Frankie Kazarian, The Rascalz, and Joe Hendry have all graced the NXT, with a strong TNA presence on this week’s NXT TV. Both The Rascalz and Joe Hendry are expected to remain in the mix for the foreseeable future.

    NXT stars who have shown up in TNA include Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame, who challenged Grace for the Knockouts World Championship. The No Quarter Catch Crew made a home in TNA, with Charlie Dempsey defeating Zachary Wentz on the latest episode of Impact. Even Drew McIntyre has teased returning to TNA, which would be quite a scene considering he’s a former TNA World Champion..

    Could Moose Join WWE?

    Moose has yet to appear in WWE NXT as part of this working relationship, but there’s been talk for years about him one day joining the promotion. In the interview, Moose admitted that “WWE is a place I always wanted to work for.” Should he join, Moose would be met with some familiar faces from TNA’s past including reigning Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and former TNA World Champion Drew McIntyre.

    Whether Moose one day competes for WWE or not, the reigning TNA World Champion will be in action this weekend at Slammiversary. The odds will be against Moose in the six-way eliminator for his title which will see him defend against Joe Hendry, Josh Alexander, Steve Maclin, Frankie Kazarian, and Nic Nemeth. The show marks the highest gate of any TNA event over the past decade, as things are certainly heading in the right direction for Moose and all those in TNA.

  • WWE NXT Results (7/16/24): The Rascalz, Roxanne Perez, Joe Hendry

    WWE NXT Results (7/16/24): The Rascalz, Roxanne Perez, Joe Hendry

    Here are WWE NXT results for Tuesday, July 17, 2024 from Orlando, FL:

    Six-Man Tag Team Match: The Rascalz vs. Gallus: The Rascalz defeat Gallus by pinfall. Joe Hendry is on commentary during the match.

    Backstage in Ava’s Office: Ethan Page and Oro Mensah almost came to blows. Mensah challenges Page for his title, but Ava says Mensah isn’t in the title picture. Page opts to face Dante Chen in a title match instead.

    Roxanne Perez In-Ring Promo: Roxanne talks about her victory over Lola Vice and criticizes upcoming talents like Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer. She calls out Thea Hail, leading to a brawl that is broken up by Ridge Holland.

    Interview: Kelani Jordan w/Kelly Kincaid: Kelani Jordan praises Sol Ruca but is interrupted by Wendy Choo.

    Interview: Lola Vice: Lola Vice is interrupted by Jacy Jayne, Jasmyn Nyx, and Fallon Henley, who insult her and challenge her to a fight. Vice accepts, targeting Jayne.

    Je’Von Evans vs. Brooks Jensen: Je’Von Evans gets the win by pinfall. Post-match, Jensen attacks Evans until Josh Briggs steps in to stop him.

    https://twitter.com/bwamatt/status/1813373611786358880?s=61&t=02Ik4EtueCrq1AKKZl5wAA

    Backstage Segment: Charlie Dempsey and Tony D’Angelo: Charlie Dempsey and Tony D’Angelo discuss last week’s hit on Damon Kemp. Dempsey seeks advice about a witness, Wren Sinclair, but D’Angelo tells him to handle it himself.

    Phone Call: Trick Williams and Ilja Dragunov: Trick Williams calls Ilja Dragunov for advice after losing the NXT Championship. Pete Dunne, who is present, tells Williams to “figure it out.”

    Ethan Page (c) vs. Dante Chen: Page retains his NXT Championship by defeating Dante Chen by pinfall. Oro Mensah attacks Page after the match.

    Backstage with Gallus and Joe Hendry: Gallus complains about Joe Hendry. Hendry declares himself the most talked-about star in NXT, while Gallus asserts their dominance in Scotland and dismisses Hendry as a “flash in the pan.”

    Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame: Tatum Paxley defeats Izzi Dame by pinfall. Wendy Choo is present, indicating a partnership with Paxley.

    Lola Vice vs. Jacy Jayne: Lola Vice defeated Jacy Jayne by pinfall. Post-match, Sol Ruca and Karmen Petrovic made the save, helping Vice fight off Jayne, Jasmyn Nyx, and Fallon Henley, who attacked Vice after the pinfall.

    Backstage Segment: Kelani Jordan and Tatum Paxley: Kelani Jordan bumps into Tatum Paxley backstage. Paxley asks if Jordan wants to play. Jordan replies that they’re too old to be playing with dolls but thanks her for the offer. Paxley angrily throws down Wendy Choo’s doll and picks up one resembling Jordan instead.

    Six-Person Mixed Tag Team Match: The O.C. vs. OTM: The O.C. defeated OTM by pinfall.

    Backstage Segment: Wren Sinclair and No Quarter Catch Crew: Wren Sinclair approaches No Quarter Catch Crew, expressing her desire to join the faction. The crew is unreceptive, so Sinclair threatens to reveal what she witnessed unless they let her wrestle her way into the group.

    Match Announcement: It was revealed that last night, Lexis King disrupted Eddy Thorpe’s DJ set. They are set to face off next week.

    NXT North American Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Duke Hudson: Oba Femi retained the NXT North American Championship by defeating Duke Hudson by pinfall.

  • WWE NXT Preview (7/16): The Rascalz vs. Gallus, Oba Femi Title Defense

    WWE NXT Preview (7/16): The Rascalz vs. Gallus, Oba Femi Title Defense

    Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT on the USA Network continues the road to the Great American Bash 2024 just three weeks away. Broadcasting live from Orlando, Florida, the two-hour show starts at 8/7c. The featured matches include:

    • Oba Femi defending the NXT North American Championship against Duke Hudson
    • Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) will battle The Rascalz (Wes Lee, Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) in six-man tag-team action, with talents from TNA Wrestling.
    • The OC (Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson & Michin) taking on OTM (Bronco Nima, Lucien Price & Jaida Parker) in a six-person mixed tag-team match.
    • Tatum Paxley facing Izzi Dame.
    • Brooks Jensen will compete against Je’Von Evans.

    Be sure to join us later tonight for WWE NXT results from Orlando, FL and full video highlights from the show.

    What Happened Last Week on WWE NXT?

    Here are the Top 10 Moments from the July 9, 2024 episode of WWE NXT:

  • NXT No Mercy & Halloween Havoc 2024 Dates & Venues

    NXT No Mercy & Halloween Havoc 2024 Dates & Venues

    WWE has announced details for two upcoming premium live events for the company’s developmental brand: NXT No Mercy and NXT.

    • Sunday, Sep. 1: NXT No Mercy (Denver, CO at the Ball Arena)
    • Sunday, October 27: NXT Halloween Havoc (Hershey, PA at the GIANT Center)

    WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels provided the following quote in the press release sent in to SEScoops:

    “We look forward to returning NXT to the road and delivering an unforgettable night of action to the amazing fan bases of Denver and Hershey, and for those watching at home.”

    Tickets

    The venues hosting each of these NXT PLE’s will also host WWE Raw the following eventing.

    Special combo tickets for the events go on sale on Friday morning, July 26 at Ticketmaster.

    How to Watch

    NXT No Mercy and Halloween Havoc will stream live in the U.S. exclusively on Peacock.

    Advertised Talent

    Note: These talent announcements are always ‘subject to change’ and wrestling fans should not not read into these advertised champions as ‘spoilers’ for any matches coming up in the months ahead.

    WWE is advertising the top stars from NXT will be at these shows, including NXT Champion Ethan Page, NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, NXT North American Champion Oba Femi, NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan, Trick Williams, Sol Ruca and more

  • Who’s Dating Who? The Relationships Of WWE NXT

    Who’s Dating Who? The Relationships Of WWE NXT

    WWE NXT may be where talent go to hone their skills ahead of a move to the main roster, but it appears there’s plenty of romance in the Performance Center.

    In this article, we’ll look at the relationships that exist within NXT that have seen talent date fellow NXT stars, main roster talent, or other wrestlers.

    Kelani Jordan & Carmelo Hayes

    The first-ever NXT Women’s North American Champion, Kelani Jordan is currently dating WWE SmackDown Superstar & former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. In October 2023, the pair went public with their relationship with a series of Instagram posts celebrating Jordan’s birthday.

    WWE Women ? — Kelani Jordan & Carmelo Hayes ?

    Trick Williams & Lash Legend

    The Kiss Heard Around the World earlier this year between Trick Williams and Lash Legend wasn’t just for show. The Meta-Four member and the former NXT Champion are in a relationship, though keep their private lives to themselves on social media.

    Sol Ruca & Tyler Bate

    Sol Ruca has been making a splash in WWE NXT and is currently dating the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, who is unfortunately out with an injury. The couple went public with their relationship in early 2024 with an Instagram post by the English Superstar.

    Stevie Turner & Kit Wilson

    Turner, who is currently looking to be the official assistant of Ava, has been with Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson for some time now. In March 2022, the happy couple shared that they are engaged to be married.

    Riley Osborne & Blair Davenport

    When not attacking people in the Performance Center parking lot, Blair Davenport can be found going on dates with Chase U’s Riley Osborne. In December 2023, the couple shared that they are engaged.

    WWE Stars Announce Engagement - WrestleTalk

    Roxanne Perez & Gino Medina

    Since arriving in WWE NXT, Roxanne Perez has been a force to be reckoned with, despite her diminutive size. The reigning WWE NXT Women’s Champion has been dating independent wrestler Gino Medina since 2022.

  • NXT Stars Reportedly Nervous After Damon Kemp Exit

    NXT Stars Reportedly Nervous After Damon Kemp Exit

    Damon Kemp, aka Bobby Steveson, is one of the recent NXT exits and a new report states that there is a current concern amongst the roster at what their future may hold for them.

    According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the exit of Steveson has prompted nervousness amongst the young stars in the Capitol Wrestling Center. While there were some recent exits with NXT ties including Steveson’s brother Gable and Dijak, WWE saying goodbye to Bobby hits a different tone. The former Damon Kemp was overall considered a good worker and had no issues backstage. To many, his exit could be indicative to the roster that they could also be on the chop block and nobody, aside from the prominent names on brand, is safe.

    Gable Steveson was let go by WWE this spring due to his lack of development in the ring as well as attitude problems. However, his brother was a featured talent on the show, being apart of Diamond Mind and later aligning with Charlie Dempsey and the No Quarter Catch Crew.

    Gable may be the most celebrated Olympic wrestler since Kurt Angle and the 1996 Olympics. Angle was high and above Steveson in the pro wrestling ring, both from a workrate standpoint and a major charisma standpoint.

    Bobby Steveson may have plenty of cache in the pro wrestling world despite his WWE leave. The seasoned athlete is only 26 years old and could have opportunities in AEW or TNA.

    RELATED: NXT Star Damon Kemp (Bobby Steveson) Announces WWE Departure

  • WWE Files New Trademark for NXT Champion Ethan Page

    WWE Files New Trademark for NXT Champion Ethan Page

    WWE has filed a new trademark, and it’s for current NXT Champion Ethan Page.

    The trademark, “Ethan Page”, was filed by WWE on July 10. You can check out the description of the filing below.

    “Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.” 

    Ethan Page in WWE and NXT Championship Win

    Ethan Page’s AEW contract had ended earlier this year, and the star set his sights to WWE, where he claimed the NXT Champion shortly after.

    Page won the title at NXT Heatwave on July 4, 2024, that took place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The match for the NXT Championship was a fatal four-way one involving defending champion Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and Shawn Spears.

    The 34-year-old clinched the victory in the title match when Williams hit the Trick Shot move on Page, who fell on Evans, prompting a pin from the referee. This “accidental way of winning the title” finish was met with some mixed opinion with fans, but it seems like WWE has some more ideas to do with Page with the recent trademark filing.

    As for his time in AEW, Page said in an appearance on the Talk’n Shop podcast that he was mind-blown by how organized things are in WWE compared to the promotion he worked at previously.

    RELATED: New NXT Champion Ethan Page: “I Knew This Was Going to Happen”

  • WWE MSK: What Happened To The NXT Tag Team?

    WWE MSK: What Happened To The NXT Tag Team?

    MSK, aka The Rascalz, are back together on WWE NXT programming, and this has been quite the journey for all members of the group.

    On this week’s WWE NXT, Wes Lee was in a somber mood as he reflected on his loss to North American Champion Oba Femi at Heatwave. Just as it appeared Lee was ready to say goodbye to NXT, Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz emerged to loud T-N-A chants from the crowd. The duo reflected on their past with Lee and were able to convince him not to leave NXT behind. On the contrary, Lee, Miguel, and Wentz will face Gallus on next week’s show.

    Before WWE NXT

    MSK’s history dates back to December 2015 when Lee (known as Dezmond Xaiver at the time) first teamed with Wentz. After teaming for years and holding gold in CZW and AAW, the duo added Trey Miguel and Myron Reed into the group in April 2018 and dubbed themselves ‘The Rascalz.’ That same year, the group, minus reed, joined Impact Wrestling with their names shortened to Dez, Trey, and Wentz. The group became a staple of the tag-team scene though the Tag Team Championships continued to allude them. In November 2020, it was revealed that the group would be leaving Impact amid interest from both WWE and AEW.

    Arriving In WWE NXT

    Xavier and Wentz debuted in WWE NXT in January 2021, now under the names of Wes Lee and Nash Carter respectively, while Miguel would later return to Impact. It was during this run that Wes and Carter were dubbed MSK and wasted no time in establishing themselves as a top team in the brand. A month after their debut, MSK won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and by April had become the WWE NXT Tag Team Champions.

    The pair held the titles for six months and would dispatch of teams like Tommaso Ciampa &Timothy Thatcher and Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch along the way. Their reign would end at the hands of Imperium at NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2022.

    The Nash Carter Release

    Around the time of MSK’s second tag title win, Nash Carter’s ex-wife Kimber Lee publicly claimed that she had been abused by the NXT wrestler. At the time, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE did not find Lee’s claims to be credible which is why they did not back out of plans to put the titles on the tag-team. After Kimber Lee shared a photo of Carter parodying Adolf Hitler though, the decision was made to release him and MSK was stripped of the tag titles.

    Now, Nash, once again known as Zachary Wentz, is back, alongside Trey Miguel. With the WWE NXT-TNA Wrestling crossover proving a hit so far, fans can expect many more exciting moments from the trio moving forward.

  • Report: WWE NXT No Mercy 2024 Set For 9/1 in Denver, Colorado

    Report: WWE NXT No Mercy 2024 Set For 9/1 in Denver, Colorado

    The iconic No Mercy pay-per-view will be returning this September as an upcoming Premium Live Event for WWE NXT.

    NXT No Mercy 2024 will take place on September 1, from Denver, Colorado, PW Insider reports. At this time, no matches have been confirmed for the event. Before that show, WWE NXT will play host to its Great American Bash event that will take place on August 6, on SyFy. The show has been moved from the USA Network, which will instead be covering the Summer Olympic Games.

    WWE NXT No Mercy

    WWE’s first No Mercy event took place in the UK in May 1999 and the U.S. version of the event took place in October that same year. The show ran each year from then on until 2009 before returning as PLE in 2016 and 2017.

    In 2023, WWE once again revived the No Mercy show, this time as an event exclusive to NXT. In the main event, then-NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch retained her title against Tiffany Stratton in a brutal Extreme Rules match.

    NXT No Mercy is one of several events from the gold brand to make use of a historic name. WWE Battleground was a staple of the main roster for years before being reintroduced as an NXT event, with the most recent show of its kind taking place last month.

    WWE NXT also uses the ‘In Your House’ brand from time to time. The name was used in the 1990s to promote WWE pay-per-views that were not as significant as the ‘Big 4’ and therefore had a cheaper price tag. WWE even brought back former broadcaster Todd Pettengil to promote NXT In Your House, as seen in the clip below.

    WWE NXT’s most recent PLE, Heatwave, also comes from wrestling’s past. From 1994 to 2000, the name was used by ECW and fittingly took place during the summer. Each October, fans can expect to see NXT Halloween Havoc, a name that stems from World Championship Wrestling.

    With these shows, and the return of NXT No Mercy, WWE has shown its willingness to embrace the past. And with WWE recently filing trademarks for the name of WCW events, fans may not have seen the last of old shows being given a new spotlight in WWE’s gold brand.

    WWE Files More Trademarks For Classic WCW Terminology
  • TNA’s The Rascalz Appear On 7/9 WWE NXT, Joe Hendry Wins Main Event

    TNA’s The Rascalz Appear On 7/9 WWE NXT, Joe Hendry Wins Main Event

    Those tuning into this week’s WWE NXT will have no choice but to believe in Joe Hendry after he emerged victorious in the show’s main event.

    In the main event of the show, Hendry teamed with Trick Williams to face Shawn Spears and new WWE NXT Champion ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page. Hendry got one of the loudest pops of the night as he was introduced as Trick’s mystery opponent.

    Not only did Hendry compete in the main event of the post-Heatwave edition of NXT, but he also got the win for his team. Hendry pinned Shawn Spears and celebrated with Trick Williams to close out the show.

    On Twitter, WWE NXT General Manager Ava was pleased that the fans were happy that she had been able to book the popular TNA Wrestling star for the show.

    Hendry’s appearance at the show was not entirely a surprise. In the closing moments of WWE NXT Heatwave, Hendry was shown on the broadcast, teasing his return to NXT. A promo video for this week’s episode of WWE NXT also featured Hendry, implying that his return would be happening very soon.

    This week’s show marks Hendry’s second time competing in WWE NXT after previously being part of a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship. Fans should get used to seeing him in WWE’s gold brand as Hendry will be a focal point of the TNA-NXT crossover moving forward.

    The Rascalz In WWE NXT

    This week’s WWE NXT also saw Wes Lee address his loss to North American Champion Oba Femi at Heatwave. As the popular Lee waxed about his career and his shortcomings, it appeared that Wes was ready to leave NXT. If so, his farewell speech was interrupted by TNA’s The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel.) Lee was part of the group before joining WWE NXT and the two remaining members were able to convince Lee not to leave NXT behind.

    Not only did The Rascalz reunite, but the group will be in action as a trio next week. Lee, Wentz, and Miguel will ride once more to take on Gallus during the July 16, episode of WWE NXT.

    TNA vs. NXT Match Set for this Thursday on TNA iMPACT
  • TNA vs. NXT Match Set for this Thursday on TNA iMPACT

    TNA vs. NXT Match Set for this Thursday on TNA iMPACT

    Dempsey will cross the line to take on Wentz on the upcoming TNA iMPACT episode.

    Wrestling fans will be in for a treat on the July 11 episode of TNA Wrestling iMPACT. The episode features WWE superstar Charlie Dempsey taking on Zachary Wentz. Dempsey surprised fans when he made his TNA debut last week by attacking Wentz, Trey Miguel, and Leon Slater. Wentz comes into the match motivated to prove that NXT talent can’t do whatever they want in TNA.

    Dempsey’s debut had the wrestling community buzzing as WWE continues to embrace a working relationship with TNA. The partnership has resulted in fan interest and talent from both rosters looking to work together. That said, Wentz felt in storyline that Dempsey’s actions were inexcusable and is ready to make an example out of him this Thursday.

    In the aftermath of the WWE superstar’s assault, Wentz did a passionate promo about how he plans to get revenge. The former Impact World Tag Team Champion also acknowledged his past competing in NXT and shared that the company doesn’t allow Dempsey to attack people to make a name for himself, so he shouldn’t do it in TNA.

    “…Charlie Dempsey, I don’t know what you are trying to accomplish, but you are not going to do it here. You are not going to make a name here. You are not going to make a name off of Zachary Wentz. You are not going to make a name off of Trey Miguel, and you are certainly not going to make a name off of our home, TNA,” said Wentz.

    The fiery promo led to the match being official and marked the first storyline of a WWE superstar invading TNA. It’s worth noting that although the match will occur this week, the episode is a taped show, and the results are out. Regardless, the crossover matchup could get fans interested in tuning in to see what will happen.

    TNA Superstar Joe Hendry Teased For An NXT Return

    WWE fans noticed on July 7 that as Heatwave was going off the air, TNA fan-favorite Joe Hendry was quickly teased for a return to NXT. In addition, WWE has begun to advertise the July 9 episode of NXT and is continuing to show Hendry briefly.

    This has led fans to believe that the TNA superstar could return to the developmental brand as soon as this week’s episode. The last time he appeared, Hendry was eliminated early from a Battle Royal Match to determine the number one contender for the WWE NXT Championship on the June 18 NXT show. Despite the anti-climatic exit from the match, he had a confrontation with Shawn Michaels backstage that set up the impression that he wasn’t done with the brand.

    The ongoing relationship between WWE and TNA is providing fans with unpredictably no idea who will show up for either company. Dempsey’s storyline of invading TNA and Hendry’s potential return to NXT is seemingly a great way to get eyes on both NXT and TNA iMPACT this week. Hopefully, the partnership will continue to thrive so fans can see dream matches that were thought to be impossible.

  • NXT Star Damon Kemp (Bobby Steveson) Announces WWE Departure

    NXT Star Damon Kemp (Bobby Steveson) Announces WWE Departure

    NXT star Damon Kemp (Bobby Steveson) is no longer with WWE.

    Bobby Steveson, the older brother of Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, signed with WWE in August 2021 as part of a new recruit class at the Performance Center. While his brother Gable exited in May 2024 after a disappointing run, Bobby has been featured prominently in NXT, where his tenure has seen several notable storyline developments.

    In May 2022, Bobby joined the Diamond Mine stable. However, he later betrayed his teammates, the Creed Brothers, at the Worlds Collide event, executing a heel turn. This led to a high-stakes Ambulance match against Julius Creed at NXT Halloween Havoc. Bobby’s loss in this match ensured that Brutus Creed would retain his NXT career.

    Kemp subsequently aligned himself with the No Quarter Catch Crew (NQCC) stable, signaling a new direction for his character. This progression exemplified WWE’s ongoing efforts to develop new talent and create engaging narratives within its NXT brand.

    His final match with the company was on the June 25 episode of NXT, where he suffered a loss to Tavion Heights. Interestingly, Heights has been in the process of being initiated into the NQCC, the same stable Kemp was part of. With this loss, Steveson’s tenure with WWE came to an end, leaving him on the outside of the organization he once called home.

  • Cora Jade Teases Return From ACL Injury

    Cora Jade Teases Return From ACL Injury

    A recent tweet from WWE superstar Cora Jade has fans wondering if her return to NXT could be soon. The developmental brand had their Heatwave premium live event on July 7 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. One of the featured matches had WWE NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez successfully defending her title against Lola Vice. While ‘The Prodigy’ celebrated a victory, Jade teased fans on X that she is on track to return to the ring after her ACL injury.

    After Perez defeated Vice, WWE posted a graphic on X celebrating her retaining her title and captioned it by asking who could stop her.

    The tweet caught Jade’s attention, and she reposted it to warn Perez that her return was coming soon.

    It’s unclear exactly when she will be cleared to compete. However, her tweet shows her interest in taking on Perez when she returns.

    Cora Jade Rehab Progress & Possible Match With Roxanne Perez

    Jade suffered her ACL injury during a match against Lyra Valkyria at an NXT House Show in January. Since then, Jade has been working hard to make a return and has posted her rehab progress on Instagram. On July 5, she shared a video of her doing barbell squats with 155 lbs without a knee brace.

    The tweet after Perez’s victory is interesting as the champion continues to dominate the women’s division. She has retained her title five times with notable wins over Jordynne Grace, Natalya, and recently Vice. NXT General Manager Ava is also trying to find opponents that can give Perez a challenge, as ‘The Prodigy’ continues to boast that she is better than everyone else. Given their history as former friends turned rivals, Jade would be an interesting surprise challenger for Perez.

    The possibility of Jade challenging Perez for her title depends on whether WWE feels she is ready to return. However, the tweet and her rehab progress show her motivation to get back in the ring.

  • What’s Next For Joe Hendry After WWE NXT Heatwave 2024 Tease?

    What’s Next For Joe Hendry After WWE NXT Heatwave 2024 Tease?

    Fans can expect to see much more of Joe Hendry in WWE NXT after the popular TNA Wrestling star was teased in the final seconds of NXT Heatwave.

    In the main event, Ethan Page captured the WWE NXT Championship just 40 days after debuting for the gold brand. In the final moments of the show, however, a clip of Hendry from his entrance video played, leaving fans to speculate what this means.

    Latest On Joe Hendry

    Hendry will play a major role in NXT’s crossover with TNA Wrestling going forward, Corey Brennan of Fightful Select reports. This crossover will play out over the next several weeks and months and WWE is keen to make use of Hendry’s viral appeal. The belief is that even brief teases, such as what was seen at Heatwave, are enough to keep him on the minds of fans.

    Despite being teased at Heatwave, Hendry was nowhere near the show. While the NXT roster brought it in Toronto, Hendry was over 3,000 miles away, competing at a show in Glasgow, Scotland.

    It’ll be interesting to see how Hendry fits into the NXT picture, as he is also making waves in TNA Wrestling. On last week’s episode of iMPACT!, Hendry defeated Jake Something to earn himself a spot in a TNA World Championship six-man match. The Scottish star will join champion Moose, Josh Alexander, Steve Maclin, Nic Nemeth, and Frankie Kazarian in the match at Slammiversary on July 20.

    Joe Hendry in WWE NXT

    Hendry debuted last month in WWE NXT as part of a battle royal that also featured fellow TNA wrestler Frankie Kazarian. Despite earning the loudest pop of the night and delivering a pre-match promo, Hendry was the first talent eliminated. A post-match backstage face-to-face with Shawn Michaels suggested that there’d be more for Hendry in NXT and that certainly appears to be the case now.

    Hendry is set to make more appearances for WWE NXT, but there are some speculating on whether a full-time move could happen when the time is right. When Brennan asked if WWE would be interested in Hendry after his current TNA deal expires, sources within WWE said “Who wouldn’t?!” Time will tell what’s next for Hendry but expect to see plenty of the Scottish star in both TNA and WWE NXT.

    TNA’s Joe Hendry Plans On Going Further After Hitting WWE Twitter Milestone

  • WWE NXT Great American Bash 2024 Set for 8/6 On SyFy

    WWE NXT Great American Bash 2024 Set for 8/6 On SyFy

    The WWE NXT Great American Bash will return this August though the popular event will take place on SyFy instead of the gold brand’s usual home on the USA Network.

    During WWE NXT Heatwave, it was confirmed that the show will take place on August 6. Unlike previous years, the show will not take place on USA, which will instead be covering the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France.

    The Great American Bash’s history dates back to 1985 with the first six annual events being held under the NWA banner. After WCW split from the NWA in 1991, the show became a WCW exclusive and would remain so until the promotion’s demise in 2000. The show was revived by WWE in 2004 and has been used as an NXT-brand event since 2020. Last year’s event was opened by Cody Rhodes, which was fitting given that it was his father Dusty who headlined the very first Great American Bash in a war for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

    WWE’s WCW Terms

    The announcement of the NXT Great American Bash 2024 comes at an interesting time as there’s been plenty of talk about WWE reviving other WCW events. Recently, the company filed trademarks for SuperBrawl and New Blood Rising, both of which were once terms for WCW pay-per-views. WWE also filed to trademark ‘The Match Beyond’ a term used in WCW to describe the portion of a WarGames match where all participants have entered the cage.

    WWE already used several WCW terms for its programming, including the Night Of Champions pay-per-view coming from the name of the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro. WWE has also used Starrcade in the past with that term coming from WCW’s biggest annual event. Each October, WWE NXT hosts an annual Halloween Havoc show which like the WCW show of the same name, has a spooky theme.

  • New NXT Champion Ethan Page: “I Knew This Was Going to Happen”

    New NXT Champion Ethan Page: “I Knew This Was Going to Happen”

    Ethan Page is riding high after capturing the WWE NXT Championship mere weeks into his debut as part of the gold brand.

    At WWE NXT Heatwave, Page captured the title in a fatal four-way that included former champion Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and fellow AEW alum Shawn Spears. This win comes just 40 days after Page made his debut in WWE NXT, where he attacked Williams and made his goal to become NXT Champion crystal clear.

    Ethan Page On His Title Win

    Page was understandably pleased with his title win, especially considering what many feel was an underwhelming run in All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor. In his first post-match comments, Page spoke of how sure he was that the NXT Title would be his.

    “Most people would say it feels amazing, it feels great. But to be honest with you, I mean, I knew this was gonna happen. [Laughs] Six weeks. I walked in the first night, and I attacked who? Oh, that’s right, this bum’s name is still in this belt, and as soon I’m done with this interview, I’m gonna be getting these things changed.”

    Page won the title in unusual fashion, as he fell onto Je’Von Evans to get the pinfall. While many would argue this was a lucky break for the Canadian, Page would disagree.

    “You’re gonna say I got lucky? I earned everything I have in the last 17 years of my career. Tonight is no different… I’m going to be a fighting champion. I’m going to be the man in NXT, but not to prove it to you, people doubting me, saying things like, ‘Oh, you got lucky.’ No, ‘All Ego’ was born to be champion. Now, I finally have the hardware to prove it.”

    What’s to Come?

    Page has rapidly reached the top of WWE NXT, but his next challenger may come from outside of the promotion. In the final second of NXT Heatwave, TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry was shown. The Scottish wrestler has proven immensely popular and this tease has left many believing that Hendry will have a role in NXT going forward.

    Hendry appeared during a May 2024 battle royal for a shot at the NXT title, and both WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling were pleased with his performance on the night. Could the ‘prohibited portal’ see an AEW alum and a TNA star fight for WWE NXT’s richest prize? Only time will tell but right now, the gold brand is all about All-Ego Ethan Page.

  • Ethan Page Recreates Classic WWE Ending To Win NXT Championship, Joe Hendry Appears

    Ethan Page Recreates Classic WWE Ending To Win NXT Championship, Joe Hendry Appears

    Ethan Page has won the NXT Championship and you wouldn’t believe what happened afterward. WWE’s development brand presented the Heatwave special from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada this Sunday. This was WWE’s third consecutive night at the venue, following WWE SmackDown and WWE Money in the Bank.

    The show was filled with many hard-hitting bouts which have become a signature of the brand under Shawn Michaels. Wrestling fans were buzzing on social media over the high spots in the tag title match between Axiom & Nathan Frazer.

    However, it was the fatal four-way main event for the NXT Championship that stole the conversation. Trick Williams was defending his title against Ethan Page, Shawn Spears, and Je’Von Evans. The bout delivered everything you’d expect from an NXT main event with Evans proving to be the MVP of the match with many notable bumps.

    The ending of the fight saw Page taking his frustration out on Evans for disrupting a pin attempt. Spears pulled Evans down, however, right when Page was about to hit the Ego’s Edge. Trick Williams then joined the action and took out both Shawn Spears and Je’Von Evans with a Trick Shot. He delivered one more to Page. This caused the former AEW star to fall on Evans who was lying in the ring. The referee started counting and he completed the three count before Williams could break the fall. Just like that, the landscape of NXT has been altered dramatically.

    Ethan Page Recreates Classic WWE Ending

    The finish reminded people of a classic WWE match from Backlash 2007. Notably, the WWE Championship match featuring John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton and Edge ended in a similar fashion. Cena had unintentionally pinned Orton to retain the title back then, when he fell on the Viper after taking a Sweet Chin Music from HBK.

    Somebody Said Joe Hendry’s Name

    The show ended with Page celebrating the win. Just before the show went off air, TNA Wrestling star Joe Hendry made a cameo.

    Page’s First Comments as NXT Champion

    Backstage after his big win, Ethan Page clarified that his success has nothing to do with luck. He doesn’t even consider himself a lucky man – he’s just that good.

  • Shawn Michaels Discusses NXT’s Handling Of Serious Storylines Like Depression Addiction

    Shawn Michaels Discusses NXT’s Handling Of Serious Storylines Like Depression Addiction

    Michaels shares insight on dealing with serious storylines in NXT.

    WWE NXT is taking a chance to cover more serious storylines than they have in years past. The brand has generally featured issues amongst superstars that dealt with betrayal or jealousy. However, in the last year, NXT has started to touch on complicated storylines dealing with addiction and depression.

    One of the noticeable storylines that the development brand had going was Andre Chase suffering from a gambling addiction that almost cost him his Chase University. This was something that developed late last year and is still referenced currently on TV. It saw Chase being outed as having an addiction and having to deal with the ramifications of letting those around him down.

    Although the storyline didn’t get too serious about dealing with gambling addiction, it was a change of pace from what NXT fans are used to seeing on TV. Shawn Michaels recently had a media call ahead of NXT Heatwave, and Metro’s Alistair McGeorge asked how the brand deals with more serious storylines. The Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative shared that WWE likes to explore serious topics but tries to be aware of how sensitive it could be for fans.

    WrestleZone has the full media call.

    “…We do our best, as we’ve always done in this business and certainly in the WWE, to blur those lines between reality and what is 100% storyline and sports entertainment. I always want to be sensitive to that and don’t want to overstep. Sometimes, you miss the mark, and there’s something that people take from it that you certainly didn’t intend. Certainly, those things do happen,” said Michaels. He added, “…All I can do is give people as someone that has been through it(Depression) at a time when people were not sensitive to it in any way, shape or form you can trust that there is somebody that is very sensitive to it.”

    ‘HBK’ also acknowledged that he’ll back off a storyline and make adjustments if he feels the program is going too far.

    Ongoing Storyline With Brook Jensen

    NXT currently has an ongoing storyline with Brook Jensen, as he is seemingly dealing with depression and potential alcohol abuse. He has taken to social media to speak openly about not being booked for shows and feeling unnoticed, which had fans questioning if his issues were a storyline or how he feels. WWE fans were more confused when Jensen shared that he was a free agent and was appearing at independent wrestling events.

    On the July 2 episode of NXT, Michaels put fans at ease by sharing that Jensen’s actions on social media and TV are part of his storyline. He explained that after splitting from his tag team partner, Josh Briggs, Jensen was given time off to clear his head after showing signs of having issues. He also revealed that the NXT superstar has been signed to the company and will be on the July 9 episode to speak with NXT General Manager Ava.

    NXT’s new approach to handling serious storylines seems to be capturing the attention of fans. Hopefully, Michaels can maintain touching on tough topics and know when it may be time to assure fans that it’s more story than reality.

  • Giulia’s WWE Debut Expected SummerSlam Weekend

    Giulia’s WWE Debut Expected SummerSlam Weekend

    Key Points:

    • Giulia is WWE-bound, but not expected at NXT Heatwave this Sunday
    • WWE is eager to add her to the mix and she’ll likely debut by the next NXT PLE

    Giulia’s WWE debut is imminent, but she won’t be on hand for Sunday’s NXT Heatwave 2024 premium live event from Toronto, OB. The Japanese wrestling sensation has been healing from a fractured wrist and has a big match scheduled in a matter of days.

    Ahead of this big WWE Money in the Bank weekend, there’s new information about when Giulia is officially joining WWE and NXT. She will fulfill her Marigold commitments, including her return match against Saree next Saturday at Summer Destiny.

    She will then be free to begin her career with the world’s top wrestling company. According to Fightful, WWE is eager to integrate her “as soon as possible.” She’s expected to wrestle at the next NXT PLE over WWE SummerSlam 2024 weekend.

    Everybody recognizes the potential for Giulia to reshape the NXT women’s division. Countless intriguing match-ups await her, including North American Champion Kelani Jordan and of course, NXT Champion Roxanne Perez.

  • Ethan Page’s Mind Blown In WWE After AEW’s Chaos & Disorganization

    Ethan Page’s Mind Blown In WWE After AEW’s Chaos & Disorganization

    Ethan Page says working for WWE has already been a mind blowing experience a stark contrast to AEW, which he called, “chaotic and unorganized.”

    Page recently arrived in NXT after an uneventful stint with All Elite Wrestling. He attacked NXT Champion Trick Williams in his debut appearance. By going straight after the brand’s top champion, he’s effectively invited himself into the main event scene. He lost their showdown at NXT Battleground 2024 on June 9, but All Ego is here to stay.

    Comparing AEW & WWE

    During an appearance on the Talk’n Shop podcast recorded ‘on location’ at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Page tells hosts Gallows and Anderson that he still cannot believe how professional the WWE ‘machine’ is compared to the last national wrestling promotion he worked at.

    “I went from somewhere that was so chaotic and unorganized to a place that, I mean I’m still learning because I’m still so new here, but this is a machine and it’s incredible.”

    Page learned firsthand that disorganization negatively affects talent morale. He admits he felt a bit neglected by ‘AEW creative’ and didn’t receive the support he was expecting.

    “It feels good to not feel like I have to do everything myself. To have people that want to see me succeed is kind of mind blowing.”

    Listen to Page’s appearance on Talk’n Shop here and make sure to check out our new Wrestling Podcasts section for more great shows to listen to.

    What Others Have Said

    Ethan Page is the latest wrestler to leave AEW and join WWE, but he’s not the first. Cody Rhodes has been nothing but complimentary about the company he helped co-found.

    Jade Cargill has provided some unique insights as well, having started her wrestling career under the AEW banner. Cargill said working there prepared her for WWE, but moved on when she’d achieved all of her goals in AEW.

  • Shawn Michaels On Drew Gulak & Gable Steveson Departure

    Shawn Michaels On Drew Gulak & Gable Steveson Departure

    Michaels comments on the departure of Gulak and Stevenson from WWE.

    The WWE roster is going through some significant changes this year. Several notable talents featured prominently on TV have either become free agents or are getting close to their contracts expiring. One of the recent talents to depart from WWE is Ricochet, who reportedly chose not to re-sign with the company.

    In the case of Drew Gulak and Gable Steveson, their departure from the company in May has left fans wondering why. The reason for the former Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler has been unclear, as he only had one match against Baron Corbin for NXT that fans didn’t receive well. However, it has been reported that he could’ve been let go because of the lack of progression as a talent on the roster.

    For Gulak, he was let go after spending nearly eight years in WWE and was being featured on NXT. The timing was also interesting as it came after former WWE superstar Ronda Rousey shared that Gulak had inappropriately touched her pants’ drawstring in 2022. In addition, after Rousey spoke out about Gulak, he was noticeably removed from TV until his departure. However, Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque(AKA Triple H) noted during the Backlash post-conference on May 4 that Gulak’s exit from the company was due to his contract expiring.

    In a media call ahead of NXT Heatwave, POST Wrestling’s John Pollock asked Shawn Michaels about the departure of both Gulak and Steveson. Michaels shared that both talent contracts were set to expire, and the company chose not to keep them on the roster.

    WrestleZone has the full video of the media call:

    “…From my understanding, nothing on anyone’s part other than contracts being up, certainly in the place of Drew Gulak, and from a company’s standpoint, they’re not being anything from a main roster standpoint that they were going to be using him in and that’s certainly as we, here in NXT, over the last year and a half, two years, we’ve been trying to again get into a process of really keeping it fluid,” said Michaels.

    He then touched on NXT’s shift towards deciding to let go of talent they believe isn’t progressing enough to be on the main roster.

    “…It’s all about getting, I guess, to the main roster when everything is said and done, and if in two or three years that doesn’t happen, we have to see, you know what I mean, either bringing other people in or see if we’re ready to move on,” said Michaels.

    He also congratulated Steveson on his transition to the NFL and wished him the best. That said, he echoed the new direction WWE is taking of letting go of talent they believe doesn’t have a place on the main roster or NXT.

    What’s Next For Drew Gulak?

    While Steveson is set to begin his career with the Buffalo Bills, Gulak is looking for success on the independent wrestling scene. He accepts bookings and trains wrestlers at Catchpoint Philadelphia alongside All Elite Wrestling superstar Wheeler Yuta and ‘Hot Sauce’ Tracy Williams.

    Gulak’s next wrestling appearance will be for Beyond Wrestling on July 4. He’ll take on Tom Lawlor in what should be a technical matchup.

    WWE’s new stance may lead to more superstars being let go on the main roster and NXT, as they’ll evaluate when the talent contract expires. That said, there are still opportunities on the indie scene and from other promotions where talent can succeed.

  • WWE Trademarks Another Classic WCW Brand PPV

    WWE Trademarks Another Classic WCW Brand PPV

    WWE may be bringing back another WCW pay-per-view to give it a new paint job in the PLE era.

    The company has filed for the trademark “SuperBrawl” under the United States Patent and Trademark Office and it’s not for merchandise purchases, but for broadcast media purposes.

    WCW SuperBrawl became one of the company’s most notable PPVs during its run with Ric Flair battling Tatsumi Fujinami in the inaugural SuperBrawl I out of St. Petersburg, FL. SuperBrawl VIII was actually where Scott Steiner infamously turned on his brother Rick to join the NWO. Serendipituosly enough, Scott Steiner competed in main event against Kevin Nash at SuperBrawl Revenge, the final version of the event before WCW ultimately closed its doors in 2001.

    RELATED: WWE Money in the Bank 2024 Card: Every match taking place

    Back in 2019, Cody Rhodes attempted to secure the rights to the SuperBrawl name, but he and WWE came to an agreement on the situation.

    In the past WWE has used the Starrcade name to promote live events, but it’s been the NXT brand who has really embraced the nostalgia of notable PPVs from the past. Halloween Havoc and Great American Bash has been an appointment events for NXT as has the classic WWE property In Your House.

    With SuperBrawl having it’s obvious ties to “Super Bowl” WWE could be angling for a PLE around February which is also when the original SuperBrawl fell on WCW’s calender. WWE’s trademark following for “SuperBrawl” reads as follows:

    “Exhibition of professional wrestling events rendered through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing wrestling news and information through broadcast media including television and distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information.”

  • NXT Heatwave 2024 Card: Every match taking place

    NXT Heatwave 2024 Card: Every match taking place

    WWE’s NXT Heatwave is set to take place on Money in the Bank weekend and it’s looking like a pretty decent card on paper.

    We’ll be going over every match confirmed for the card in this article, including the main event Fatal Four Way match that sees Je’Von Evans get his first ever PLE main event spot (deservedly!).

    NXT Heatwave Main Card Matches

    NXT Championship Match: Trick Williams (c) vs. Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Shawn Spears

    In the main event, Trick Williams will defend his NXT Championship against three opponents: Ethan Page, Je’Von Evans, and Shawn Spears.

    NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Nathan Frazer & Axiom (c) vs. Chase U (Andre Chase & Duke Hudson)

    The dynamic duo of Nathan Frazer and Axiom will defend their NXT Tag Team Championships against the ever-popular team of Chase U, comprised of Andre Chase and Duke Hudson.

    NXT North American Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs. Wes Lee

    Oba Femi will put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Wes Lee. Femi’s power and intensity have made him a formidable champion, but Wes Lee’s agility and in-ring prowess present a serious threat for his title reign.

    NXT Women’s Championship Match: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Lola Vice

    Roxanne Perez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against the rising star Lola Vice. Perez has shown resilience and skill in her title reign, but Vice’s recent run seems to indicate that she is ready to seize the spotlight.

    NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Sol Ruca

    In another exciting championship match, Kelani Jordan will defend her NXT Women’s North American Championship against Sol Ruca.

    Pre-Show Tag Team Match: Arianna Grace & Karmen Petrovic vs. Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx

    The pre-show will feature a tag team match where Arianna Grace teams up with Karmen Petrovic to take on Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx.