WWE NXT on The CW.
The black-and-gold brand got a huge blast of nostalgia this week as #DIY — the beloved duo of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa — made a surprise return to NXT. The reunion wasn’t just a homecoming, though. It turned into a heated confrontation with none other than TNA World Champion Trick Williams.
Williams, who’s now held the TNA World Title for over 100 days, has been boasting nonstop about being the top star to ever set foot in NXT. Even after coming up short in a recent bid to earn a shot at Je’Von Evans’ NXT Championship, he continued to hype himself as “untouchable” in the brand’s history. During this week’s promo, he even admitted that he didn’t care much about NXT anymore, claiming he’ll have the same mindset once he gets to the main roster.
That’s when the music hit — and out came Gargano and Ciampa to mark their 10-year anniversary with WWE. The two reminded Williams of their own championship accolades, stacking up their resumes against his. Ciampa, a two-time NXT Champion, and Gargano, a record-setting three-time North American Champion, made it clear that Williams still has plenty to prove before he can lay claim to being the best NXT has ever seen.
The war of words quickly broke down into action, and fans got the payoff they were waiting for. #DIY stood tall to close the segment, dropping the TNA World Champion with their signature tandem superkick.
With #DIY back in the mix — at least for now — and Trick Williams continuing to stir the pot, NXT could be on the verge of one of its most intriguing cross-promotional feuds in years.
WWE NXT tonight on The CW.
WWE NXT tonight on The CW Network.
New Champions Crowned, Title Matches Set, and Oba Femi Survives a War
NXT Heatwave 2025 delivered a night of surprises, hard-hitting action, and championship shakeups. From the women’s division to the tag team ranks, the card kept fans in Lowell, Massachusetts on their feet all evening. Here’s how it all went down:
The show opened with a fast-paced triple threat as Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, and Lola Vice battled for the No. 1 contender spot.
Parker started hot, overwhelming both opponents until Jordan and Vice briefly joined forces to cut her down. Alliances quickly broke apart as all three women traded momentum in and out of the ring, including Jordan hitting a wild corkscrew splash to the floor and Parker nearly sealing the win with a spinebuster.
The finish came after a chaotic closing stretch that included a “tower of doom” and multiple near falls. Parker connected with her Hipnotic on Jordan, but Vice was waiting with a quick roll-up to steal the pin and the victory.
👉 Winner: Lola Vice (becomes No. 1 contender to the NXT Women’s Championship)
The dominant reign of Hank & Tank came to a shocking end thanks to the chaos of DarkState. Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin did the heavy lifting, but interference from Cutler James and Saquon Shugars proved to be the difference.
Despite the champions’ spirited comeback — including Tank hitting a Swanton Bomb on both challengers — the numbers game was too much. DarkState capitalized on a distracted referee and put Hank away with a devastating Doomsday Device.
👉 Winners and NEW NXT Tag Team Champions: DarkState
With TNA President Carlos Silva watching from ringside, the Knockouts World Championship returned in a high-stakes triple threat between Jacy Jayne, Masha Slamovich, and Ash by Elegance.
The match was filled with interference and close calls, as Jayne had Fatal Influence in her corner and Ash leaned on her Elegance Brand entourage. Despite heavy strikes from Masha and big dives from both challengers, the end came when Jayne’s allies were ejected from ringside. That left the door open for Ash, who capitalized by pinning Slamovich after hitting her Swanton Bomb.
👉 Winner and NEW TNA Knockouts World Champion: Ash by Elegance
Former friends turned bitter rivals clashed as Jordynne Grace battled Blake Monroe in a physical showdown. Grace controlled much of the match with her signature power moves, but Monroe zeroed in on her arm and used every dirty trick possible, including exposing a turnbuckle.
After surviving a top-rope powerbomb, Monroe turned the tide by sending Grace face-first into the exposed steel before drilling her with a Double Arm DDT for the upset win.
👉 Winner: Blake Monroe
Lowell fans were firmly behind Chelsea Green, loudly chanting her name throughout her mixed tag with Ethan Page against Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele.
The match broke down into chaos with Alba Fyre and the Elegance Brand getting involved, but Green had the final word. After a flurry of suplexes and a near victory for Steele, Green hit the Un-Pretty-Her to secure the win for her team.
👉 Winners: Chelsea Green & Ethan Page
General Manager Ava revealed that both Men’s and Women’s Speed Championships are officially coming to NXT. Sol Ruca will defend her Women’s Speed Title at No Mercy against the winner of a new tournament.
The main event saw Oba Femi defend the NXT Championship against Je’Von Evans in a match that had the crowd split and chanting “This is Awesome” before it was over.
Evans used his speed and high-flying arsenal to keep the champion off balance, but Oba’s size and strength proved overwhelming. A referee bump added controversy when Evans appeared to have the match won after hitting multiple cutters, but the original official waved it off after spotting Oba’s foot under the rope.
The end came in brutal fashion: Oba launched Evans through the announce table before finishing him with the Fall From Grace inside the ring.
👉 Winner and STILL NXT Champion: Oba Femi
After the bell, Ricky Saints confronted the champion, setting the stage for a new rivalry as Heatwave went off the air.
🔥 Takeaway: NXT Heatwave shook up the landscape with Lola Vice earning her first shot at the women’s crown, DarkState rising as tag team champs, and Ash by Elegance bringing the TNA Knockouts World Championship back to TNA. Meanwhile, Oba Femi proved once again why he is the most dominant force in NXT, though Ricky Saints is waiting in the wings.
WWE NXT Heatwave – Sunday August 24, 2025 – Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts
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WWE NXT live on The CW Network from The Met Presented by Highmark, Philadelphia, PA
WWE NXT on the CW Network
WWE NXT live TONIGHT at 8 ET/7 CT on the CW Network
While WWE gears up for its two-night SummerSlam extravaganza at MetLife Stadium this weekend, the underground fight scene in pro wrestling is heating up just a short drive away. Game Changer Wrestling’s Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV is set to kick off Saturday afternoon in New Jersey, and a pair of former WWE World Tag Team Champions are officially stepping into the no-ropes ring for the very first time.
Josh Barnett took to social media to break the news himself, declaring: “WAR is coming to Bloodsport.” That’s right—Erik and Ivar, collectively known as The War Raiders, are making their long-awaited debut at the gritty hybrid shoot-style event.
Last seen on the July 10 episode of WWE Main Event, where they steamrolled LWO’s Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro, Erik and Ivar will now test their mettle in one of wrestling’s most unforgiving formats. True to Bloodsport tradition, their match will be contested in a ring stripped of ropes and turnbuckles, with a hard-hitting MMA-meets-pro-wrestling ruleset. Their opponents for the event have yet to be revealed.
They won’t be the only WWE talents on the card, either. Raw veteran Natalya is set to face off against TNA Wrestling’s dangerous and unpredictable Masha Slamovich, while SmackDown‘s Pete Dunne brings his brutal British strong style to a clash with Jonathan Gresham. Also announced: NXT’s Charlie Dempsey returns to Bloodsport following his loss to Tavion Heights earlier this month. His opponent remains under wraps for now.
WWE’s growing crossover with Bloodsport isn’t exactly new. Last year’s Bloodsport X featured Shayna Baszler and Charlie Dempsey, both of whom picked up big wins—Baszler over Slamovich (with Zoey Stark in her corner) and Dempsey over Matt Makowski. The appearances signaled a surprising but intriguing collaboration between WWE and GCW, one that seems to be gaining more momentum with each event.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV kicks off Saturday at 1 PM ET, offering a violent, visceral counterpoint to the polished spectacle of SummerSlam. Whether it’s WWE talent, indie legends, or international heavy-hitters, expect no frills—just fights.
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