WWE NXT tonight on The CW Network.
WWE airs live globally today live on Netflix from the bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England, beginning at 3:00 pm ET/12:00 pm PT.
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
CARD
The wrestling world is still reeling from the sudden loss of Hulk Hogan, and now new reports suggest his passing may be connected to medical malpractice.
According to a report from TMZ Sports, Clearwater police documents reveal that an occupational therapist was present at Hogan’s Florida home when he stopped breathing. The therapist allegedly told responding officers that Hogan’s death could be traced back to complications from a recent surgery.
While the exact procedure remains unclear — believed to have been either a heart-related operation or neck surgery — the therapist claimed that Hogan’s phrenic nerve was severed during the process. This nerve is essential because it activates the diaphragm, the muscle that makes normal breathing possible.
Sources close to the investigation noted that Hogan didn’t suffer a dramatic episode like chest pain or collapse. Instead, he simply stopped breathing. His wife, Sky, noticed the silence, realized something was wrong, and immediately called 911.
Police bodycam footage is said to have captured officers discussing the therapist’s claims at the scene, and the therapist’s direct statements may also be preserved on video.
Adding to the speculation, Hogan’s daughter Brooke has publicly called for a full autopsy. Sky Hogan later confirmed to TMZ Sports that her husband’s phrenic nerve was indeed “compromised” during surgery. She also revealed that an autopsy has already been conducted, though the family has chosen not to disclose the results at this time. Importantly, Hogan’s body has not yet been cremated.
This development raises major questions about whether one of wrestling’s most iconic figures may have lost his life due to surgical error. Fans and the industry alike will no doubt be following this investigation closely as more details emerge.
WWE SmackDown Friday at 8/7C on USA Network and Netflix internationally from 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland
WWE’s big media shakeup continued Wednesday, as fresh details emerged about what’s staying on Peacock now that Premium Live Events are moving to ESPN’s new streaming service.
After announcing WrestlePalooza for September 20 as the first-ever PLE on ESPN’s platform, questions swirled about what this meant for WWE’s existing Peacock deal. By the end of the day, both sides cleared things up with a new press release confirming that Peacock will still be an important home for WWE programming—just with a different lineup.
The biggest change? Saturday Night’s Main Event is shifting away from its traditional NBC broadcast slot and will now stream exclusively on Peacock four times a year. That includes the highly anticipated December 13 edition, which doubles as John Cena’s farewell match.
Peacock will also keep WWE’s vast content library through the end of 2025, giving fans access to decades of classic pay-per-views and original specials. What happens after that remains a mystery, though reports have hinted that the library could eventually make the jump to YouTube.
Additionally, NXT Premium Live Events are staying put on Peacock through March 2026, since they were not part of the ESPN deal. Fans can also continue watching SmackDown the day after it airs on USA Network, ensuring Peacock subscribers still get a steady dose of current WWE action.
Interestingly, The Hollywood Reporter noted that Peacock itself signed off on WWE exiting the mainline PLE agreement earlier than expected. By running two-night versions of WrestleMania and SummerSlam, WWE was able to fulfill its content quota faster than planned, clearing the way for ESPN to jump in ahead of schedule.
With main roster PLEs heading to ESPN, SNME moving to Peacock, and Cena’s last match set for December, WWE is juggling multiple platforms—but fans won’t be short on ways to watch.
WWE’s deal with ESPN is kicking in way earlier than fans thought. Instead of waiting until 2026, WWE announced this week that its Premium Live Events (PLEs) will move to ESPN’s brand-new direct-to-consumer streaming service immediately following Clash in Paris. That event, set for August 31, will mark the final WWE PLE airing on Peacock in the United States.
The shift comes after WWE reportedly hit its PLE quota with Peacock. According to Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline, the extra day of SummerSlam plus shows like Evolution helped WWE fulfill its contractual obligations ahead of schedule. What isn’t clear yet is where the massive WWE library—including decades of pay-per-views, documentaries, and specials—will end up once the Peacock deal fully wraps.
Starting August 21, fans can subscribe to ESPN’s DTC platform, with WWE events included under the “Unlimited Plan.” Select shows will also simulcast on ESPN’s linear TV channels, giving PLEs more visibility outside of just streaming.
And WWE isn’t wasting any time launching the new era. The company confirmed WrestlePalooza for September 20 at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Not only is this the long-rumored counter to AEW’s All Out weekend, but it also marks the very first WWE PLE to air exclusively on ESPN’s streaming service.
For fans, this raises plenty of questions about accessibility, costs, and how the ESPN subscription tiers will affect viewing. But one thing is certain: WWE is making another big play to expand its reach, and ESPN is putting wrestling front-and-center as it launches its next big digital project.
ESPN provided further information on its DTC service page outlining the subscription packages.
The streaming home for WWE’s biggest shows may be changing a lot earlier than fans thought.
While WWE’s $1.6 billion deal with ESPN isn’t scheduled to officially kick in until 2026, new reports suggest the company could begin shifting Premium Live Events (PLEs) from Peacock to ESPN’s streaming service as soon as next month.
On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez hinted that the transition could already be in motion. “I’m hearing we may have ESPN going forward,” Alvarez said, adding that the September 20th Wrestlepalooza event — rumored to be headlined by John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar — may serve as the first major test run for the new partnership.
WWE’s current deal with Peacock doesn’t expire until March 2026, but Alvarez pointed out a key detail that could explain the early exit: event quotas. According to him, WWE may have already satisfied its contracted number of shows with Peacock. The addition of extra events — such as the second night of SummerSlam and the Evolution special — could mean WWE has already gone beyond its required obligations, freeing them up to pivot to ESPN early.
If true, the shift would mark a significant moment in WWE’s media landscape. ESPN brings a wider sports-focused audience and potentially more crossover visibility for WWE’s product, while Peacock subscribers could be left adjusting to the change much sooner than expected.
Nothing has been made official yet, but the possibility of WWE’s biggest matches — like Cena vs. Lesnar — being part of ESPN’s streaming lineup in 2024 is a game-changer for fans and for the company’s future direction.
Chris Jericho could be at a major career crossroads as speculation heats up about his AEW contract status and the possibility of a WWE return.
The former AEW World Champion, who was the company’s first-ever titleholder back in 2019, has been absent from AEW programming since April. His last appearance came at AEW Dynasty, where he dropped the ROH Championship to Bandido. On the following episode of Dynamite, Jericho told his Learning Tree protégés, Big Bill and Bryan Keith, to hold things down in his absence — and he hasn’t resurfaced since.
Now, with Jericho’s current deal reportedly running through December (unless it was extended during his time off), the rumor mill is churning. Over the weekend, Jericho “liked” an Instagram post teasing a potential WWE return, sparking even more fan speculation.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed both Jericho’s contract situation and WWE’s interest. “There’s lots of talk there about Jericho,” Meltzer noted, pointing out that many fans and insiders are even speculating about a Royal Rumble appearance if he does make the jump.
From WWE’s perspective, Meltzer explained, Jericho would be an instant shot in the arm. “A guy from AEW that goes to WWE is going to be over like crazy,” he said.
Of course, AEW President Tony Khan won’t want to lose one of his top stars without a fight. Meltzer suggested Khan could throw big money at Jericho to keep him, but acknowledged that WWE would likely match or exceed whatever AEW is willing to offer. The main difference would come down to creative freedom — Jericho has historically had more leeway with his storylines in AEW, while WWE’s structure may be more restrictive, albeit with a more tailored schedule.
At 53, Jericho has nothing left to prove, but the idea of him returning to WWE — even for one last run — would be a massive moment. Whether it’s a Rumble surprise, a WrestleMania story, or simply one more chapter in a legendary career, the wrestling world will be watching closely as December approaches.
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