WWE NXT Heatwave 2023

WWE NXT Heatwave 2023 is a weekly TV special show from NXT brand. The show is set to take place on August 22, 2023, at WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.

Carmelo Hayes defended NXT Championship at the event. Ilja Dragunov face Trick Williams in a singles match.

MATCH CARD

• Ilja Dragunov vs Trick Williams – Singles Match
  • Winner – Ilja Dragunov
• Ava Raine vs Ivy Nile
  • Winner – Ivy Nile
• Nathan Frazer(c) vs Noam Dar – British Round Rules match for NXT Heritage Cup
  • Winner – Noam Dar by 2-1 falls(title change)
• Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio vs Lyra Valkyrie & Dragon Lee – Mixed Tag Team Match
  • Winner – Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio
• Main Event: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs Wes Lee – WWE NXT Championship Match
  • Winner – Carmelo Hayes

NOTES & STORYLINES

This is the ninth event in the Heatwave series. The first 7 events took place under ECW banner from 1994 to 2000 as a PPV special. NXT brought back the event as a weekly TV special in 2022. The 2023 iteration was the second event under NXT.

Carmelo Hayes (c) vs Wes Lee/Dijak – WWE NXT Championship Match

Wes Lee was distraught after losing NXT North American Championship match at The Great American Bash. Carmelo Hayes tried to console him, but Lee got miffed at him. After a backstage argument Hayes and Lee then teamed up to face Meta-Four’s Noam Dar and Oro Mensah. They lost the match after Lee hit Hayes with a Kardiak kick and Meta-Four outnumbered Lee. On the August 8 episode, Dijak also came to stake his claim for a title shot, leading to an argument between Dijak and Lee. WWE later announced that Lee and Dijak will clash on NXT August 15 episode, and the winner will challenge Carmelo Hayes at Heatwave.

Ilja Dragunov vs Trick Williams

Ilja Dragunov failed to beat Carmelo Hayes at The Great American Bash event. Trick Williams was in Hayes’ corner during the match. Dragunov believed On the following NXT episode, Williams told Hayes that the fans think of him as a sidekick, and he had to get Dragunov for himself. He called out Dragunov to come face-to-face with him. Dragunov and Williams had a promo segment on the August 8 episode of NXT where they agreed to a match at Heatwave.

Nathan Frazer(c) vs Noam Dar – British Round Rules match for NXT Heritage Cup

Nathan Frazer defeated Oro Mensah(Dar’s replacement due to injury) on June 13, 2023 episode of NXT to win NXT Heritage Cup. Dar went into Weekend at Bernie’s mode after this due to depression after losing the cup. Meta-Four then handed Dar with a replica trophy to cheer him up. Nathan Frazer, Dragon Lee, Yulisa Leon & Valentina Feroz defeated Meta-Four in a mixed tag team match at The Great American Bash. Tyler Bate then challenged Dar for his trophy and won it from him on August 8 NXT episode. Dar asked Bate to return the trophy to him. Nathan Frazer came in and told Bate to return the fake trophy and also said he would like to settle this dispute with a match at NXT Heatwave.

Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio vs Lyra Valkyrie & Dragon Lee – Mixed Tag Team Match

Rhea Ripley praised Lyra Valkyrie as one of the best NXT talent. But, Lyra ended up challenging her for a match. Rhea defeated Lyra at a match on July 25 NXT episode in a singles match. Lyra kept pursuing a rematch against Rhea. On the other hand, Dragon Lee challenged Dominik for a match for NXT North American title. Rey Mysterio was in Dragon Lee’s corner on August 8 NXT episode, but Dominik was able to retain the title thanks to Rhea hitting Dragon Lee with her title belt. Lyra attacked Rhea after the match. On August 15 NXT episode, Lee and Valkyrie challenged Rhea and Dominik for a mixed tag team match, which was accepted right away.

Von Wagner vs Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin was doing a promo in the ring where he took shots at everyone in NXT locker room. Von Wagner and Mr. Stone confronted him and Wagner finally cut a promo insulting Corbin. This led to Corbin trying to attack Wagner, but Wagner instead slammed his face on the announce table. WWE later announced a match between them at Heatwave.

Ava Raine vs Ivy Nile

The rivalry between Diamond Mine and Schism led to The Dyad defeating The Creed Brothers in a Loser Leaves NXT match. In July, a couple of men, masked as Schism’s followers interfered in their match to cost them tag team title match. The Schism tried to find these rogue followers with a suspicion that it was the Creed Brothers who were interfering. They tried to target Ivy Nile in order to get the information on Creed Brothers but Tony D’Angelo and Stacks saved her. Ava Raine then challenged Ivy for a singles match at Heatwave. This is Ava’s first-ever singles match.