Heatwave 2025: NXT And TNA Collide In A Historic Night Of Wrestling

Event Overview

Date & Venue: Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Broadcast: Live at 7 PM ET on Peacock in the U.S.; available on WWE Network and Netflix internationally.

Significance:

First Heatwave to exclusively feature the WWE logo, part of a brand consolidation movement started after Halloween Havoc 2024.

Marked the debut NXT appearance of TNA talent, cementing the WWE–TNA partnership.

Hosted in the same venue where Shawn Michaels famously relinquished the WWE title in 1997, tying legacy and present into one narrative.

Match Card

Here’s the full lineup—six high-stakes matches spanning multiple titles and brands :

1. NXT Championship – Oba Femi (c) vs. Je’Von Evans

2. TNA Knockouts World Championship (Triple Threat) – Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Masha Slamovich vs. Ash by Elegance

3. NXT Tag Team Championship – Hank Walker & Tank Ledger (c) vs. DarkState (two members)

4. **#1 Contender – NXT Women's Championship** (Triple Threat) – Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice

5. Mixed Tag Team Match – Ethan Page & Chelsea Green vs. Tavion Heights & Tyra Mae Steele

6. Singles Grudge Match – Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe

Storylines at Glance

1. NXT Championship: Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans

Oba Femi (“The Ruler of NXT”) has dominated the brand since capturing the title in January. He’s a former star athlete (shot put champion) turned pro wrestler.

Je’Von Evans (“The Young OG”) earned this title shot by defeating Trick Williams on Aug. 19.

Legacy Callback: The venue is the same place Shawn Michaels gave up the WWE Championship in 1997—symbolic of the passing of the torch in NXT.

2. TNA Knockouts Title (Triple Threat)

Jacy Jayne, NXT Women’s Champion and leader of Fatal Influence, holds the TNA Knockouts title after winning a “Winner-Takes-All” at TNA’s Slammiversary.

Her challengers: Masha Slamovich (former Knockouts champion), and Ash by Elegance, each intertwined in TNA/NXT cross-brand storylines.

Controversy: The storyline is criticized for inconsistent presentation across promotions—TNA fans feel shortchanged by paying for Emergence, yet getting the payoff at NXT Heatwave instead.

3. NXT Tag Team Titles

Hank & Tank have held the titles but have recently been targeted by the dominant faction DarkState, who have attacked them and declared their challenge.

4. Women’s #1 Contender Match

Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, and Lola Vice each made their case through backstage brawls and interviews to earn this opportunity.

5. Mixed Tag: Page/Green vs. Heights/Steele

Ethan Page ("All Ego") debuted with braggadocio, facing off national pride vs. Tavion Heights & Tyra Mae Steele, a newly formed team.

6. Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe

Former partners turned bitter rivals. Monroe betrayed Grace, injuring her neck, leading to a heated personal showdown at Heatwave.

Results & Recap

Match outcomes remain unconfirmed at the time of writing; coverage continues with live updates—but most outlets list the card without results.

Trivia & Notable Context

Heatwave Legacy: Originating in ECW (1994–2000), revived by WWE in 2022 for NXT. The 2025 edition marks the 11th overall and 4th under NXT branding.

Historic Venue: In 1997, Shawn Michaels vacated the WWE Championship here—adding layers to Oba Femi’s title defense in the same arena.

First NXT Event Exclusively Using WWE Logo, furthering the integration of NXT under the parent brand identity.

Cross-Promotion: Incorporating TNA titles and stars highlights WWE and TNA’s partnership, giving the event cross-brand significance.

Storyline Friction: Criticism revolves around inconsistent portrayal of characters between NXT and TNA. For instance, Jacy Jayne’s Fatal Influence appears disjointed, confusing fans from both brands.