WWE NXT Heatwave Live Coverage - August 22nd, 2023

[Kemo]

Carmelo Hayes defends the NXT Championship against Wes Lee

NXT’s greatest prize will be defended at NXT Heatwave as Carmelo Hayes puts his title on the line against the high-flying Wes Lee. Since losing his NXT North American Championship to “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, Lee has become increasingly erratic and unafraid to confront Superstars backstage, including the NXT Champion. Lee then made a statement by defeating Dijak to become the No. 1 Contender and even mauling Hayes during their contract signing. Not one for disrespect, Hayes has vowed to decisively defeat Lee and humble him just like he has everyone else.

Your announcers are Booker T and Vic Joseph.

We begin with Tony D'Angelo talking to Channing Lorenzo and Channing runs past him and dives into the pool with all of the NXT wrestlers. Tony talks about the mixed tag match. Channing mentions Ilja and Trick. A friend brings some guests for the party. The Men's Title Match is the next match to be discussed. Tony says summer is coming to an end so let it go out wtih a bang.


Ilja Dragunov vs Trick Williams

Ilja with a boot as the bell rings followed by a chop and kicks. Ilja with a forearm or two. Ilja with a chop in the corner and he sends Trick into another turnbuckle. Trick with forearms and he tries for a slam but Ilja escapes and tries for a German suplex. Trick escapes and hits a shoulder tackle. Ilja with an enzuigiri. Ilja with a waist lock and forearm to the back. Ilja with a spinning back fist. Ilja with a chop and a spinning chop. Ilja with a boot to the head. Trick blocks a kick and he connects with forearms. Ilja with a chop. Trick with a drop kick. Ilja goes for Konstantin Special but Trick blocks it. They go to the floor and Ilja runs Trick into the apron and connects with a boot to the head. Ilja with an uppercut and he sends Trick back into the ring. Ilja with a boot to the back of the head. Ilja with a chop.

Ijla with a hip lock take down into a side head lock. Trick gets to his feet and Ilja with a shoulder tackle and boot. Trick blocks a suplex and Trick tries for a suplex of his own but Ilja blocks it. Ilja floats over on a suplex attempt and lands on his feet. Ilja with a chop and a running knee for a near fall. Ilja with a rear chin lock. Trick with a forearm and Ilja fires back. They continue the exchange. Ilja with slaps to gain the advantage. Ilja with a boot to the head. Ilja with an Irish whip and chop in the corner. Ilja with a running boot into the corner. Ilja with Kobashi chops in the corner. Trick with a chop to Ilja and Ilja with more Kobashi chops. Trick blocks a chop.

Trick with a forearm and Ilja fires back. Trick with a clothesline and Ilja with an enzuigiri. Trick with a kick to Ilja. Trick with a forearm and Ilja fires back. Trick with more forearms and punches. Trick with an uppercut that sends Ilja to the mat. Trick with a boot to the head and more kicks. Ilja wants more from Trick and Trick obliges with a kick and he chokes Ilja against the ropes. Ilja blocks a suplex and Ilja with forearms. Trick kicks Ilja away. Trick with a flapjack. Trick with a running knee for a near fall. Ilja with a DDT and a second one for a near fall. Ilja backs Trick into the corner and puts him on the turnbuckles. Ilja sets for a superplex but Trick blocks it. Trick with a uranage off the turnbuckles for a near fall.

Trick goes for the cyclone kick but Ilja blocks it and hits a German suplex followed by a kick. Trick escapes a power bomb but Ilja is able to hit a power bomb followed by a falling forearm for a near fall. Trick slaps Ilja and Ilja kicks Trick. Ilja goes to the turnbuckles and pulls Trick into position. Ilja with a diving forearm for the three count.

Winner: Ilja Dragunov

After the match:
Ilja nods at Trick to approve of his performance.


Backstage:
Tyler Bate is in the locker room and Nathan Frazer arrives. Nathan asks Tyler what is he up to. Tyler says he is getting through the pain. Tyler says Nathan needs to prove who is the true Heritage Champion. Nathan asks Tyler to be his second. Nathan says Tyler will be the first to get a shot at Nathan after he beats Noam.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
We are back with Dom and Rhea. Mustafa Ali interrupts and Rhea wants to know why he is here. Ali says he is here to wish them luck and he tells them to literally break a leg so NXT can have a North American Champion to care about. Dom says he doesn't care about NXT. He only cares about Mami. Rhea tells Ali he has ten seconds to get out of the locker room or they will show him what they are going to do with Lyra and Lee. Ali says that they are used to ten seconds.


Ivy Nile vs Ava (w/ Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, and Jagger Reid)

vy is distracted by Joe and Jagger so Ava attacks her from behind and sends Ivy into the turnbuckles. Ava with a slam and another slam. Ava with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Ava with a back breaker and she gets a near fall. Ava with an Irish whip but she misses a splash. Ivy with a series of kicks to the head. Ava with a scorpion kick for a near fall. Ava chokes Ivy in the ropes. Ivy with a dragon sleeper and Ava taps out.

Winner: Ivy Nile

After the match:
A woman in a mask gets on the apron. More people get on the apron and Ivy with a kick and German suplex to masked people. Ava is pulled to safety by two of the masked men.


Backstage:
We see Wes Lee on the phone and Ilja Dragunov shows up and he is in pain. Wes asks if he is good and Ilja says he is good. Trick Williams is no longer in his way to the NXT Title. Wes says there is going to be a new champion and it is going to be him. The title that Ilja wants is going to be on his shoulders. Wes says he made his own destiny. He beats Carmelo Hayes tonight and he looks forward to facing the Mad Dragon as champion.


NXT Heritage Championship
Noam Dar (w/ Oro Mensah, Jakara Jackson, and Lash Legend) vs Nathan Frazer (w/ Tyler Bate)

Round One

They lock up and Dar with a wrist lock. Dar with a take down. Frazer with a wrist lock but Dar with an arm bar and he gets a near fall. Dar with a wrist lock

Frazer with a side head lock. Frazer with a shoulder tackle and they both stay on their feet. Dar with a side head lock. Frazer with a reversal. Frazer avoids Dar and gets a near fall with a rolup but Dar goes for a Lebell Lock. Frazer goes for a quebrada but he lands on his feet. Dar slaps Frazer and Frazer slaps back. Frazer with punches and he goes for a cover but Dar escapes as the round ends.

Round Two

Dar with a kick to the leg. They lock up and Dar backs Frazer into the ropes. Dar misses a kick and Frazer with a side head lock take down. Dar with a rollup for a near fall. Dar with a head scissors. Frazer with a headstand to escape and he drop kicks Dar. Frazer with a side head lock.

Dar with a snap mare and he gets a near fall. Dar with a reverse chin lock and he runs his forearm across the bridge of the nose. Dar with knees to the midsection followed by forearms. Frazer with a running drop kick. Dabba-Kato choke slams Bate on the apron and the distraction allows Dar to get the three count with a rollup.

Noam Dar: 1 Fall
Nathan Frazer: 0 Falls

Round Three

Dar with a running elbow in the corner followed by punches. Frazer with punches and Dar with an Irish whip and Frazer floats over. Frazer with a Maple Leaf into an STF. Dar gets to the ropes. Dar kicks Frazer when Frazer goes for a springboard move. Dar gets a near fall.

Dar with kicks to the midsection. Dar with a kick to the ribs. Frazer with punches but Dar with a dragon screw into an ankle lock. Frazer rolls through to send Dar to the floor. Frazer with a suicide dive and they return to the ring. Frazer with a springboard moonsault into a reverse DDT followed by a shooting star press for a near fall.

After the end of the round, Dar with an uppercut.

Round Four

Frazer gets a near fall. Dar backs into the corner and Frazer with a chop. Frazer flips out of the corner and hits a power slam for a near fall. Frazer goes up top for a Phoenix Splash but Dar moves and Frazer rolls through. Frazer with a rollup for a near fall. Dar with a back elbow for a near fall. Dar puts Frazer's leg on the rope and he goes up top.

Frazer recovers and punches Dar. Frazer with a superplex followed by a Final Cut for the three count.

Noam Dar: 1 Fall
Nathan Frazer: 1 Fall

Round Five

Frazer with a double leg take down and forearms. Frazer goes up top for a Phoenix Splash and Dar catches him and applies a triangle. Frazer with a one arm sit out power bomb for a near fall. Frazer goes to the apron and he sets for a springboard move but he stops when Dar goes to the apron. They fight to the turnbuckles and they connect with forearms and both fall to the floor.

Lash sends Dar into the ring and she tries to stop Frazer from getting back into the ring. Dar with a kick and a fisherman's buster for a near fall. Dar runs into a boot in the corner. Frazer goes up top and he hits a swanton onto Dar and Mensah. Lash grabs Frazer as he gets back into the ring. Frazer gets a near fall as the round ends.

Round Six

They both throw forearms and then go back and forth. Dar with kicks to the leg and forearms. Frazer with forearms and Dar goes down. Dar with a kick to the knee and he kicks Frazer in the shoulder. Frazer covers up to avoid a Nova Roller. Frazer with a kick. Frazer misses a boot and Dar kicks Frazer's leg while Frazer is in the ropes. Dar misses a double stomp. Frazer with a crescent kick. Dar rolls through to avoid a reverse DDT and applies a knee bar.

Frazer rolls over and punches Dar to get out of the hold. Frazer with a super kick. Frazer goes up top for a Phoenix Splash but Dar stops him. Frazer kicks Mensah off the apron into Lash and Jakara. Frazer misses a Phoenix Splash and Dar with a Nova Roller for the three count.

Winner: Noam Dar (new champion)


Backstage:
Ava is in the back and she says thanks to the bravery of these two loyal followers, she stands under the Schism's tree. You tried to end my career, but you failed. You are a failure, like the Creed Brothers and Diamond Mine. If you want to prove her wrong, you know where to find her.

Backstage:
Tiffany Stratton walks in the back.

We go to commercial.

We are back and NXT Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton is in the ring.

Tiffany says the summer of Tiff Tiff is coming to an end. It has been a hot one. It officially began at Battleground when she won the Women's Championship. She retained the title at Gold Rush and the Great American Bash. With Summer coming to an end and the Fall of Tiff Tiff coming up, she is going to make this much better. You may ask how could this be any better. Tiffany says she is a perfect champion. When you are Tiffany Stratton, perfection comes easy. This is why this title isn't going anywhere. She says she will go down in history as one of the best women's champions of all time. Better than Bayley, Asuka, or Becky Lynch. Even better than Charlotte Flair. The list can go on and on, but for now, she will remain at the Tippy Top.

Gigi Dolin comes out and she asks Tiffany to do a favor and shut the hell up. She says she gets it. We are dying to see the fall of Tiffany. Look no further for your next opponent.

Tiffany says if this is you shooting your shot, this is me officially shooting it down. You don't deserve a match.

Gigi says the audacity to call yourself a champion. The last time you defended the title in this ring, you tapped out.

Kiana James comes out and she says Gigi must be lost. There is not a shot in hell that you deserve a title match. Your win/loss record against her is as good as getting a match against Tiffany. Kiana says Gigi doesn't deserve a title match but Kiana says she does.

Blair Davenport comes out and she says we can stand here and argue all night about who has the snazziest material items, the biggest daddy issues, or the most social media followers. Blair says we don't have to ask who is next for the title because it is her.

Gigi tells Blair that she has to go through the division before being on top fo the division. You beat Dana and Kelani but remember what happened at the convenience store.

Gigi says seeing Blair's face bouncing off the frozen food section was worth watching.

Blair says she will pound Gigi to the point that Gigi's brother won't be able to recognize her.

TIffany says it is time to leave . . .

Roxanne Perez comes out and she says it is mind boggling that Blair is out here running her mouth after what she did to her at The Great American Bash. She has something to tell Tiffany and . . .

Roxanne punches Tiffany.

Tiffany gets out of the ring as everyone continues to fight.

Backstage:
Drew is watching Charlie and Damon train and Myles Borne shows up. Drew asks Myles if he is tired after Myles says he was watching the match. Charlie jumps on Myles and applies a sleeper. Myles taps out and Drew says we don't tap out.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
We are back and Ava is still outside and she says that she continues to prove that Ivy is weak and scared. Behind that facade . . .

Ivy shows up and tells 'the boys' to get her.

They pull off the masks and it is Julius and Brutus.

Ivy attacks Ava.

Julius says if you want to see Ava, give them a match against The Dyad and if they win, they are back in NXT. Brutus says they want it in a steel cage.

Meta Four celebrate Noam's victory and Dar is handed some paperwork from the Heritage Cup committee.

Oro reads the letter and then Dar says next week there will be an eight man tournament with the winner earning a Heritage Cup Title Match at No Mercy. Dar celebrates that he doesn't have to defend the title for five weeks.


Lyra Valkyria and Dragon Lee vs Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio

The men start things off and they lock up. Dom backs Lee into the corner and misses a chop. Lee with a chop. Lee with a double leg take down and punches. Dom with punches and he gets a near fall. Lee with a victory roll fo ra near fall. Dom with a kick and punches. Lee with an Irish whip and Lee is sent to the apron. Lee with a kick and he goes for a rolling move but Dom catches Lee on his shoulders. Lee escapes and misses a kick. Dom with a chop and Lee with a drop kick. Rhea tags in so Lyra comes into the match. Rhea has some words for Lyra and Lyra pushes Rhea. Rhea pushes back and Lyra with a side head lock. Lyra with a wrist lock and arm wringer. Rhea with an Irish whip and Lyra leaps over Rhea and gives Rhea a hip toss. Rhea blocks a bulldog attempt and connects with a shoulder tackle.

Lyra with a kick and a spinning heel kick. Rhea goes for a suplex but Lyra lands on her feet and connects with a head butt and forearm. Lyra with strikes to Rhea followed by a series of kicks. Rhea blocks a kick and Lyra with a sunset flip but Dom tags in and Lyra does not realize it. Lee with a super kick to Dom. Lyra with a springboard cross body to Dom when Rhea moves. Lyra with a head scissors. Lyra with a drop kick through the ropes and Lee with a flip dive onto Dom.

Lee sends Dom into the ring and he begs for mercy. Lee with a boot to the head. Lee with a chop in the corner. Lee misses a chop in the corner when Dom moves. Dom with a kick and he misses a chop. Lee with a chop. Lee with a reverse chin lock. Dom with a knee but Lee with an Irish whip. Dom is sent to the apron and he drops Lee on the top rope. Dom with a slingshot senton for a near fall. Dom with a reverse chin lock. Dom with a kick in the corner and he tags in Rhea. Lyra with a cross body and clotheslines. Lyra with a head scissors take down. Lyra with knees to Rhea and she goes to the turnbuckles for punches. Lyra with a back heel kick but Rhea pulls her down by the hair.

Rhea sends Lyra face first into the mat and Rhea with a body scissors. Lyra leans back and gets a near fall. Rhea has Lyra down on the mat and Lyra with head butts to try to escape the body scissors. Lyra escapes and Rhea with a kick and face buster. Rhea sets for a power bomb and then turns it into a suplex for a near fall. Rhea has words for Lee and then she connects with forearms to the back. Rhea goes for a wrist clutch into a suplex but Lyra counters into a DDT. Lyra with kicks to Rhea but Rhea keeps Lyra from making the tag. Lyra avoids a kick and hits a spinning back heel kick. Dom tags in. Lee with a back elbow or two. Lee with a head scissors take down and a dragon screw. Lee puts Dom on the top rope and goes up top for double stomp to the back. Lee gets a near fall.

Dom with punches and a drop toe hold that sends Lee into the ropes. Dom misses a 619 and Lee with a sit out power bomb for a near fall. Lyra sends Dom to the floor and Lyra tries for a rana off the apron but Rhea catches her and sends Lyra into the ringside barrier.

Raquel Rodriguez comes out and she pulls Rhea off the apron.

Lee with Destino for the three count.

Winners: Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria


Backstage:
Carmelo Hayes is in the back and Trick shows up to see if he is ready. Trick looks at the title belt and he says the show started with him and ends with Hayes. This is Hayes' first title defense without Trick at his side. Hayes says with all of the controversy at Great American Bash, he doesn't want any doubts. Trick wants to know if Hayes is blaming him.

Backstage:
Tiffany is with McKenzie. She says she knows Becky was never NXT Women's Champion. Tiffany says Becky is irrelevant. Tiffany asks if McKenzie saw the atrocity in the ring. It was not how she wanted to end the Summer of Tiff TIff. Those four Tiffy Wannabes will get a chance to fight it out for a chance to face her. McKenzie mentions the Fatal Four Way Match for next week.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at Thea Hail yelling at Andre Chase for costing her the match against Jacy Jayne.

Backstage:
Thea is with the referee and she wants the result to change. The referee tells her it counts. Thea says her life sucks and she lost all momentum due to Andre. Jacy Jayne shows up and she says Thea was not the same person she wrestled in the past. Jacy says everyone has been let down by someone. She tells Thea she will get through it. People like them always get through it.


Von Wagner (w/ Robert Stone) vs Baron Corbin

Baron attacks Von in the aisle and then hits a clothesline off the apron. Von runs Baron into the apron and connects with punches. Von sends Corbin into the apron and they exchange knees. Von avoids being sent into the ring post and Von sends Baron into the ring post. Baron sends Von into the ring steps. Von punches Baron and connects with knees. They exchange punches. Von with a knee and he sends Baron into the ring steps.

Von adjusts the table and Baron hits Von from behind. Baron with a belly-to-back suplex on the floor. Baron gets Stone on his shoulders and Von stops him and Von with a boot to Baron. Von knocks the monitors and candy off the table.

Bron with a spear to Von. No match.


Backstage:
Joe wants to know where is Julius and Brutus' morality. Rip complains about the ransom for Ava and Jagger asks about trying to save your career. Joe says they will agree to your demands. Rip says you think the cage will keep the other members of The Schism out of the cage, but remember who is in the cage.

Backstage:
Wes Lee and Carmelo Hayes walk in the back,

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at the number one contender match from last week and Eddy Thorpe's distraction that cost Dijak.

Dijak says the opportunity at the NXT Championship, the reason I came back to NXT, you distracted me. I do not have to look up to the stars or do any dance ritual to know your fate. You have one week. You will be broken, as well as your spirits.

We see a Tweet from Becky where she mentions she has not won the NXT Women's championship . . . yet.

Next week, there will be a Number One Contender Match for the Women's Title. THe Creeds face The Dyad in a Steel Cage Match for the Creeds' NXT future. The Global Heritage Invitational starts next week


NXT Men's Championship
Carmelo Hayes vs Wes Lee

They lock up and Hayes with a back elbow and snap mare. Hayes misses a kick and Lee with a rollup. Lee blocks a Codebreaker and they both block kicks at the same time and both try for drop kicks at the same time. Lee with a kick and he gets a near fall. Hayes and Lee exchange forearms. Both with bicycle kicks and both get back o their feet. Lee with a Spanish Fly. Hayes with a clothesline against the ropes and Lee with a kick to take Hayes down. Lee with a snap mare and drop kick to the back of the head for a near fall. Hayes floats over and he misses a kick but hits a springboard clothesline for a near fall. Hayes with a suplex for a near fall. Hayes with a side head lock.

Lee with a forearm to the ribs and then Lee misses a splash in the corner. Hayes puts Lee in the ropes for Fadeaway but Lee gets to his feet and hits a neck breaker for a near fall. Hayes backs Lee into the corner and Hayes with shoulders in the corner. Lee with an enzuigiri. Hayes with a kick and a springboard kick to the back followed by Fadeaway. Hayes and Lee exchange forearms. Hayes with kicks and a chop. Lee with a chop. Hayes with more chops. Hayes with a clothelsine and reverse atomic drop. Hayes with an Irish whip and forearm into the corner. Hayes with a super kick for a near fall. Hayes with forearms in a front face lock.

Lee with a knee to avoid a suplex. Lee with Meteora for a near fall. Hayes with a back elbow and Lee with a thrust kick. Lee with a Michinoku Driver and he goes up top for a Spiral Tap and he hits it for a near fall. Lee escapes a suplex and kicks Hayes in the back. Lee sets for the Cardiac Kick but Hayes blocks it. Hayes with a suplex into a cutter. Hayes with a Codebreaker for a near fall. Lee goes to the floor and Hayes follows. Lee with a back elbow and Hayes kicks Lee onto the announce table. Hayes with Fadeaway through the table. Hayes goes up top for Nothing But Net and misses. Lee with a Cardiac Kick but Hayes rolls to the floor.

Lee goes for a suicide dive but misses and bounces off the floor into the ringside barrier. Hayes gets back into the ring and Lee gets back in before the ten count and Hayes is concerned. Hayes with Nothing But Net for the three count.

Winner: Carmelo Hayes (retains Championship)

End

[LionDen]

Not a bad match.

[LionDen]

[LionDen]

[LionDen]

[LionDen]

[LionDen]

[LionDen]

Well done to Dragon Lee and Lyra

[LionDen]

Baron Corbin Attacks Von Wagner before the match could start.

As Von Was Trying to put Corbin through the Table,Bron Breakker spears him outta nowhere

[LionDen]

Not a bad show