Heatwave was a special night, one of the best events WWE NXT has put together in years. While not many titles changed hands, the gold brand does have a new NXT champion.

"All Ego" Ethan Page stole the NXT Championship from Trick Williams by pinning Je'Von Evans after a Trick Knee. What would the current and former champions have to say Tuesday night?

Wes Lee discussed his future after a disappointing loss to Oba Femi that guaranteed he would not get another chance to be North American champion for a long time to come.

Roxanne Perez and Kelani Jordan retained their championships at Heatwave, but who would step up to them next?

Sol Ruca hoped to get another chance by facing Fallon Henley one-on-one, while Karmen Petrovic and Arianna Grace clashed after winning their first tag match together.

Gallus finally got in the ring against Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe, and The O.C. battled OTM. Which teams would take a step close to Nathan Frazer and Axiom's NXT Tag Team Championships?

This was certain to be an important night for NXT, as it looked to carry forward the momentum from Heatwave.

NXT Champion 'All Ego' Ethan Page Faces First Potential Challengers

"All Ego" Ethan Page called out how it took him just six weeks to take over NXT.

He declared the beginning of "The Era of Ego," but Trick Williams interrupted and wanted his rematch Tuesday night.

Shawn Spears arrived to take credit for Page's win to chants of "You screwed Trick."

Je'Von Evans reminded both heels that he almost beat them on Sunday, and a brawl broke out between the four men.

This was a solid opener, carried heavily by the new NXT champion.

It took all of a couple minutes for Page to show why he won the NXT Championship. He is one of the most confident promos on the roster and did not skip a beat when he was interrupted.

Logically, Trick should get the first match against Page, but NXT may want to save that for a special show. In the meantime, Evans or Spears could talk their way into an opportunity even if they don't have great cases.

The most exciting future competitor for All Ego could be Oro Mensah, though. He has sold himself as a hotter challenge for Page than even Trick. He just needs to prove he deserves an NXT Championship opportunity.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• The crowd was chanting "Shut the hell up" at Page, but he talked right through them. It sparked a smaller "All Ego" chant.
• Security came out with All Ego, stopping Mensah from attacking the champion.
• A tag team match was announced for the main event.
• Jensen talked with NXT general manager Ava early in the night, promising to change. He followed up by sneak-attacking Evans in the back.
  
• Trick knew he needed to find a new partner, and Joe Hendry appeared on the screen behind him.
• Page and Spears said they were on the same page and did not believe Trick would find a friend.
• Ava told Jensen he would face Evans next week. She also agreed to let Briggs fight Shawn Spears next week, but he could not interfere in the main event.
  

Arianna Grace vs. Karmen Petrovic

Arianna Grace continued to call herself the better Canadian, but Karmen Petrovic let her actions speak louder.

She won with a low cyclone kick to Grace.

Afterward, Fallon Henley attacked Petrovic from behind and laid her out, saying she was "sick of these rookies."

This was over way too fast. After a fun warm-up match for Heatwave, Grace and Petrovic deserved a bigger spotlight for their subsequent battle.

Grace is one of the better pure character workers in NXT. She will recover from what amounted to a one-sided squash, but she can do so much more than lose in two minutes in the ring.

Petrovic and Grace as a tag team still feels like the best path forward, assuming they can settle their differences after this match.

Result

Petrovic def. Grace by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx arrived to watch Grace and Petrovic fight closely.

Heritage Cup: Tony D'Angelo (c) (w/ The Family) vs. Lexis King

Eddy Thorpe set up his DJ turntable on the stage ahead of this match.

He distracted King after the first round, allowing The Don to hit the Forget About It at the start of the second round for the first fall.

King pulled out a surprise pinfall with the Coronation just before the bell in Round 3. A high spinebuster from The Don picked up the second fall and the victory.

Early on, this was shaping up to be one of King's best performances to date, but he did not adapt well to the Heritage Cup format. He looked and worked tired from about halfway through the third round.

The in-ring character work was solid, and there is some promise in these two fighting. However, the heel would need to build up his stamina better for a serious rematch.

NXT needs to figure out what to do with both these guys. D'Angelo should have a serious rival rather than facing random last-minute challengers. He needs more respect as Heritage Cup winner.

King lacks serious credibility, and he needs some wins before he fully commits to his rivalry with Eddy Thorpe.

Result

D'Angelo def. King 2-1 to retain the Heritage Cup.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• Neither competitor got a full entrance. NXT seemed to be rushing everything.
• Booker T decried that King did not have a corner man. Vic Joseph said it was because he had no friends.
• King dropkicked D'Angelo at the bell for Round 4, taking a cheap shot that nearly turned the tide of the match.
  

Mark Coffey and Wolfgang (w/ Joe Coffey) vs. Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe

A brawl broke out during Gallus' entrance, but the teams made it to the ring to allow the referee to ring the bell.

Joe Coffey helped Wolfgang and Mark Coffey set up their double-team finisher to seal the win.

For the multiple-week build, it would have been nice to see more of both teams in this match. Instead, this was a wild brawl for about four minutes including the entrance.

Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe have not shown yet what they can fully do. They are hard-hitting but raw. That played out in a decent battle that needed more time.

Gallus needed this victory after a string of struggles. Hopefully, NXT has some plan to use the group beyond just reheating Joe, Mark and Wolfgang just to lose again when it matters.

Result

Gallus def. Dupont and Igwe by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Dupont and Igwe had the veteran team reeling throughout this match, but the advantage of Joe at ringside sealed the win.
• No Quarter Catch Crew threw Damon Kemp in a car trunk, saying that mistakes will not be tolerated. Wren Sinclair walked away, promising she "saw nothing."
  

The Rascalz Reunite in NXT

Wes Lee sounded ready to quit NXT, but he was interrupted by Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel, his friends from TNA as a part of The Rascalz.

Wentz told Lee that it was time for MSK to get back together and The Rascalz to take over. The three men hugged.

For those who know Lee's pre-NXT history (under the name Dezmond Xavier), this was a special moment. The Rascalz have not worked as a trio since 2020 when Lee and Wentz signed to NXT.

NXT fans should recall MSK, though, even if Wentz was working under the name Nash Carter. No team was on a stronger path to success than them before Carter's release, and hopefully this will get all three men on a better course.

In particular, it will be fun to showcase the talent of Miguel to a new audience. He is a great talent all on his own, and he might just turn heads in NXT with what he will bring to the table.

Grade

A+

Notable Moments

• It's surreal to hear the "TNA" chant in NXT, but it seems like that is becoming a normal part of the brand.
• Backstage, Gallus stood up to The Rascalz, promising to send them back to TNA.
  

Thea Hail vs. Izzi Dame

Thea Hail found an opening against Izzi Dame and took advantage. She made her tap out to the Kimura Lock.

Oba Femi interrupted the celebration to taunt his challenger next week, Duke Hudson. The MVP cut a passionate promo, promising to upset the North American champion.

This was a fine match but again too short for the purpose of pairing up two of the rising stars of the women's division.

It was a shocking result given Hail lost recently to Jazmyn Nyx while Dame has been building momentum in recent weeks.

It seems NXT is fast-tracking the Chase U spitfire to an NXT Women's Championship match, which makes sense as the gold brand is low on babyfaces who can challenge The Prodigy.

It's a shame booking did not build up Hail more in recent months as a true threat to Perez, though. It is hard to believe she will do what Lola Vice could not.

Result

Hail def. Dame by submission.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Ridge Holland told Hail that he got her a match with Dame that could lead to an NXT Women's Championship match if she won. He then told Hudson that he would face Femi next week for the North American Championship.
  
• Tatum Paxley again appeared to watch Dame closely. Dame attacked Paxley but went shoulder-first into the steel post.
• Caught by NXT Anonymous, Paxley told her doll that she was targeting Dame because she was a bully who felt she was above playing with women like Paxley. Wendy Choo found the doll afterward and smiled.
  

The O.C. vs. OTM

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson tried their best to slow down Lucien Price and Bronco Nima, but OTM refused to lose.

Nima and Price planted Anderson with their double-team finisher for the victory.

This was a good win for OTM. The rising rookies made the most of the opportunities and picked up a victory that felt like it mattered.

It was still a shorter match than the buildup deserved, but at least the styles meshed well and the right team won.

Hopefully, OTM is ready for how much NXT is putting behind the group. The stage has been set for Nima, Price and Jaida Parker to go after gold.

Result

Price and Nima def. Gallows and Anderson by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• OTM talked a big game ahead of the group's entrance.
• Michin continued her fight with Parker at ringside despite officials intervening.
  

Sol Ruca vs. Fallon Henley

Fallon Henley had an answer for everything in Sol Ruca's arsenal except the Sol Snatcher.

However, Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx stormed the ring and caused a disqualification to protect Henley from the pin.

This started strong, but Ruca seemed off her spot multiple times in this match. Whether it was a lack of chemistry or Ruca needing more rest after her great bout with Kelani Jordan at Heatwave, she was off her game.

This match only reinforced how special it was that Ruca and Jordan accomplished what they did on Sunday. The former is still learning but can pull out special performances with the right opponent.

Hopefully, Ruca can work out what has been causing some of the recent hiccups in her other matches and get back on track. She and Henley are unlikely to be done with each other.

Jayne, Nyx and Henley all worked together finally this week, so this mean girls trio can begin building some credibility. This should set up multiple challengers for the Women's North American Championship as she is certain to help Ruca.

Result

Ruca def. Henley by DQ.

Grade

D+

Notable Moments

• Henley was unhappy at Ruca getting a title shot before her in a video that Ruca watched ahead of her match.
• Stevie Turner organized a meeting with Cedric Alexander and Ava while Mr. Stone worked out a meeting with Ashante "Thee" Adonis. Both looked ready to join NXT.
  

Trick Williams and Joe Hendry vs. Ethan Page and Shawn Spears

Trick Williams walked out confident before his surprise partner arrived.

Joe Hendry's strength was on display early and often in this battle with "All Ego" Ethan Page and Shawn Spears.

Page and Spears finally got control until Oro Mensah struck, attacking the NXT champion. Trick hit The Chairman with a Trick Knee followed by a high chokeslam on Spears from Hendry to seal the victory.

It was great to see Hendry in NXT again, and he was presented far better than on his first appearance. This was inevitable, though, considering his ability to go viral constantly.

What was especially nice to see was his in-ring work. While he's not going to rival the best of the best in WWE, he knew how to play the crowd and make the most of his offense.

Alongside the arrival of The Rascalz, it was a great night for the TNA-NXT partnership. It looks likely Hendry could be setting himself to challenge for the NXT Championship.

Result

Trick and Hendry def. Page and Spears by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• "We Believe" chants echoed throughout this match as well as fans singing his theme tune.

Overall Show

On the back of a phenomenal Heatwave, this week's NXT was chaotic and not always in a good way. It felt like officials packed too much in for just two hours, and it hurt much of the action.

Too many matches were roughly three minutes, which especially impacted matches that were supposed to highlight growing rivalries.

It was hard to follow the flow from one contest to the next, taking away from everything but the NXT Championship scene and the TNA connections.

However, those TNA arrivals were great. It was so good to see The Rascalz back together again, and Joe Hendry got a much-deserved spotlight that could lead to a major push in NXT.

It would have been best to scrap a match or two so that more of the night's moments could get a spotlight, especially since little time was spent truly recapping a wild Heatwave.

Still, what needed to be done was successfully completed. The stage is set for NXT's summer focus to be on its growing partnership with TNA.

Grade: D+