By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT Heatwave
Lowell, Massachusetts, at Lowell Memorial Auditorium
Streamed live August 24, 2025, on Peacock
Pre Show Notes
Sam Roberts and Megan Morant checked in as hosts from their pre-show studio set. The hosts ran through the advertised matches for the show. The hosts sent the show to a Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe hype package. Sam and Megan then gave their thoughts on the match. Morant then sent the show to Lola Vice being interviewed after TripleMania. The interviewer asked Lola how she feels about her upcoming number one contenders match.
Lola talked about being a different person than she was a year ago and last year she was close to winning the NXT Women’s Championship. Lola said she’s been representing WWE in AAA and is proud of what she’s doing. Lola then talked about struggling at first coming from MMA. She said she learned real quick that WWE was not like the cage. She said she worked hard and she believes in her self more than ever. The interviewer asked Lola about her thoughts on Kelani Jordan and Jaida Parker.
Lola talked about Kelani being a friend, but Lola will do whatever it takes to get to the title. Lola talked about Jaida Parker already having a title shot and is more bark than bike. She said she’s going to give Jaida a ass whooping at Heatwave. The show then cut back to Sam and Megan giving their thoughts…[c]
Separate shots of Oba Femi and Je’von Evans were shown as they were arriving at the arena. The show then cut over to Kelly Kincaid interviewing Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele. Kelly talked about Steele being the first female Olympic Gold Medalist in WWE. Steele talked about being excited to be in WWE. She talked about loving the mat and being proud to represent America. Heights talked about Steele being the first black woman to bring gold in wrestling to the US.
Heights talked about being expelled from school and how wrestling saved his life from going down the wrong path. Kelly wondered why Heights targeted Ethan Page. Heights talked about how he punched Page not because he has a punchable face, but because he wants to punch him to represent every American patriot that wanted to punch Page for the disrespect. Steele said she’s proud to team up with a fellow Olympian.
Kincaid talked about Steele being on Undertaker’s team on LFG. Steele talked about wanting to show her confidence, which Taker told her to show. Kincaid wondered if Heights is also ready? Heights said he is. He said Page has skill, but you better believe that Page will respect Heights like the other way around. Sam and Megan then gave their thoughts. Megan and Sam then talked about the upcoming Hank and Tank vs. DarkState match.[c]
The hosts discussed the triple threat for the TNA Knockouts Championship. A hype package aired for the Oba Femi vs. Je’von Evans match. Sam and Megan gave their thoughts on the NXT Championship match. Blake Howard interviewed Oba Femi who hyped his upcoming match against Je’von Evans. Sam and Megan then gave more thoughts. The hosts ran through the advertised Heatwave card before cutting to the main show…
Main Show Review
Arrival shots aired to start the show. The show then cut to the cold open intro video…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer. Vic noted that Corey Graves was overseas for Raw the following day…
Entrances for the opening match took place. Vic noted that the upcoming match was the first triple threat in WWE and ECW Heatwave history…
1. Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordna vs. Lola Vice to become number one contender to the NXT Women’s Championship. Lola and Kelani used stereo superkicks to dump Jaida to ringside. Jaida took down Kelani and Lola with clotheslines after the other two had a stalemate. Jaida tackled Kelani to the corner. Jaida then stacked Lola and Kelani into the corner and hit them both with a draping Banzai Drop. Jaida hit Lola with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Kelani hit Jaida with a double stomp on the apron. Kelani draped Lola on the 2nd rope and hit her with a twisting leg drop for a nearfall that Jaida broke up.
Jaida blocked a huracanrana initially, but Kelani fought through and hit Jaida at ringside with a rana. Kelani hit Lola with an X Factor for a nearfall. Jaida shoved Kelani off the top rope. Lola put Jaida in a Triangle, that Jaida made sure to block. Jordan broke up the submission with a dive. Jordan hit Lola and Jaida at ringside with a corkscrew Plancha. Kelani hit Lola with a Split Stunner for a nearfall. Lola rolled into a Dragon Sleeper on Jordan.
Lola worked on both opponents with Tae Kwon Do kicks. Lola then hit both opponents with her signature “I’m a Latina” hip attacks. Lola hit both women with three hip attacks. Lola hit Kelani with a Saito for a nearfall. Jaida hit Lola with a Blockbuster for a nearfall on both women. Jaida hit Jordan with a Spinebuster for a good nearfall. Jaida dragged Jordan to the top rope. Lola hit both opponents with the obligatory Tower of Doom spot that we usually get in women’s matches.
Jaida used knees to block the One of a Kind. Jaida gave Kelani a Gourd Buster on Lola. Lola caught Jaida with a spin kick. Kelani hit Lola with a Helicopter TKO. Lola reversed Jordan’s 450 into a Guillotine Choke. Jaida hit Jordan with Hipnotic. Lola rolled up Jaida for the victory.
Lola Vice defeated Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan via pinfall in 11:53.
John’s Thoughts: A solid women’s match to open up the show. All three women continue to show good progression, all being from developmental origins. That said, a lot of this card feels like it would fit in on a weekly NXT show. Lola winning is nice, but NXT hasn’t done much to make her stand out as a babyface. Hopefully NXT gets back to her character development, but the weekly show isn’t the most consistent in solid character development in recent memory. Kelani Jordan is in even more need of character progression because they don’t seem to know how to define her after making her a bit mopey over the past year.
The Culling were shown in their dark room. Shawn Spears wondered why Izzi Dame didn’t allow him to help Tatum Paxley win a few weeks ago. Izzi said Tatum would have won if not for Zaria at ringside. Izzi said she has confidence in Tatum. The three Culling members encouraged Tatum for her upcoming match against Wren Sinclair on the upcoming NXT episode…
Jordynne Grace was shown warming up in the hallway backstage…
DarkState made their entrance, all in ring gear. Hank and Tank then made their entrance…
2. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger vs. “DarkState” Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox (w/Saquon Shugars, Cutler James) for the NXT Tag Team Championships. Hank pressured Dion into the corner and tagged in Tank. Tank hit Dion with a flying Axe Handle for a nearfall. Dion staggered Tank with a forearm and tagged in Griffin. Griffin gave Tank a body slam. Tank came back with a big boot to bring in Hank. All four men faced off in the ring. Hank and Tank dumped Dion and Griffin to ringside and hit them with dives at ringside.
Dion and Griffin took control after some distractions from the other two DarkState members. Dion and Osiris used quick tags to dominate the match and cut the ring in half on Hank. Tank used his body to prevent an Irish Whip on Hank. Tank caught the hot tag and cleaned house. Tank took out both opponents with a crossbody. Tank dumped Shugars off the apron and told him to suck it. Tank hit Dion with a Bubba Bomb. Griffin broke up Tank’s pin.
Cutler tossed Hank into the ringpost at ringside. Dion rolled up Tank for a nearfall. Dion planted Tank with a Spinebuster. Griffin tagged in. Griffin and Dion hit Tank with a double power bomb for a nearfall. Dion and Griffin dragged Tank to the top rope. Tank shoved both opponents off the top rope. Tank hit Dion and Griffin with a Swanton Bomb. Hank and Tank sent Shugars and Cutler into the ringposts. Hank hit Dion with a Bossman Slam.
Hank hit Cutler, Shugars, and Griffin at ringside with a dive. Hank and Tank hit Dion with the Honk Honk. Shugars crotched Tank on the ringpost. DarkState then gave Hank a Doomsday Device to give Griffin the pinfall win.
DarkState defeated Hank Walker and Tank Ledger via pinfall in 10:16 to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions.
John’s Thoughts: A good tag team match and NXT gets to put some gold on their renegade heel faction. The jury is still out on DarkState and NXT isn’t even the most consistent in booking them these days. They recently lost to a handful of midcard babyfaces clean in TNA at the last PPV. It would have been better to have told a longer story here, but NXT is in the business of rushing builds these days.
NXT GM Ava was berating Lexis King for shooting mace on Myles Borne. Ava said that Borne is insisting on a match on Tuesday. King said Myles can’t see or hear, so he can’t win. Ava said that because King took away Borne’s vision, their upcoming match will be a blindfold match…
Vic Joseph hyped NXT’s next PLE No Mercy…
The Personal Concierge (Destiny Pro Wrestling promotor George Iceman) made his entrance and did a custom intro for Ash by Elegance. The rest of the entrances took place after. TNA President Carlos Silver was shown in the crowd…
3. Jacy Jayne (w/Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne) vs. Ash by Elegance (w/M and Heather by Elegance, The Personal Concierge) vs. Masha Slamovich for the TNA Knockouts Championship. Masha and Ash used forearms to take down Jayen first. All three women took turns trading quick rollups. Masha knocked Ash off the apron. Jayne hit Masha with a neckbreaker. Jayne hit Ash at ringside with a cannonball. Masha took out Fatal Influence with a Corkscrew Tope. Masha hit Ash with a series of Snapmares and two PKs for a nearfall. Jayne hit Ash with a huracanrana.
Jayne took down Ash with an axe handle for a nearfall. Masha hit Ash with an Eye of the Hurricane for a nearfall. The Concierge distracted Masha. Jayne hit Masha with a superkick. Ash rolled up Jayne for a nearfall. Ash got another nearfall on Jayne after a Blockbuster. Vic noted that this was Ash’s first match on NXT since 2023. Ash hit Jayne with a Sitout Power Bomb for a two count. Masha hit Ash with Pump Kicks. Jayne dropped Masha form behind. Masha came back to Jayne with a Springboard Dropkick.
Masha hit both opponents with kicks in the corners. Masha made Jayne DDT Ash and got a two count on Jayne. Jayne hit Masha with a Shotgun Dropkick. Janye hit both opponents with Cannonballs. Masha dodged a Cannonball and gave Jayne a White Noise into Ash. Masha got a two count off Jayne. Jayne reversed a Snow Plow and traded forearms with Masha. Masha hit Jayne with a backfist and kick combo. Jayne staggered Masha with a knee.
Jayne hit Masha with a wrenching neckbreaker. Ash broke up the pin. Ash dumped Jayne to ringside. Masha dodged Ash’s moonsault. Jayne gave Ash a Diving Senton for a nearfall. Jayne caught Masha with a Yakuza Kick in the corner. Masha used a headbutt to knock Jayne off the top rope. Jayne hit Masha with a Frankensteiner and Thrust Kick. Ash broke up Jayne’s pin with a meteora. Henley put Jayne’s foot on the bottom rope for a rope break on Ash’s pin.
Nyx and Henley jawed with Heather and M at ringside. The referee said he saw Henley and Nyx get involved. The referee ejected Henley and Nyx. Masha rolled up Ash for a nearfall. Jayne gave Ash a jawbreaker. Masha gave Jayne an Electric Chair drop on the apron. Ash hit Jayne and Masha with a dive at ringside. Ash got a nearfall on Masha. Vic noted that Carlos Silva was on his feet watching the match.
Ash gave Masha a high knee. Ash gave Masha a Tornado DDT. Ash hit Masha with a springboard Moonsault. Jayne gave Ash a running knee. Jayne got a two count on Masha. Masha rolled up Jayne for a nearfall. Jayne hit Masha with a Rolling Elbow. M and Heather dragged Jayne to ringside. Ash hit Masha with Rarified Air (Swanton Bomb) for the victory.
Ash by Elegance defeated Masha Slamovich and Jacy Jayne via pinfall in 12:19 to become the new TNA Knockouts Champion.
Carlos Silva cheered the Knockouts Championship being back in TNA. The Elegance Brand posed with their three title belts…
John’s Thoughts: A fun match that exceeded middling expectations on paper. This match might end up being in running for match of the night by the end of the night. Good work from the three women in this fast paced match. This was one of Ash’s best matches on WWE TV in general, going back to the Dana Brooke days. I had a feeling that Jacy Jayne might lose the title as having both her and Trick heading into Bound for Glory to presumably lose the titles would have seemed too predictable and ceremonial. I like putting the title on Ash, especially since she’s reinvented herself. Having the three Knockouts titles on all three Elegance members gives TNA a strong heel women’s faction to work with on their end.
Vic Joseph plugged WWE Wrestlepalooza…
Ricky Saints dapped it up with Je’von Evans. Saints praises Evans for making it to a title match. Evans congratulated Saints for beating Jasper Troy. Evans said even though he’s sore, he’ll leave NXT Heatwave as Champion. Saints then gave Evans over-the-top praise and said he’ll be waiting after Je’vons match to face him on the other side…
Vic hyped NXT Halloween Havoc for October…
The Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace hype package aired…
Entrances for the next match took place…
4. Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace. Monroe fired up Grace with a slap. Monroe then ran to ringside and hid behind Vic and Booker. Grace caught Monroe with a Thesz Press. Both women traded mounted punches. Grace hit Monroe with a reverse Tilt a Whirl. Grace hit Monroe with a Stretch Muffler Suplex. Grace hit Monroe with a Fallaway Slam at ringside followed by a kip up. Grace used a Fireman Carry to drag Monroe to the top of the steps, but Monroe escaped and slammed Grace on the top of the steps.
Monroe slammed Grace’s hand into the steel steps. Monroe put the boots to Grace in the ring. Monroe paintbrushed Grace with boots and followed up with a Shotgun Dropkick. Booker said Blake is in his fav 5. Vic joked that Booker is just sucking up due to forgetting her name a few weeks ago. Blake worked on Grace with methodical offense. After Blake dominated a few minutes, Grace rallied back with strikes. Grace used a Gory Special to slam Blake into the turnbuckle.
Grace hit Blake with a few shortarm clotheslines. Grace hit Blake with a Spinebuster and Jackhammer for a nearfall. Grace gave Blake an Alabama Slam and German Suplex for a good nearfall. Blake recovered and put Grace in an armbar after a face driver. Grace broke the hold with a Crucifix. Blake hit Grace with a running knee for a good nearfall. Grace hit Blake with a Fisherman Suplex for a good nearfall.
Both women traded strikes with Blake getting control after a Headbutt and Saito Suplex for a good nearfall. Grace reversed Blake in the corner for a really nice nearfall after a Super Spinebuster. Blake surprised Grace with a reverse curb stomp into an exposed bottom buckle. Blake hit Grace with a DDT for the victory.
Blake Monroe defeated Jordynne Grace via pinfall in 12:47.
A replay aired where they showed Blake removing the bottom buckle during the Alabama Slam spot..
John’s Thoughts: A good match that I hope is the first in a series of matches. I would have hoped for more time, but I can hope for that extra time in a future encounter. Good match during the time given with a clever turnbuckle setup that I didn’t catch when Grace hit the Alabama Slam initially. Grace is protected with the loss and Blake gets a plucky heel win in her first big match in WWE.
Jaida Parker was sulking with a medic backstage about her recent loss to a rollup. Lash Legend showed up to trash talk. Jaida brought up Lash getting squashed by Nia Jax’s ass. Lash and Jaida had to be pulled apart…
Sarah Schreiber talked to Jacy Jayne and brought up how she wasn’t pinned for her recent loss. Jayne yelled at Nyx for getting her and Henley kicked out. Lola Vice showed up to trash talk Jayne. Zaria and Sol Ruca showed up to have Lola’s back…
Vic Joseph hyped NXT returning to Full Sail on September 16 for a homecoming themed show…
The hype package aired for the Canada vs. US mixed tag match…
Entrances for the upcoming match took place. Tyra gave a few kids in the front row some replica Olympic gold medals. Vic Joseph mocked Mike Rome for doing the Samantha Irvin intro for Chelsea Green…
5. “All Ego” Ethan Page and Chelsea Green (w/Alba Fyre, Piper Niven) vs. Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele in a Mixed Tag Match. Steele asked Green to enter the match, with the entire crowd behind Green. Green tried to blindside Steele, but Steele saw it coming and dragged Green into an Alligator Roll. Page used a drop toehold on Page to send him into Green. Steele and Heights dumped Green and Page to ringside. The crowd turned on the Americans in favor of the Canadians.
A “Canada” chant ensued in Lowell, Massachusetts. Page took the mic and told the crowd that they don’t get citizenship for cheering on Canada. Page and Heights tagged in. Page worked on Heights with methodical strikes. A “we want Chelsea” chant ensued. Page worked on Tavion with methodical offense for a stretch of offense. Heights turned the tables with a clothesline. Heights and Page took each other out with headbutts. Green took out Steele with a tackle, which drew cheers.
Page hit Heights with a DDT for a nearfall. Green tagged in and tried to slap Heights. Steele tackled Green and beat her down to boos. Steele used a catapult to send Green into Page. Green draped Steele on the 2nd rope and gave her a Meteora to the back. Green gave Steele a curb stomp into the bottom buckle for a nearfall. Vic noted that Green is coming off a trip from being on Smackdown in Ireland a few nights ago.
Green and Steele took each other out with stereo crossbodies. Heights and Page tagged in. Heights rallied with clotheslines to boos. Heights hit Page with a facebuster and inside-out suplex for a nearfall. Green gave Heights a knee to the back to cheers. Page and Heights took each other out with boots. Steele tagged in and gave Page a Gutwrench Suplex. Steele rallied with axe handle strikes on Green to boos. Alba Fyre dragged Page to the buckle. Steele gave Fyre and Page a German Suplex.
Steele gave Page an Ankle Lock, Fyre caught Steele with a superkick while the referee was distracted with Page. Chelsea hit Steele with the Unpretti-her for the victory.
Chelsea Green and Ethan Page defeated Tyra Mae Steele and Tavion Heights via pinfall in 9:30.
John’s Thoughts: WWE just can’t win in trying to get over their new Olympic Gold Medalists. Last time we got Baron Corbin getting cheered over Gable Steveson. Today we got a “Canada” chant in Massachusetts. That did shock me a bit, but I wasn’t surprised once hit happened due to Chelsea Green being one of the most popular wrestlers on the entire WWE roster. I feel a bit bad for Steele as WWE did try no not repeat the failure they had with Steveson’s debut. I do give Green and Page credit for trying to turn the crowd against them, but the crowd wouldn’t budge. Ethan Page in particular showed his strong instincts by picking up the mic at an impromptu moment to heel on the crowd.
Josh Briggs approached Oba Femi backstage. Josh said he thinks Oba’s reign is going to end tonight due to Evans being a kid of destiny. Josh said it looks like the grind is wearing down Oba. Oba said Josh’s opinions are unsignificant. Josh said he’s next in line after defeating Inamura and nobody is holding him back. Josh wished Oba luck…
Sarah Schreiber interviewed NXT GM Ava. Ava hyped the upcoming Homecoming, No Mercy, and Halloween Havoc shows. Ava then announced that the WWE Speed titles are now NXT titles. Ava then announced a NXT, TNA, WWE, or AAA wrestler challenging Sol Ruca for the Speed Title at No Mercy…
Vic ran through advertised matches for NXT this upcoming Tuesday…
The hype package aired for the NXT Championship match…
Entrances for the main event took place. Vic Joseph noted that the last time Je’von Evans was in this arena, Ethan Page broke his jaw. Mike Rome handled the formal in-ring introductions for the championship match. Vic noted that the world title has only changed hands once in NXT and ECW at the Heatwave show…
6. Oba Femi vs. Je’von Evans for the NXT Championship. Vic noted that Evans was sporting injured ribs. Evans made sure to keep his distance early on. Oba used his weight to shrug off an Evans suplex attempt. Evans was selling his ribs and had Kinseio Tape on his shoulder. Evans tried to rally, but that was quickly ended by Oba’s strikes. Oba lowered his weight to block a Springboard RKO. Oba turned Evans inside out with a shoulder tackle. Oba worked on Evans with methodical strikes.
Vic Joseph noted that Je’von Evans could becoming the youngest NXT Champion if he wins, surpassing Bo Dallas a few years. Evans staggered Oba with a shoulder tackle. Oba caught Evans out of the air out of a slingshot. Evans caught Oba with a Superkick. Oba was wide eyed after the strike. Evans kicked Oba for a one count. Evans saw the double knees and stopped his dive. Evans hit Oba with a seated springboard Huracanrana and then dumped Oba to ringside with a dropkick.
Oba used a choke to block Je’von’s Suicide Dive. Oba took Evans off the apron with an overhead strike to the chest. Vic noted that Oba is the only undefeated male champion in WWE during his current reign. Oba hit Evans with a Press Slam Gutbuster for a nearfall. Oba reversed a Back Suplex into a Crossbody Press for a two count. Evans dropkicked Oba off the apron. Oba recovered and came back with a Spinebuster for a nearfall.
Oba worked on Je’von’s injured ribs with methodical offense. Evans tried to rally back with forearms, but Oba ended that rally with a Backbreaker and Chokeslam for a two count. Oba went back to the methodical offense. Evans ducked and weave to land some strikes on Oba. Evans pressured Oba to the corner. Evans took Oba off his feet with a slingshot crossbody. Evans hit Oba with two flip kicks for a nearfall.
Evans reversed Oba into a Tornado DDT. Evans hit, but came up a bit off mark, on a splash. Evans recovered and hit Oba with a cleaner Frog Splash for a nearfall. Oba and Evans traded clean strikes. Oba no sold a German Suplex and turned Evans inside-out with a Clothesline. Oba rallied with running elbows. Evans surprised Oba with a Cutter. Oba took Evans out of the air with a Spinning Uppercut for a good nearfall.
A “this is awesome” chant ensued. Oba shoved Je’von off the top rope into the referee. REF BUMP!!! Oba blocked a Frankensteiner. Evans reversed a Power Bomb into a Frankensteiner. Evans hit Oba with a pop cutter. A 2nd referee ran out and counted the visual pinfall. The first referee reversed the call due to Oba’s foot being under the rope. Oba dodged a corkscrew dive from Evans. A “bullshit” chant ensued. Oba tossed Evans like a boulder through the announce table at ringside. Oba hit Evans with a Pop Up Power Bomb for the victory.
Oba Femi defeated Je’von Evans via pinfall in 17:43 to retain the NXT Championship.
Highlights from the match aired. Ricky Saints made his entrance to confront Oba Femi in the ring. Oba and Saints faced off. The Executive Producer credits aired to close the show…
John’s Thoughts: A solid main event with the expected outcome. I did have it in my mind that they might have subverted expectations due to them laying it on thick with Je’von’s injuries, but those injuries were, as expected, an out to protect Evans after a loss. The ref bump and false finish was a bit contrived and I would have found a different way to execute that. At least they were able to win the crowd back a bit with Oba tossing Evans through the table. I’m okay with Evans not getting the big win after this rushed build. Evans should be a candidate to win the title at the next Mania Weekend event.
I don’t think NXT needs Oba Femi as champion anymore. NXT has a bit of a problem in that Oba Femi has ran through everyone, other than Ricky Saints, on the roster. This stood out when NXT had to drag Inamura and Briggs into the title program out of nowhere when they are established in the mid-card at the moment. Trick Williams feels like the bigger champion in NXT with the things he’s doing in TNA. As much as Raw and Smackdown could use Ricky Saints, NXT might need Ricky Saints to be their fresh new champion, and I’d have him cheat to win the title to have Saints dominate on top as a heel champion with a ton of fresh matchups. Oba has exhausted all his matches and could use a bit of a reset.
NXT Heatwave was a good show, but at the same time the show feels slapped together and rushed in terms of build. That’s just another circumstance of WWE continuing to use NXT as mild counter programming to AEW. Key word “mild” as I don’t see these NXT shows creating any buzz to take away from AEW’s social media presence or market share. If WWE gave NXT creative time to cook, they’d be able to jab at AEW’s market share, but so far this feels like a half-assed predatory effort. I do like NXT laying out their upcoming big shows and it looks like this would allow them to properly present PLEs that are different from just weekly TV shows. If I were to give this show a grade, I’d give it a “B” in terms of quality, but a “C+” in terms of grading on a PLE curve due to the rushed build. It’s more worth your time to cherry pick what matches tickle your fancy from the Forbidden Door card (don’t get me wrong, that felt slapped together too, but at least Forbidden Door has way more star power across the board. Therefore, more nuance).
It’s stunning how people don’t point out how one-sided the NXT-TNA alliance is. Jacey Jane is a lower tier NXT wrestler, and they couldn’t even have her take the pin for an actual TNA wrestler to win the TNA title. The Ash by Elegance gimmick, particularly the concierge, is as indyriffic as it gets and doesn’t belong on any WWE program, even NXT or evolve.
Hell of a finish to that main event! Oba is a star. Hopefully he doesn’t get called up to the main roster without a plan and turn into the next Carmelo Hayes.
Talking of sending Oba up to the main roster – I honestly believe that the issue is not that he isn’t ready. Of course he is. But creative has to have something for him, as they did for Roxanne, Stephanie and Guilia. The timelines don’t always meet for that. And that doesn’t just apply to Oba.