INDIANAPOLIS— WWE NXT is bringing its annual Halloween Havoc event back on Saturday, Oct. 31, with championship matchups, heated rivalries and a no-disqualification weapons match.
The event will take place live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on The CW and ESPN Unlimited. International viewers can stream the event on Netflix in available markets. Danhausen will serve as the event’s special host.
During a preview of the event, William Blakely of Wob Four Media joined the show to break down the match card and explain some of the storylines heading into Halloween Havoc.
Blakely said one of the matchups he is most looking forward to is the Weapons Wild Match between Myles Borne and Tavion Heights.
The match will feature weapons surrounding the ring, with no disqualifications, allowing both competitors to use the available weapons against each other.
Blakely said the stipulation is a fitting one for the rivalry, which stems from a friendship that fell apart after Borne blamed Heights for their losses at NXT Heatwave.
“Borne betrayed Tavion Heights, not once, but twice,” Blakely said.
Borne believes Heights held him back from reaching the top of NXT, while Heights is determined to prove he belongs in the brand.
With both competitors looking to settle their differences, Blakely said the match gives them an opportunity to take their rivalry to another level.
The NXT Championship also will be up for grabs as reigning champion Grayson Waller faces Tony D’Angelo.
Blakely is predicting Waller will retain the championship, pointing to the psychological advantage he believes the champion has gained over D’Angelo.
Waller recently took their rivalry beyond the ring by visiting locations connected to D’Angelo’s personal life and past in NXT.
In a series of videos and messages, Waller challenged D’Angelo to find him, first at D’Angelo’s home, then at a restaurant associated with his former Italian mob boss persona.
After leading D’Angelo through several locations, Waller eventually directed him back to the WWE Performance Center, where the two ended the night in a brawl.
Blakely said Waller’s mind games could give him the advantage heading into the championship match.
The NXT Women’s Championship also will be on the line as Kelani Jordan defends her title against Wren Sinclair.
Sinclair’s path to becoming the No. 1 contender took an unexpected turn after she was suspended for striking a referee during a brawl.
Despite the suspension, Sinclair entered a battle royal to determine the next challenger for Jordan’s championship. She did so disguised as masked wrestler Lady Shani, eliminating the other competitors before revealing her identity.
The reveal left NXT General Manager Robert Stone with little choice but to recognize Sinclair as the No. 1 contender.
Blakely said Sinclair’s energetic personality and determination make her a serious threat to Jordan’s title.
He also pointed to her willingness to go to unusual lengths to earn a championship opportunity as a reason Jordan should not underestimate her.
The event also features several other matchups, including Zilla Fatu vs. Charlie Dempsey, Izzi Dame vs. Zaria in a non-title match and Naraku vs. Shiloh Hill.
Blakely also explained the event’s Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal concept, in which a wheel determines the match stipulation for competitors.
The possible match types feature no disqualifications and no countouts, giving wrestlers more freedom to use weapons and take risks they would not typically have in a traditional match.
Blakely said the unpredictability requires competitors to prepare for different scenarios and embrace a more aggressive approach.
WWE NXT features emerging talent in sports entertainment and is led by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels. The brand has served as a developmental platform for several WWE Superstars, including
