NXT Builds Toward Halloween Havoc With Title Feuds Taking Shape

NXT’s push toward Halloween Havoc is picking up steam, with several championship pictures taking shape across the brand even though the full lineup for the premium live event has yet to be announced.

Grayson Waller retained the NXT Championship this week, beating EK Prosper in the main event after Mason Rook was ruled unable to compete. Waller has kept needling Zilla Fatu at both NXT tapings and live events while Fatu works through his own issues with the Birthright faction. The back-and-forth has the feel of a program building toward a title shot, though nothing has been made official.

The NXT Women’s Championship picture is also heating up. Kelani Jordan has been dealing with Wren Sinclair, who was suspended by general manager Robert Stone after she accidentally took out a referee during an attack on the champion. With Sinclair out of commission on paper, NXT is running a battle royal next week to determine Jordan’s next challenger, pulling in names from Raw, SmackDown, NXT, AAA, EVOLVE and TNA. Sinclair isn’t currently advertised for that match, but given the structure of the storyline, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she found her way into it regardless.

Elsewhere, the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is still working through its opening round, with the remaining first-round matches set for next week’s NXT. A final date hasn’t been confirmed, but the timing lines up well with a Halloween Havoc slot given how close the tournament is to wrapping up.

The NXT Women’s North American Championship picture has a new wrinkle as well. Champion Zaria, fresh off retaining the title against Thea Hail, is now being targeted by former North American Champion Izzi Dame, who has leaned into exposing embarrassing moments from Zaria’s past to get under her skin.

On the singles side, Cruz Montana has faced pointed criticism from Dion Lennox after opening up about his history since arriving in NXT, giving Lennox a clear opportunity to make a statement against one of the brand’s rising stars. And the personal rivalry between Myles Borne and Tavion Heights has reached a boiling point, with Borne finally snapping on his former friend following Heights’ betrayal at Heatwave.

None of these pairings have been confirmed for Halloween Havoc, but the storytelling across the NXT roster is clearly pointing toward a stacked card built on genuine, slow-burn feuds rather than one-off matchups. That’s been part of the appeal of Halloween Havoc as a fixture on the NXT calendar in recent years — it tends to pay off stories that have been simmering for weeks rather than parachuting in new ones. With the women’s title picture still being finalized and the tag team tournament nearing its climax, NXT has some flexibility left before locking in the full lineup.

Expect more clarity in the coming weeks as the battle royal plays out and the Dusty Classic reaches its final, both of which should sharpen exactly what Halloween Havoc’s card looks like.