AJ Styles believes WWE NXT Heatwave may have represented a meaningful turning point for the brand, even as the event faced a distinct crowd dynamic following AAA Ola de Calor.
Speaking on The AJ Styles Show, Styles addressed being present for both AAA Ola de Calor and NXT Heatwave in Texas. The WWE Hall of Famer suggested that the makeup of the audience, and the timing of the two events, played a major role in the atmosphere surrounding the NXT portion of the night.
Styles pointed to the Texas location's proximity to the border and said the audience appeared to have a stronger connection with AAA than with WWE's developmental brand. That distinction became particularly notable amid discussion that a sizable portion of the crowd departed before several NXT performers had the opportunity to appear.
“Now, where we’re at in Texas is very, very close to the border,” Styles said on The AJ Styles Show. “I believe that there were definitely more AAA fans than probably ‘NXT’ fans. They’re definitely watching more AAA than ‘NXT,’ I think. Or, AAA did so much cool stuff that when ‘NXT’ tried to get in there and do their thing, you know.”
For more background on this topic, read Corey Graves Details Calling AAA Noche de Los Grandes From Italy at 4 AM.
The comments offer a measured explanation rather than a criticism of the NXT roster or its presentation. Styles did not suggest that the developmental performers failed to deliver. Instead, he framed the situation as one where AAA entered the night with a crowd that was especially invested in its product, making the transition into NXT programming a difficult one.
AAA has a deep history and a passionate following, particularly in markets with a substantial Mexican and Mexican-American wrestling fan base. A crowd arriving specifically for lucha libre can bring different expectations, preferred stars, and a different rhythm of engagement than an audience assembled primarily for NXT. That does not make either audience response invalid, but it can create a challenging environment when promotions are presented in close succession.
Styles, however, came away with a positive assessment of Heatwave itself. He praised NXT for finding compelling ways to execute a night in which every championship changed hands. While full-card title changes are inherently dramatic, they also can function as a deliberate statement about a brand's direction.
“I thought ‘NXT’ did a really good job,” Styles said. “There were some really cool moments in there. Every championship was switched... I think they had some unique ways in getting that job done. It was a good show.”
Why the Heatwave Results Could Matter for NXT
A show where every title moves can be interpreted in a number of ways. It may be a chance to establish fresh champions, create new rivalries, reward performers who have built momentum, or alter the hierarchy across multiple divisions at once. For NXT, a brand designed to develop talent while still operating as its own weekly television product, major championship changes can also signal the start of a new cycle.
Styles described Heatwave as a “reset point” for NXT. That characterization is significant because it focuses less on one isolated event and more on what follows it. The true impact of a sweep of championship changes will be measured by the programs built around the new champions, the opponents positioned to chase them, and the performers who emerge from the reshuffled landscape.
Resetting a brand does not necessarily mean discarding what came before. In wrestling, it often means finding a way to maintain continuity while giving fans a reason to view the coming weeks as different from the ones that preceded them. New champions can give rising stars an immediate goal, while former champions are forced to decide whether they will pursue rematches, shift divisions, or reinvent themselves.
That type of change can be especially useful in NXT because the roster is regularly subject to movement. Performers can gain experience, refine characters, move into higher-profile positions, or eventually be called up to WWE's main roster. A major event provides a natural place to close some chapters and launch others.
Still, the crowd circumstances surrounding Heatwave are a reminder that a wrestling event can be judged through more than one lens. A strong card and significant storyline developments do not always produce a uniform live reaction, particularly when fans have attended for another promotion earlier in the evening. Styles' remarks acknowledge that context without diminishing the work performed by the NXT roster.
Styles Continues Work at the WWE Performance Center
Since retiring from in-ring competition, Styles has spent more time at the WWE Performance Center. His involvement has included coaching talent and producing matches, placing one of WWE's most experienced modern performers in a position to help shape the next generation.
Styles revealed that he has produced matches at the Performance Center, including a recent bout between Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller. The assignment illustrates the range of work that can go into a producer's role. Beyond helping structure an individual contest, experienced producers can assist performers with pacing, storytelling, character consistency, transitions, and the small details that make a match feel connected to a larger television product.
For younger talent, access to someone with Styles' background is valuable. Across his career, Styles worked at the highest levels of multiple major promotions and adapted to very different wrestling environments. That experience gives him a broad perspective on what it takes to succeed in the ring, connect with a crowd, and adjust to the changing demands of televised wrestling.
His proximity to NXT has naturally made his opinions on the roster noteworthy. Yet Styles was clear that working at the Performance Center has not made him a decision-maker on possible main-roster moves.
“It seems like, to me, that there are going to be some players moved around,” Styles said. “I could be wrong... I think there’s definitely some that are ready to go to the main roster.”
Call-Up Speculation Remains Just That
Styles cautioned that he does not have inside knowledge on call-ups or related roster decisions. His view was presented as an observation from someone who sees performers at the Performance Center, not as confirmation that WWE has finalized any specific plans.
That distinction matters. WWE call-ups can be influenced by many factors, including creative plans, available spots on Raw or SmackDown, a performer's readiness, the needs of NXT programming, and timing around major events. A talent may appear fully ready from an in-ring standpoint while still benefiting from more time developing a character, building a body of television work, or completing an ongoing NXT story.
“There are one or two [talents] I’m like, ‘I don’t even know why they’re here,’” Styles said. “But, it may not be the right time for them to go.”
It is a practical perspective from a performer who understands that readiness and opportunity are not always identical. Some wrestlers can seem prepared for a larger stage, but the best move for both the individual and the brand may still be to wait until there is a clear role waiting for them. Conversely, an unexpected opening can accelerate a move when WWE sees the right fit.
For now, Heatwave's championship reset could create more room for the next group of NXT names to step forward. Whether that leads directly to main-roster promotions remains uncertain, and Styles emphasized that he is not privy to those decisions. What he does see is a developmental system with performers who are making an impression and a brand that has used a major event to change its competitive landscape.
As NXT moves beyond Heatwave, the central questions will be how its new champions establish themselves, how the former titleholders respond, and which talents turn the brand's reset into their own breakout opportunity. Styles' assessment suggests that, despite the unusual audience challenge created by the AAA portion of the night, he viewed NXT's event as a successful step into that next phase.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.