LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME BACK TO THE RAFTERS!
Happy Halloween, wrestling fans! Stinger here, reporting from high above the squared circle in the magnificent Halls of Titanquisitor, where the pumpkins are glowing, the candy is disappearing at a suspiciously alarming rate, and the World Wrestling Federation’s NXT generation has just delivered one of the strangest Halloween celebrations you’ll find anywhere outside Thalia’s movie collection!
Ladies and gentlemen, Halloween Havoc 2026 has come and gone, and we’ve got plenty to discuss.
Championships were defended, friendships were apparently buried beneath several hundred pounds of assorted hardware, somebody decided to bring a television camera into a wrestling match, and the evening concluded with a surprising announcement involving one of the most recognizable names in professional wrestling.
We’ve also witnessed mysterious dimensions, theatrical witchcraft, a championship belt involved in a controversial finish, and enough illegal tactics to keep an entire referee training academy occupied for the foreseeable future.
And wouldn’t you know it?
CHANTEL MONROE ACTUALLY APPEARED!
MADDIE! GET MY LETTERS TO SHAWN MICHAELS! APPARENTLY THEY WORKED!
But we’ll get to that.
Halloween Havoc took place Saturday, October 31, at the WWF Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, with Danhausen serving as the evening’s very nice, very evil host.
We’ve already shared our traditional Halloween Havoc preview and our AVFR predictions special. Now it’s time to examine exactly what happened, who emerged victorious, and whether NXT managed to deliver a Halloween celebration worthy of the event’s considerable history.
Let’s get to the action!
Danhausen Opens Halloween Havoc
Before the violence could begin, our very nice, very evil host made his entrance accompanied by an entourage of miniature Danhausens.
Ladies and gentlemen, apparently one Danhausen simply wasn’t enough.
I’m not entirely sure who authorized this arrangement, but I suspect Shawn Michaels will eventually discover a rather unusual expense report involving several miniature costumes, assorted Halloween decorations, and an alarming quantity of mysterious props.
Danhausen welcomed everyone to Halloween Havoc, introduced the evening’s festivities, and revealed that portions of the Performance Center had been transformed into elaborate scare rooms.
It was the kind of wonderfully ridiculous presentation that fits Halloween Havoc perfectly.
Professional wrestling has always had room for outrageous personalities, and Danhausen understands how to embrace the absurd without pretending that the entire world needs to take him seriously.
His appearance established the evening’s atmosphere immediately: this wasn’t going to be an ordinary wrestling event.
Stinger’s View: I liked the opening. Danhausen is a natural fit for Halloween Havoc, and the miniature Danhausens are always fun and were precisely the sort of ridiculous spectacle that makes professional wrestling entertaining. Not everything needs to begin with a twenty-minute speech about championship prestige or somebody complaining that management doesn’t respect them. Sometimes a face-painted lunatic and his miniature associates are enough. Although I would appreciate a complete accounting of how much human money Robert Stone spent on this arrangement.
Weapons Wild Match: Myles Borne vs. Tavion Heights
Winner: Myles Borne — Pinfall
Halloween Havoc opened its in-ring action with a violent encounter between former partners Myles Borne and Tavion Heights, who apparently decided that settling their differences through traditional wrestling would be far too civilized.
And because it was Halloween, Heights arrived dressed as Freddy Krueger while Borne embraced the appearance of Jason Voorhees.
Ladies and gentlemen, when Freddy and Jason walk into a wrestling ring with access to steel chairs, kendo sticks, and tables, somebody should probably notify the local emergency department.
The match wasted little time becoming a chaotic brawl. Borne introduced a kendo stick, but Heights responded with a fire extinguisher, temporarily disrupting his former partner’s momentum.
The action spilled around ringside as weapons accumulated and the competitors repeatedly attempted to gain control.
One particularly nasty sequence involved a toolbox and its contents, with nuts and bolts scattered across the canvas. Heights managed to counter Borne’s offense and send him crashing onto the metal debris, producing the kind of uncomfortable landing that makes you instinctively adjust your position on the couch.
Borne retaliated with several punishing maneuvers involving the available hardware, including a uranage onto a chair that nearly secured the victory.
Heights, however, refused to surrender.
The former amateur standout eventually trapped Borne’s ankle inside a steel chair and attacked it before applying an ankle lock. With the Weapons Wild stipulation eliminating the usual restrictions, Borne couldn’t simply rely on reaching the ropes to escape.
He was forced to fight his way free, eventually sending Heights into the corner.
Then came the decisive sequence.
As the competitors battled near the ropes, Borne grabbed a camera from a ringside cameraman and used it to strike Heights, knocking him through a table positioned outside the ring.
Ladies and gentlemen, THERE GOES THE PRODUCTION BUDGET!
Borne returned his wounded opponent to the ring and delivered Borne Again onto the remaining debris, including a trash can, to secure the three-count.
Stinger’s View: Now THAT is how you open a Halloween wrestling event! Borne and Heights delivered a physical, entertaining encounter that made effective use of the Weapons Wild stipulation without completely abandoning the underlying rivalry. The camera spot was especially memorable. It’s one thing to introduce a steel chair into a hardcore match. It’s another thing entirely to commandeer expensive broadcasting equipment and smash it into somebody’s head. Somewhere backstage, a television producer was probably screaming considerably louder than either competitor.
The larger question is what happens next. Borne has repeatedly defeated Heights, and at some point, this rivalry needs either a meaningful escalation or a conclusion that allows both competitors to pursue something new. Heights has plenty of ability, and I’d hate to see him reduced to repeatedly losing the same fight.
A strong, violent opener. Exactly what Halloween Havoc needed.
Backstage: Tristan Angels Gets a Halloween Surprise
The evening’s haunted-house festivities continued when Tristan Angels attempted to escort two women through one of the Performance Center’s scare rooms.
Angels was naturally eager to demonstrate his bravery.
Unfortunately for him, Sean Legacy emerged from a trash can and scared the hell out of him.
The women promptly departed with Legacy, leaving Angels to contemplate the consequences of making promises he couldn’t keep.
Stinger’s View: Ladies and gentlemen, there’s a valuable life lesson here. If you’re going to promise two women that you’ll protect them from the horrors lurking inside a haunted house, you should probably avoid screaming when somebody climbs out of a trash can. I don’t think Tristan Angels is going to be putting this particular evening on his dating résumé.
NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria vs. Izzi Dame — Non-Title Match
Winner: Izzi Dame — Pinfall
The evening’s second match featured NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria battling Izzi Dame in a non-title encounter that continued their increasingly bizarre psychological rivalry.
The competitors embraced the Halloween atmosphere, with Zaria presenting herself as Elphaba and Dame drawing inspiration from Glinda.
Apparently, the two women decided that the appropriate way to settle their differences was to bring a little Wicked into professional wrestling.
And naturally, things got considerably nastier once the bell rang.
Zaria began aggressively, attempting to overwhelm Dame with her superior power. Dame responded by targeting the champion’s arm and controlling portions of the match through methodical offense.
The two exchanged several impressive sequences, with Zaria using powerful strikes and explosive offense while Dame relied on counters and carefully timed attacks.
Dame connected with a Codebreaker and later delivered a tremendous chokeslam, but Zaria survived both attempts.
The champion responded with a spear, seemingly moving closer to victory.
Unfortunately, the match then became considerably more complicated.
Images and costumed figures associated with Zaria’s past, including references to Sol Ruca, appeared as distractions. Dame capitalized on the resulting confusion and continued attempting to exploit Zaria’s emotions.
Eventually, the NXT Women’s North American Championship itself became involved.
Dame brought the championship into play, creating a dispute over possession of the belt. With the referee occupied, Dame used the championship during a running knee strike to Zaria’s face and secured the pinfall.
The champion had been defeated.
Afterward, Dame made it clear that she now intends to pursue the championship.
Stinger’s View: Ladies and gentlemen, I have two very different opinions about this match. First, the wrestling itself was good. Zaria and Izzi Dame worked well together, demonstrated convincing physicality, and produced several sequences that made both competitors look formidable.
Second, WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING WITH THIS STORYLINE?! Dame previously declined an opportunity to challenge for the championship. Now she’s defeated Zaria in a non-title match and suddenly wants the belt. YOU COULD HAVE BEEN WRESTLING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT!
I appreciate psychological manipulation as much as the next wrestling enthusiast, but there’s a difference between sophisticated mind games and unnecessarily complicated storytelling. Still, Dame now possesses an important victory over the champion, and that should provide a legitimate foundation for their next encounter. The match delivered. The booking logic could use some serious attention.
And for the record, if somebody ever offers me a championship opportunity, I’m taking it. Unless it’s the Titanquisitor Office Championship. Maddie has held that title for months, and apparently the stipulations involve alphabetizing approximately four thousand books. No thank you.
The Dusty Cup, Vanity Project & Upcoming NXT Action
Elsewhere backstage, the finalists in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic continued building anticipation for their upcoming showdown.
Hank and Tank exchanged words with Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar, with both teams expressing confidence heading into the tournament final.
Meanwhile, The Vanity Project confronted NXT General Manager Robert Stone regarding their elimination from the competition.
Stone wasn’t particularly interested in their complaints.
Instead, he arranged a six-man tag team encounter for Wednesday’s NXT, placing The Vanity Project against Chad Gable, Dragon Lee, and Rey Fenix.
Stinger’s View: I appreciate that NXT continues developing its tag team division, and the Dusty Cup remains a worthwhile platform for establishing teams and creating meaningful competitive stakes. As for The Vanity Project, complaining about management is a perfectly respectable tradition in professional wrestling. I do it practically every week. The difference is that I generally have a valid reason. Usually involving the Monroe twins.
Very Nice, Very Evil Match: Zilla Fatu vs. Charlie Dempsey
Winner: Zilla Fatu — Pinfall
Our next encounter featured Zilla Fatu seeking revenge against Charlie Dempsey and BirthRight, with the match stipulation determined by the traditional Halloween Havoc wheel.
Danhausen and his miniature associates supervised the proceedings as the wheel landed on something called a Very Nice, Very Evil Match.
Naturally, this raised an important question.
What the hell is a Very Nice, Very Evil Match? Apparently, Danhausen hadn’t entirely figured that out himself.
The stipulation was ultimately established as a no-rules, falls-count-anywhere encounter.
And with that settled, Fatu and Dempsey proceeded to demonstrate why allowing angry professional wrestlers unrestricted access to weapons is generally considered a questionable workplace policy.
BirthRight arrived dressed as the cast of Gilligan’s Island, while Fatu embraced the Halloween theme with a Scorpion-inspired costume.
The opening moments quickly became chaotic when Dempsey attacked Fatu and other BirthRight members became involved.
With Channing Lorenzo, Uriah Connors, and Lexis King providing support, Dempsey repeatedly exploited the numbers advantage.
Fatu managed to fight back, even gaining possession of a shovel that temporarily discouraged the group from approaching him.
But Dempsey remained focused on a familiar target: Fatu’s injured hand.
With assistance from his allies, Dempsey repeatedly attacked the injury, using the steel steps and even a jack-o’-lantern as weapons.
Ladies and gentlemen, there’s something deeply offensive about using a Halloween decoration to inflict bodily harm.
Especially when pumpkins are supposed to contain delicious pie ingredients.
The violence escalated as chains and other objects entered the encounter.
Fatu eventually gained control, using the chain during a Samoan drop sequence before climbing the ropes and delivering a frog splash to secure the victory.
Despite BirthRight’s interference and Dempsey’s relentless attacks on his injured hand, Zilla Fatu emerged victorious.
Stinger’s View: This was an entertaining Halloween brawl, and I enjoyed the sheer absurdity of the presentation. BirthRight dressed as Gilligan’s Island characters, Zilla Fatu looking like Scorpion, and Danhausen inventing stipulations on the fly? Ladies and gentlemen, professional wrestling is a magnificent institution. More importantly, the match successfully advanced Fatu’s rivalry with BirthRight. Dempsey’s continued attacks on the hand gave the encounter a clear psychological foundation, while Fatu’s eventual victory provided a satisfying moment of revenge.
I would’ve preferred slightly less outside interference, but considering the stipulation explicitly permitted this sort of nonsense, I suppose I can’t complain too much. Although I’d like to know who gets stuck cleaning up the broken pumpkins.
Halloween Madness: Shiloh Hill & Naraku Enter Another Dimension
Throughout the evening, NXT presented a series of increasingly surreal segments involving Shiloh Hill and Naraku.
Their confrontation began backstage, where the two exchanged attacks involving mysterious mist before seemingly becoming separated into elaborate, supernatural environments.
Hill wandered through strange rooms and eerie landscapes filled with Halloween decorations, bizarre creatures, and assorted horrors.
Naraku experienced his own disturbing journey, encountering masked figures, skeletons, and other unsettling inhabitants.
The presentation shifted between the two competitors as they attempted to navigate their respective environments and eventually find one another.
Hill appeared remarkably enthusiastic about the experience, treating several encounters like opportunities to make new friends.
Naraku, meanwhile, remained considerably less cheerful.
And ladies and gentlemen, I cannot stress this enough:
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL WAS GOING ON?!
I’ve watched professional wrestling long enough to remember supernatural characters, bizarre cinematic encounters, and approximately seventeen different explanations for why certain wrestlers apparently possess magical abilities.
But this was something else entirely. Eventually, the two competitors managed to escape their strange environments and return to the arena.
Stinger’s View: I appreciate Halloween Havoc embracing its theatrical traditions, and the production team certainly committed to the premise. Some of the imagery was entertaining, and Hill’s cheerful reactions provided an amusing contrast to Naraku’s threatening demeanor. But the presentation also wandered into territory where the spectacle began overshadowing the wrestling. There is absolutely room for supernatural storytelling in professional wrestling. The Undertaker built an extraordinary career around it. The trick is creating an atmosphere that supports the characters rather than making the audience wonder whether somebody accidentally changed the channel to a haunted-house television special.
Still, I admire the creativity. And I definitely want to know who approved the budget for all those extra sets.
NXT Women’s Championship: Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Wren Sinclair
Winner: Kelani Jordan — Pinfall, retains the NXT Women’s Championship
Ladies and gentlemen, THIS was one of the matches I was most interested in seeing.
Not simply because the championship was on the line, but because our very own Maddie and I disagreed about the outcome during yesterday’s AVFR predictions.
I selected Wren Sinclair.
Maddie selected Kelani Jordan.
And as the evening unfolded, I became increasingly confident that my superior wrestling knowledge was about to be vindicated.
Unfortunately, professional wrestling occasionally enjoys making me look like an idiot.
The match began with both competitors attempting to establish control through technical exchanges.
Jordan displayed her athleticism and aggressive instincts, while Sinclair countered with determined offense and a willingness to exploit openings.
Wren connected with an impressive double underhook suplex and continued challenging the champion through a series of exchanges.
Jordan attempted her signature split-legged moonsault, but Sinclair avoided the maneuver, sending the champion crashing into the canvas.
Kelani responded by targeting Sinclair’s arm, attempting to neutralize the challenger’s technical offense through submissions and methodical punishment.
The two exchanged pinning combinations before Jordan locked in a Fujiwara armbar.
Sinclair eventually escaped, responded with an impressive counter, and applied her Final Wrench submission.
Jordan managed to escape by forcing Sinclair out of the ring.
Back inside, the champion connected with a spectacular 450 splash, but Wren kicked out.
The challenger wasn’t finished.
When Jordan attempted another aerial attack, Sinclair raised her knees and transitioned directly into another Final Wrench.
For a moment, it appeared that Kelani might actually surrender her championship.
But Jordan escaped by driving Sinclair into the turnbuckle.
Then came the controversial conclusion.
Kelani covered Wren while using the bottom rope for additional leverage.
The referee failed to notice.
One.
Two.
Three.
Kelani Jordan retained the NXT Women’s Championship.
Stinger’s View: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION! I DEMAND A REVIEW OF THE FOOTAGE! I DEMAND—
MADDIE: “I picked Kelani.”
YES, MADDIE, I’M AWARE!
MADDIE: “And Kelani won.”
THROUGH QUESTIONABLE MEANS!
MADDIE: “Still counts.”
…
I don’t particularly care for the smug expression I imagine is currently spreading across the Glyphkeeper’s face.
But in all seriousness, this was a very good wrestling match. Jordan and Sinclair displayed excellent chemistry, with the technical exchanges and submission sequences providing a compelling contrast to the more chaotic encounters elsewhere on the card. Sinclair looked like a legitimate championship contender, and Jordan demonstrated that she’s willing to exploit opportunities when necessary. The rope-assisted pinfall was an effective way to preserve Wren’s credibility while further developing Jordan’s character.
My only complaint is that the referee apparently requires an immediate appointment with an optometrist. And perhaps Maddie could refrain from mentioning the result for the next several weeks.
MADDIE: “One for Maddie!”
OH, FOR THE LOVE OF—
Backstage: THE MONROE CRISIS HAS BEEN RESOLVED!
Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our regularly scheduled wrestling coverage for an extremely important announcement.
CHANTEL MONROE APPEARED AT HALLOWEEN HAVOC!
YES!
After days of relentless campaigning, repeated complaints about NXT management, and approximately seventeen strongly worded letters to Shawn Michaels, justice has finally prevailed!
During a backstage segment, Chantel Monroe appeared alongside Nikkita Lyons as they confronted Thea Hail and Skylar Raye.
The exchange was interrupted when Lizzy Rain suddenly appeared and frightened Monroe, drawing laughter from Hail and Raye.
Now, some lesser wrestling journalists might attempt to portray this as an embarrassing moment. I, however, recognize it as an excellent demonstration of the natural human response to an unexpected Halloween surprise. A perfectly understandable reaction.
Stinger’s View: First and foremost, I would like to personally thank Shawn Michaels for finally recognizing the importance of Chantel Monroe’s presence on major NXT programming. Clearly, my correspondence made an impression.
MADDIE: “Stinger, I sincerely doubt he read any of those letters.”
MADDIE, PLEASE STOP UNDERMINING MY JOURNALISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
As for the actual segment, it provided a little additional attention for the women’s roster and potentially planted seeds for future confrontations involving Monroe, Lyons, Hail, and Raye. And naturally, I’m completely objective when evaluating these developments. Absolutely. Unquestionably.
Moving along!
Shiloh Hill vs. Naraku
Winner: Shiloh Hill — Pinfall
After spending a significant portion of the evening wandering through what appeared to be a haunted dimension, Shiloh Hill and Naraku finally returned to the Performance Center for their actual wrestling match.
Thank God.
I was beginning to wonder whether they’d accidentally stumbled into the set of one of Thalia’s horror movies.
The two competitors fought their way toward the ring, eventually reaching the arena and beginning their official encounter.
Naraku attempted to utilize his mysterious mist, but Hill countered with his own unusual substance, effectively neutralizing the attack.
Apparently, the young man really did spend time conducting chemical research before this match.
Remarkable.
Hill capitalized on the opportunity, delivered a powerful pop-up forearm, and followed with Whisper to the Abyss to secure the three-count.
After all the elaborate supernatural encounters, the official match itself was comparatively brief.
Stinger’s View: I’m genuinely torn on this one.
On the positive side, the presentation was creative, the atmosphere was appropriate for Halloween, and Hill’s peculiar personality continues to make him an interesting character.
On the negative side, the elaborate backstage sequences consumed considerably more attention than the actual wrestling match.
If the goal was to produce a memorable Halloween spectacle, mission accomplished. If the goal was to establish both competitors through meaningful in-ring competition, I’m not convinced the execution was particularly successful.
Still, Hill emerged victorious, and his preparation provided a satisfying payoff to the mysterious mist storyline. As for Naraku, I would strongly recommend reconsidering his reliance on supernatural chemical warfare. Apparently, the effectiveness of his primary weapon has now been compromised by a man who spent his free time conducting experiments. Professional wrestling, ladies and gentlemen. What a wonderful, ridiculous business.
More Backstage Developments: NXT Looks Ahead
The evening also featured several developments concerning NXT’s upcoming programming.
Cruz Montana and Dion Lennox continued their increasingly personal rivalry with a heated confrontation ahead of their unsanctioned match.
The exchange included references to family and previous conflicts, further reinforcing that neither competitor is particularly interested in settling their issues through civilized discussion.
Elsewhere, Danhausen encountered Kam Hendrix inside one of the evening’s scare rooms and expressed interest in cloning him.
Yes, cloning.
Naturally.
The situation eventually led to EK Prosper surprising Hendrix and physically confronting him.
Meanwhile, an upcoming NXT TLC event was announced, adding another major attraction to the developmental brand’s schedule.
And most importantly, NXT General Manager Robert Stone informed Kelani Jordan that her next championship defense would take place Wednesday against a mystery opponent.
Stinger’s View: There’s a lot happening in NXT right now, and I appreciate that Halloween Havoc wasn’t treated as an isolated event.
The Dusty Cup final, Montana’s confrontation with Lennox, Jordan’s mystery challenger, and the upcoming TLC special all provide reasons to continue watching.
The mystery challenger announcement is especially interesting given Jordan’s questionable championship defense against Wren Sinclair.
And the possibility of another championship confrontation so quickly after Halloween Havoc creates additional intrigue.
Of course, I remain deeply concerned about Danhausen’s cloning experiments.
The last thing professional wrestling needs is somebody giving that man unrestricted access to scientific equipment.
NXT Championship: Grayson Waller (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo
Winner: Grayson Waller — Pinfall, retains the NXT Championship
Ladies and gentlemen, it was time for our main event!
Grayson Waller defended the NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo in a deeply personal encounter stemming from Waller’s controversial title victory at Heatwave.
And from the moment the champion arrived wearing D’Angelo’s old fedora, it was clear that the psychological warfare wasn’t finished.
Waller has always possessed an extraordinary ability to irritate opponents, and this encounter was no exception.
The action quickly spilled outside the ring, where D’Angelo used his considerable strength to punish the champion.
Waller responded by targeting Tony’s arm, repeatedly exploiting the ropes, ring apron, and surrounding equipment to gain an advantage.
The champion also employed several underhanded tactics, including trapping D’Angelo against the ring skirt and attacking him while the referee attempted to maintain control.
D’Angelo refused to back down.
At one point, the challenger approached his wife and daughter at ringside after Waller had previously antagonized them, adding another personal dimension to the contest.
Tony continued pressing the attack, using powerful suplexes and heavy strikes to keep Waller on the defensive.
But the champion repeatedly found ways to survive.
One particularly impressive sequence involved the announce table.
D’Angelo attempted to send Waller crashing through it, only for the champion to reverse the situation and drive Tony through the table instead.
Back inside, Waller attempted his rolling stunner, but D’Angelo countered with a spear.
Tony covered the champion.
One!
Two!
Waller managed to place his foot on the bottom rope.
The match continued.
And then, ladies and gentlemen, things got considerably uglier.
D’Angelo reached for a carjack positioned near the corner, but Waller managed to send the challenger crashing into the referee.
With the official incapacitated, the competitors battled over the weapon.
Tony eventually knocked it away and connected with another spear.
He covered Waller.
But there was nobody available to count the fall!
The referee remained down.
And Waller, being the opportunistic bastard that he is, seized the moment.
The champion recovered the carjack and struck D’Angelo while the referee was unable to intervene.
He followed with his rolling stunner.
The official recovered.
One.
Two.
Three.
Grayson Waller retained the NXT Championship.
Stinger’s View: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GRAYSON WALLER IS A CHEATING SON OF A BITCH!
And I mean that with the utmost professional respect.
Waller demonstrated exactly why he’s such an effective villain. He understands how to frustrate opponents, manipulate situations, and capitalize on opportunities that more honorable competitors might refuse to exploit. D’Angelo, meanwhile, delivered a compelling performance built around physical intensity and the determination to reclaim his championship. The match had a clear narrative foundation: Tony wanted revenge and redemption, while Waller wanted to escape with the title by any means necessary.
And ultimately, the champion succeeded. I especially appreciated the way D’Angelo appeared to have the match won following his spear, only for the incapacitated referee to prevent the victory. That created a genuine moment of frustration before Waller exploited the situation. The finish was controversial, certainly, but it was consistent with the champion’s established personality.
Sometimes the villain wins. Sometimes the hero gets screwed. And sometimes professional wrestling reminds us that being the better man doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll leave with the championship.
My biggest concern is what happens next for D’Angelo. He’s now suffered another championship defeat, and NXT needs to ensure that he doesn’t simply become trapped in an endless cycle of unsuccessful revenge attempts.
As for Waller? The man remains champion. And apparently, he’s about to face a rather significant challenge.
CM Punk Challenges Grayson Waller!
Just when it appeared that Halloween Havoc had concluded, Danhausen returned with one final surprise.
The host introduced a message from a close personal friend.
And suddenly, CM Punk appeared on the screen.
Ladies and gentlemen, BUSINESS JUST PICKED UP!
Punk announced that he wanted an opportunity to return to NXT, and he made his intentions perfectly clear.
On Wednesday, November 4, he will challenge Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship.
That’s right.
CM PUNK VS. GRAYSON WALLER FOR THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP!
And the timing is particularly interesting because NXT will be competing directly against AEW’s Blood & Guts programming that evening.
Professional wrestling’s television competition is apparently about to become considerably more entertaining.
Stinger’s View: Now THIS is how you conclude a wrestling event with something that gives viewers a reason to tune in next week.
Punk’s involvement immediately elevates Wednesday’s championship encounter, and Waller suddenly finds himself facing a challenger with considerably more experience than most of his recent opponents.
There’s also an obvious clash of personalities here. Waller is arrogant, provocative, and thoroughly convinced of his own greatness. Punk is equally capable of delivering a cutting verbal confrontation, and he has spent years demonstrating that he doesn’t particularly appreciate being disrespected.
Put those two personalities together and you’ve got the potential for some tremendous television.
But here’s what interests me most. Waller has repeatedly relied on questionable tactics to retain his championship. Will those same strategies work against someone with Punk’s experience? Or will the champion finally discover that provoking the wrong opponent can have serious consequences?
Wednesday should be fascinating.
And while I’m not particularly interested in turning every wrestling conversation into a corporate ratings war, I absolutely appreciate competition between promotions when it encourages everyone to produce better shows. Give the fans compelling matches, meaningful stories, and exciting surprises. That’s how you win their attention.
Stinger’s View: Did Halloween Havoc Deliver?
Ladies and gentlemen, Halloween Havoc 2026 was a fascinating mixture of legitimate professional wrestling, entertaining Halloween nonsense, questionable booking decisions, and a few developments that could have major consequences for NXT moving forward.
The Weapons Wild match between Myles Borne and Tavion Heights provided a strong opening, with both competitors embracing the stipulation and delivering a suitably violent conclusion to another chapter of their rivalry.
Zaria and Izzi Dame produced a good wrestling match, although I remain unconvinced that their surrounding storyline makes a tremendous amount of sense.
Zilla Fatu and Charlie Dempsey delivered an entertaining weapons-based encounter, with BirthRight’s involvement further establishing the faction as an increasingly unpleasant collection of individuals.
Kelani Jordan and Wren Sinclair arguably delivered the evening’s strongest traditional wrestling contest, combining excellent technical exchanges with a controversial finish that preserved both competitors’ credibility.
And yes, Maddie correctly predicted Jordan’s victory.
There.
I said it.
ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, MADDIE?!
The Shiloh Hill and Naraku presentation was certainly memorable, although I would’ve preferred a little more emphasis on the wrestling itself rather than the elaborate supernatural adventures.
As for our main event, Grayson Waller and Tony D’Angelo delivered a competitive championship match built around personal animosity and underhanded tactics.
Waller’s victory ensured that the evening concluded with a thoroughly despised champion still holding the gold.
And then came CM Punk.
That announcement immediately transformed Wednesday’s NXT into a program worth paying attention to, particularly given the company’s head-to-head competition with AEW.
From a broader perspective, Halloween Havoc succeeded in capturing the spirit of the holiday.
The decorations, costumes, theatrical segments, and bizarre match stipulations gave the event a distinctive identity.
But I do think NXT occasionally became a little too enamored with its own Halloween nonsense.
There’s a fine line between embracing professional wrestling’s wonderfully ridiculous nature and allowing spectacle to overwhelm the actual wrestling.
Thankfully, the competitors delivered enough quality action to keep the evening grounded.
And of course, there was one final triumph.
CHANTEL MONROE MADE AN APPEARANCE!
Ladies and gentlemen, I consider this a personal victory for the Titanquisitor Wrestling Department.
After all my tireless efforts to ensure proper representation for the incomparable Monroe twins, NXT management finally responded.
MADDIE: “Stinger, her appearance was probably planned weeks ago.”
THAT IS PURE SPECULATION!
MADDIE: “She got scared by Lizzy Rain.”
SHE WAS DEMONSTRATING HER EXTRAORDINARY RANGE AS A PERFORMER!
MADDIE: “You really are impossible.”
THANK YOU!
And for those wondering, yes, I am already preparing correspondence regarding next week’s programming.
The entire wrestling industry should be grateful that somebody is willing to undertake this important responsibility.
Overall, Halloween Havoc provided an entertaining evening, even if a few creative decisions left me questioning whether somebody backstage had consumed too much Halloween candy.
The wrestling was often good, the atmosphere was enjoyable, and the closing announcement gave us something genuinely exciting to anticipate.
And at the end of the day, that’s what matters.
Not every match needs to be a five-star masterpiece. Not every segment needs to transform the wrestling industry. Sometimes a show succeeds because it entertains its audience, advances a few rivalries, and reminds us why we fell in love with this ridiculous business in the first place.
Halloween Havoc accomplished enough of that to make the evening worthwhile.
And with CM Punk challenging for the NXT Championship on Wednesday, something tells me the chaos is only beginning.
Until next time, ladies and gentlemen, keep supporting professional wrestling, keep demanding better storytelling, and never let anybody convince you that this wonderful, infuriating, spectacular business isn’t worth caring about.
Because no matter how many questionable decisions management makes, how many referees mysteriously lose their eyesight, or how many championship matches end with somebody getting hit by a goddamn carjack…
WRESTLING MATTERS.
— Stinger, reporting from the rafters of Titanquisitor Hall, where the candy has disappeared, the predictions are under review, and the Monroe twins remain the finest investment professional wrestling could possibly make.
WWF NXT Halloween Havoc 2026 — Complete Results
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Location: WWF Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Host: Danhausen
- Myles Borne defeated Tavion Heights — Weapons Wild Match, pinfall after Borne Again onto a trash can and debris.
- Izzi Dame defeated Zaria — Non-title match, pinfall following a championship-belt-assisted knee strike.
- Zilla Fatu defeated Charlie Dempsey — Very Nice, Very Evil Match (No Rules, Falls Count Anywhere), pinfall following a frog splash.
- Kelani Jordan (c) defeated Wren Sinclair — NXT Women’s Championship, pinfall using the bottom rope for illegal leverage.
- Shiloh Hill defeated Naraku — Pinfall following Whisper to the Abyss.
- Grayson Waller (c) defeated Tony D’Angelo — NXT Championship, pinfall following a carjack strike and rolling stunner.
Major Announcement: CM Punk challenges Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship on Wednesday, November 4.
And yes, Chantel Monroe appeared. You’re welcome, Shawn Michaels.
