NXT Heatwave was a show where there were new champions crowned, but it was also a show that saw two of its top superstars having their last match on the brand and will be getting called up to the main roster. These wrestlers are Kendal Grey and Tony D Angelo. And there could not have been more different journeys to getting this call up.
Let’s talk about Kendal Grey and Tony D'Angelo getting called up.
The NXT Old Guard moves up to the main roster
First let’s look at Tony D'Angelo because this is the most unique case of a call-up to the main roster. Tony D'Angelo first debuted in NXT in the year 2021 when it was decided that NXT would become NXT 2.0. Along with Tony D'Angelo, there were Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller, Tiffany Stratton, and Roxanne Perez, who were his peers on the brand. One by one all of them started getting the call up.
Bron was the first, and then Carmelo, Trick Williams, and Oba Femi were also called up. Tony D'Angelo has been in NXT for 5 years, and finally in 2026 he became NXT Champion. Tony D'Angelo had a very good 5-month reign as the champion. Now that he has lost the title, WWE will not waste any more time and will call him up to the main roster as he is ready. The fans will be behind him wanting to do well.
Kendal Grey is totally on the opposite side of the spectrum. From the moment wrestling fans saw Kendal Grey wrestle, it was clear that she was a very special talent who was a natural athlete. Kendal Grey was consistently having 4-star matches against Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, Tatum Paxley and others. She is like Kurt Angle when he first debuted. She is physically stronger than most women in WWE. She won the NXT Championship 2 months ago, and it was expected that she would have a long reign.
The fact that she has lost the title means that Triple H will call her up to the main roster, and then Kendal Grey will be unleashed on the other women in WWE. If she can work some more on her promos, then sky is the limit. The WWE main roster needs Kendal Grey more specifically because the women’s division on SmackDown is in need of a rebirth. The Raw Women’s division is stacked once again with the returns of Stephanie Vaquer and Becky Lynch.
Tony D'Angelo is someone that has to work harder because, unlike NXT, the Men’s roster in Raw and SmackDown is absolutely stacked with talent. He will have to stand out with his promos, and he has the gift that only a few have, and that is wealth of experience in NXT. And he has the respect of the previous call-ups from NXT, who will guide him on the main roster.