WWE Heatwave lived up to its name with a red-hot NXT Championship match on Sunday.
After a ref bump, Je’Von Evans hit back-to-back cutters — one from the top rope — dropping champion Oba Femi. A second official slid in and counted the pin, sparking a roar from the crowd as Evans appeared to win the title.
But just as his hand came down for three, the original referee recovered and waved off the count, spotting Femi’s foot under the bottom rope.
Elation quickly turned to outrage as the crowd at Lowell Memorial Auditorium began chanting “Bullshit.” Seconds later, those chants turned to gasps of “Holy Shit” as Femi rose and hurled Evans from the ring through the announcers’ table. He followed up with his devastating Fall From Grace powerbomb to retain the title.
The chaotic ending helped redirect fan frustration after Evans’ apparent victory was reversed. Despite the controversy, WWE delivered a decisive result with old-school precision, protecting both performers.
In 1978, Bob Backlund beat “Superstar” Billy Graham for the WWE Championship, but the referee missed Graham’s foot on the rope. The disputed finish gave Graham a valid gripe and kept the door open for rematches through 1983.
At Heatwave, WWE took a similar approach but with a twist. The ending employed a “Dusty Finish,” a classic swerve popularized by WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, where the fan favorite appears to win, only for the result to be overturned.
More than just a callback to tradition, Sunday’s finish served a purpose. Evans proved he could beat Femi. Whenever WWE decides to fully push him, they now have a key moment to revisit in a future rematch.
Another smart layer to the finish: even though he was pinned, Femi — like Graham — can claim he hadn’t really been defeated. After taking Evans’ top-rope cutter, Femi clearly pulled himself toward the ropes. That subtle move showed ring awareness and gave him a plausible out. From a kayfabe perspective, it wasn’t luck — it was strategy. So while fans shout, “You got beat,” Femi can say, “No, I didn’t. Here’s why.”
It’s just enough for Femi to save face, yet also fuel a rematch with Evans down the line.
Additionally, Femi’s aggression in the final moments elevated Evans. To put down his much smaller opponent, he had to escalate the violence. The brutal table spot — followed by the emotional gut punch of the referee’s reversal — may have been the only way to keep him down.
For fans hoping to see a title change, it may take time to appreciate the brilliance behind the finish. But if WWE keeps Evans strong — and if he continues to grow — the delayed gratification could be well worth the wait.
