A new era of Speed begins next week with a tournament to crown the No. 1 contender for Sol Ruca’s Women’s Speed Championship.
On this week’s NXT, General Manager Ava announced the four participants, fulfilling the promise made at Heatwave to feature talent from multiple brands.
The tournament opens Tuesday with SmackDown’s Candice LeRae facing TNA’s Xia Brookside, followed the next week by AAA’s Faby Apache taking on NXT’s Lainey Reed. The winners will meet in the final, with the title match set for
No Mercy on Sept. 27.
Before Ava’s announcement, a video package introduced Speed — a fast-paced format where wrestlers battle both their opponent and the clock. Tournament matches are three minutes; two wins earn a title shot. Championship bouts have a five-minute limit.
“It’s gonna force Superstars out of their comfort zones, trying to strategize,” said Corey Graves in the video, with the narrator adding, “There’s no time to think, no time to feel the pressure.”
Despite the hype, critics say Speed’s strict time limits make matches feel rushed and unrealistic. Yet, its supporters say otherwise. They argue that the format’s unique intensity adds credibility to contests. Matches start at full speed, with victory often decided by split-second moves, surprise counters, or costly mistakes.
The move to NXT comes after Speed stopped airing online back in July, leading many — including women’s champ Ruca — to ponder its future. Launched in 2024, Speed began as a weekly one-match series on X. Ricochet, now with AEW, was the first Speed Champion.
Currently, El Grande Americano is the reigning Men’s Speed Champion. When fans last saw Americano in Speed action, the character was portrayed by Chad Gable. Since then, Gable has been sidelined due to injury, and Ludwig Kaiser has taken over the role.
With Speed returning, questions remain around who the champion — and the real El Grande Americano — truly is.
