Get ready to shift into high gear, wrestling fans! WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H has just dropped a bombshell on X (formerly known as Twitter), announcing the renewal of one of NXT’s fiercest rivalries between Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov. But this isn’t going down on “Raw,” “SmackDown,” or even “NXT.” No, this epic showdown is set to take place on “WWE Speed” at 12 p.m. EST today.
Triple H described this face-off as WWE “revisiting one of the fiercest rivalries” in NXT history, highlighting that the match will be uniquely intensified by “Speed’s” fast-paced rules. And he’s not kidding. Launched in April, “Speed” features just one match per show with a tight three-minute time limit. That’s right, folks—three minutes to settle the score. This is a far cry from their previous NXT clashes, where their shortest match still clocked in at over sixteen minutes.
With the clock ticking, both Hayes and Dragunov will need to bring their A-game if they want a shot at the Speed Championship, currently held by Andrade. The quick format promises an intense, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it bout that’s sure to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
Outside the “Speed” universe, both superstars have been keeping busy. On “Raw,” Dragunov has been gunning for the Intercontinental Championship, recently wrestling Sami Zayn to a no contest. Meanwhile, Hayes was a standout in the Men’s Money in the Bank match on “SmackDown,” though he ultimately fell short to winner Drew McIntyre.
Don’t miss this high-octane revival of a classic rivalry—tune in to “WWE Speed” on X at 12 p.m. EST today!