NXT to run four-man tournament for Speed title shot

NXT General Manager Ava announced on Tuesday that a four-man tournament will begin next week on NXT to determine the number one contender for the WWE Speed Men's Championship. Four competitors representing different brands will meet in first-round matches on next week’s show, with the winners advancing toward a final and a subsequent title shot against the reigning champion, El Grande Americano.

The opening round pairs Axiom, representing SmackDown, against Sean Legacy of Evolve, while NXT’s Jasper Troy will face Zachary Wentz, who is associated with TNA. The two winners are scheduled to meet in the tournament final, and the ultimate victor will earn a match for the Speed men’s title. NXT did not announce when the title match against El Grande Americano will take place.

El Grande Americano holds the Speed men’s championship, a title that, along with the women’s Speed belt, was transferred to NXT after the separate WWE Speed program ended this summer. The men’s title has had limited exposure on NXT since the move; officials and on-screen promotion have signaled a renewed focus on integrating the championship into the brand’s programming. The women’s Speed title has already been...