"The Big Mami Cool" era of NXT began on Night 1 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, as Raquel González knocked off Io Shirai to become the new NXT Women's Champion. Elsewhere, WALTER preserved the longest NXT United Kingdom Title reign in history with a brutal victory over Tommaso Ciampa, MSK captured the vacant NXT Tag Team Championships and more.
Highlights | Exclusives
Zoey Stark pulls off stunner against Toni Storm
As the WWE Universe prepared for the epic Night 1 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Zoey Stark scored an incredible victory over Toni Storm in an explosive Pre-Show showdown.
Hardly looking the part of a black-and-gold brand rookie, Stark has pushed the likes of NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai, Raquel González and Dakota Kai to their limits in impressive showings and made it clear that she's more than capable of competing with NXT’s elite.
In the height of a hard-fought matchup against the second-ever NXT UK Women’s Champion, the determined Stark took things to the next level, countering her elite opponent’s Storm Zero finishing maneuver before wrapping her up for the biggest victory in her career!
Pete Dunne claims technical supremacy over Kushida
After weeks of proclaiming to be the best technical mastermind in NXT, Pete Dunne backed up his words against Kushida in an absolutely brutal showdown.
The highly personal matchup started fast and furious with both competitors attempting to earn an early hold. After The BruiserWeight delivered a suplex onto the apron, though, the technical prowess transformed to an all-out slugfest both inside and outside the ring.
With each passing moment, momentum flew back and forth with thunderous speed as both awe-inspiring grapplers unleashed an unbelievable combination of technical and brawling excellence.
Dunne escaped the Hoverboard Lock several times by reaching the ropes, but damaged his shoulder in the process. Nevertheless, after snapping back the fingers of his war-torn foe in excruciating fashion, Dunne hit the Bitter End and secure the hard-fought victory over NXT's resident Time Splitter.
Bronson Reed punches ticket for NXT North American Title opportunity
In heroic fashion, the Colossal Bronson Reed outlasted five other Superstars in the Gauntlet Eliminator and earned the right to challenge Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship on Night 2 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
In accordance with Gauntlet Eliminator rules, Isaiah "Swerve" Scott kicked things off against Leon Ruff. Every three minutes, another competitor entered. The only way to be eliminated was via pinfall or submission. The last man remaining would challenge Gargano on Thursday.
Prior to the start of the contest, Scott attacked Ruff as he made his entrance. Despite that, both Superstars fought tooth-and-nail until they were laid out on the canvas when the mammoth Reed entered and began to dominate his opponents with a monster double German Suplex.
Cameron Grimes soon joined the party and, after sending Reed out of the ring, actually paid Scott to join forces with him to punish Ruff while keeping Reed out of the action.
As Dexter Lumis entered next, Scott picked up the quick pin on Ruff. Lumis’ slow, methodical offense took charge until he and Reed began to slug it out.
Eventually, the outspoken LA Knight entered last. Reed’s size took center stage and soon brought the fight to the odds-on favorite. Nevertheless, Knight pinned Lumis as Lumis Silence locked in on Grimes. Moments later, Knight was pinned after being absolutely flattened by Reed.
The final three competitors – Reed, Grimes and Scott – engaged in an all-out battle. Although Scott and Grimes began a 2-on-1 attack on Reed, Scott soon betrayed his would-be partner and used the tights to pin Grimes.
After withstanding a devastating fall from the top rope onto the apron and kicking out of Scott’s 450 Splash and so much more, Reed roared back with a powerbomb before finishing off his prey with the Tsunami.
Reed has claimed his proverbial potential golden ticket. Will he be able to reign supreme over Gargano to take possession of the NXT North American Title? Find out Thursday night at 8/7 C, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network everywhere else.
WALTER's reign continues with brutal win over Tommaso Ciampa
WALTER continued his record-setting reign as NXT United Kingdom Champion by emerging victorious over Tommaso Ciampa in one of the most devastating matches in NXT history.
WALTER looked to punish The Blackheart early by unleashing his trademark chops. However, when he miraculously put one chop through the announce table, WALTER hurt his right hand. Not only did it take the NXT UK Champion off his game, it was an injury that Ciampa would take advantage of throughout the contest.
The Ring General continued to put the hurt on his challenger during the match. The resilient Ciampa battled back and nearly put away the long-reigning titleholder with the Fairytale Ending, dropping WALTER off the ropes, sending him crashing down to the canvas.
With each passing moment, the Superstars fought back and forth with both bringing their very best. In the final moments, after kicking out of a pair of devastating Powerbombs, Ciampa finally fell to WALTER’s German Suplex-chop combination.
MSK captures vacant NXT Tag Team Titles
In a Triple Threat Tag Team Match, MSK triumphed over Grizzled Young Veterans and Legado del Fantasma to lay claim to the vacant NXT Tag Team Titles.
The offense changed back and forth at lightning speed in the absolutely high-octane free-for-all as every tandem brought their A-Game in search of NXT glory from start to finish.
In the height of the action, shortly after Wes Lee withstood a vicious attack by GYVs on his injured hand and got his partner’s help to keep from tapping out to the Shankly Gates, the electricity of MSK took over.
Once Legado del Fantasma were taken out outside the ring, Carter hit a Double Cutter on Gibson & Drake, paving the way for he and Lee to use tag team excellence for the historic pinfall.
Raquel González cements dominance as new NXT Women's Champion
The dominant Raquel González finally stands at the top of the mountain after toppling Io Shirai to become the new NXT Women’s Champion.
Despite González’s extremely impressive past year since emerging on the NXT scene, the gutsy Shirai showed the heart of a true champion when she challenged “Big Mami Cool” for a main event matchup at TakeOver. Although Shirai has soared above the best that the squared circle had to offer, at Stand & Deliver, González was destined to ground her.
In the beginning, the power of González seemed somewhat neutralized by the sheer athletic prowess and quickness of the titleholder. But moments after her cohort Dakota Kai got herself thrown out from ringside, González took over with a dominant display of brutal force.
The Genius of the Sky roared back with a fast-paced, impactful offense and soon locked in the crossface submission, nearly making her challenger tap out before González managed to get to the ropes.
Seconds later, Shirai recovered with a moonsault off the top rope and onto the unforgiving steel ramp, opening the door to the action to spread out into the arena. Before the WWE Universe could even catch its breath, the titleholder rose to new heights and leaped off the top of the 20-foot NXT Stand & Deliver Skull onto her opponent standing on the steel grate below.
Nevertheless, when she got Shirai back in the ring, González became the first person to ever kick out of the titleholder’s top rope moonsault.
González then regained the advantage outside the ring and hurled Shirai on the ringside floor. After leveling the titleholder with a devastating lariat back in the squared circle, González hit the earth-shattering Chingona Bomb to finally lay claim to the NXT Women’s Championship.
Will The Prince’s kingdom fall to Karrion Kross?
Finn Bálor has been virtually untouchable since his return to NXT, but he’s about to face his toughest test yet as NXT Champion.
The Prince will put his title on the line against the undefeated Karrion Kross, accompanied by Scarlett, in the main event of Night 2 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver on Thursday, April 8.
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Bálor has stood tall in the face of all challengers during his six-month reign atop the black-and-gold brand, defeating the likes of Adam Cole, Pete Dunne and Kyle O’Reilly.
However, The Prince’s opportunity to become champion emerged after Kross was forced to vacate the title in August due to injury. The doomsday deviant has been on an absolute rampage since returning, dismantling Damian Priest, Santos Escobar and more.
The two finally came face to face following Bálor’s title defense against Cole, with Kross locking eyes on The Prince and the championship he never lost.
Bálor is perhaps better than he’s ever been, while Kross may be the most unstoppable force in NXT history. When they finally meet at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, something has to give!
Be sure to tune in to NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, beginning Wednesday, April 7 8/7 C on USA Network and continuing Thursday, April 8, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network everywhere else.
Who will become the Undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion?
Who is the true NXT Cruiserweight Champion?
That question will be answered on Night 2 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver when Santos Escobar and Jordan Devlin face off for the coveted title in a Ladder Match.
Escobar made an instant impact upon his arrival on the black-and-gold brand, winning last year’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament before unmasking and forming Legado del Fantasma alongside Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza.
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However, Devlin also never lost his title after capturing it last January at WWE Worlds Collide. Since returning to action on NXT UK, The Irish Ace has been at the top of his game and willing to prove it on any given day, launching an open challenge initiative. He most recently conquered the likes of Trent Seven and even the much larger “Bomber” Dave Mastiff in a non-title bout.
They’ve exchanged barbs for months, but they finally came face to face on the March 17 edition of NXT, with Devlin deriding Escobar as merely a “fill-in.” Escobar responded by laying down the challenge for this bout, and The Irish Ace answered with a devastating headbutt and the Devlin Side before Wilde and Mendoza could intervene.
A week later, WWE Hall of Famer and Ladder Match pioneer Shawn Michaels symbolically introduced a ladder into the equation, and without a word, both Escobar and Devlin understood exactly what was before them.
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver figures to finally put the controversy surrounding the NXT Cruiserweight Title to rest. But who will ascend to the top?
Watch NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, beginning Wednesday, April 7, on USA Network and continuing Thursday, April 8, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network everywhere else.
Reed looks to capture first championship against Gargano
After surviving a grueling Gauntlet Eliminator, Bronson Reed is one step away from capturing championship gold.
The Colossal Superstar will challenge Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Title on Night 2 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver on Thursday.
Qualifying for the six-man Gauntlet Eliminator with an impressive showing in last week’s Battle Royal on NXT, Reed carried the momentum to the first night of TakeOver. Besides showcasing his trademark power, Reed also showed off impressive endurance going the distance, last eliminating Isaiah “Swerve” Scott with the Tsunami splash after entering third.
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One might think a champion would be licking his chops at the thought of facing a foe one night after such an exhausting test. But Gargano has complained about the “unfair” situation since the moment NXT General Manager William Regal announced the match.
Does Reed have enough left in the tank to knock off Gargano and claim his first title in NXT? Find out on Night 2 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver on Thursday at 8/7 C, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network everywhere else.
Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against The Way
Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon have made it clear they’ll take on all comers as NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, and that includes Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell.
Blackheart & Moon will put their titles on the line against The Way on Night 2 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver on Thursday, April 8, at 8/7 C, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network elsewhere.
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On their history-making run to the finals of the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Blackheart & Moon knocked off LeRae & Hartwell in a barnburner and have remained red-hot since capturing the titles.
But The Way have had their eyes on the gold ever since, and they haven’t been shy about it. They formally issued their challenge after their latest victory, and Blackheart & Moon were more than happy to accept.
Don’t miss NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, beginning with Night 1 on Wednesday, April 7, at 8/7 C on USA Network and continuing with Night 2 on Thursday, April 8, at 8/7 C on Peacock and WWE Network.
The Genius of the Sky defends against “Big Mami Cool”
Io Shirai isn’t waiting for her next challenger to step up. Instead, she’s coming to them.
The Genius of the Sky will defend the NXT Women’s Championship against the dominant Raquel González — her opponent of choice — in the commerical-free main event Night 1 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver on Wednesday, April 7 on USA Network and streaming on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network elsewhere, as first reported by "Muscle & Fitness Hers."
Time and time again, Shirai has soared past the competition, prevailing against the best NXT has to offer. Candice LeRae, Toni Storm, Dakota Kai, Tegan Nox have all failed to knock her from the throne.
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Shirai, not one to rest on her laurels, didn’t celebrate her most recent defense against Storm for long, confronting González later that night and demanding to face “Big Mami Cool.”
Few Superstars, if any, have had a more impressive past year in NXT than González. Bursting onto the scene with her alliance with Dakota Kai, González has racked up accolades in short order. She has defeated former NXT Women’s Champions Rhea Ripley and Ember Moon, and with Kai won the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and were crowned the first-ever NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Will “Big Mami Cool” show that her dominance knows no bounds? Or will Shirai’s genius prove unsolvable once again?
Watch NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, beginning Wednesday, April 7 and continuing Thursday, April 8, streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and on WWE Network everywhere else!
