Who proves they are a contender?

A Gauntlet Eliminator, the tag team tournament, and a showdown of WrenQCC and Fatal Influence, all on one night of NXT!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WrenQCC VS Fatal Influence; WrenQCC wins.
• Thea Hail VS Kelani Jordan; Lani wins.
• NXT North American Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Eliminator: Johnny Gargano wins and will challenge for the title.
• NXT Tag Team Contender’s Tournament Opening Round: Elio LeFleur & Eli Knight ??? VS The Culling; Los Americanos win and advance.
• Tony D’Angelo VS Ricky Saints; Tony wins, by disqualification.

PLAY BY PLAY

Shiloh Hill talks with Robert Stone backstage.

The LFG Season 2 Champion thanks The Interim(?) NXT General Manager for including him in tonight’s Gauntlet Eliminator, this is going to be so much fun. Can he go first? Wait, Shiloh wants to be first? Yeah! Tatum Paxley hurries over and asks what the hell last week! Shiloh’s surprised to see Tatum is back, he thought that fall got her. Tatum asks about Blake Monroe, Stone says yes, that was very disturbing, but he has not seen Blake yet. Tatum says she HAS to find Blake, Blake literally stole Tatum’s title! Shiloh says he might be able to help. He and Tatum scooter away, and then Josh Briggs steps in.

Briggs wants to talk with Stone, and asks how long have they known each other. Stone knows, but then a ref hurries to tell Stone that something’s happening! C’mon! The GM has no choice but to hurry off and address the situation, but will he be back to talk things out with The Man of Mayhem?

WrenQCC VS Fatal Influence!

While Kendal Grey is no longer the WWE Evolve Women’s Champion, Wren Sinclair is the NEW WWE Speed Women’s Champion! And even then, Kendal is aiming for Jacy Jayne and THE NXT Women’s Championship. Will the WrenQCC prove they can Stand & Deliver? Or will Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid handle business on behalf of Jacy Jayne like always?

The teams sort out, and Fallon runs up on Wren! Wren dodges to arm-drag! The fans cheer Wren, but Fallon RAMS her into a corner! Fallon RAMS and stomps Wren down, then CHOKES her in the corner! The ref counts, Fallon backs off, but then she picks Wren up. Wren sunset flips, TWO! Fallon SLAPS Wren, ROCKS her, then pie faces her! The fans boo but Fallon says Wren doesn’t deserve the Speed title! Fallon whips Wren to ropes, but Wren stops herself and BOOTS Fallon! Lainey runs up, Wren trips her with a leg sweep! Then Wren SOBATS Fallon! Wren wrenches, but Fallon ROCKS her! Fallon whips Wren to the corner, ELBOWS her, then tags Lainey.

Fallon sends Lainey in and UPPERCUTS! Lainey snapmares, Fallon SLIDING FOREARMS! Lainey SPLASHES and covers, TWO! The fans rally for Wren as Lainey whips her, but Wren tilt-o-whirl RANAS! Hot tag to Kendal! Kendal BOOTS Lainey, Wren DROPKICKS her at the ropes! Kendal slingshots, Lainey dodges, and Lainey kicks low! Lainey CLUBS Kendal, headlocks and hits the takeover! Wait, we get some picture in picture of what happened backstage, and oh no! The duo of Elio & Eli is down and out! And there’s a chair left behind! Did a certain Chair Man just purge a team from this tag contender’s tournament?

Back in the ring, Kendal fights up, powers up and out, but Wren tags in. They drop, hurdle, and repeat to then DROPKICK Lainey down! Wren jackknife bridges, TWO! Wren hooks arms but Lainey fights up! Lainey ELBOWS Wren, bumps her off buckles, then tags Fallon. Fallon whips Lainey in, but Wren dodges! Fallon runs up but Wren ROCKS her! Wren ROCKS Lainey, but Fallon ROUNDHOUSES! The fans boo but Fallon fireman’s carries. Wren slips free, shoves, and CLOBBERS Fallon! Wren runs to BASEMENT BULLDOG! Then she hots a float-over BUTTERFLY PLEX! The fans fire up, but Fallon ducks a kick to waistlock!

Wren swings but Fallon ducks the elbow! Wren ducks the lariat, waistlocks, but Lainey tags in before the O’Conner Roll! BLOCKBUSTER! Lainey BLASTS Kendal for good measure, and the fans are torn as Fatal Influence has control as NXT goes picture in picture.

Fatal Influence mockingly click their heels, then Lainey CHOKES Wren at the ropes. The ref counts. Lainey stops at 4, then covers, TWO! Lainey ELBOWS Wren in the head, then drops the leg! Lainey then drags Wren up, ROCKS her, then brings her over to bump off buckles. Tag to Fallon, she fires off stomps and sits Wren down. Fallon digs her boots in, but stops at 4 to argue with the ref. Jacy taunts Wren, then Fallon bumps Wren off more buckles. Fallon snapmares Wren to center, pushes her around, and clamps onto the arms. Wren fights the hold but Fallon CLUBS away! Fallon clamps on RINGS OF SATURN!

Wren endures, reaches out, and she tips things over to a cover, TWO! Fallon has a ghost pin, TWO! Fallon LARIATS Wren down, then argues the count. Fallon clamps onto Wren again but with a chinlock. Wren endures as Fallon grinds her down, then fights up. Wren fires body shots, then ROCKS Fallon! And ROCKS her again! Fallon kicks low! Fallon whips Wren to ropes, but Wren stops herself! Fallon blocks the sobat this time, then wrenches, but Wren fires haymakers! Wren reaches out, ROCKS Fallon, and NXT returns to single picture. Fallon whips Wren to the corner, Wren ELBOWS Lainey! And ROCKS Fallon! And repeat!

Fallon blocks boots, puts Wren in the ropes, and tags Lainey. Lainey CLUBS Wren while Fallon runs, SLIDING GERMAN SUPLEX! Lainey steps in, STUNNER! Cover, TWO!! Fatal Influence is furious but Wren is just that tough! Lainey goes for legs, but Wren BOOTS her away! Lainey tries again, Wren kicks and kicks but Lainey YANKS her up! Wren lands on her feet to PELE! The fans fire up while Lainey wobbles! Wren crawls, reaches out, but Lainey anchors a foot. Wren hops, hops, but Lainey ducks the enzigiri! Lainey swings on Kendal but Kendal dodges! Wren BACKDROPS Lainey away! the fans fire up as both women crawl, hot tags to Fallon and Kendal!

The fans fire up as the Icer Woman fires off elbows on Fallon! Then an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY on Lainey! The straps come down, and Kendal SAIDOS Fallon! Then she runs in at the corner, JUMPING DDT! Cover, TWO! Fallon sputters, but she ELBOWS Kendal away. Lainey sneaks a tag before Kendal SUPERKICKS Fallon! Kendal wheelbarrows Fallon, but Fallon holds her up! Lainey helps out, STUN GUN HOTSHOT WHEELBARROW GERMAN SUPLEX WOMBO COMBO!! Fallon BOOTS Wren off the apron, then feeds Kendal to Lainey! Pump handle for the MADE IN ALABAMA!! Cover, WREN BREAKS IT!!

The fans are thunderous as Wren wipes Fallon out to the outside! They both get up, and they DOUBLE LARIAT! Wren and Fallon are down on the outside, Kendal and Lainey rise up. Lainey tries again, but gets a STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! Both women wobble, but Kendal avoids the Southern Hospitali-Knee to SHADOW ELBOW!! Cover, TWO?!? Lainey survives that, but is in the ARMBAR!!! Lainey flails, clasps hands, then stacks Kendal, TWO! Kendal runs up, slips through a scoop, then jumps up for a FLYING ARMBAR!! Lainey tries, but Wren trips Fallon up! FINAL WRENCH ON FALLON!! FATL INFLUENCE TAPS, WRENQCC WINS!!

Winners: WrenQCC, by submission

The game changer, the arm breaker, the history maker, comes out on top for her team! And she gets a mic to say last week, Wren took the Speed title from Fallon. Tonight, Kendal just tapped out Lainey! And at Stand & Deliver, Kendal will take the NXT Women’s Championship from Jacy! But wait! Lola Vice is here! And she tells Kendal that they already talked about this. They do agree that a NEW woman needs to run this division. And they agree that Kendal will have her time. But it wont’ be Stand & Deliver. That day, Lola breaks Jacy’s jaw to finally become the first Cuban-American NXT Women’s Champion!

Robert Stone hurries out here and says hey, look, clearly everyone wants and deserves another opportunity at Jacy. He can’t think of a bigger match for next week in New York than Lola VS Kendal! Two of NXT’s biggest crossover athletes battle, the winner facing Jacy Jayne at Stand & Deliver! The fans love it, but Jacy doesn’t. Who makes it through the roadblock to meet the Toxic Rockstar in St. Louis?

Sol Ruca is here!

The fans cheer the Soul Surfer as she grabs the mic to say, “I’ve been going back and forth, trying to figure out what I was going to say while I was out here. Because honestly, part of me didn’t wanna say anything at all. I have seen and heard everything that Zaria has said on social media and told to anyone that will listen. And clearly, she is not the Zaria that I thought that I knew. And it’s not that I didn’t expect that this would happen. It’s just, I thought we were stronger than this. I replayed everything over and over again, tried to figure out where I lost her. But the truth is, I didn’t. Zaria just decided that I wasn’t worth standing next to anymore.”

The fans boo that but Sol says that baffles her. Sol trusted Zaria, as not just a tag partner but as a best friend. Sol fought for Zaria when no one else did. After every Spear, after every single snarky comment, Sol always gave Zaria the benefit of the doubt. Sol made sure that Zaria’s name meant something. Every time anyone said “Sol Ruca,” Sol made sure they mentioned Zaria, too. Because they were a team! That’s what they were supposed to be! But Zaria never wanted a team, did she? She just wanted her moment. Sol tears up as she says when Zaria couldn’t make her own moment, she took Sol’s instead.

All Sol wanted was to pull Zaria forward. Every chance Sol got, she shared every opportunity that came her way, because she genuinely believed that ZaRuca was better together. SmackDown, Evolution, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships! John Cena’s Last Show! Maybe that’s where Sol went wrong. Maybe she was too naive, too loyal. But Sol genuinely wanted Zaria to shine as much as she did. Sol gave Zaria her spot at the battle royal. Sol vouched for Zaria in the TNA Knockouts Championship match. And Sol even let Zaria defend and lose Sol’s NXT Women’s North American Championship.

The fans are torn, but Sol says when Raw and SmackDown started calling, Sol made sure Zaria would be there, too. Those opportunities wouldn’t have been the same without Zaria. It is clear to Sol that while she was fighting for them, Zaria was just waiting for her chance to make everything about Zaria. That’s fine, that’s fine, because Sol sees Zaria, hears her, and most importantly, she now knows who Zaria really is. So if Zaria thinks she can stand on her own, prove it at Stand & Deliver! That’s what Zaria wants, right? Then come on out and face her! Zaria makes her entrance, mic already in hand.

Zaria says, “You really don’t get it, do you? All I wanted was us. But you wanted your own success more. You didn’t give me anything! And every time I stepped into this ring, I wasn’t Zaria. I was Sol Ruca’s partner. That moment that I speared you and F5’d you, it wasn’t betrayal. That was me taking back everything that you took from me!” the fans are again torn, but Zaria says for the first time, she wasn’t standing in Sol’s shadow. Zaria was standing over Sol, just like Sol stood on her every time! And now Sol wants to take this to Stand & Deliver? That’s fitting, because where it started is where it will end.

And look at Sol, standing there all mad cuz she got hurt, cuz she didn’t win the NXT Women’s Championship. Well, welcome to the club, sunshine! Now you know how it feels! Sol was never going to share anything, and Zaria should’ve realized that the moment Sol kicked Zaria off the ladder last year! Sol chose the title over Zaria! Does Sol understand what that does to someone?! The fans are starting to lean Zaria’s way her, and Zaria says to stand beside the person that has everything that you want, and yet they think they’re giving you something just by letting you be close. Zaria HATED it!

Zaria hated watching Sol succeed, she hated hearing Sol’s name, and she hated the fact that no matter what, she was still going to stand behind Sol. The fans cheer Zaria on as she says she knows Sol thinks Zaria doesn’t care, but… Zaria does. Zaria cares enough to realize that as long as Sol is standing, Zaria will never get to. But shockingly enough, this isn’t about Sol. This is about Zaria finally choosing herself. The fans cheer that! And if breaking Sol is what it takes to become what Sol never let her be, Zaria will do it again! Oh, Sol is the villain here?! How?! Zaria had Sol’s back, just to use it against her!

Zaria treated this like it was a transactional relationship! Zaria gaslit Sol, manipulated her, gave her the silent treatment, just to give Zaria opportunities? The fans start booing, but Sol says she earned her opportunities. And when she didn’t give one to Zaria, Zaria threw it all away, because she’s too insecure to stand beside Sol. No, no, Sol has this all wrong! Sol is not the villain in Zaria’s story, she’s the mistake! The fans seem to be choosing Team Zaria over Team Sol, but who wins out when it is time to fight it out?

Ethan Page & Ricky Saints watch back last week’s episode.

Specifically, it’s Joe Hendry’s double clothesline on them. All Ego says that’s the part to watch because (sarcastically) Ethan thought Ricky had Hendry there. Ricky says he slipped, but he thought (sarcastically) Ethan had him. Well, Ethan will. See?! What’s that supposed to mean!? If Ethan has something to say, he should speak his truth. Ethan says okay, he would like to be NXT Champion. Josh Briggs scoffs at that, but Saints says see, Ethan feels better now, right? The only problem is, Saints is getting Hendry first. Briggs can’t believe they’re complaining about title matches when Briggs can’t even get five minutes with the boss!

Briggs storms off, Ethan says allow him to continue complaining then. Ricky can say he’s getting Hendry all he wants, but Ethan is the one who pinned Joe Hendry. And Hendry steps in! The NXT Champion says if Ricky doesn’t handle Tony D’Angelo tonight, then Hendry will handle Tony at Stand & Deliver. Ricky says there’s no problem with Tony, because Ricky WILL see Hendry at Stand & Deliver. Unless it’s Ethan. Hendry leaves while these two argue, and Ricky says he has Tony where he wants him. Will the Absolute make himself a contender? Or will The Vigilante of NXT prove he still runs this place?

Thea Hail VS Kelani Jordan!

The Grown-Ass Woman is once again standing up for herself, and she looks to take the fight to The Standout who got knocked out in the Underground. Will Thea add a tap-out to the list of losses? Or will we see no one bounces back like Lani?

NXT returns as Thea makes her entrance, sporting a new look. The bell rings, the two tie up, and Thea wrenches. Lani rolls, cartwheels, then wrenches to ROCK Thea! Lani says this is her ring, but Thea hits a THESZ PRESS! The fans fire up as Thea rains down fast hands! Lani shoves Thea away, but then Thea ducks ‘n’ dodges, drops down and hurdles over, only for Lani to YANK her out of the air! Lani rains down fists now, then storms around in a huff. Lani hits a NORTHERN LIGHTS, then covers, TWO! Thea survives but Lani stays on her to talk trash. Lani bumps Thea off buckles, then brings her around to bump off more buckles!

Thea stumbles around but Lani goes back to the other corner. Thea stops the bump to buckle bump Lani again and again! Thea dribbles Lani on all three levels! The fans fire up with Thea, and she runs up to CLOBBER Lani! And CLOBBER her again! Lani flounders, Thea BACK ELBOWS< then ROLLING ELBOWS! Thea clinches but Lani fights with elbows! Thea still hits the EX- NO! Lani slips free and has a dragon sleeper! Lani smirks and wags her finger, but Thea snapmares her down! Thea then has the arm, KIMURA!! Lani endures, pulls hair, then SLAMS Thea down! The fans boo but Lani SOMERSAULT SENTON FLOPS!

Thea runs up and clamps on again! KIMURA!! Lani reaches out, and she RAMS Thea into buckles! The fans rally for Thea but Lani hits an X-FACTOR! Then she goes to the corner to be ONE OF A KIND! Cover, LANI WINS!

Winner: Kelani Jordan, by pinfall

Thea gave Lani a fight, but Lani kept her focus and took out her frustrations in one go. But now she beats up on Thea because she’s still mad! She KICKS Thea, then clamps onto the arm for her SHORT ARM SCISSOR! But Jaida Parker is here! Lani gets up but Jaida BOOTS her! And DECKS her! And she gives Lani a GOURD BUTER, into the HIP- NO! Lani runs away! Miss Parker warned Lani once, will these two finally settle the score?

Jasper Troy speaks.

“Last week was a night for Booker T, for what he has done for this business, for superstars like me, and for the next generation. Booker T’s been like a father figure to me, a mentor, so when you decided to ruin Booker T’s night, Keanu… I had to act. For the first time in your life, someone has brought the fight to you. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing in the Big Apple. New York City, Madison Square Garden, the biggest city in the world, NXT’s best two big men will collide. And I promise, I promise, you’ll regret ever trying to ruin Booker T’s night.” The MonStar has put the One Man Demolition Crew on notice, but who will make it through the roadblock?

Tatum Paxley and Shiloh Hill regroup backstage.

#TuesdayAddams says last time, Shiloh helped her track down Izzi Dame. This time, they’re hunting down Blake Monroe and Tatum’s title. Yeah, Shiloh knows, she said that. But her point is that they need to do it now! Yeah, he already knows where she’s at. W-What does he mean he knows? Well, Blake posted a picture earlier, Shiloh put it in a site that scrubs through the pixel data and spits out a GPS location. He made a tutorial about it. Does she not watch his videos? Uh… She saw the raccoon one. That’s fair. Anyway, Blake is right here. He hands Tatum a note and she says this is great! Wait, isn’t this kinda weird?

Weird? No, what’s weird is posting your life on the internet for everyone to see. There are some real creeps out there. Tatum says he is so right. Okay, she’s gonna go find Blake! Shiloh hears his music, that’s his cue! He’s first up in the Eliminator Gauntlet! Shiloh laughs his way to gorilla, will it be #ToothlessAggression from start to finish? Or did Shiloh overestimate his own abilities in preparing for this opportunity?

NXT North American Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Eliminator!

NXT returns as we learn who faces Shiloh first, and it’s Jackson Drake! The former Evolve Champion is already looking to get a rebound title, will he represent Vanity Project all the way to Stand & Deliver?

The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and Drake headlocks. Shiloh powers up and out, then he RUNS Drake over! Cover, ONE, but Shiloh runs in again. Drake dodges, rolls Shiloh, TWO! Drake ROCKS Shiloh, then turns him, but Shiloh wrenches to ARMBAR DDT! The fans cheer, but Drake FLAPJACKS Shiloh on the ropes! The fans boo but Drake runs corner to corner and DROPKICKS in the corner! Drake mocks the clapping for Shiloh, then stomps away on him! The fans boo but Drake KNEE DROPS! Drake soaks up the heat before he covers, TWO! Shiloh is tougher than that, but Drake drags Shiloh up.

Drake cravats to snapmare Shiloh, then lines up a shot to KICK him in the back! The fans boo Drake but he grins as he stands over Shiloh. Drake stomps Shiloh on the ace, then puts up the V’s for Vanity Project. But Shiloh fires hands, only for Drake to wrench, ELBOW BREAKER, and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Shiloh is still tougher than that, and the clock is ticking. Drake brings Shiloh up, whips him to ropes, then ELBOWS him down! Another cover, TWO! Drake argues the count but the count is fair. Drake storms up on Shiloh but Shiloh FLAPJACKS him in return!

Shiloh scoops Drake to DROP him, then whips him for a scoop and POWERSLAM! The fans fire up as Shiloh then sets up, IMPLODER SENTON! Cover, TWO! Drake survives, he’s also tougher than that, but Shiloh whips him to the corner. Shiloh runs up and ELBOWS Drake down! Cover, TWO! The countdown is here, and next one in is… Dion Lennox! He rushes the ring, ducks Shiloh and LARIATS Drake! Then he ELBOWS Shiloh! Dion RAMS Drake in a corner, RAMS Shiloh in the other, then he NORTHERN LIGHTS Shiloh away! Drake staggers into Dion’s whip, SPINEBUSTER! Dion fires up as NXT goes picture in picture.

Dion storms around, talks trash, and he hauls Shiloh up. Dion scoops Shiloh but Shiloh slips free and ROCKS him! Dion ROCKS Shiloh back! They go haymaker for haymaker, then Shiloh ducks, only for DOUBLE LARIATS to take them both down! Drake covers Dion, TWO! Drake is frustrated but he throws Dion into Shiloh, then NECKBREAKER DDT COMBOS! STANDING SHOOTING STAR on Shiloh, TWO! Drake is frustrated again as Shiloh goes to a corner. Drake stays on Dion and ROCKS him. Drake runs to HP ATTACK Dion against the ropes! Drake is feeling good, and he rains down fists on Dion!

Dion gets up to fire body shots in return, but Drake ROCKS him with a right! Drake stomps Dion in the corner, CHOKES him with a boot, but steps off so he can do the same to Shiloh. Drake talks smack, but Shiloh TACKLES him! Shiloh rains down shots, but Drake gets up to throat chop! Drake then stomps Shiloh out of the ring so he can focus on Dion, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect for “Dr. Thirst,” but the countdown is back! And next out is… Charlie Dempsey! Birthright sees him out to the ring, will the Son of the Gentlemanly Villain make his father proud?

Drake DECKS Dion, but Dempsey DECKS DRAKE! Shiloh is up but Dempsey wrenches to UPPERCUT, then SAIDO! Dempsey dodges Dion to reel him in, GERMAN SUPLEX! Dempsey then clinches and swings Drake for a BACKBREAKER! Dempsey is fired up as he UPPERCUTS Dion to the apron. NXT returns to single picture as Dempsey has Dion in the ropes, CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING! But Drake has Dempsey for a SLEEPER! Shiloh has Drake for a SLEEPER! The fans cheer this chain of holds, but Dion pries free to TRIPLE HOTSHOT! The fans fire up as everyone stumbles away, allowing Dion to get back in.

Shiloh scoops and SLAMS Dempsey, then he scoops and SLAMS Dion next to him! Then a scopo and DROP for Drake onto everyone else! TRIPLE COVER, TWO!! Shiloh keeps going, fireman’s carry for Drake. But Dempsey BOOTS Shiloh! Dempsey trips Shiloh, ties up the legs, and he has the MUDA LOCK! The fans rally, but Drake rolls to then DOUBLE STOMP Dempsey! The fans rally as Dempsey and Drake stand. Dempsey UPPERCUTS, Drake fires a forearm, and repeat! Dion whips Shiloh through barriers! The fans lose their minds seeing that, but Dion is seething. Drake slips around to waistlock but Dempsey switches.

The fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” for making this match, and Dion gets Dempsey! DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX! All four men are down around ringside and the clock is ticking! “This is Awesome!” as all four men slowly rise. Dion ROCKS Dempsey, Dempsey ROCKS Dion, and the final countdown is here! The fifth and final entrant is… Wait, who is that on the mic? Candice LeRae?! She apologizes for this, because she has tried everything to snap Johnny Gargano out of his funk. The fans are cheering, and Candice says the one thing she hasn’t tried is this one thing, or rather a place. The place they call home! The place where he built his name!

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s final entrant for the Gauntlet Eliminator: JOHNNY WRESTLING!! The fans are all fired up now, but where is he? Candice still has to push Gargano out from backstage, and that energy is revitalizing him! Gargano’s back again, but can he go from down in the dumps to high on the mountaintop? Gargano steps inside, but Drake BOOTS him right down! The fans boo as Drake talks trash, but Dion gets Drake with a SLINGSHOT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Drake survives but Dempsey UPPERCUTS Dion! And UPPERCUTS again! Dion blocks a shot but Dempsey gets Dion in a TRIANGLE HOLD!

The fans rally as hard as they can for Johnny Wrestling while Dion deadlifts and POWERBOMBS Dempsey! Those two are down, Drake DROPKICKS them out of the ring! The fans rally as OTM ATTACKS DION! The fans fire up as Price & Nima mug Dion, then put him down for a CURB STOMP on barrier wreckage!! The fans fire up as OTM feeds Dion to Shiloh! Drake says yeah, do it! POP-UP NECKBREAKER! Cover, Shiloh ELIMINATES Dion! The fans fire up as there’s finally some progress in this match! Shiloh TOSSES Drake out, then NXT goes back to picture in picture.

Shiloh goes outside, sees Gargano slumped on the apron, and isn’t even sure if he’s alive. Shiloh pushes Gargano in, and Gargano rolls and rolls and rolls, all the way to the other side! Dempsey shoves Gargano back in, but Gargano just rolls to the third side. Drake shoves Gargano in and Gargano just goes to the open side! Candice is there to help her husband, and Drake BLASTS Shiloh! Dempsey SHOVES Drake aside so he can stomp away on Shiloh! Drake is okay with that, and they agree to work together. The fans rally for Gargano while Drake and Dempsey mug Shiloh. Dempsey then goes out to UPPERCUT Gargano!

Gargano stumbles, and now he slumps onto the barriers for his depression planking. Dempsey leaves him alone so he and Drake can double whip Shiloh. Shiloh DOUBLE LARIATS in return! Cover on Drake, TWO! Dempsey cradles Shiloh, TWO! Dempsey RAMS low, wrenches and KNEES Shiloh down, then covers, TWO! Candice coaches Gargano while Dempsey cravats Shiloh. Drake rolls Dempsey into a headscissor! Dempsey bridges back but Drake CLUBS him down. The fans rally for Gargano more as Dempsey gets Drake in a HEEL HOOK! Drake flails, reaches out, kicks at Dempsey, but Shiloh drops a knee on Drake! Shiloh gets the other leg, DOUBLE HEEL HOOK!

Drake endures, flails, but he’s stuck! Gargano finally stands back up, and the fans cheering him on is slowly giving him energy. Gargano takes it one step at a time quite literally, and Drake is somehow still holding out! Shiloh BLASTS Gargano, then goes back to Drake for the HEEL HOOK! Drake endures, NXT returns to single picture, and now Dempsey and Shiloh trade CHOPS! Shiloh floats to rain down fists on Dempsey! Drake is spared while Shiloh and Dempsey scrap out of the ring. Shiloh UPPERCUTS, Dempsey ROCKS Shiloh, and Drake FLIES to wipe them out! The fans fire up with the Carolina Reaper as he manages to stand up.

Drake puts Shiloh in the ring, “This is Awesome!” as Drake hits a 450 SPLASH on Shiloh! Cover, TWO!! Shiloh survives, Drake is freaking out, but the fans are loving it! Dempsey CHOP BLOCKS Drake, GERMAN SUPLEXES, but Drake lands out! Drake ENZIGIRIS Dempsey, then LARIATS him up and out! Drake builds speed, LOW-PE SUICIDA on Dempsey! Then a kip up! Drake GAMANGIRIS Shiloh, then runs up, but Shiloh dodges! Shiloh ducks a kick, back suplexes, but Drake lands out! Drake shoves Shiloh, dodge shim, then handsprings, but into the POP-UP NECKBREAKER! Cover, Shiloh ELIMINATES Drake!!

The fans fire up as Shiloh has cleared out two contenders! But now Dempsey hammerlocks Shiloh’s arm and fires off forearms and body shots! Dempsey ELBOWS away on Shiloh, pushes him over and covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A deep cover, TWO!! Shiloh survives and the fans fire up again. Candice still coaches Gargano, but Shiloh fires forearms on Dempsey. Shiloh whips, Dempsey reverses and NORTHERN LIGHTS! Then a roll through and BUTTERFLY PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Dempsey grows frustrated but Birthright still coaches him from ringside. Dempsey stands Shiloh up, but Shiloh fights the suplex to hit a takeover!

Shiloh avoids a lariat, POP-UP NECKBREAKER!! Cover, SHILOH ELIMINATES DEMPSEY! That’s three, but Birthright drags Shiloh out and THROWS him into steel steps! The fans boo but Dempsey adds on with a GERMAN SUPELX to the floor! The fans boo, the ref reprimands but now Shiloh is fed into the ring for Gargano! The fans cheer Gargano, it is now or never! Candice just SHOVES Gargano down onto the cover! GARGANO WINS!!

Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT North American Championship)

Well, that’s one way to win a match! Gargano is shocked, but sometimes you really do just fall into success. Myles Borne is here, and he looks Gargano in the eyes. Myles holds up the title, will he be ready to Stand & Deliver with a pillar of NXT? Or will Johnny Wrestling not only return, but become a historic FOUR-TIME North American Champion?

Swipe Right talks with Robert Stone.

They wanna know why Drake had to go so early in the eliminator. And what’s gonna happen with Elio & Eli? Stone says he has a team on standby, so- Briggs steps in and asks if they can finally talk, and Stone says yes, after this. But then another ref hurries in and says Stone needs to handle something. Stone apologizes to everyone about this, but he dismisses Swipe Right and Briggs. The ref says after last week, no one on the referee squad wants to officiate Keanu Carver VS Jasper Troy. Stone knows those guys are big and bad, and there will be fines and suspensions if a ref is physically assaulted.

The ref says that’s great and all, but it’s not enough! Keanu is out of control! Stone says he’ll figure this out, okay? He appreciates them coming to him about it, though. And now Jaida Parker walks in, saying she’s about to dog walk Lani. She acting all big and bad but no one is buying it. Stone knows Jaida. Yes, and he knows she wants a match with Lani. How about next week at MSG? Oh, he read her mind! They shake on it, and Miss Parker heads out. Will Jaida make sure to humble Lani in the world’s most famous arena?

Backstage interview with OTM.

Sarah Schreiber is with Lucien Price & Bronco Nima and brings up how they just cost Dion Lennox his opportunity at the NXT North American Championship. Yeah, but that was interest on the debt that DarkState started in Houston! Three on two! OTM doesn’t forget, they just collect. Sarah brings up that this goes beyond last week. There was the brawl in the parking lot alongside Tony D. Aren’t they worried about retaliation? Nima says they told DarkState since day one that you can’t take a shot on OTM and walk away like nothing happened. DarkState made it personal, but OTM makes it official!

OTM talked with Robert Stone, and next week, a Six Man Tag, where the lights don’t stop shining, New York City! Then who is their third man? Price & Nima know they don’t have many friends, but they got somebody who’ll rock with OTM. Nima says they’re bringing someone who doesn’t play, cuz he’s from NYC! And on the TV screen behind them, it’s MIKE SANTANA! “Yo, NXT! What’s good? When you step into the Rotten Apple, you always make sure to tap in with the realest. So when OTM put in the call, you know I was more than happy to answer it. Hey yo, DarkState. Y’all felt these hands before, but never like this.

“You’re now dealing with a deadly combination of savages, surrounded by a concrete jungle. And lemme give you boys a little reminder. This is the infamous theater, this is Madison Square Garden! So when y’all step off that plane, before you exit the airport, make sure to wipe your feet and pay your respects, cuz you’re stepping into Papi’s home. I’ll see y’all next week. Let’s get it.” The Boricua Badass is joining forces with OTM, will they make sure DarkState doesn’t leave the Empire State?

NXT Tag Team Contender’s Tournament Opening Round: ??? VS The Culling!

Whether or not Eli Knight & Elio LeFleur were attacked by Shawn Spears & Niko Vance is yet to be determined, but the show must go on. Stone said he had a team on standby, but who will get the opportunity of a lifetime in this tag team tournament? And will it not matter after the Chair Man and his right hand man get through with them?

NXT returns, and the team tagging in for this tournament is… LOS AMERICANOS! The fans fire up as Bravo y Rayo look to take NXT by storm! Will they prove they can Stand & Deliver, even on short notice?

The teams sort out and Bravo starts against Spears. They circle, feel things out, and the fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” Bravo and Spears tie up, Spears wrenches, and he wristlocks. Bravo rolls, handsprings, and wrenches back. Spears rolls, kips up, and wrenches to THROW Bravo down by his mask. Bravo kips up, and kips, and kips, and kips again! Bravo arm-drags Spears away, then poses. The fans cheer as Bravo gets that salsa going. Spears kicks low, then wrenches and spins Bravo to snapmare, and he cartwheels! TEN! Spears shows off the dancing glutes and the fans can’t believe it! Bravo runs, tilt-o-whirls, and RANAS!

Bravo poses, and he does his dance! Then he basement DROPKICKS! Bravo drags Spears over, tags Rayo, but Spears gets away to tag Niko. The fans cheer “SI! SI! SI!” Los Americanos fire off on Niko with SOBAT, KICK, and CHOP! They throw hands, then double whip, but Niko blocks! Niko double whips, then hurdles them both!? DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans boo but Niko is showing why he’s the X-Factor! Niko stands Rayo up, knuckle locks, and he powers Rayo down. Rayo CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, but Niko puts on the pressure! Rayo ROCKS Niko, but Niko KNEES low! Niko whips, Rayo Spider-Man’s in the ropes!

Niko runs up, Rayo rolls him up, TWO! Niko CLOBBERS Rayo! The fans boo but Niko reels Rayo in for a fireman’s carry. Rayo slips free, shoves Niko to ropes, and Bravo tags in. Niko bucks the O’Conner, but Rayo dodges! DOUBLE KICK, DOUBLE KICK, and DOUBLE ENZIGIRI! Niko falls, Spears runs in, but Los Americanos dodge to DOUBLE FLYING HEADBUTT! Los Americanos pose, then they go to the ropes! PLANCHA from Bravo to Spears and Spears is down! Rayo PLANCHAS onto Niko, but is caught! Niko powers up again, but Bravo DIVES and sends Niko into the desk! The fans fire up for Los Americanos and they salsa while NXT goes picture in picture.

Niko rolls in but Bravo UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And then scoops! But Niko fires elbows, then scoops Bravo for a SLAM! Tag to Spears, he puts Bravo in a corner, and he CHOPS! Spears seethes, then he winds up, only for Bravo to dodge! Bravo CHOPS Spears, then climbs up to rain down fists! He goes rapido all the way to nueve, then winds up for DIEZ! Bravo lets Spears stumble and fall, then he drags Spears over to the corner. Bravo snapmares Spears down, tags Rayo, and Rayo slingshot SENTONS! Rayo keeps the fans fired up, then he trips Spears to tag Bravo. CATAPULT into a forearm! Spears falls back onto knees, then Bravo slingshot SENTONS on top!

Bravo watches Spears as he goes to a corner, then runs in, only for Spears to TOSS him out of the ring! Spears flounders along the ropes, tags Niko, and Niko FLYING STOMPS Bravo down! Niko stalks Bravo, RAMS him into the apron, then RAMS him again and again! Then APRON BACK SUPLEX! Niko shoves Bravo into the ring, then drags him up to whip to a corner. Bravo hits buckles hard and he falls back. Niko stomps Bravo, drags him up, and GUT WRENCH GUTBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Bravo survives but Niko stays on him. Niko RAMS Bravo into the corner, then puts him up top. Niko ROCKS Bravo, tags Spears, and Spears ROCKS Bravo!

Bravo fires hands on The Culling in return! But Spears fires hands on Bravo! NXT returns to single picture as Spears RIPS at the mask! The fans boo but Bravo fights Spears off! Spears staggers away, Bravo CROSSBODIES him down! The fans fire up while both men crawl, hot tags to Rayo and Niko! Rayo goes up, and he SEATED SENTONS Niko! Then Rayo GAMANGIRIS Spears! And SHOTGUNS Niko! Rayo METEORAS Spears in the corner! Then QUEBRADA on Niko! Cover, TWO!! Niko survives but Rayo tags Bravo! SUPERKICK on Niko, then Rayo hooks Niko up. Bravo leaps, but Niko catches him!? URENAGE DDT COMBO!

The fans are torn but Niko is showing his full power! GUT WRENCH- NO, Bravo slips free to ENZIGIRI! Bravo scoops Niko, and he SLAMS Niko down! Bravo then dodges Spears, and he torture racks him! The fans fire up as the airplane spin starts up! But Niko stops it?! Niko shoves it the other way, and he BOOTS Bravo down! The fans boo but Niko goes up top! Niko DIVING HEADBUTT FLOPS as Rayo gets Bravo out of the way! And wait, he sneaks the metal plate to Bravo?! Rayo distracts the ref while Bravo loads up that mask! Niko crawls, Spears tags in, and Spears runs up! SUPERKICK! Then he THROWS Bravo into Rayo!

Spears fireman’s carries Bravo for a C4!! Cover, TWO?!? Bravo survives and that shocks Spears! Wait, Rayo brings out a metal plate of his own! Spears fireman’s carries Bravo, Bravo slips free, but Spears switches with him! O’Conner Roll, TWO, and Rayo LOADED HEADBUTTS Spears!! Then Bravo LOADED HEADBUTTS Niko! LOADED HEADBUTT on Spears again!! Cover, LOS AMERICANOS WIN!

Winners: Los Americanos, by pinfall (advance to the finals)

As Booker T might say, if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t trying! But will Los Americanos soon bring that same energy to St. Louis? Or will Dempsey & Uriah make sure they claim their birthright at Stand & Deliver?

Robert Stone talks with Keanu Carver.

The GM tries to get Keanu to understand, but Keanu says no, he heard what Jasper had to say. Keanu will smash Jasper’s face in at the Garden! Stone knows that, but there’s no ref willing to be part of this! Keanu says he doesn’t need a ref. But that’s not how this works! Ain’t Keanu’s fault they’re all scared, just tell ’em to man up. Well, match or not, Keanu will be fined. What?! Briggs then steps in and says he might not be able to get any of Stone’s time, but he knows someone who can referee next week: BRIGGS. If this is how Briggs has to get to MSG, he’ll do it. And he can handle this? Yes, he can control this situation. They don’t scare Briggs.

Briggs tells Keanu that he does not scare Briggs. Oh, is that so? Stone says fine, if Briggs thinks he can handle it, then he will be the special guest referee. Briggs tells Keanu he’ll see him in NYC. Keanu and Jasper will get to battle it out, but will Briggs be able to lay down the law? Or will it be more like a kaiju battle inside Madison Square Garden?

Blake Monroe has herself a soak.

The Glamour sighs as she is in her bubble bath, and she tells the NXT Women’s North American Championship belt that she was so lonely taking baths without it. But it feels so right to be reunited with her title. After all, she never lost it in the first place. Knock knock! Is that room service already? Blake excitedly gets up and out, and goes to the door (in a robe), only for it to be TATUM! Tatum grabs at Blake and says she has something that belongs to her! Next week, it’ll be them 1v1 with no door in between them! And bring Tatum’s belt. Tatum laughs as she leaves Blake in terror. Will Blake get a reality check in MSG?

Sexyy Red speaks.

“What up? It’s your favorite hood princess, Sexyy Effin’ Red. I can’t wait for Stand & Deliver in my hometown, April 4th. But next week in NYC, that’s the real test. Lola VS Kendal, the tag finals, and Keanu VS Jasper. It’s going up! See you in St. Louis!”

Tony D’Angelo VS Ricky Saints!

The man who was once Don of NXT has gone to a dark place thanks to DarkState, but now he sees light at the end of the tunnel in the form of an NXT Championship match at Stand & Deliver. That is, if he can make it there. Will Tony D be one step away from the mountaintop after tonight? Or will The Absolute make sure no one, and he means no one, gets that shot at Joe Hendry but him?

The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally for Tony but Saints offers a handshake. Tony doesn’t trust it, and he blocks the cheap shot! Saints hops around, makes it to the ROPEBREAK, and the ref counts. Tony lets Saints go at 4 and Saints hops away to a corner. Ethan Page coaches Saints on as he and Tony reset. Saints slides but Tony stops the takedown with a facelock. Saints wrenches free to facelock back but Tony returns the favor. They move around, waistlock, facelock, then Tony powers Saints down. The fans rally as the two trade facelocks again, and Tony powers up to waistlock. Tony wrangles Saints to the mat for a bridging cover, TWO!

Tony holds onto Saints, Saints fights up, but Tony facelocks. Saints goes for a leg but Tony just brings Saints down with him. Saints floats to a waistlock but Tony rolls free. Tony gets under Saints to then RUNNING SLAM! The fans fire up while Saints bails out! Ethan hurries to coach Saints up again, and they go around the way. Saints stumbles over the steps, but here comes Tony! Tony blocks a kick from Saints, clinches, but Saints fires hands! Saints is free, then he runs up on Tony, only for Tony to gorilla press him! The fans fire up as Tony THROWS Saints into the ring! Ethan shouts at Tony, and that lets Saints come back with a DROPKICK!

Ethan laughs at Tony, then Saints aims from the apron. Saints CROSSBODIES, but Tony catches him! Saints panics, but he slips free and RAMS Tony into steel steps! Ethan and Saints celebrate that small victory while NXT goes picture in picture.

Saints DRIBBLES Tony off the steel steps, then drags Tony into the ring. Saints ROCKS Tony with a right hand, then CLUBS away on him! Saints CHOPS Tony to a corner, then CHOPS him again. Saints stomps and throws hands, but Tony DECKS Saints! And SMACKS him around! Tony storms up on Saints in a corner to CHOP! And CHOP! Tony whips Saints corner to corner, then runs in, but Saints dodges to POST Tony! Saints then brings Tony around to YANK the bad arm, kick low, and ARMBAR CODE BREAKER! Tony staggers around buy Saints kicks him around. Saints BODY SHOTS Tony, then wrenches the bad arm.

Saints goes up the corner, walks the tightrope, and OLD SCHOOL AX HANDLES! Saints hits the pose, Ethan soaks up heat, but Tony fires hands in return! Tony ROCKS Saints and has him in the corner. Tony LARIATS again and again, then winds up, only for Saints to BOOT the arm! Saints then hits an ARMBAR DDT! Cover, TWO! Tony is tougher than that but Saints KNEE DROPS on the arm! And KNEE DROPS again! Cover, TWO! Saints laughs it off while he clamps onto Tony with a chinlock. Tony endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture. Saints wrangles Tony back down but the fans chant, “RICKY SUCKS!”

Tony fights up, RAMS Saints into a corner, but Saints clamps on for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Tony is tougher than that but Saints brings him up. Saints whips Tony to ropes, then has him in another SLEEPER! The fans rally as Tony powers up again, and he claws at the hold. Tony snapmares free, dodges a boot, then he manages the OLYMPIC SLAM! The fans rally while both men rise up again, and Tony gets moving. Ethan trips Tony up! The fans boo but the ref missed it! Tony hits the REVOLUTION- NO! Tony stops the Revolution DDT and suplexes Saints high and hard! The fans fire up while Ethan panics!

Tony goes to a corner, waits on Saints, but Saints SHOTGUNS first! Tony is down, Saints adds another DROPKICK! The fans boo but Ethan says finish it! Saints reels Tony in, lifts him up, ROSHAM- NO! Tony slips free, but Saints ducks ‘n’ dodges to SPEAR! Cover, TWO! Ethan seethes, Saints seethes, but the fans rally for Tony. Saints brings Tony up, whips him hard into a corner, and Tony slumps down. The fans rally for Tony but Saints stomps him down. Saints whips Tony hard into the other corner! Saints CHOPS Tony, then shouts, “Not in my house!” Saints snapmares Tony, then KICKS him in the back! And KICKS him again!

Tony huffs ‘n’ puffs as Saints kicks him around. Tony gets up, the fans fire up, and Tony roars! Saints SLAPS Tony, but Tony SLAPS Saints! Tony whips Saints and LARIATS! Saints goes to a corner, Tony runs in and LARIATS! Then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Tony whips Saints to a corner and SPLASHES, to then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY again! Saints flounders, Tony runs up, SPEAR on Saints! Ethan gets on the apron but Tony BLASTS him, too! The fans fire up as Tony has Saints up, but ETHAN CHOP BLOCKS TONY!

Winner: Tony D’Angelo, by disqualification

The fans boo but Ethan hands Tony the win here! Ethan and Saints beat up on Tony, and then they haul Tony up. Saints climbs a corner, but JOE HENDRY is here! he trips Saints on the corner, then fires hands on Ethan! The fans fire up as Hendry DECKS Ethan, DECKS Saints, then scoops Ethan to FALL AWAY SLAM! Hendry kips up, then he LARIATS Saints up and out! And now, Hendry has Tony! STANDING OVATION!! The fans fire up as The Prestigious NXT Champion stands tall! But Saints and Ethan each have a hand on the title. They both want it, but only one man can have it. Will it take a fight of all four to finally settle the score?

Backstage interview with Robert Stone.

Sarah Schreiber is with the NXT GM and says with less than two weeks left before Stand & Deliver, and given what we just saw, what can he tell us about that NXT Championship match? Stone says it was a chaotic night from start to finish, but after what we saw in tonight’s main event, the Stand & Deliver main event will be Joe Hendry defending his NXT Championship against Ethan Page, Ricky Saints AND Tony D in a Fatal 4 Way! Next week, we sign on the dotted line live from NYC. It will be a big night in the Big Apple, but who will be ready for the fight in St. Louis?

My Thoughts:

A great NXT as a penultimate go-home, because MSG is still going to be a big night despite no longer being billed as Roadblock 2026. I mean, they could still do that since there are some last minute contenders matches for it, such as Lola Vice VS Kendal Grey and the tag team tournament finals. Elio & Eli being taken out of this might be a weird pivot to capitalize on Los Americanos starting to get over stateside. Los Americanos VS Culling was good stuff, and Los Americanos VS Birthright will be a great match, too. Swipe Right being the champs and still firmly Heel, I would think Los Americanos wins to face them at Stand & Deliver, but it’d make more sense in story for Birthright to get this opportunity.

Really good tag match of WrenQCC VS Fatal Influence, but naturally Kendal & Wren won to keep that momentum from Houston. Lola VS Kendal will be great, but part of me feels like Fatal Influence tries to ruin it, only for it to backfire in the form of a Triple Threat for Stand & Deliver. Saints VS Tony was also a very good main event, but Ethan getting involved definitely tipped NXT’s hand. Fatal 4 Way for THE NXT Championship, that is going to be great stuff, and I feel like that’s an easy way to get the title on Tony. Tony will become a Triple Crown Winner, and technically a Grand Slam Winner, and the story can go any which way they want from there.

Kelani VS Thea was good stuff, but maybe a little quick. Though naturally Lani and Jaida set up their own match, that’ll be good stuff. Here’s hoping Thea gets to do more after Stand & Deliver. Great promo from Jasper Troy, and good response from Keanu Carver. Briggs getting in as the special guest ref is an interesting choice, but maybe it’s a bit of worked shoot where Briggs just wants to be doing anything right now so he can be on TV in MSG. Hard to say who wins out, though, but it’ll be a great match. Great promos from Shiloh and Tatum, they have great chemistry as the oddballs of NXT. Tatum snatching Blake in her hotel room is great, they’ll have a very good match, but who knows how it goes.

As for Shiloh, he did amazing in that Gauntlet Eliminator, and I love that the Gargano-Candice default is to return to NXT. OTM stopping Dion from winning was also a good detail, and that Six Man Tag with Santana & OTM VS DarkState will be a lot of fun. Shiloh getting beat down by Birthright works as a way to keep him strong in defeat, and it was honestly hilarious for Gargano to win having only taken damage the entire match. Gargano VS Myles will be great stuff, but I would think this is Gargano putting Myles over as the new generation.

My Score: 8.8/10