The John Report: WWE NXT 03/24/26 Review
This week’s WWE NXT features Tony D’Angelo facing Ricky Saints, Thea Hail in action against Kelani Jordan, and more.
The NXT brand is building to Stand & Deliver on April 4th, and there isn’t much announced for that show, so I expect several matches to be made official this week. Last week on NXT saw Jacy Jayne retain her NXT Women’s Title while Tatum Paxley held onto her NXT Women’s North American Title. There was one title change as Wren Sinclair captured the Women’s Speed Title.
They were at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando for this week’s show. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport and check out my NXT TV review archive. Let’s get to it.
A video package was shown of highlights from last week’s NXT episode in Houston.
The NXT GM Robert Stone was talking to Shiloh Hill, who wants to go first in the Gauntlet Match. Tatum Paxley walked up to Stone, asking where Blake Monroe is because she stole the NXT Women’s North American Title. Josh Briggs approached Stone, but a referee told Stone he needed to come see something.
It was Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer.
Fatal Influence – Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid (w/Jacy Jayne) vs. Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey
Henley and Wren started off with Wren hitting a kick to the ribs, but Henley fired back with a forearm. Reid splashed Wren and hit an elbow drop. When Wren broke free, Grey tagged in, and she hit a dropkick while Wren got a pin attempt. The team of Elio Lefleur and Eli Knight were shown down on the ground and injured in the backstage area. Henley was back in with a kick. Wren had Henley rolled up for a pin, but Reid got the tag with a neckbreaker. They went on a break for some fans as the action continued with the heels in control for a few minutes.
The heels were in control as usual coming out of a break. Wren was able to counter Reid and hit a jumping kick to the head. Wren hit a back body drop and Grey got the hot tag against Henley. Grey hit two elbows, along with a belly-to-belly suplex. Grey hit an overhead suplex and a DDT off the turnbuckle for two. Henley and Reid did a double team move as Henley hit a suplex of sorts. Reid hit a backbreaker on Grey, but Wren made the save by tackling Henley onto the pin. Wren and Henley did a double clothesline on the floor. Grey countered Reid with a Stunner-like move. Grey hit a spinning back elbow to the jaw for a two count. Good nearfall there. Grey went for an armbar on the left arm, and Wren tied up Henley with the Final Wrench. Grey’s armbar on Reid’s left arm led to the tapout win for Grey. It went about 10 minutes.
Winners by submission: Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey
Analysis: ***1/4 A good tag team match with the babyfaces winning clean. Even though Grey and Reid are very early in their careers, they are very talented and looked polished out there. Wren and Henley are solid pros who are always in the right spots. Grey being put over cleanly was the right call here.
After the match, Kendal Grey said that last week, Wren took the Speed Title from Fallon Henley. Grey said that she just tapped out Lainey Reid, and then at Stand & Deliver, Kendal Grey will win the NXT Women’s Title.
Lola Vice walked out with the AAA Mixed Tag Team Title. Vice said that she’s going to break Jacy Jayne’s jaw and become the first Cuban-American NXT Women’s Champion.
The NXT Interim GM, Robert Stone, announced that Lola Vice will face Kendal Grey next week on NXT. The winner will face Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Title at Stand & Deliver.
Analysis: I think Kendal Grey should beat Lola Vice, and I want Grey to beat Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Title, too. Vice has been in NXT longer, though, so they might have her beat Grey and win the title. Either way, I see Jayne losing at Stand & Deliver.
Sol Ruca was shown walking backstage for a promo after the break.
A commercial aired promoting WrestleMania 42 and the Roman Reigns-CM Punk match.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Sol Ruca…and Zaria
Sol Ruca was in the ring doing a promo, saying she was wondering when she lost Zaria as a friend. Ruca said that she trusted Zaria as a tag team partner and her best friend. Ruca claimed that she fought for Zaria after no one else would. Ruca said she made sure that whenever her name was mentioned, she made sure people mentioned Zaria too. Ruca claimed that Zaria didn’t want a team, she wanted her own moment. Ruca claimed she wanted to pull Zaria forward and believed they were better together. Ruca admitted maybe she was too naïve and too loyal. Ruca said she wanted Zaria to shine, she gave Zaria a spot in a battle royal and vouched for her in a TNA match. Ruca also mentioned Zaria lost the match to cost Ruca the NXT Women’s North American Title match. Ruca kept on talking about how she was fighting for them, and Zaria was waiting for the opportunity to make everything about herself. Ruca said she sees Zaria, hears Zaria, and knows she knows who Zaria really is. Ruca said if Zaria can prove she can stand on her own, then prove it at Stand & Deliver.
Zaria finally showed up to say Zaria doesn’t get it. Zaria said she wanted “us” but Ruca wanted her own success more. Zaria said she wasn’t Zaria, she was Sol Ruca’s partner. Zaria had on giant heels on so she looked really tall in the ring. Zaria said she attacked Ruca because she wasn’t in Ruca’s shadow. Zaria noted that Stand & Deliver is where it started, and that’s where it will end. Zaria said Ruca is mad because she got hurt, and didn’t win the NXT Women’s Championship. Zaria said now you know how she feels. Zaria told Ruca she was never going to share anything. Zaria said she hated watching Ruca succeed, hated hearing Ruca’s name and no matter what, Zaria was going to stand behind you. Zaria said she knows that Ruca thinks Zaria doesn’t care, but Zaria said she cares. Zaria said, as long as Ruca is standing, Zaria is never going to be standing. Zaria said this isn’t about Ruca because it’s about Zaria finally choosing herself. The fans cheered. Ruca said you think Zaria is the villain in your story. Ruca said Zaria was too insecure to stand beside her. Zaria said that Ruca is not the villain in her story – Ruca is the mistake. Zaria left.
Analysis: There’s the official friendship divorce promo to set up the match at Stand & Deliver. It’s interesting how the fans sided with Zaria even though Zaria is the heel who turned on her babyface best friend, Ruca, in the story. The fans don’t seem to see it that way. Anyway, I think Ruca is likely going to be on the main roster after WrestleMania, so the best thing might be for Zaria to win the match at Stand & Deliver and build up Zaria for a title run later in the year.
Ethan Page and Ricky Saints spoke in the locker room, with Page saying he wants to be the NXT Champion. Ricky said that he wants Joe Hendry at Stand & Deliver. Josh Brigges was there, said they are complaining about titles, and he can’t get five minutes with their boss. The NXT Champion Joe Hendry walked in to say that if Ricky doesn’t take care of Tony D’Angelo, then Joe will do it. Ethan and Ricky both said they are going after Joe’s NXT Title. Joe left while Ethan and Ricky kept arguing.
Kelani Jordan made her entrance for singles action.
(Commercial)
Thea Hail vs. Kelani Jordan
They are skipping the entrances of some wrestlers and getting right to the action and promos this week. It was Jordan in control early on in the match. Hail went for a Kimura Lock two different times, but Jordan was able to counter it. Jordan sent Hail face first into the turnbuckle. Jordan hit a sitout facebuster. Jordan hit her One of a Kind split-legged moonsault for the pinfall win after about 3 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kelani Jordan
Analysis: *1/2 I didn’t expect such a short match. I feel bad for Thea Hail, who could be utilized a lot better. It gives Jordan a dominant win, but I just thought it would be more than that.
Post match, Kelani Jordan attacked Thea Hail with punches. Jordan applied an armbar on Hail. Jaida Parker made the save and hit a suplex on Jordan. Parker wanted to do more, but Jordan bailed to the floor.
Analysis: I liked Jaida Parker’s feud with Blake Monroe, but Blake lost the feud. Kelani Jordan also lost her feud with Lola Vice as well, so now they are feuding with eachother. I’m okay with it because I like the performers. It’s just one of those things where it feels like some of these characters are going in circles and matched up with different people.
An NXT Spotlight video aired about Jasper Troy talking about Booker T being a father figure to him. Troy talked about Keanu Carver ruining Booker’s ceremony last week, and Troy promises to make Carver regret what he did.
Tatum Paxley spoke to Shiloh Hill, who claimed he found the location of Blake Monroe. Hill handed her a sheet of paper with info on where Blake is. Hill left for his match.
(Commercial)
NXT North American Championship #1 Gauntlet Eliminator Match
It started with Shiloh Hill and Jackson Drake as the first two men in this match, which will have five wrestlers involved. Every three minutes, a new wrestler will be added to the match.
Drake was in control of Hill with a knee drop and a kick to the back. Drake hit a Russian legsweep on Hill for a two count. Drake hit a back elbow to knock Hill down. Hill sent Drake into the top rope and hit a powerslam. Hill hit a flipping senton splash on Drake. Hill elbowed Drake for a two count.
The third man in the match is Dion Lennox. Dion was on offense early on with a suplex and a spinebuster. They went to a break for over three minutes for some fans, as the action continued, so I’ll keep it going for this match. Dion and Hill ran the ropes and hit a double clothesline for a two count. Drake hit a neckbreaker on Hill while Hill hit a DDT on Dion. Drake hit a standing SSP on Hill for a two count. Drake splashed Dion against the turnbuckle. Drake hit a double chop to the throat of Hill. Drake hit a Fisherman’s Suplex on Dion.
It was Charlie Dempsey in the 4th spot in this match. Dempsey hit a belly-to-back suplex on Hill, a German Suplex on Dion, and a backbreaker on Drake. The match returned from the break at that point. Hill hit a gutwrench suplex on Dion and Dempsey. Hill slammed Drake onto Dion and Dempsey for a two count. Dempsey trapped Hill and applied a reverse STF-style move, so Drake kicked Dempsey in the ribs. Outside the ring, Dion sent Hill into the barricade. Dion went into the ring and hit a double German Suplex on the two opponents.
The 5th and final entrant was Candice LeRae, showing up with a promo. LeRae said she has tried everything to get him out of this funk, and Candice said that the last entrant in the Gauntlet Eliminator is Johnny Gargano. Gargano walked out, and Candice encouraged his husband to get out there. The fans chanted “Johnny” as Gargano slowly got into the ring. Drake kicked Gargano and Gargano was down on the apron. Dion hit a sitout slam on Drake. Dempsey applied a submission, but Dion hit a Powerbomb to get out of it. Drake kicked Dion out of the ring. OTM showed up and attacked Dion Lennox at ringside. Bronco Nima of OTM stomped Dion’s face into the barricade. Hill picked up Dion and hit a lifting neckbreaker.
Dion Lennox has been eliminated
Hill pushed Gargano into the ring, and Gargano rolled all the way across the ring. This was during another break. Dempsey and Drake pushed Gargano into the ring. Gargano finally rolled out of the ring and got on his feet as the fans encouraged him. Dempsey hit Gargano with a forearm, so Gargano laid on the barricade. Dempsey hit a knee lift on Hill for a two count. Dempsey grounded Drake with a kneebar submission, and then Hill joined in with another kneebar on Drake at the same time. Gargano slowly walked up the steel steps as the fans chanted “Yes” for Gargano, but Hill punched Gargano to knock him down again.
The match kept going as Drake hit a somersault dive onto two opponents on the floor. Back in the ring, Drake jumped off the top with a 450 Splash on Hill for a two count. Drake clotheslined Dempsey out of the ring. Drake hit a suicide dive onto Dempsey on the floor. Hill caught Drake doing a move off the ropes and Hill hit a popup neckbreaker to pin Drake.
Jackson Drake has been eliminated
Dempsey worked over Hill with repeated elbows and a pin attempt for two. Dempsey hit two suplexes in a row on Hill for a two count. Hill fought back with another popup neckbreaker – this time on Hill – and that was enough to get the pinfall on Dempsey.
Charlie Dempsey has been eliminated
After the fall, Stacks and Uriah Connors sent Hill into the steel steps. Dempsey gave Hill a German Suplex on the floor. Stacks and Connors put Hill into the ring. Gargano stood up, so Candice shoved her husband down and Gargano covered Hill for the pinfall win. The match went about 23 minutes.
Shiloh Hill has been eliminated
Winner: Johnny Gargano
Analysis: ***1/2 It was an entertaining match even without the silliness of Gargano’s storyline. I thought Drake and Hill really stood out as the guys who were in there for most of the match and worked really hard throughout the match. Dempsey and Dion did fine, too, but poor Dion was taken out by OTM to continue that feud. It was a creative finish in the sense that having Gargano win by fluke wasn’t expected, but maybe it will wake up Gargano now.
Johnny Gargano was announced as the winner of the match, and he was stunned by it. Myles Borne went into the ring with the NXT North American Title, and Gargano stared at him in the ring. Gargano looked like he was motivated again.
The Interim NXT GM, Robert Stone, was talking to NXT Tag Team Champions Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes, who complained to Stone about the tournament to find them opponents. Josh Briggs tried talking to Stone, who brushed him off. Referee Adrian Butler informed Stone that none of the referees want to referee the Jasper Troy-Keanu Carver match next week since they’re out of control, so Stone said he’ll try to figure it out. Jaida Parker walked in to talk about her situation with Kelani Jordan and Stone booked a Parker-Jordan match for next week.
Analysis: So much going on in so little time. NXT tries to get so many people on the shows, and it’s tough to follow everything.
The Culling’s Shawn Spears and Niko Vance entered for tag team action.
(Commercial)
An NXT Origin video aired about Tiffany Stratton. It’s the same video that was shown on Raw.
OTM’s Bronco Nima and Lucien Price were interviewed by Sarah Schreiber. Nima said Darkstate made it personal. Nima said that next week on NXT, it’s a 6-man tag team match. Price said they had somebody. The TNA World Champion, Mike Santana, did a taped promo saying this is MSG Theater and told them to pay respect to Papi’s home. Santana said he’ll see them next week.
Analysis: I like that with TNA’s Mike Santana joining OTM. There hasn’t been that much TNA involvement of late, so it’s cool to see Santana involved.
Los Americanos – Rayo & Bravo vs. The Culling – Shawn Spears & Niko Vance
The red mask-wearing Rayo is Pete Dunne, and the blue mask-wearing Bravo is Tyler Bate. Vance did an impressive move where he jumped over both opponents and hit a clothesline. The Americanos hit jumping kicks on Vance and a double clothesline on Spears. Bravo hit a dive onto Spears. Rayo hit a dive onto Vance, who caught Rayo, so Bravo dove onto Vance to knock him down. The show went on a break for some fans as the heels in The Culling took over.
There was a hot tag for Rayo as he hit a moonsault onto Vance for a two count. Bravo got the tag and jumped off, but Vance blocked it. Vance slammed Bravo onto Rayo to knock them both down. Bravo hit a jumping kick on Vance, followed by a body slam. Spears went into the ring, Bravo put him in an airplane spin and Vance kicked Bravo to break free. Vance jumped off the top, but Rayo saved Bravo from the splash. Spears tagged in and hit a running Death Valley Driver on Bravo for a two count. Rayo pulled the metal object out and put it under his mask. Bravo kicked out of a move by Spears and Rayo used the loaded mask to headbutt Spears. Bravo headbutted Spears for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Los Americanos – Rayo & Bravo
Analysis: *** A crafty win by Los Americanos yet again. Los Americanos are heels on the main roster, but in NXT, they have been booked like faces. Even though they are faces in NXT, it was still a cheap win with the metal object under the mask. I liked it as a way to end the match. Spears and Vance work fine as a team, but they aren’t being pushed.
Los Americanos will be Birthright’s Stacks & Connors next week on NXT for a shot at the NXT Tag Team Titles at Stand & Deliver.
Keanu Carver yelled at Robert Stone in his office. Carver said he didn’t care that Stone was unable to find a referee. Josh Briggs walked in to suggest that he can be the referee for the Carver/Jasper Troy match next week. Stone said that was fine.
The Tony D’Angelo/Ricky Saints match was next.
Tatum Paxley was shown walking in a hotel hallway, saying she was looking for Blake Monroe to get Paxley’s title back.
(Commercial)
A video was shown of Blake Monroe in the bathtub with the NXT North American Title beside her. There was a knock on the hotel door, and it was Tatum Paxley. The chain was on the door as Paxley held Blake by the hair, and Paxley said she would see Blake next week to get Paxley’s title back.
They had Sexxyy Red appear in a video where she talked about upcoming matches. She’ll be at Stand & Deliver.
Next week on NXT from the MSG Theater in New York City:
* Jasper Troy vs. Keanu Carver – (Josh Briggs is the referee)
* OTM & Mike Santana vs. Darkstate
* NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey
It was main event time as Ricky Saints made his entrance, joined by his buddy Ethan Page. They are Absolute Ego, if you want to call them that. Tony D’Angelo was up next, making his entrance looking serious.
Tony D’Angelo vs. Ricky Saints (w/Ethan Page)
There is no official NXT Title shot on the line here, but both men want a shot at the NXT Title. Ricky tried some mat wrestling early on, and that didn’t work since Tony is a former amateur wrestler. Tony overpowered Ricky, so Ricky left the ring. Tony picked up Ricky over his head and put Ricky into the ring. Ricky tried to dive onto Tony on the floor, but Tony caught him. Ricky countered a Tony move, and Ricky sent Tony crashing right-shoulder first into the steel steps. That sounded rough. The match continued during the break with Ricky in control.
Ricky was working over Tony’s right arm by driving it into the mat and hitting a knee drop. Ricky grounded Tony with a chinlock. Ricky hit a neckbreaker on Tony for a two count. Tony avoided a kick and hit an Olympic Slam-style move. Page tripped Tony while the referee wasn’t looking. Ricky tried a DDT on Tony, but Tony caught him and hit a suplex on Ricky. When Tony got back up, Ricky hit two dropkicks into the turnbuckle. Ricky ran the ropes and hit a Spear for a two count. Ricky sent Tony hard into the turnbuckle two times in a row. Ricky tried to slow down Tony with kics, but Tony no-sold them and hit a big clothesline. Tony hit a splash, along with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Tony hit another overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Ricky. Tony ran the ropes and hit a Spear. Page went on the apron, Tony knocked him down and Page did a chop block to Page for the DQ. It went about 11 minutes.
Winner by disqualification: Tony D’Angelo
Analysis: *** It was an okay match with a finish that didn’t surprise me because of the announcement that was coming after the match. Ricky was in control for a lot of the match, Tony did a nice job of making the comeback, and there was the cheap ending by Page to prevent there from being a decisive winner. It made sense for the creative team not to want either guy to take a pinfall in a match like this.
After the match, Page and Ricky worked over Tony with punches. The NXT Champion Joe Hendry made the save with clotheslines on Page and Saints. Joe hit a fallaway slam on Page and a clothesline that sent Ricky out of the ring. Joe got hold of Tony and hit a Standing Ovation on Tony because Tony attacked Joe in the past. Ricky and Page each held onto the NXT Title while Joe looked at them. Tony was smiling against the turnbuckle. Joe was looking around at the three men coming after his title as Joe’s music played.
There was a plug for matches on next week’s show.
The NXT Interim GM, Robert Stone, was interviewed by Sarah Schreiber in his office. Stone announced the obvious that at NXT Stand & Deliver, it’s Joe Hendry defending the gold against Page, Saints, and D’Angelo. Stone said there’s going to be a contract signing in New York City next week on NXT. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: I think it would be better if Stone walked out by the entrance area and announced the Stand & Deliver match, so that you can have the crowd react to it. Why limit it to a backstage segment? I get that the show was ending, but it would have been a bigger deal if it had been announced in front of the fans, and we could have seen the wrestlers react. Anyway, I’m glad the 4-way match is official now.
We are SEATED for this!! 🍿@joehendry defends the NXT Title in a Fatal 4-Way match against @OfficialEGO, @starkmanjones and @TonyDangeloWWE at Stand & Deliver!
🎟️: https://t.co/YbVDqHtqWtpic.twitter.com/XykNMIsMex
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) March 25, 2026
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Three Stars of the Show
- Tony D’Angelo
- Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair
- Shiloh Hill, Jackson Drake
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The Scoreboard
This week: 7 out of 10
Last week: 7.5
2026 Average: 7.08
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Final Thoughts on WWE NXT
There was a lot going on in this episode as the NXT brand finally built to the Stand & Deliver PLE on April 4th. We know most of the big matches Stand & Deliver now, but there are still matches next week to determine title shots.
This episode had a lot of talking with some decent in-ring action, especially that Gauntlet Match, which I enjoyed, even with the shocking finish of Johnny Gargano winning without actually doing anything in the match. Shiloh Hill and Jackson Drake impressed me in that Gauntlet Match.
It felt obvious that the NXT Title Match at Stand & Deliver would be a 4-way with Joe Hendry, Tony D’Angelo, Ethan Page, and Ricky Saints. Now it’s official after the obvious cheap ending to the Tony D/Saints match on this show.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will take place on Saturday, April 4th. Here’s the lineup so far.
* NXT Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Ethan Page vs. Ricky Saints vs. Tony D’Angelo
* Sol Ruca vs. Zaria
* NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Kendal Grey or Lola Vice
* NXT North American Championship: Myles Borne (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
* NXT Tag Team Championships: The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes) (c) vs. Los Americanos or Birthright
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John Canton
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