Reviews

The John Report: WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2023 Review

By John Canton • Published 1st April 2023
wwe nxt stand deliver review 2023

This is WWE NXT Stand & Deliver featuring NXT Champion Bron Breakker facing Carmelo Hayes in the main event, plus several other title matches as well.

It’s the second WWE NXT PLE of 2023. There’s a unique start time locally because it’s 1 p.m. ET for me, but in Los Angeles, it’s starting at 10 a.m. so it’s interesting to have a show starting in the morning for the fans locally. The reason for the start time is to have a break between this event and WrestleMania 39 later today.

The Kickoff Show match saw Chase University (Andre Chase, Duke Hudson, and Thea Hail) & Tyler Bate defeat Schism (Joe Gacy, Jagger Reid, Rip Fowler, and Ava). Hudson teased leaving Chase U and joining Schism, but it was all a swerve. Hudson got the pin for his team.

They are going with the NXT Women’s Title Ladder Match to open the show.

NXT Stand & Deliver
Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California
April 1, 2023

The opening video package featuring the NXT Stand & Deliver hosts Pretty Deadly talking about the show.

The entrances took place for the NXT Women’s Ladder Match with six women in the match. The commentary team was Vic Joseph & Booker T as usual.

NXT Women’s Championship Ladder Match: Roxanne Perez vs. Gigi Dolin vs. Zoey Stark vs. Indi Hartwell vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton

The first woman to get the NXT Women’s Title from above the ring is the champion. There were ladders all around the ringside area. Stratton was working over Perez with kicks, Stark hit a German Suplex on Dolin and Lyra/Indi were fighting on the floor. Perez did a headscissors on Stark, then a running uppercut and a Thesz Press by Perez on Lyra. Perez hit a suicide dive on Indi on the floor. Stratton dropkicked a ladder onto Perez, who was down on the floor. Dolin with kicks on Stark and Stratton. Stark dropkicked a ladder into Dolin. Stratton with a hurricanrana, Stark landed on her feet and Indi was back in with a double clothesline. Indi used a ladder to knock down Stratton/Stark, but Lyra was there with a dropkick to knock Indi down with a ladder. Lyra used a ladder to Perez’s ribs and Lyra suplexed Dolin onto a ladder. Indi hit Stark in the ribs with a ladder while they a were on the floor. Stark hit a neckbreaker on Stratton on the floor. Lyra set up a ladder, but Stark sent Lyra into the ladder. Stratton and Lyra climbed the ladder, so Stark showed up with a dropkick to knock Lyra down. Indi kicked Stark off the apron to the floor. Stratton climbed the ladder, reached for the top, but Indi pushed the ladder to knock Stratton/Perez down. Dolin whipped Indi into a ladder that was on the mat. Dolin put the ladder around her head, so four women took turns running into the ladder. Dolin gave Lyra a back body drop onto a ladder that was against the turnbuckle. Stark with a superkick on Dolin and a cross body block on Lyra, who was on the ladder. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for them.

Stratton slammed Dolin onto a ladder that was on the ground. Stratton sent Perez into the turnbuckle. Stratton climbed a big ladder that was under the title, but Indi pulled Stratton down and Indi delivered a spinebuster onto a ladder that was on the mat. Indi did a slow ladder climb. Stark pulled Indi down and superkicked her. Stark hit a twisting splash onto Indi on a ladder. Stark spun around Indi leading to a knee to the face. Stark climbed the ladder, she had her hand on the title and Perez held onto Stark’s right foot. Perez blocked a knee to the face leading to Perez hitting Pop Rox on Stark. Stratton was back in and Perez countered a Powerbomb with a hurricanrana sending Stratton out. Perez climbed the ladder, had her hand on the title and Dolin stopped that. Dolin sent Perez into the ladder three times. Dolin hit a Crucifix Bomb slam on Perez. Lyra got involved by stopping Dolin. Lyra dropkicked Stark onto Indi on the floor and they landed on a ladder. Dolin tripped up Lyra on the ladder. Dolin and Lyra were fighting on the ladder leading to Dolin slamming Lyra down. Dolin was about to win, so Jacy Jayne showed up and punched Dolin, who landed hard onto a ladder. Jayne shouted that it was her time even though she’s not in the match. The fans chanted “you suck” at Jayne. Stratton was back in the ring, she started the climb and Indi shoved the ladder, so Stratton was flipped off the ladder onto Stark, Perez and Lyra on the floor. That was a brutal bump for Stratton since she landed hard on her back on the floor. Indi was all alone as she slowly made the climb, but she was struggling. Dexter Lumis showed up, did a thumbs up, he put Indi on his shoulders and climbed the ladder. Indi Hartwell captured the NXT Women’s Title! It went 17:02.

Winner AND NEW NXT Women’s Champion: Indi Hartwell

Analysis: ***1/2 They worked hard and had a very good match. I’m genuinely happy for Indi finally getting the NXT Women’s Title after being a part of NXT for many years. I thought when she was added to the match that they might have her win just to tell the story of Indi never winning the title before. It was a lot of “two people working in the ring while the others wait on the floor” wrestling, but that’s fine when you have six people in the match. Having Jacy Jayne show up to cost Dolin the win was not a shock considering the history they have. I thought maybe Perez would keep the title, but you don’t have to give everybody a super long title reign. I’m fine with Indi getting the title. Good job by Stratton taking that huge bump to the floor to take out three other women as well. That was a rough landing, but I hope they are all okay. Congrats to Indi on the win with the assist from “husband” Dexter Lumis. The crowd liked it.

There were commercials and other videos related to WrestleMania in between the matches.

A new WrestleMania commercial aired with WWE superstars acting out scenes from some famous movies. Some very over the top and funny impressions. Otis doing Silence of the Lambs was funny.

They showed UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier watching in the crowd. He shook hands with Booker at ringside.

NXT Tag Team Championships: Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) vs. Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo vs. The Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius Creed) (w/Ivy Nile)

There were three legal men while the partners were on the apron. No disqualifications or countouts in a triple threat match.

Tony and Stacks were in control in the first two minutes with a bunch of moves to clear the ring. Julius & Brutus went to the apron leading to standing moonsaults onto their opponents on the floor. The Creeds hit a double team slam onto the floor. Brutus with a gutwrench suplex on Tony and a lifting slam on Mark. Wolfgang and Mark hit a double team slam. Wolfgang with a body slam on Tony. Julius got a tag with five straight belly-to-belly suplexes on different guys to fire up the crowd. Stacks tagged in with a clothesline on Julius and a springboard forearm. Stacks with a double stomp, a senton splash (that mostly missed) on Wolfgang and Stacks sent somebody into the steel steps. Stacks hit a cross body block off the top on Julius. They did a spot on the floor with Julius having Wolfgang on his back, who had Stacks on his back and Brutus jumped off with a cannonball (that barely touched them) and they bumped. That could have looked better, but it’s the thought that counts. Tony D was back in with a twisting neckbreaker on Julius and Stacks hit a splash off the top on Julius for two. Tony hit a uranage slam on Mark for two because Wolfgang made the save. Tony and Stacks hit a double team slam, but then Joe Coffey showed up and pulled Stacks out of the ring. Joe clotheslined Tony D on the floor. Stacks was back in the ring, Mark hit a running knee while Wolfgang hit a spinning neckbreaker off the shoulders for the pinfall win on Stacks at 8:11.

Winners by pinfall: Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang)

Analysis: **3/4 The Gallus boys are still on top with Joe back in the mix to make them more dangerous. It was a good spot to bring Joe back after he has been off for months and hasn’t been mentioned for a long time either. The crowd was quiet for a lot of the match since there was a lack of a story going into it. Julius & Brutus had some big moves during the match, so that was cool to see. Tony & Stacks had some moments to shine too. I didn’t expect a title change here. They need to tell some stories in the men’s tag team division in the future because this one was lacking a good story going into it.

There was a commercial for the WWE 2K23 video game.

A video aired about Cora Jade.

They showed Johnny Gargano getting ready.

Pretty Deadly was backstage wearing some ridiculous outfits and gigantic glasses. They were outside of Bron Breakker’s locker room and decided to give him some space instead of talk to him.

There was a video package about the NXT North American Champion Wes Lee wanting to take on all comers. Lee got to pick the four opponents for this title match.

Fatal 5-Way for the NXT North American Championship: Wes Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Dragon Lee vs. Axiom

The first fall wins this match. No countouts or disqualifications. I guess I can’t write “Lee” during this match writeup so it will be Dragon and Wes. It is Dragon Lee’s first match.

Dragunov and McDonagh were sent out of the ring early. Dragon was sent out of the ring. Axiom hit a facebuster-like move on Wes. Ilja and JD had a staredown, but Dragon got involved and Dragon hit a running headscissors. Dragon hit a dropkick on JD in the corner. Dragon with a dropkick on Ilja in the corner. Dragon with two more running dropkicks. Dragon and Axiom each ran the ropes with Dragon hitting a dropkick. Dragon hit a somersault dive over the top on two guys with Dragon landing on his feet on the floor. Wes faced off with Dragon with a snapmare followed by a dropkick to the back. Wes with a headscissors that sent Ilja into the turnbuckle and Wes sent Ilja out of the ring. JD avoided a dive by Wes, but Wes kicked him in the chest. Wes hit an uppercut knocking Axiom out of the ring. Dragon ran over JD with a shoulder tackle. JD with an elbow smash on Dragon to knock him out of the ring. Wes sent JD into the turnbuckle. JD hit a moonsault onto two guys on the floor, then a twisting senton on Wes and JD hit a Spanish Fly on Dragon. JD with a lifting Devil Inside suplex for two because Ilja stopped the referee’s count. They did a spot where multiple people charged at JD with running kicks/dropkicks and Dragunov hit a German Suplex. Ilja had a flurry of offense with a few German Suplexes, then Ilja swung around the ropes and hit a clothesline. Ilja was bleeding from the forehead. Ilja with a knee drop on Dragon and a hard chop on Wes. Ilja slammed Lee onto Dragon against the turnbuckle. Ilja jumped off the top with a senton splash on Lee, but JD shoved Ilja off the top. Axiom kicked JD to the floor. Axiom hit an amazing moonsault onto Ilja/JD on the floor. Wes and Dragon were on the turnbuckle, Dragon knocked him down and Dragon hit a double foot stomp to the chest. Dragon was grabbing his right knee after a rough landing on the floor. They did a clothesline/DDT spot with Axiom, JD and Ilja involved. Axiom with a double Northern Lights slam. Axiom tried an ankle lock on Ilja, but JD broke that up. Axiom kicked JD to knock him down. There were multiple submissions going on with Axiom, Ilja and JD. Dragon jumped onto JD’s back with a sleeper. Ilja slammed Axiom onto two guys leading to a cover, but Wes jumped off the top with a twisting splash onto four guys! That was a great spot.

Axiom hit a Golden Ratio kick, but then JD hit a headbutt on Axiom. Lee with a German Suplex/clothesline combo on JD. Ilja with a running clothesline on Dragon and a lifting slam for two, but Wes made the save. Lee hit a standing flip into a stomp for two on Ilja. Dragon hit a sitout Powerbomb for a two count on Wes. JD hit a slam followed by a standing moonsault. Axiom jumped off the top with a spinning DDT on JD for a two count. Great nearfall there. The fans were chanting “this is awesome” for them. Dragon hit a hurricanrana on JD on the apron onto Wes on the floor! Ilja hit a superplex on Axiom followed by a running forearm for two but Wes was there to break it up. Wes, Ilja and Dragon all exchanged strikes in the ring. There were kicks, punches, forearms and chops. Dragon hit a knee on Ilja, but Ilja came back with a clothesline. Dragunov went for his running forearm move on Dragon, but Wes hit his Cardiac Kick flipping kick on Dragunov for the pinfall win at 19:18.

Winner by pinfall: Wes Lee

Analysis: ****1/4 That was an outstanding match. I think when you do a Fatal 5-Way it can be challenging at times, but they put on a show with so many big moves throughout the match. I think they could have done some more creative spots in the match because there are no DQs, so why not introduce weapons a bit? I’m not saying they needed a table spot, but it wouldn’t hurt to add something like that. I know that with Gargano-Waller coming that’s a match with weapons, so maybe that’s why they resisted in this match. Dragon Lee was very impressive in his first NXT match. Dragunov and McDonagh targeted eachother throughout the match, which is certainly fine since they have a long history together. Axiom had some cool spots, but I thought maybe he could have had more. I picked Dragon Lee to win in his first NXT match, but I don’t mind Wes as champion. He is a lot of fun to watch and proved it again.

A video aired promoting Charlotte Flair defending the Smackdown Women’s Title against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania.

Grayson Waller was shown getting ready for his match.

Pretty Deadly was outside of Carmelo Hayes’ locker room. They had different outfits this time. They were reluctant to go into Carmelo’s room just like they were hesitant to talk to Bron Breakker earlier. Trick Williams walked out of the room saying that Melo was trying to game plan. Trick said that LA ain’t ready for what Melo is going to do tonight. Trick said that whole world will know why Melo is him. PD said there’s the scoop.

The video package aired for the Grayson Waller-Johnny Gargano match that is an Unsanctioned Match.

Grayson Waller made his entrance to some boos. They showed Johnny Gargano’s wife Candice LeRae and their son Quill in the crowd. They had a brief video about Johnny Gargano before Johnny made his entrance. Johnny greeted his son and wife at ringside. Gargano said prior to the show that it’s going to be his last match in NXT.

Unsanctioned Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller

An Unsanctioned Match means it’s like No Holds Barred, so anything goes. The pinfall must be in the ring. The story is that WWE is not liable if somebody gets hurt.

Waller tried for a chair attack, but Gargano was ready and threw him out of the ring. They were fighting on the floor leading to Gargano tossing Waller over the commentary table. Waller landed on Booker T, who landed on his ass while in the chair. When Waller got back up, he was yelling at Vic about how Johnny was Vic’s friend. They went back into the ring with Gargano tossing some weapons in there. Gargano hit a slingshot Spear. Gargano with a trash can to the back. Gargano sent Waller out of the ring and tried a suicide dive, but Waller hit Gargano with a trash can lid to the head! Ouch. Waller set up three chairs on the floor. Waller sent Gargano neck first into the top rope. Back in the ring, Waller hit a Buckle Bomb into the turnbuckle where a trash can was wedged against the turnbuckle. Gargano to the apron, jumping kick to the head and Gargano suplexed Waller off the apron onto the six chairs that were open on the floor. Ouch! That was a rough landing for both guys. A table was set up on the floor. Gargano was on the apron, Waller charged, Gargano tried a spear and Waller hit a running knee to the face. Waller teased some Sweet Chin Music leading to boos from the crowd, Gargano blocked a kick and they exchanged strikes. Waller with a spinning forearm to the head that sent Gargano out of the ring. Waller charged leading to Gargano using a chair to hit Waller in the right arm. They did a spot on the floor with Gargano doing a hurricanrana on the floor on Waller. Gargano wanted to put Waller through a table, but Waller got up and Waller jumped on the floor leading to a Cutter on the floor. Waller sent Gargano into the barricade followed by a Powerbomb through the table on the floor. Back in the ring, Waller got a two count. Waller hit a sidewalk slam onto a steel chair for a two count. Waller beat up Gargano with a kendo stick. Waller beat up Gargano with punches while on the floor right in front of Candice/Quill. Waller teased a chair attack, but Gargano moved and Gargano hit Waller with a kendo stick to the back. Candice gave the baby to the nanny to go backstage, so Candice jumped the barricade and hit Waller with the kendo stick repeatedly. Waller blocked the kendo stick, so Gargano hit Waller in the back with the kendo stick. Back in the ring, Gargano hit the One Final Beat DDT for a two count. That is Johnny’s finisher, so Vince shouted “What?” in reaction to it.

Gargano applied the Gargano Escape submission, but Waller got out of it by putting his fingers in Gargano’s eyes. Waller hit a leaping Unprettier that drove Gargano into the mat. Waller had a lot of scarring on his back. Waller put a trash can on Gargano’s head and Waller hit a Coast to Coast dropkick into the trash can! That was great. Waller set up Gargano on the commentary table. Waller took a long time to go the top rope to try a move, so Gargano threw a chair at him to knock him down. Gargano hit a Powerbomb that put Gargano through the commentary table. Waller hit a low blow uppercut on the floor. Back in the ring, Waller jumped into the ring and hit a leaping Stunner for two. Waller brought a chair into the ring with multiple chair shots to the back. Waller told Gargano that he runs NXT, Gargano is nothing and not on Waller’s level, so Gargano hit a low blow uppercut of his own. Gargano beat on Waller with chair shots to the body. Gargano beat up Waller with more chair shots to the back. Gargano put a chair around Waller’s neck and Gargano hit Waller with a chair shot to the other chair. Gargano applied the Gargano Escape submission, which led to Waller tapping out. Gargano wins by submission at 18:14.

Winner by submission: Johnny Gargano

Analysis: **** This was a terrific match just like the one that came before it. Gargano winning made sense because of the story with Waller getting repeated cheap shots on him and making it personal in the build to the match. I know that Waller winning is what some people want because he’s the NXT guy while Gargano is on the main roster, but I’m certainly fine with Gargano getting the win. Waller took a beating, he had visible scars on his back the whole way and he hit some incredible moves. I tweeted about how I think Waller is going to be a massive star in WWE within the next few years because he has all the tools to be a big deal. I liked the match a lot. Waller should be fine if he remains in NXT, but it wouldn’t shock me if he’s on the main roster soon.

After the match, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were joined by NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis. The Way was all together again. The fans loved that.

Analysis: Nice NXT throwback there. This is likely it for Gargano’s NXT run as he mentioned in an interview earlier in the week.

They showed Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo talking about their loss in the locker room. Pretty Deadly showed up for some insulting comments, so they argued.

Analysis: That will likely set up an NXT TV match between the two teams.

There were some video packages and commercials.

NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships: Fallon Henley & Kiana James (w/Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen) vs. Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre

The reactions for these teams were mild. Dawn & Fyre attacked before the bell. Henley fought back against Dawn, but Fyre tripped up Henley leading to a forearm. Fyre with a knee to the back of Henley. Fyre and Dawn were working over Henley for a couple of minutes. James got the tag to barely any reaction with some forearms and James kicked Dawn a few times. James sent both opponents out of the ring leading a standing moonsault off the apron onto both women on the floor. James hit a belly-to-back suplex for two. Fyre tried to fight out of the corner, but James hit a spinebuster. Henley grabbed Fyre by the head to slam her into the mat. The challengers cheated with a hair pull, but Henley fought back with a blockbuster neckbreaker on Dawn. Fyre took a bad fall to the floor during that exchange, but she looked to be okay. Fyre was back in leading to a double team Gory Bomb/neckbreaker on Fyre for two as James made the save. James tagged herself in against Fyre, James held Fyre up on her shoulders and Henley hit a missile dropkick into a Powerbomb by James for two because Dawn broke up the pin. Fyre with a thumb to the eye, a Gordbuster slam and Dawn tagged in for a double superkick. There was a tackle by Henley onto the pin to break up the count. The fans weren’t into it. James wanted Brooks to hand her the deadly purse, but Briggs didn’t want Brooks to do it. Henley was sent out of the ring, Dawn hit a backstabber and Fyre hit a Senton Bomb off the top onto James for the pinfall win at 8:43.

Winners by pinfall AND NEW NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions: Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre

Analysis: **1/2 It was an average match with Dawn & Fyre working well together as mysterious heels while James & Henley always had trouble getting along. James wanted Jensen to hand her the dreaded purse to use as a weapon, but Briggs told Jensen not to do it and that allowed Fyre/Dawn to get the win. I thought there would be a title change here. Henley & James were never going to be long term champions. I think Dawn & Fyre are good performers, so now NXT has to build up some babyface challengers.

A commercial aired for NXT Battleground on Sunday, May 28th.

This Tuesday on NXT:

* Pretty Deadly vs. Tony D’Angelo & Stacks.

* Dijak vs. Odyssey Jones

It’s main event time with Bron Breakker defending the NXT Title against Carmelo Hayes.

A video package aired telling the story between Bron and Melo as they pushed the story that it’s the youngest main event in WrestleMania weekend history. They covered the story that they have been the two top males in NXT over the last 18 months. This is their first match against eachother.

They showed both guys walking down different hallways in anticipation of the match.

Trick Williams appeared by the entrance area to talk about all of success of Carmelo Hayes. They showed images of jerseys on the screen with names of guys that Melo has beaten. Melo had on some LA Lakers gear and took off his Bron Breakker shirt. Melo stepped over the shirt. Melo had an “8” on left knee pad as a tribute to the late great, LA Lakers Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant. I miss that man. Melo looks to be in the best shape of his career.

Bron Breakker was next as the NXT Champion. They had some dog barking, then the sirens and Bron was fired up. Bron has held the title for nearly one year going into this match. It is his second reign as the NXT Champion. They stood in the ring as ring announcer Alicia Taylor did the championship introductions.

NXT Championship: Bron Breakker vs. Carmelo Hayes (w/Trick Williams)

Melo tried a lift, he couldn’t do it and Bron got a lifting slam. Bron backed Melo into the corner followed by some barking. Melo ran the ropes, jumped over Bron and hit a dropkick. Bron with an impressive leapfrog followed by a shoulder tackle. Melo tried a springboard spot, he slipped on the ropes, Melo did a jawbreaker and Melo jumped off the ropes leading to Bron doing a shoulder block. Bron hit a hurricanrana followed by a delayed vertical suplex. Bron with a standing moonsault for two. Bron used his power to ground Melo with a front headlock. Melo came back with some lefty kicks to the body. Bron ran the ropes leading to Melo hitting a springboard clothesline for two. They timed that really well. Melo grounded Bron with an armbar on the mat. Bron with a hiptoss across the ring, then a shoulder tackle and Bron hit a spinning slam for two. Bron continued on offense with forearms to the back. Bron hit a belly-to-back suplex for two. Bron lifted Melo, Trick pulled Melo to the apron the referee saw it and tossed Trick to the back. Some of the fans booed that while Booker shouted “come on, man.” Bron hit a somersault dive over the top onto both guys on the floor. Great move by the powerful champion.

Bron jumped off the top with a bulldog that sent Melo into the mat for two. Melo got some offense going again with a spinning facebuster into the match. Melo jumped up with a Cutter for two. The fans were cheering Melo’s name as Melo jumped off the top, but Bron moved out of the way. They did an innovative spot with Melo hitting a suplex from the ropes and suplexed Bron into the ring. Melo was back on the top rope leading to Bron jumping up with a Frankensteiner! That was a popup Frankensteiner too, so that’s very impressive. Both guys pulled themselves up using the ropes. They exchanged punches with the fans cheering more for Melo, clearly. Melo with a kick to the back of the head. Bron took down Melo, but Melo avoided a submission. Bron countered an armbar attempt with a slam. Melo with a Crossface submission, but Bron powered out of it. Bron ran the ropes leading to a Spear on Melo, who went crashing onto the referee. There referee as down as Bron put the Steiner Recliner on Melo. Melo tapped out, but there was no referee to see it. Trick Williams showed up at ringside even though he was ejected and Trick hit Bron in the back of the head with the NXT Title. The referee slowly woke up, he counted the Melo pin and Bron kicked out at two! So close. Bron tried a power move, but Melo got out of it and hit a double knee attack to counter it. Melo jumped off the top with a Nothing But Net leg drop to the back of the head/neck of Bron. The referee slowly counted the pin one…two…and three! Melo is the new NXT Champion! It went 16:10.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW NXT Champion: Carmelo Hayes

Analysis: ***1/2 It was a pretty good championship match, but I wouldn’t call it great. They did some creative spots in the match. The finish was a classic pro wrestling match finish where the loser still looks strong even in defeat. Since Bron made Melo tap out clean after the referee was bumped, it gives Bron an out because he had the match won. If Melo won right after the belt shot by Trick then it would have been really cheap. Instead, Melo had to do more to win and that Nothing But Net finish looked amazing as usual. I think the right guy won here. It was time for Bron to lose the title and Melo was the right guy to beat him. When it comes to Melo, it’s like Booker said during the match when he said that Melo makes everything look so easy. It’s very true and it’s why Melo is so fun to watch.

Post match, Bron Breakker presented Carmelo Hayes with the NXT Championship. Bron extended the fist, Melo put his hand on it as Bron did on TV and Bron gave him a bow down type of salute. Bron raised Melo’s hand as the victor.

Analysis: A sign of respect, which is how they built the match. I think Bron might be heading to the main roster very soon. If not then maybe NXT will try him out as a heel for a few months to see how he does in that role. I think it will be Bron on Raw or Smackdown very soon.

Carmelo Hayes celebrated with the NXT Title with his buddy Trick Williams in the ring with him. As Vic signed off by putting over Melo, he mentioned “Casanova” since Melo was known as Christian Casanova before his WWE run.

Analysis: Congrats to Carmelo Hayes. Melo should have a good reign as the champion. We might see him become a babyface soon too. The fans want to cheer the guy, that’s for sure.

This event had a runtime of 2 hours, 41 minutes on WWE Network.

Five Stars of the Show

  1. Carmelo Hayes
  2. Wes Lee
  3. Indi Hartwell
  4. Johnny Gargano/Grayson Waller
  5. Bron Breakker/Ilja Dragunov/Dragon Lee

Final Thoughts

I rate this show a 7.75 out of 10.

This was a very good show with some outstanding matches that carried it. In terms of best matches, I think the NXT North American Title 5-Way was outstanding while I liked Gargano-Waller a lot too. Wes Lee keeping his title in that 5-Way really puts him over as a credible champion. They did so many cool moves in that match, but also told a story with Wes finding a way to win. Waller lost to Gargano because it made sense for the story. I think Waller had a breakout performance. That guy is going to be a major star in WWE. Gargano always has good matches at NXT PLE/Takeover shows so this was no different for him.

Regarding the main event, Carmelo Hayes beat Bron Breakker to put an end to a year-long title reign and Melo is the new NXT Champion. It was controversial in the sense that Bron made him tap out, but due to a referee bump, Bron didn’t get the win. Melo came back shortly after that to get the win. I think it was the right time for a title change with Melo as the right guy as well. I loved Melo’s LA Lakers gear and Kobe Bryant tribute too.

I’m happy for Indi Hartwell finally winning the NXT Women’s Title. The ladies did well in the Ladder Match with some big spots. I like that it was the opener. The two Tag Team Title matches were less impressive than the other matches. Part of it is because the stories were weaker for those matches, so the fans weren’t into them. Some of the others just stood out a lot more. I enjoyed NXT Stand & Deliver overall.

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Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.

John Canton

Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter @johnreport