NXT made a pitstop on the road to Stand & Deliver – right back at homebase in the Performance Center for Vengeance Day. NXT’s downscaling extends towards April 4, where Stand & Deliver has been removed from WrestleMania weekend and into The Factory of St. Louis weeks before.
NXT adorned ringside with LED barricades, but much of Vengeance Day came across like a red-decorated version of its weekly shows. While it opened hot with energetic showcases, Vengeance Day in the Performance Center, and its scheduled lineup alone, highlighted NXT’s struggle to recover from a roster hit.
Blake Monroe vs Jaida Parker – Street Fight
“Oh yeah!” Booker T reacts to Parker’s new theme song, further encouraging “Miss Parker” chants from Orlando. Monroe rejects their “we want tables” chants and weaponizes a red umbrella instead. They trade kendo-stick shots, and Monroe hits her own Hipnotic onto a steel chair. Parker makes an abrupt comeback with more kendo-stick shots, giving Orlando their Slim Jim table moment with a Tear Drop at ringside. They trade near-falls, and a Glamour Shot DDT from Monroe into a pile of diamonds earns the pinfall victory. Unlike the bag of plastic diamonds, Monroe’s “mean streak” proves realer than Kehlani Jordan’s long-running attempt at showing one.
Winner: Blake Monroe
In the locker room, Ricky Saints questions Ethan Page’s absence at the poorly received “Absolute Experience.” Page agrees to help Saints in tonight’s NXT Championship match, in return promised a chance at becoming two-time North American Champion. “Yeah, two-time,” Page responds slyly.
Dion Lennox vs Tony D’Angelo
DarkState jumps a decoy in D’Angelo’s yellow sports car, and the latter blindsides them with his signature crowbar. Booker T calls the match a “sellout,” in terms of wrestlers spectating in the parking lot. Officials attempt to separate DarkState while the competitors brawl backstage, but it’s OTM who evens the odds. They arrive at ringside in style – D’Angelo spears Lennox through the podium, and the bell eventually rings.
The intensity persists through spinebusters and suplexes, and Lennox throws his opponent into the front row. He connects with a suplex from the barricade through the announce desk to both “holy sh—” and “this is awesome” chants. D’Angelo hulks up with a spear and spinebuster for victory, earning themselves a standing ovation. Evidently, D’Angelo post-mafia still has legs.
Winner: Tony D’Angelo
Backstage, OTM clarifies they didn’t attack DarkState for D’Angelo. “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price,” Lucien Price says, vowing to stifle DarkState’s momentum.
Tatum Paxley vs Izzi Dame (c) – Women’s North American Championship
Orlando is a fitting setting, as the Paxley diehards get what they’ve chanted for. She forces Dame to retreat towards The Culling, but the champion gains control with a big boot. Meanwhile, Booker T defends The Culling for booting Paxley from the faction, and Vic Joseph threatens a Danhausen curse on him. Paxley reverses a Boston Crab with her own, makes a comeback and connects with a somersault leg drop. They trade near-falls and right hands, and Paxley connects with a 450 Splash for a momentum-killing two-count. Dame hits a Bron Breakker cutter for two, and Paxley recuperates with a sunset flip to the floor.
Shawn Spears distracts Paxley until the referee’s nine-count, and Dame hits the Sky High for yet another near-fall. The champion inadvertently knocks Spears off the apron, and Paxley flips out of her Codebreaker attempt. She connects with a Rolling Thunder kick and the Semetary Drive for victory, celebrating with the Orlando crowd.
Winner: Tatum Paxley
Interim NXT General Manager Robert Stone welcomes Fatal Influence to the ring. Jacy Jayne gloats walking into Stand & Deliver as the NXT Women’s Champion and talks about main-evening next year’s WrestleMania. Stone finally cuts her off, and Zaria arrives to ask for another championship match. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid insinuate Zaria’s jealousy of Sol Ruca, who eventually appears too. Stone makes a triple-threat match for March 17 in Houston official: Jayne versus Zaria versus Ruca for the NXT Women’s Championship. A brawl erupts, Ruca hits Sol Snatcher on Zaria, and Reid drops her with a knee strike.
Backstage, Charlie Dempsey denies his acceptance into Birthright. Lexis King namedrops Brian Pillman, Fit Finlay and William Regal: “When are you gonna stop running away from who you are and embrace it?” King (not Pillman) asks. Tavion Heights throws out a No Quarter Catch Crew revival against King and Connors this Tuesday, and Dempsey accepts.
Kehlani Jordan vs Lola Vice – NXT Underground
Jordan arrives with MMA-style gloves and the intention of winning with Michigan State University gymnastics. AAA Mixed Tag Team Champion Vice arrives for her fourth NXT Underground match, handing the belt to her father ringside before entering the ropeless ring. Jordan cuts off Vice’s submission attempts by attacking the injured left hand, hitting a backflip on one. Vice comes back with kicks, kicking her into the ringside mass – where Jordan gets in her father’s face. But Vice gets the one-up, connecting with a backfist for the in-ring knockout.
Winner: Lola Vice
Shawn Michaels introduces a promo package for Stand & Deliver, scheduled for April 4 at The Factory in St. Louis. After, Jayne complains about her triple-threat match in Houston, instructing Reid to make sure Ruca doesn’t make it to Texas.
Ricky Saints vs Joe Hendry (c) – NXT Championship
Booker T leads the believers in signing for Hendry, a rendition better than Saints’ in the “Absolute Experience.” Saints gains control, stomping a rope-tied champion. Orlando gets behind Hendry’s meat-and-potatoes offense until Saints sends him into the steel steps. Capping a night of brawls and chicanery, the challenger’s TV-style heat on Hendry underwhelms for a main event. Hendry makes a comeback, spearing Saints for mocking his hard-cam pose, until being stifled again with a choke.
Ethan Page makes good on his promise, arriving ringside to hand Saints the NXT Championship belt to weaponize. However, he overthrows to Hendry, Saints connects with a low-blow and the Revolution DDT for a two-count. Hendry avoids running into the referee and capitalizes with his own low-blow, following up with Standing Ovation for the victory. Page assists Saints to the back, and NXT Champion Hendry waves his hands with Orlando’s believers.
Winner: Joe Hendry
