Figuring out the Stand & Deliver card following WWE NXT Vengeance Day | Column

NXT Women's North American Champion Tatum Paxley
NXT Women's North American Champion Tatum Paxley

With NXT Vengeance Day in the rearview mirror, WWE only has four weeks to build and promote a card for Stand & Deliver. Here’s a look at what the card for Stand & Deliver might be following the results of this weekend. This is purely speculation, not based on any backstage reports.

NXT Championship

Joe Hendry defeated Ricky Saints at Vengeance Day with limited shenanigans. Ethan Page threw the title belt into the ring, though it was not clear which wrestler he was throwing it to. Both Saints and Hendry went on to hit low blows on each other, with Joe scoring the latter and following with a standing ovation for the win. 

Earlier in the show, Tony D’Angelo defeated Dion Lennox to seemingly end his feud with DarkState. Since returning to NXT, D’Angelo has said he had two goals, and dealing with DarkState was the first. Not that his issue with that foursome is settled, it’s likely that capturing the NXT Championship—the biggest title in the brand that has eluded him—would be next.

With tension between Saints and Page, and D’Angelo the strongest possible new contender, a four-way for the championship seems likely. This would allow D’Angelo to challenge Hendry without turning either one babyface, and also allow Saints to battle Page without turning either one heel.

If there’s a downside to this theory, it’s that Page and Saints are the two most experienced, most reliable performers on the NXT roster. Putting them in one match would all but guarantee a solid main event, but at the risk of greener talent being exposed further down the roster.

NXT Women’s Championship

Jacy Jayne was in a promo segment at Vengeance Day with Zaria and Sol Ruca, and afterwards the three of them were booked in a three-way championship match for the March 17 episode of NXT. The winner of that would presumably defend the title at Stand & Deliver. With such a short turnaround time, they might be tempted to just book a schmozz on TV and then do a rematch at S&D.

The on-again off-again tension between Jayne and Fallon Henley appears to be on again, so she could be added to the championship picture. Henley is defending her Speed championship on March 17, against either Thea Hail or Wren Sinclair; dropping that title would free her to challenge her stablemate Jayne at S&D. 

Jayne and Henley are both long overdue to be called up to the main roster. However they get there, the most logical outcome at Stand & Deliver would be Zaria winning the championship, her old friend Ruca chasing her for the title, and Jayne and Henley moving on to greener pastures.

NXT North American Championship, NXT Women’s North American Championship

Let’s lump these two together since the champions are in similar circumstances. Myles Borne, a hot young babyface, won the NXT North American Championship from Ethan Page on February 24; Tatum Paxley, a hot young babyface (maybe the hottest babyface on the roster, in fact) won the NXT Women’s North American Championship from Izzi Dame at Vengeance Day. 

Paxley’s next challenger seems pretty obvious. Blake Monroe lost this same title to Thea Hail on a botched finish, never got a rematch, and just beat Jaida Parker at Vengeance Day. She’s the strongest possible challenger for Paxley, though Dame may find herself involved in the picture as well. 

The picture is not so clear for Borne. Page seems to have moved on, and no male heels won at Vengeance Day. Perhaps Keanu Carver, who has been pushed as an unstoppable monster and just beat Sean Legacy on TV? Charles Dempsey, if they do what’s expected and have him turn heel and join the Birthright? Dion Lennox, just because he’s in DarkState and has been a big part of the TV show for six months? This looks wide open.

NXT Tag Team Championship

The Vanity Project just won these belts from DarkState a few weeks ago, so NXT could always book a rematch. However, DarkState look to have their hands full with OTM. More likely, former champs Hank & Tank will get a chance to regain the titles in an obvious “frat boys vs. preppies” program. Shawn Spears and Niko Vance in the Culling have also stated their intention to pursue the tag titles, so they may get involved as well.

Elsewhere:

  • If Dempsey does turn heel on Tavion Heights, which seems likely, then Heights vs. Dempsey would be an obvious match for Stand & Deliver. 
  • WWE Speed Champion Elio LeFleur will likely defend his title; Eli Knight, Jasper Troy, and Sean Legacy have all been in the mix for that championship lately.
  • The WWE Women’s Speed Championship is up in the air pending the results of next week’s NXT show. One intriguing possibility: Wren Sinclair wins the title from Fallon Henley, then goes on to defend it against her friend and Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. 
Google Icon