The former NXT North American Champion hasn’t been seen on television since the end of July. According to a new Fightful report, D’Angelo was backstage at the November 11 NXT show in Orlando, but wasn’t dressed to train or film anything for TV. The report noted that it had been “a rarity to see him these days” and people were happy to see him there.
D’Angelo was last seen on television back on the July 30 edition of NXT. After concluding his feud with former associate Stacks, he was seen at his restaurant eating alone when suddenly he spotted someone off-screen. The scene immediately went to black and the show ended, similar to the infamous series finale of ‘The Sopranos’.
Signing with WWE in 2021, D’Angelo quickly became popular in NXT, forming a group of associates that included Stacks, Adrianna Rizzo, and Luca Crusifino. After Stacks turned against D’Angelo at this year’s Stand & Deliver, the feud culminated in a triple threat match that took place in July, with D’Angelo defeating both Stacks and Crusifino.
Former WWE NXT North American Champion & Heritage Cup Champion Tony D’Angelo appears to be returning to the ring imminently.
D’Angelo is featured on social media advertising for NXT live events on Thursday, October 9 in Columbus, Ohio; Friday, October 10 in Detroit, Michigan; and Saturday, October 11 in Cleveland, Ohio, along with Trick Williams, Jaida Parker, Sol Ruca, and Oba Femi.
The 30-year-old hasn’t wrestled since a July 25 NXT live event. Several days later on NXT TV, he was shown in a vignette eating at a restaurant. He was approached by an unidentified person and then the vignette cut to black, an assumed homage to The Sopranos‘ finale.
Last week, our Dave Meltzer reported that D’Angelo wasn’t injured, but asked for time off. His storyline with former factionmates Luca Crusifino and Channing Lorenzo wrapped up in mid-July.
D’Angelo is a former two-time NXT Tag Team Champion, former Heritage Cup Champion, and former NXT North American Champion. He’s made one main roster appearance, losing to Akira Tozawa on a January 2023 WWE Main Event episode.
In the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided an update on the status of two NXT stars.
Oba Femi dropped the NXT Championship to Ricky Saints at No Mercy last weekend and is not part of the card for next Tuesday’s NXT vs. TNA Showdown special. That’s inevitably led to fans speculating that Femi will be joining the WWE main roster soon.
Meltzer writes that, as far as everyone is concerned, there are still plans for Femi in NXT — but it’s always possible that WWE is trying to swerve people to make his call-up a surprise.
“Regarding the idea Oba Femi lost the NXT title so he could be brought to the main roster, this is one of those things where the answer as far as everyone knows is no, in the sense Femi is still in the plans for NXT going forward,” Meltzer wrote. “However, they do swerve people and tell almost nobody about call-ups a lot of the time so people who should know get blindsided. So it’s a no as far as just about anyone knows, but there is no such thing as a 100 percent no.”
There have also been questions about what’s going on with Tony D’Angelo, who hasn’t been seen in NXT since a Sopranos-style cliffhanger was done in July. What’s next for D’Angelo remains to be seen, but Meltzer notes that he is not injured:
“Regarding the disappearance of Tony D’Angelo, it is not injury related but he asked for time off.”
Tuesday’s WWE NXT episode ended with a Sopranos-style cliffhanger.
Tony D’Angelo sat at a restaurant table about to eat when he was interrupted by an unseen figure. In a nod to the infamous series finale of The Sopranos, the scene faded to black before we learned of D’Angelo’s fate:
D’Angelo seemingly wrapped his lengthy storyline involving the members of his D’Angelo Family on the July 15 NXT TV episode, defeating Luca Crusifino and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo in a triple threat match.
The cliffhanger leaves open several possibilities for the D’Angelo character, whether it be a main roster call-up, a continuation of the issues with Crusifino and Lorenzo, or the start of a new feud in NXT.
D’Angelo is a former two-time NXT Tag Team Champion, former Heritage Cup Champion, and former NXT North American Champion. He made his in-ring debut for WWE in 2021 as part of the NXT 2.0 reboot.
The D’Angelo Family saga will come to a conclusion on next week’s WWE NXT with a “final battle.”
Adriana Rizzo made her return to NXT TV on Tuesday’s episode to broker peace talks between the other members of the fractured D’Angelo Family — Tony D’Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, and Luca Crusifino.
After the peace talks failed, the three agreed to a triple threat match on next week’s show, where it will be D’Angelo vs. Lorenzo vs. Crusifino in a final battle to settle their differences.
"As far as family business is concerned, this is the final battle."@AdrianaRizzoWWE did what she had to do, The D'Angelo Family implodes next week… 😔 pic.twitter.com/E1aU4ScHq3
Lorenzo turned on D’Angelo at Stand & Deliver in April of this year. They then met in a singles match at Battleground in May with Lorenzo defeating D’Angelo after a distraction from Crusifino, with it remaining unclear whether or not Crusifino was aligned with D’Angelo or Stacks. Lorenzo has since gone on to win the NXT Heritage Cup.
As a duo, D’Angelo and Lorenzo are former two-time NXT Tag Team Champions.
WWE NXT, Tuesday, July 15 —
“Final Battle” triple threat match: Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo vs. Luca Crusifino
The next Heritage Cup champion will be determined on this Tuesday’s WWE NXT as a rivalry will continued in the process.
With the weekend news that Noam Dar is injured to the point he needed to vacate the Cup, it was announced Sunday that Tony D’Angelo (pictured above) and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo will do battle this Tuesday to determine the new champion.
The news was revealed by Luca Crusifino who is currently D’Angelo’s storyline “consigliere” as well as the former partner of Lorenzo before he turned on D’Angelo and left the group. A recent storyline has D’Angelo doubting Crusifino’s loyalty which this match will undoubtedly lean into.
D’Angelo held the Cup for over three months from May through August 2024, both defeating and losing it to Charlie Dempsey. Lorenzo has yet to hold a singles title in NXT.
Dar was in his fourth reign as champion.
WWE NXT lineup for Tuesday, June 24:
Vacant Heritage Cup Championship: Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing Lorenzo
TNA Champion Trick Williams defends against Josh Briggs
Evolution eliminator fatal four-way: Izzi Dame vs. Jaida Parker vs. Lash Legend vs. Jordynne Grace
You wanted me to prove my loyalty?
You don’t have to trust what I say, trust the move I just made. That’s loyalty.
A new segment has been announced for this week’s edition of WWE NXT.
Following his betrayal of Tony D’Angelo at Stand & Deliver, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo will return to NXT on Tuesday for a face-to-face segment with D’Angelo.
WWE announced the news on Sunday, writing, “For the first time since the SHOCKING betrayal at #StandAndDeliver, @TonyDangeloWWE and @Stacks_WWE will meet each other in the middle of the ring with EVERYTHING to say THIS TUESDAY on #WWENXT!”
Lorenzo’s betrayal at Stand & Deliver led to their team’s loss against members of the new Darkstate faction. The two had been aligned since Lorenzo debuted in NXT in 2022 and twice captured the NXT Tag Team Championships together in 2023.
WWE NXT, Tuesday, April 29 —
NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints defends against Lexis King
NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker and Tank Ledger defend against Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura
Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo face-to-face segment
Tonight, Shawn Spears has the chance to win the first championship of his WWE NXT career.
The Men’s North American title will be on the line as Spears challenges Tony D’Angelo for the belt. They have been at odds recently with Spears leading a new faction — consisting of Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance & Izzi Dame — against the D’Angelo Family.
With one week to go until Roadblock, The Hardy Boyz will make an appearance tonight. Matt & Jeff are coming off a victory over Tavion Heights & Myles Borne — and they have a TNA Tag Team title defense lined up against Nathan Frazer & Fraxiom on next Tuesday’s special NXT episode from The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven are in NXT tonight for a tag match against Sol Ruca & Zaria. Also confirmed for the episode is a singles bout pitting Kelani Jordan against Jaida Parker.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Interestingly enough, a commercial for AEW Dynamite aired on the CW affiliate in the Houston market just before NXT went on the air.
NXT is back at the sound stage at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, and NXT is taped before a live studio audience.
Opening the show this week is a women’s tag team match set up by a skit on the previous episode.
Sol Ruca & Zaria defeated WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green & Piper Niven
Ruca pinned Green to win the match. So, Ruca scores a pinfall on the US champ, likely setting up a match. This was a good opener. They all worked well together, and there were possibly some seeds planted for an eventual turn. Green got a bloody nose in the match.
Early on in the match, Zaria against Niven was a battle of two powerhouses. Ruca does a wild dive over the ropes to the floor, but Green responds with a senton. The heels take control as the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.
The heel duo gets heat on Ruca, building to a hot tag. Zaria runs wild. Somewhere along the way, Green gets her nose busted open. Green is lifted on Zaria’s shoulders, and Ruca does a moonsault for a modified Doomsday Device. Zaria lifts Niven and gives her a F5 on top of Green. Ruca then executes a Sol Snatcher on Green, and Ruca covers Green for a three count.
Ruca runs around the ring celebrating the win, and Zaria briefly glares at her. Is that foreshadowing an eventual turn, or am I reading too much into it?
Trick Williams is talking with NXT GM Ava when they are interrupted by Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon. They have a gift basket of office supplies for Ava. How thoughtful of the young lads. Trick shoves the gift away, and Trick tells them to come back later with their package. Dixon tells Trick to call down, and Trick and shoves gift into Dixon’s chest.
Trick then tells them to go bother Mr. Chase. Dixon remarks that Trick was the reason Chase U was put on line in the first place. Trick then snaps and shoves Dixon against a roll-up door (likely for the sound effects it makes). Ava orders Trick to let him go as Trick tells Dixon he will find out tonight. This appears to set up a match tonight between Trick and Kale Dixon. Yes, the dude is named Kale. Same as the leafy member of the cabbage family.
Jaida Parker defeated Kelani Jordan
Parker pinned Jordan after a hip attack. The outcome would seem to conclude the program between Parker and Jordan, and what a match to end the feud if this is it. The match goes through a commercial break, so they were given plenty of time to deliver. And they delivered with a good match.
Jordan is currently on a losing streak, and the announcers played it up on commentary. Nothing gets someone over like a losing streak. Jordan still had a mean streak, but she still does all of her babyface spots. They build to Jordan executing a Spanish Fly off the top rope.
Moments later, Jordan tries to follow up with a 450 splash. No water in the pool. Parker moved out of the way, and Parker catches Jordan with a Parker’s hip attack finisher. Parker then covers Jordan for a three count.
NXT Champion Oba Femi is at a kayfabe press conference. This builds up the upcoming title defense against TNA X-Division Champion Moose at NXT Roadblock.
TNA Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy enter the sound stage for an in-ring promo. Jeff says it is good to be in NXT, and it is great to be “home” in WWE. They talk about beating No Quarter Catch Crew. Hardy Boyz were over with the studio audience, which should be no surprise.
Out comes Hank Walker & Tank Ledger to interrupt the promo. Tank apologized for interrupting them, and he says they wanted to get advice from two GOATs. Matt & Jeff put them over, and Jeff says to get noticed they need to take it to the extreme. He was not talking about high spots, but about the hungry and whatnot.
They are all soon interrupted by Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura. Those two cut promos on Hank & Tank. Briggs & Inamura want a title shot. Hank asks Tank if he is thinking what he is thinking, and then they both dive through the ropes on Briggs & Inamura. The two teams brawl to the back.
Suddenly, in the ring with The Hardy Boyz is Fraxiom. NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazier & Axiom are there to confront Matt & Jeff, but in a respectful way. They plug their match in a couple weeks Roadblock. Fun segment, albeit a bit long in the tooth.
Jordynne Grace defeated Cora Jade via referee stoppage
The referee stopped the match when Jade apparently suffered an injury. Jade is backed into a corner during a commercial break, and the ref moves in to break them up. The ref backs Grace away as medical staff get into the ring to check on Jade. This all happens before the show returns from the break.
When the show does return from commercials, Jade gets up and is escorted out of the ring. Grace smirks as she is announced as the winner via referee stoppage.
Ethan Page and Je’Von Evans argue and cut promos on each other in a segment where they are on separate satellite feeds. This was similar to the old “Face-to-Face” segments on WWF Superstars of Wrestling, except this was far more serious. Evans cuts an impassioned promo on Page.
Trick Williams defeated Kale Dixon via referee stoppage
Williams smashes Dixon in a squash match, and the referee stepped in to stop the match. Trick rocked Dixon with a flying punch soon as the bell rang to start the match. Trick began to pummel Dixon, and the ref stops the match.
After the match, Trick calls out Eddy Thorpe. This all led to setting up a gimmick match. Thorpe appears on a perch overlooking the ring, and Thorpe challenges Trick to have their match under NXT Underground rules. Trick agrees, so the match is not set with new stips.
Roxanne Perez apparently attacked Jordynne Grace in a backstage angle.
TNA X-Division Chamion Moose is present for a fake press conference. This is for hyping Moose against Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at Roadblock. Moose vows to leave Roadblock as a dual champion.
Ava steps in to announce Roxanne Perez will face Jordynne Grace a Roadblock. Ava says they will take one more question at the press conference. Fatal Influence then crashes the press conference, and Fallon Henley asks Ava why Fallon has not gotten for rematch for the Women’s North American title. Ava says they can talk about this later, and Fallon yells they can talk about it right now. Ava then walks out of the presser. Is that somehow spoofing US politicians at town halls in recent weeks?
Ricky Saints is backstage when he runs into Ridge Holland. Saints and Holland briefly have tense words after Holland says Saints does not belong here. Saints then runs into Shawn Spears, who is heading to the ring for the main event.
Shawn Spears defeated NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo to win the title
Spears pinned D’Angelo to win the championship. Stacks crashing into D’Angelo during the match played into the finish, which furthers the growing rift between Stacks and “The Don” himself.
The match plods through a commercial break. In the closing moments, Spears locks in a sharpshooter. D’Angelo escapes and delivers a fisherman’s buster. Izzi Dame at ringside grabs Spears’ foot. Not sure if she was supposed to put the foot on the rope, but Spears was too far away. So he kicks out instead. Adrianna Rizzo then jumps Dame for interfering, and all hell breaks loose.
The D’Angelo Family and Spears’ faction start brawling around ringside. During the melee, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo is shoved by Spears into D’Angelo. “The Don” takes a Nestea Plunge off the apron on and lands on a folded chair laying on the floor. Spears screams “SO MUCH FOR FAMILY” as he rolls D’Angelo back into in to the ring. Spears with a C4 for a close near fall, as D’Angelo kicks out.
For the finish, D’Angelo goes for a his pop-up finisher, but “The Don” buckles as his back gives out. This plays on an earlier spot in the match, and Spears hooks a leg to cradle D’Angelo for the deciding pinfall. And new…
Variety reports that the current NXT North American Champion has been cast in Season 2 of Wild Cards. He’ll play the role of “Jaws,” who is described as a “commanding criminal mastermind.”
The show airs on The CW in the United States, the same network that airs WWE NXT on Tuesday nights. It is co-produced by the CBC in Canada and stars Vanessa Morgan, Jason Priestley, and Giacomo Gianniotti. Martin Sheen will also have a key role in season two.
The second season will premiere on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, on the CBC in Canada and on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, on The CW in the United States.
Martin Sheen, Ally Sheedy and More Join 'Wild Cards' as Season 2 Guest Stars (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/N0D87G7bcf
D’Angelo is credited under his WWE name on the show rather than his real name, Joseph Ariola.
“WWE champion D’Angelo will play Jaws, a formidable and commanding criminal mastermind,” wrote Ethan Shanfeld.
Earlier this year, Shawn Michaels expressed concern that someone from Hollywood might steal D’Angelo away from NXT due to his acting ability. During an interview with Busted Open Radio, Michaels said, “I’ve got to be honest, things that worry me about Tony D’Angelo is somebody from Hollywood giving him a call and losing him to play the next mob boss because he does such a fantastic job.”
D’Angelo defeated Ethan Page to retain the North American title on last week’s episode of NXT. He also participated in an NXT house show this weekend in Orlando, as the D’Angelo Family defeated Gallus in a six-man tag.
A new match has been added to the lineup for next week’s edition of WWE NXT.
Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen in a non-title match is scheduled for the show. The match follows a segment from this week’s episode that saw Jensen and Shawn Spears visit D’Angelo in his restaurant. Spears and Jensen stated their intentions to challenge for D’Angelo’s NXT North American title before leaving and later being seen with Niko Vance from NXT Level Up.
“After a tense faceoff at the restaurant owned by NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo, Brooks Jensen will contend against The Don of NXT. Jensen will seek to secure a chance to become NXT North American Champion for himself and Shawn Spears. Can Jensen get himself one step closer to glory?”
The lineup for the Tuesday, November 19 WWE NXT:
NXT Championship number one contender’s match, winner faces Trick Williams at Deadline: Andre Chase vs. Ridge Holland [Chase U must disband if Chase loses]
Karmen Petrovic & Ashante Adonis vs. Brinley Reece & Dion Lennox
Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen
Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying matches continue
A match for the Heritage Cup trophy is set for Tuesday’s NXT.
After Lexis King posted a video on social media calling out Tony D’Angelo, the Heritage Cup trophy holder called out King, asking General Manager Ava to set up the match for this coming Tuesday. The match was then made official during Heatwave.
Also made official was Karmen Petrovic taking on Arianna Grace. The two were successful in defeating Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx on the Heatwave pre-show. During the premium live event, the two ended up arguing who the better wrestler was. Ava, who witnessed the argument, responded by setting up a singles match between the two for Tuesday.
Following several weeks of back and forth attacks, Gallus will take on Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe. And after failing to defeat Oba Femi for the North American title, Wes Lee will address his future.
Here is the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
Heritage Cup trophy: Tony D’Angelo defends against Lexis King
D’Angelo pinned Charlie Dempsey two falls to one in the main event of this week’s NXT to win the Heritage Cup Trophy for the first time. The finish had Damon Kemp and Myles Borne come out to attack Stacks and Luca Crusifino at ringside. D’Angelo took both men out but then walked into Dempsey, who bridged D’Angelo for a near fall. D’Angelo then hit his perfect plex finish for the victory.
On last week’s NXT, the show ended with D’Angelo and his family kidnapping Borne and Kemp, preventing Dempsey from invoking the Catch Clause rule that allowed any member of the No Quarter Catch Crew to defend the cup. In the follow-up on this week’s show, Ava fined D’Angelo 20,000 dollars for his actions. D’Angelo gave Ava an envelope with money in it, promising there would be no funny business in the main event.
Dempsey had held the title for 78 days, defeating Noam Dar back on the February 27 edition of NXT.
The road to Stand & Deliver continues on tonight’s edition of WWE NXT.
The WrestleMania weekend NXT special is now less than three weeks away. In advance of their NXT Championship match in Philadelphia, Tony D’Angelo is set to address Ilja Dragunov tonight.
A grudge match between Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes has now been made official for Stand & Deliver. Tonight, Williams will be in action against Noam Dar. It’s Williams’ first match since Hayes betrayed him at Vengeance Day.
Last week, the LWO’s Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro earned their place in an upcoming triple threat number one contender’s tag match. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger and Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs. No Quarter Catch Crew on tonight’s show will determine the other two teams.
Also announced for tonight: Riley Osborne challenges for the Heritage Cup, Tatum Paxley takes on Roxanne Perez, Sol Ruca is back in action against Brinley Reece, and we’ll hear from NXT North American Champion Oba Femi.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– After the WWE signature open, we went straight to Roxanne Perez entering the WWE Performance Center and our opening match, as Vic Joseph welcomed us to the show.
Roxanne Perez defeated Tatum Paxley
As Paxley tried to run into the ring, Perez attacked her outside the ring and threw her inside to start the match. Paxley fought out of Perez’s initial attack and began to take the fight to her.
In the ring, Perez caught Paxley with a modifed arm drag, then continuing to work over the arm of Paxley. Perez snapped Paxley’s arm back to get a near fall. Paxley responded with some strikes of her own while favoring her hurt arm. Enzuigiri by Paxley staggered Perez, as she followed it up with a modified powerslam.
Perez whipped Paxley into the corner, arm-first. She then got Pop Rox on Paxley, then ending this match with a Crossface as Paxley had no choice but to tap.
After the match, Perez got the mic and called out NXT General Manager Ava to give her the NXT Women’s Title opportunity she deserved. Instead, the NXT Womens’ Champion Lyra Valkyria ran out and tried to throw hands with Perez.
A momentary unintentional distraction by Paxley allowed Perez to seize the opportunity and lock in the Crossface on Valkyria. Perez then posed with the NXT Women’s Title over the fallen Valkyria.
Good short match that helped further establish Roxanne Perez’s new heel character and her driven obsession for the NXT Women’s Title. Tatum Paxley’s well-meaning assistance backfiring certainly adds to the story of whether or not Lyra Valkyria trusts well enough.
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– Backstage, Meta-Four were discussing Noam Dar’s upcoming match with Trick Williams. The group was then interrupted by Alpha Academy’s Akira Tozawa, Otis, and Maxxine. Otis made a remark about Lash Legend, stating that he was “jelly of Trick Willy”, which made Meta Four leave the scene.
– As a doctor was tending to Lyra Valkyria’s hurt arm, NXT GM Ava visited her. Valkyria cut to the chase and asked Ava to make the match for NXT Stand & Deliver: Lyra Valkyria versus Roxanne Perez. Ava agreed as Valkyria walked off.
Josh Briggs calls out Oba Femi
Briggs showed up at the commentary desk and challenged Oba Femi for taking out his best friend Brooks Jensen, and doing so with a smile.
Femi immediately showed up, mic in hand. He said that he relished the idea of testing a man’s limits, because in the ring, the only thing that matters is results. Briggs interrupted Femi and questioned his claims of being the “baddest dude in NXT”, demanding that Femi put his North American Championship on the line.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” said Femi.
Dijak made his way to the ring, reminding Femi that once he was “done playing around”, he was waiting for him. Briggs cut Dijak off, calling him “wannabe Shaft”, much to Dijak’s dismay.
Femi said that this wasn’t about either Briggs or Dijak, it was about him, and everyone else. Briggs shoved Dijak into Femi as a brawl broke out. Femi clotheslined Briggs out of the ring as Dijak countered an attemped back drop by Femi.
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– Shawn Spears was backstage watching a screen. He said that “pride always comes before a fall”, walking off afterwards. Unbeknownst to him, Joe Gacy peered from the background, laughing.
– We got a recap of Trick Williams challenging Carmelo Hayes to a match at NXT Stand & Deliver. They showed Carmelo Hayes arriving to the Performance Center, accompanied by his security detail.
Tag Team Qualifying Match: Axiom & Nathan Frazer defeated Myles Borne & Charlie Dempsey
Myles Borne & Charlie Dempsey were the chosen representatives for the NQCC.
Dempsey and Axiom started off the match, as Dempsey had control, right up until Frazer was tagged in. Frazer hit a nice kick on Dempsey and took it to him with a sustained offense. Borne tagged in and Frazer continued to control the pace of the match with repeated arm drags.
Tag to Axiom as Frazer sends Borne to the outside. Axiom and Frazer hit alternating dives on Borne and Dempsey outside the ring. With the action back in the ring, Dempsey took back momentum with a counter of an Axiom pin attempt into a fantastic German suplex. Axiom sent to the outside right in front of Dempsey’s NQCC teammates as the action continued into the picture-in-picture commercial break.
As NXT returned live, Axiom and Dempsey were fighting it out. Bridging fallaway slam by Dempsey got a two-count. Axiom fought out of Dempsey’s submission as the two began a hard chop exchange.
Hot tag to Frazer, who took Borne and Dempsey down with a double dropkick. Running shooting star by Frazer on Borne almost got the win for him and Axiom.
Phoenix Splash avoided by Borne. Attempted springboard dive by Frazer countered into a catching powerslam that was only a near-fall. Alternating tags by Axiom and Frazer as Axiom hit an avalanche Spanish Fly, followed by Frazer landing the Phoenix Splash on Borne. Axiom with the Golden Ratio to intercept Dempsey as Frazer pinned Borne to bring his team one step closer to an NXT Tag Title shot.
Fantastic, fast-paced match to help get the Performance Center crowd hyped, with well-earned “this is awesome” chants. The team of Frazer and Axiom compliment their styles well and their offense is just so enjoyable to watch. Dempsey’s technical style continues to get better with every match and it was a nice to get a glimpse of it here.
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– After a recap of Mr. Stone versus Lexis King last week on NXT, we got video from NXT Anonymous showing Stone arguing with Von Wagner, upset about being carried by him following King’s beatdown.
– NXT Tag Champions Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker were interviewed about the continuing NXT Tag Team Contenders tournament. Breakker joked that Corbin was mad about paying for dinner last night. Alpha Academy showed up and said that they wanted to earn their place at Stand & Deliver. They challenged Corbin & Breakker to a match next week, where if they win, they’d be added to the NXT Tag Title match at Stand & Deliver. Breakker accepted on his team’s behalf.
Sol Ruca defeated Brinley Reece (with Edris Enofe & Malik Blade)
Ruca started off with some impressive acrobatics, which prompted Reece to answer with a cartwheel of her own. Reece with a headlock that Ruca fought out of. Acrobatic flip by Ruca led into an X-Factor for the two.
Reece with the clotheslines on Ruca and a scoopslam. Ruca slammed Reece an middle-rope avalanche flip as she began to take over. Sol Snatcher by Ruca brought this match to an end.
Post-match, Blair Davenport attacked Ruca from behind, laying her out with a Kamigoye knee.
A good match to establish Ruca back into the fold, and the post-match attack by Davenport should lead to a Stand & Deliver match.
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– Backstage, Gigi Dolin & Wren Sinclair discussed Gigi’s match with Ariana Grace last week. Grace showed up and brought out a sash that said “Miss NXT in Training”, and forced her to wear it, much to Dolin’s dismay.
– An Instagram video from Ridge Holland was shown, discussing his future.
Tony D’Angelo addresses Ilja Dragunov
Tony D’Angelo came out to the ring, flanked by his Family.
He started by saying that he will get his big opportunity at Stand & Deliver, boasting that the D’Angelo Family is in a period of aggressive growth and expansion. He introduced Luca Crusifino and boasted his legal successes, calling him his new “consigliere.”
Crusafino got the mic to say he pledged his loyalty to the D’Angelo Family.
D’Angelo once again talked about how he’s the one man who will break the unbreakable, before Ilja Dragunov interrupted on the titantron.
Dragunov talked about how D’Angelo left him alone on a bridge last week with his thoughts, declaring that the NXT Title is the one power that will be beyond his reach.
D’Angelo cut off Dragunov, saying that he doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation, mentioning that he got Ava to book a match next week with Stacks Lorenzo versus Dragunov. D’Angelo announced that Dragunov may not make it to Stand & Deliver in one piece, stating that he’ll see him next week.
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– Riley Osborne was shown training for his Heritage Cup match up next, as Thea Hail showed up and apologized for her behavior on their date last month. Osborne accepted Hail’s apology and headed out, with Hail and Chase U following him.
– They showed TikTok videos from Lola Vice & Karmen Petrovic showing off their karate skills.
Heritage Cup Match: Drew Gulak defeated Riley Osborne to retain
Drew Gulak will represent NQCC in this matchup.
The first round began with Gulak and Osborne locking it up in the ring. Osborne escaped out of Gulak’s hold and hit a running crossbody on him. Lots of back and forth action as the round hit the final minute.
In the dying minute of round one, Osborn hti a Shooting Star Press to pick up the first fall.
As the second round started, Gulak left the ring, only to be confronted by Chase U. This gave Osborne the opening to hit a dive to the outside on Gulak. Back in the ring, Osborne continued the attack on Gulak. Dueling rollups by Gulak and Osborne get near falls, but in the end, Gulak tied it up with a pin with about 1:36 left in round two. Cheap shot by Gulak after the fall causes a bit of a scuffle as we headed to a picture-in-picture commercial break.
NXT returned with round three almost done as Gulak and Osborne were at a standstill. Osborne’s top rope move was caught into a submission by Gulak, who turned that submission into a Gu-Lock. Osborne held on just long enough for the round to expire.
A replay of Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx showing up during the picture in picture break to cause trouble was shown.
Round four began with Osborne hitting a nice rolling hurricanrana for the near fall. More dueling pinfall attempts from each men also net near falls. Osborne and Gulak are in a deadlock as the time winded down on round four.
Osborne got Gulak up on the top rope as Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail got into it, with the action spilling into the ring. Osborne’s attempted superplex was stopped by Jazmyn Nyx, who tripped up Osborne while the referee was distracted to give Gulak the victory.
I enjoyed this match. Osborne showed some nice potential, and Gulak is always a pleasure to watch, even if the No Quarter Catch Crew gimmick isn’t exactly one to write home about.
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– Brooks Jensen was shown walking outside the infamous NXT parking lot, as Fallon Henley talked to him. Jensen was mad about people taking pity on him before leaving. Kelani Jordan then appeared, angry about Izzi Dame and Kiana James supposedly attacking her. Henley offered to assist Jordan against Dam and James.
– Backstage, Ava was on the phone before Duke Hudson & Thea Hail confronted her. Ava told Hail that as a result of Jazmyn Nyx’s actions in the earlier match, she will face Nyx next week on NXT. Ava then talked to Hudson, stating that he’ll also be in action next week, and that a win next week will mean good things for Hudson in the North American Title picture.
Tag Team Qualifying Match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson defeated Tank Ledger & Hank Walker
The match was joined in progress with both teams brawling in the ring. Once things settled, Walker & Anderson were the legal men as the match continued.
Suplex by Walker got a one-count. Anderson retreated to his corner and tagged Gallows in. Now it’s Gallows in control momentarily, as he punched Walker on the top rope, sending him crashing outside. Gallows threw Walker around the barricade and apron before sending him back to the ring.
Gallows worked over Walker in his corner, then flooring him with a nasty clothesline. Tag to Anderson as Walker began to fight back a bit until Anderson regained control.
The Good Brothers still had Walker isolated from Tank Ledger, with back and forth tags and offense. Walker finally created an opening with a kick to Gallows, and then the headbutt to Anderson. Hot tag to Tank Ledger as the big man finally got into the match.
Nice double team catch and toss by Walker and Ledger almost got the win, but the pin was interrupted. Running powerslam interrupted as Gallows pulled Walker outside, leaving Ledger alone for the Magic Killer by Gallows & Anderson. And they advance to the Triple Threat Qualifier.
A hard hitting match, but not something I could fully get behind with. Might just be because these two teams don’t really have that much of a chemistry with each other. There’s at least room for improvement on Walker and Ledger’s end.
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– Kelly Kincaid was backstage with Trick Williams. She asked him about his thoughts on the upcoming match with Noam Dar. Trick said that he was ready for Noam Dar’s challenge and that if Carmelo Hayes showed his face, he’d whoop his ass again.
– Izzi Dame & Kiana James were talking with Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx briefly, before Fallon Henley and Kelani Jordan attacked Dame & James. NXT referees separated the two.
– Scheduled for next week’s NXT: Thea Hail vs. Jazmyn Nyx, Ilja Dragunov vs. Channing “Stacks Lorenzo”, Alpha Academy vs. Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin, Duke Hudson vs. Josh Briggs, and Shawn Spears vs. Dijak.
Trick Williams defeated Noam Dar
Booker T went crazy for Trick’s entrance and the fans chanting “Whoop that Trick!”
Scoop slams by Williams’ on Dar started the match off. Dar caught Williams’ foot for an ankle lock attempt, but he fought out of it. Armbar by Dar is turned into a pin attempt by Williams, who kicked out.
Backfist from Dar is followed by a guillotine submission on Williams, but the strength of Trick was too much. Fierce uppercut by Williams flattened Dar soon after. On the corner, Dar took Williams off his feet with a kick. Now it’s Dar on the offense with a hard dropkick for the two-count.
A picture-in-picture cut in showed Carmelo Hayes’ door, with the private security detail knocking on the door.
Back in the ring, as Williams won the tug-of-war between he and Dar, following that up with a pop-up uppercut to send Dar scurrying to the outside. Final picture-in-picture commercial break of the night upcoming.
Returning to live action, Williams threw Dar down with a powerbomb, but that only got a two-count. Dar and Williams began to trade blows, with Dar winning out in the end. Leaping forearm clothesline by Williams stopped Dar’s momentum.
Dar countered a spinebuster into a DDT, but that only netted a near-fall. Ankle lock by Dar, but Williams reaches the rope to break the hold.
Williams got a Book End out of nowhere on Dar to begin his own flurry of offense. Lash Legend got on the apron, which distracted Williams long enough to get felled by a German suplex and back elbow combo from Dar for the very close near-fall.
Dar in the corner, but his attempt at a finish is stopped by Williams’ Trick Shot knee for the one, two, three.
Post-match, Williams got on the mic and immediately challenged Carmelo Hayes to fight him right now. Hayes’ personal security detail showed up and surrounded the ring, with Hayes himself soon following. But “Carmelo Hayes” on the ramp is a decoy, as the real Hayes unmasked as one of the security detail. He attacked Williams and had the remaining security hold him up, before finishing Williams with his running knee. NXT concluded with Hayes talking trash to a downed Williams as the crowd booed his dastardly attack.
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Overall, an entertaining NXT that continues to finalize the Stand & Deliver card nicely. The main event Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes feud is an intense one, and I enjoyed the closing angle with Hayes getting the upper hand on Trick with some trickery of his own. Their match at Stand & Deliver is one deserving of a stipulation, and hopefully we get one announced soon.
Heel Roxanne Perez is a success so far and she is killing it as an entitled heel willing to go any lengths to get the title she never lost back. Her eventual match with Lyra Valkyria at Stand & Deliver should be great.
I’m interested in seeing Tony D’Angelo potentially transition into a more ruthless mob boss character, and bringing that aspect out against Ilja Dragunov will only help heat this title feud up even more.
The mini-tournament to decide the NXT Tag Team Championship challengers has been fun and the triple threat between LWO, Axiom & Nathan Frazer, and the Good Brothers should be quite entertaining.
Lots to enjoy from tonight’s edition of NXT for sure.
Femi successfully retained his title against Brooks Jensen on last week’s episode as he continues to build a program with Jensen’s former tag team partner, Josh Briggs. Briggs was at ringside for Femi vs. Jensen last Tuesday and Femi stared him down while power-bombing his Jensen during the match.
WWE has also announced that “we’ll hear from” Tony D’Angelo on Tuesday’s show as well.
Ilja Dragunov’s challenger for Stand & Deliver is now set.
Tony D’Angelo defeated Carmelo Hayes at NXT Roadblock on Tuesday to become the new number one contender. With the win, D’Angelo will now face the NXT Champion at Stand & Deliver on April 6.
The finish of the match had Hayes distracted by Trick Williams’ music. That allowed D’Angelo to pick up the win with his fisherman’s suplex. After the match, D’Angelo revealed that he was the one behind the music, but then introduced Williams, who came out through the crowd and attacked both Hayes and his security team.
On last week’s NXT, Hayes and Dragunov were about to sign for a match against one another when D’Angelo came to the ring. He said he had talked to NXT General Manager Ava, and the contract now would he him taking on Hayes where the winner would face Dragunov at Stand & Deliver.
Williams had been off TV since the events of NXT Vengeance Day last month, where he was blindsided by Hayes, who clipped his leg and repeatedly attacked Williams with a steel chair. Hayes would later reveal that he was the one who attacked Hayes backstage last fall.
