NXT Stand & Deliver dominated the wrestling conversation this week, proving that the brand remains the most unpredictable laboratory in the industry. As the dust settles on the St. Louis event, the show left us with a mix of genuine championship shifts and bizarre technical hiccups that suggest some growing pains for WWE's production team.
Lola Vice captures gold amid broadcast confusion
Lola Vice kicked off the show by pinning Jacy Jayne in a triple threat match—which also featured Kendal Grey—to become the new NXT Women’s Champion. It was an athletic, high-stakes opener, but the match will unfortunately be remembered for the wrong reasons. WWE faced repeated broadcast blackouts during the contest, leaving viewers at home in the dark during key sequences.
The post-match scene shifted the tone entirely, as Vice celebrated her victory with Sexyy Red in a viral backstage moment. While the celebration generated significant social media buzz, it felt disconnected from the gravity of a championship win. It is a strange creative choice to prioritize viral clip potential over building a serious aura around a new titleholder.
Myles Borne’s bittersweet night
Myles Borne secured a massive profile win by defeating veteran Johnny Gargano to retain his NXT Men’s North American Championship. Ending a match with someone of Gargano’s caliber is a proven way to establish a titleholder, but the aftermath turned chaotic immediately. Borne was struck with a chair moments after his music hit, cutting his celebration short and signaling that despite the win, his target has only grown larger.
Mercedes Moné unloads her trophy case
In a surprising development outside the WWE sphere, Mercedes Moné has vacated her APAC Women’s Championship. Citing budget issues, Moné is now officially holding zero active titles. This trend of championship vacancy often signals a reorganization behind the scenes or a shift in travel priorities for talent working internationally.
Ted DiBiase vs. Dennis Rodman
The announcement regarding Dennis Rodman’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame has not been met with universal praise. Legend Ted DiBiase has been vocal in his disdain, stating that the decision pisses him off. Traditionalists view the inclusion of non-wrestlers as a dilution of the honor, and DiBiase clearly falls into that camp.
While Rodman’s cultural impact is undeniable, the argument against his inclusion is rooted in the idea of preserving the sanctity of the industry’s highest individual honor. When veterans speak out like this, it forces the company to defend its criteria for entry, which often leans heavily into mainstream optics rather than pure in-ring contributions.
Tatum Paxley’s vindication
Tatum Paxley finally closed the book on her feud with Blake Monroe, successfully defending the Women’s North American Title at Stand & Deliver. Given that Monroe had physically stolen the belt in previous weeks, this victory served as the necessary palate cleanser for Paxley. She now moves forward with actual legitimacy, rather than being defined by the theft of her own property.
Looking Ahead
With WrestleMania 41 looming on April 19-20, the focus shifts to the main roster’s final sprint. We also have high-profile independent events like CMLL Slamfest in Las Vegas featuring Mistico vs. Hechicero on the horizon. Expect the NXT result patterns to influence how WWE builds the undercard for the biggest weekend of the year.
