NXT’s biggest show of the year – Stand & Deliver is back for the fourth year running. The annual event kicks off WWE WrestleMania weekend and goes down on Saturday, April 6th, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The show features several title matches but centres around the highly anticipated grudge match between former friends Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams.
The full card read as follows:
- Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
- Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo – NXT Championship
- Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Axiom and Nathan Frazer – Tag Team Championships
- Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez – Women’s Championship
- Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple threat match for the North American Championship
- Thea Hail, Fallon Henley, and Kelani Jordan vs. Jacy Jayne, Kiana James, and Izzi Dame
- Shawn Spears vs. Joe Gacy – Pre Show
With all this going down in Philly, let’s pick our winners…
Shawn Spears vs. Joe Gacy
Spears and Gacy got into each other’s business during their pursuit of the North American Championship. Of course, Spears’ trusty steel chair came into play, which set up the match between the two at the PLE.
Prediction: Both men are in need of a win. Spears who has recently returned will want to his first PLE back to be successful while Gacy is on a heavy losing streak. Joe Gacy wins.
Thea Hail, Fallon Henley, and Kelani Jordan vs. Jacy Jayne, Kiana James, and Izzi Dame
This six woman tag came about after Jayne, who was acting as Hail’s mentor, cast her aside for a new protege. Supported by Henley and Jordan, Hail declared her friendship with Jayne was toxic and will now team up to take on her and the duo of James and Dame.
Prediction: The trio of Hail, Henley and Jordan will have a tough battle against their conniving opponents, and will likely fall at their hands to continue the feud between Hail and Jayne. Jacy Jayne, Kiana James, and Izzi Dame win.
Oba Femi (c) vs. Dijak vs. Josh Briggs – Triple threat match for the North American Championship
The youngest North American Champion, Oba Femi has not one but two opponents to worry about at Stand & Deliver. Since winning the title, Dijak has targeted the NXT newcomer while Briggs got involved after the champ beatdown his partner.
Prediction: There is no doubt that Dijak is one of the toughest performers on the scene right now and for some reason the brand is trying to elevate Briggs, but there is no way Femi loses the title here. Oba Femi retains.
Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez – Women’s Championship
It was at last year’s event that Perez lost the title in a ladder match and she is determined to get it back. Several setbacks on her way back to title contention including a title challenge loss to Valkyria at Vengeance Day have altered her attitude. Driven by anger and frustration she attacked the champ and set up the match.
Prediction: Although Perez has been held the title before it seems she has more momentum going into the match than the champion. Unfortunately, Valkyria’s reign hasn’t set the world alight and a new version of Perez as champion could fix that. Roxanne Perez – New Women’s Champion
Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker (c) vs. Axiom & Nathan Frazer – Tag Team Championships
Breakker and Corbin became an unlikely but effective tandem during the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They won the tournament and then captured the tag titles the next week. Following their win, several teams wanted a shot at the titles and after a tournament, Axiom and Frazer booked their tickets to Philadephia.
Prediction: Despite being an intimidating force, the fact that Breakker has now signed to SmackDown seems to foreshadow a title change. Nathan Frazer & Axiom win – New Tag Team Champions.
Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo – NXT Championship
The Don of NXT surprised the wrestling world when he became the number one contender to face the Mad Dragon for the title. Since then D’Angelo and his crew abducted the champion to express his respect and admiration for Dragunov’s fighting spirit.
Prediction: The champion will have his work cut out for him due to interference from The Family, but Dragunov is built differently and will take everything D’Angelo has to throw at him. Ilja Dragunov retains.
Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
Former best friends turned bitter rivals, will meet face-to-face for this first time in the main event. Following the betrayal Hayes continued to goad but avoided his former ally, which led to Williams issuing a challenge to Melo to get revenge.
Prediction: The match is a culmination of a well-crafted months-long storyline between the two. The passion and emotion will accompany the action in what will be Williams’ biggest win to date and a perfect swan song for Hayes who seems to be the main roster bound. Trick Williams wins.
NXT Stand & Deliver on Saturday, April 6th, streaming live at noon ET/9 AM PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.