By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
NXT TV
Orlando, Florida, at the WWE Performance Center
Aired live April 7, 2026, on The CW Network
[Hour One] Highlights aired from last weekend’s NXT Stand and Deliver event…
Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. Mike Rome was the ring announcer. Sarah Schreiber was the backstage interviewer…
Back at the Performance Center, new NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo made his entrance. Vic Joseph noted that Tony D is NXT’s first Grand Slam champion (I’m guessing the Heritage Cup is a reason for that stat). Tony soaked in the obligatory “you deserve it” chants. Tony D noted that a lot of fans have been with him since the beginning. He said he was a kid back then, and today he’s not just “a man” but “the man” as NXT Champion. Tony D said he’s the first ever Grand Slam champion in history.
He talked about making a lot of good and bad decisions when he walked in the door, but he won’t change anything because that’s what made him what he is today. He said as NXT Champion, these hands have an iron grip over the title. He said no man, including Ricky Saints, Ethan Page, and Joe Hendry, can take the title from him. “Say his name and he appears, I believe in Joe Hendry! Clap Clap!”. Former Champion Joe Hendry made his entrance.
Hendry said that Tony D is right, he executed his plan and did it by becoming champion. Hendry said that Tony D was the right man on one night, and he wonders if it would go the other way if those two other clowns, Page and Saints, weren’t involved? All Ego Ethan Page made his entrance. Page said he deserves a one-on-one title match after he pinned Hendry. Page said he would have beaten the knockoff Punisher if he didn’t have to deal with his so-called best friend.
Ricky Saints made his entrance. Saints pointed out Page ending their alliance first. Saints said if Page put his ego aside, he would be champion. Tony D asked for everyone to get in line because if it’s one-on-one, he’ll beat all their asses. DarkState made their light show entrance. Security guards ran out, but couldn’t contain DarkState. The brawl headed into break…[c]
John’s Thoughts: Your formula WWE new champion segment where the title picture takes turns interrupting each other. Tony D came off well as a new champion and having the strong star power players coming after him still (even though some should be called up soon). I think it’s too little too late to try to salvage Temu Shield, but if NXT creative is able to give them a consistent push, maybe there’s something there?
During the break, some locker room members ran out to get things under control. Robert Stone dragged the four title contenders to the Gorilla Position and told them that they’d be facing DarkState later in the show. Sol Ruca walked pass them to make her entrance…
The Culling made their entrance…
1. Sol Ruca vs. Izzi Dame (w/Shawn Spears, Niko Vance). Dame dominated the early match with methodical offense. Sol came back with a Snapmare and Moonsault for a two count. Izzi tripped up Sol for a two count. Sol booted Izzi into the corner and hit her with a meteora. Sol reversed a back suplex into an X Factor. Sol hit Izzi with a Wrecking Ball kick. Sol hit Izzi with a corkscrew springboard crossbody at ringside heading into break.[c]
Back from break, Izzi was dominating. Sol came back with a 450 Clothesline. Sol and Izzi traded Yay Boo right hands. Sol got the rally and landed a Uppercut and back elbow. Sol hit Izzi with a German Suplex. Sol hit Izzi with a Missile Dropkick from the 2nd rope. Sol got a two count after a running knee. Izzi surprised Sol with a Magnum for a nearfall. Sol got a two count off a backslide. Izzi rolled to ringside after being hit by a Spear.
Vance dragged Izzi away from Sol’s moonsault. After a distraction from Spears, Zaria showed up and hit Sol with a Spear at ringside. Izzi hit Sol with a sitout Power Bomb for the victory.
Izzi Dame defeated Sol Ruca via pinfall in 10:35.
John’s Thoughts: So, are they going to parity book things to give Zaria the win in the end? Again, I thought Zaria did gain a bit of cred by kicking out of Sol’s protected finisher. The key again is to make sure to book Zaria as a steamroller moving forward. Of course, call up Sol ASAP!
The Culling celebrated up the ramp. Zaria got in Sol’s face and said “I decide when this ends!”…
The show cut to backstage where The Vanity Project barged into Robert Stone’s office. Blake Monroe entered the office after them. Jackson Drake declared Blake the North American Champion in Vanity Project’s eyes. Drake awarded Blake a customized North American title, sorta a sugar and spice theme. Stone said this is ridiculous. Stone told Blake to pick a Vanity Project member to face Tatum Paxley and Shiloh Hill later in the show. Blake picked Drake…
Vic Joseph hyped the WrestleMania Weekend afterparty event hosted by Rob Gronkowski…
Keanu Carver made his entrance…[c]
An ad aired for WWE’s WrestleMania Weekend Kill Tony show…
An injured Elio LeFleur was in the locker room where he chatted with EK Prosper and Dorian Van Deux. Elio said he’s disappointed he had to relinquish the Speed Title but he would like a friend like Prosper or Van Deux to win if he can’t be champion. Van Deux and LeFleur chatted in a foreign language…
Josh Briggs attacked Jasper Troy during his entrance…
2. Keanu Carver vs. Josh Briggs vs. Jasper Troy. Troy regained control and tackled Briggs into the corner. Carver dragged Briggs to ringside and tossed him into the steel steps. Carver ran through both opponents and got a two count over Troy. Carver hit Briggs with a Shortarm Clothesline for a two count. Carver worked on Briggs with methodical power offense. Booker keeps calling Keanu Carver “Key New” Carver, like he’s never seen a Matrix or John Wick movie.[c]
Carver hit Briggs with a Power Slam for a two count back from break. Carver lifted the big Troy for a Spinebuster two count. Troy and Carver traded standing hands. Troy knocked down Carver with an Axe Handle. Troy took down Briggs with a body slam. Troy hit Briggs with a Black Hole Slam. Troy hit Carver with a Chokeslam. Troy got a two count on Briggs.
Briggs shoved Troy off the top rope. Carver and Briggs traded forearms. Briggs took down Carver with a Big Boot. Troy took down Briggs with a chest slam. Carver dumped Troy to ringside with a Monty Brown Pounce. Carver then hit Briggs with a Pounce. Carver hit Briggs with a modified Jackhammer for the victory.
Keanu Carver defeated Josh Briggs and Jasper Troy via pinfall in 13:02.
John’s Thoughts: A good big man match with the right man going over and the right man eating the pin. Briggs has been damaged enough over the years, to the point where I think It’ll probably be best to protect him once he gets called up.
Shiloh Hill and Tatum Paxley were chatting backstage. Hill said Blake Monroe might just like gold because she’s like an animal who likes shiny objects, like an octopus or magpie. Tatum thought Hill only knew about racoons. Hill said Racoons are his specialty, but he knows a lot of things. Ricky Saints showed up and called Tatum and Hill laughing freaks…
Joe Hendry made his entrance…[c]
The match started once all the men were in the ring…
3. Tony D’Angelo, Ethan Page, Ricky Saints, and Joe Hendry vs. “DarkState” Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Osiris Griffin, and Saquon Shugars. Ethan Page had the advantage at a point. Saints tagged in and DarkState took advantage of their bickering. Joe Hendry tagged in and took down Lennox with a shoulder tackle. Hendry hit Cutler with a delayed Vertical Supex for a two count. Saints tagged in and hit Jakes with his modified Old School. Page tagged in and bickered with Saints.
Page and Saints got on the same page with a double backdrop on Cutler. Griffin took down Saints and Page. Tony D tagged in and ran through Dion and Saquon. Dion took down Tony with a Spinebuster heading into break.[c]
I don’t think Booker’s seen Bill&Ted either.
Lol