In front of more than 16,000 fans in the Wells Fargo Center, NXT's brightest stars would compete to win over the Philadelphia faithful in attendance for WrestleMania weekend.

This made Stand & Deliver 2024 the biggest show the gold brand has ever produced, and the card backed that up.

In the much-anticipated main event, Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes would collide in a heated grudge match. Would Trick finally escape Melo's shadow?

Roxanne Perez brought a new attitude but a familiar goal in her quest to regain the NXT Women's Championship from Lyra Valkyria. How far would she go to be champion again?

Tony D'Angelo has promised to break the unbreakable Ilja Dragunov and capture the NXT Championship. Was he truly ready for The Mad Dragon?

Nathan Frazer and Axiom went through the best tag teams to earn a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships. Could they beat the unstoppable duo of Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin?

In a six-woman clash of rivals, Thea Hail, Fallon Henley and Kelani Jordan would battle Jacy Jayne, Kiana James and Izzi Dame. Joe Gacy also hoped to get some revenge on Shawn Spears.

This show had a chance to be the most important in NXT history. Could the NXT talent step up and deliver WrestleMania moments all their own?

Countdown: Shawn Spears vs. Joe Gacy

Joe Gacy did not have time to prepare for his match with Shawn Spears as Ridge Holland blasted him with a steel chair in the back. It was not enough to stop Gacy from hitting the Upside Down for the victory.

This was a bizarre match. Holland's involvement invalidated his retirement a week in. Gacy sold that he in pain, but Spears did not do nearly enough to take advantage.

This should have been a good showcase of the veteran talent in NXT. Instead, it further invalidated the new heel run of Spears, who is 1-2 since returning.

If a pre-match surprise steel chair shot is not enough to keep Gacy from beating Spears, what does the heel have to do to beat him?

Result

Gacy def. Spears by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Holland joined the Countdown panel to talk about the Stand & Deliver match-up.
  
• Wade Barrett joined the commentary team and found common ground with Booker T quickly in celebrating heel antics.
• Spears hit a Pedigree for just two. Gacy tried to respond with the Upside Down, but Spears blocked it with a knee to the back.
  

NXT Tag Championships: Wolf Dogs (c) vs. Nathan Frazer and Axiom

Nathan Frazer and Axiom started this fight fast, diving onto Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin at ringside. While they hit fast and hard, The Wolf Dogs refused to go down.

Corbin hit End of Days to take out Axiom then Breakker Speared Frazer for the three count and retention.

While other tag teams in WWE have a lot more tenure, these two teams may be the best in WWE right now. This was explosive and exciting. These teams got the crowd rolling early and set a pace for the entire night.

The way that Corbin has leaned into Breakker's frantic pace has made him more fun to watch than any other time in his career. The Wolf Dogs should stay together well past this title reign.

The result was a little surprising only because Breakker is supposedly starting full time on the main roster after WrestleMania. Frazer and Axiom should be considered for a call-up soon since they did not win the gold.

Result

Breakker and Corbin def. Frazer and Axiom by pinfall to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Meta-Four had fun as the hosts, hyping the Stand & Deliver card. They cosplayed for Tony D'Angelo, Chase U, Lyra Valkyria, Dijak and Carmelo Hayes.
• Breakker and Corbin have Wolf Dogs shirts. WWE needs to keep them together onto the main roster.
• Axiom almost stole the win with a surprise Golden Ratio to Breakker. Frazer and Axiom again got close with a Spanish Fly and Phoenix Splash on Breakker.
• Corbin pulled out a shocking diving splash, perhaps the first of his career.
  

North American Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Josh Briggs vs. Dijak

Oba Femi threw around both Dijak and Josh Briggs early, which forced the contenders to work together to fight back.

Dijak nearly had the win, but Briggs got in his way. Hard Justice responded with Feast Your Eyes on Briggs, only for Femi to return by chokebombing Dijak onto Briggs for the pinfall on Briggs.

This was so much more than it had any right to be. These three big men had the crowd on their feet for every near-fall. This was one of the best colossal clashes of big men that WWE has ever delivered.

By the end, Dijak was the ultimate babyface, soldiering through every challenge to almost defeat the unstoppable champion, but Briggs took away his big moment.

If this match was anything to go by, Dijak needs a solo shot at Femi next, and Hard Justice should finally win the title he has sought for so long.

Result

Femi def. Briggs and Dijak by pinfall to retain the North American Championship.

Grade

A

Notable Moments

• Meta-Four tried to get a pre-match interview with Femi, but he ran right through Oro Mensah on his way to the ring.
• WWE leaned into a "Knuckles" promotion with someone in full costume behind the commentators and sponsorships all around the ring.
• In the wildest spot of the match, Briggs flipped Dijak off the top rope onto Femi sitting at ringside in a commentary chair.
  

• Briggs nearly got the win off a top rope clothesline, but Dijak got his foot on the second rope.
• DIjak responded with a near-win on Briggs after his discus big boot and a Canadian Destroyer, but Briggs barely kicked out both times.
• Femi lifted Dijak with Briggs on his shoulders and planted both men. Dijak barely saved Briggs from the pinfall.
• Dijak hit the discus big boot and 2 Feast Your Eyes on Femi, but Briggs pulled the referee out before the count.
  

Thea Hail, Fallon Henley and Kelani Jordan vs. Jacy Jayne, Kiana James and Izzi Dame

After a fast-paced start, Thea Hail finally got Jacy Jayne alone for a one-sided battle. Izzi Dame saved Jayne only to walk into a Kimura Lock that forced a submission.

This was always going to be a cool-down spot on the card since NXT announced it last minute. The women though absolutely stepped up their game, working a crowd that was mostly into the action.

The execution was tight. Nearly everyone looked like they belonged with the small exception of Dame, who is still learning. Hail vs. Jayne was the big story of the match, but Fallon Henley vs. Kiana James delivered the best spots of the match.

Jordan took the heavy beating and sold it all well. Her athleticism continues to give her an impressive ceiling for success. She is just having trouble finding her way to the top in a division that is genuinely loaded with talent.

This match would have benefited from a faster pace though after the ferocious start of the Stand & Deliver card. With nothing on the line besides pride, they were fighting an uphill battle. Hail's win felt like the exact right move.

Result

Hail, Henley and Jordan def. Dame, James and Jayne by submission.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Noam Dar almost got his arm broken by Hail for questioning if she thought Jayne was truly her friend.
• Jayne threw Riley Osborne in the way of Hail's senton off the apron.
• Kiana pulled out a picture-perfect Spanish Fly for a near-fall.
• Afterward, Ava put over the women's division and announced the Women's North American Championship. This was a long-time coming.
  

NXT Women's Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Roxanne Perez

Lyra Valkyria's left arm was the focal point of this match as Roxanne Perez targeted it until it was hard for The Valkyrie to hit her best offense.

Tatum Paxley arrived to try and help, but The Prodigy sent The Valkyrie face first into her closest friend. A second Pop Rox and a Crossface forced Valkyria to tap out.

In the modern era, it is tough to get a crowd invested in a slower, technical battle, and that played out in the early quiet reactions of those in attendance. However, with a steady building pace, they woke up the crowd down the stretch.

These two have better in them while also delivering the best WWE women's match of 2024 so far. That is a true statement of how good they are.

At every turn, The Prodigy played the heel, but the crowd was more invested in her regaining what she deserved. As good as Valkyria has been as champion, Perez is clearly the star of NXT's women's division.

Hopefully, her second title reign will allow her to tell the story that defines her rise all the way to the top of the main roster women's division.

Result

Perez def. Valkyria by submission to become the new NXT women's champion.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• NXT showed Giulia, formerly of Stardom, in the crowd for this match.
• Valkyria showed off a full wing span of black feathers for her entrance.
• Continuing the heavy advertising in key matches, Amazon Prime's "Fallout" series was advertised all around the ring for this one.
• Perez nearly took the win off a tornado DDT outside and Pop Rox in the ring.
• Valkyria kicking out fueled Perez, who sent the champion's left arm repeatedly into the steel post.
• Paxley tried to apologize to Valkyria backstage, but The Valkyrie was not listening.
  

NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tony D'Angelo (w/ The Family)

Tony D'Angelo was not shy about attacking the bandaged right fingers of Ilja Dragunov. However, The Mad Dragon was too tough to stay down, pushing The Don to work from underneath.

In the end, in a fair fight, D'Angelo was not good enough to topple Dragunov, who won with a Torpedo Moscow and diving H-Bomb.

The story of this match was muddled as The Don refused to play heel after weeks of selling himself as willing to do anything to win. However, this eventually became the kind of physical brawl that suits both men.

The two landed heavy shots that could have ended it definitively, but they kept fighting through the pain. Dragunov was simply too much for The Don at this stage, though that might not be true if D'Angelo leans heel in a rematch.

The Mad Dragon remains one of NXT's best, so even his weakest recent premium live event match is well worth watching. The stage is set for only Trick Williams to dethrone Dragunov.

Result

Dragunov def. D'Angelo by pinfall to retain the NXT Championship.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• The Don got an introduction in the style of "The Sopranos" opening.
• Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo handed D'Angelo brass knuckles, but The Don refused to use them.
• Dragunov kissed D'Angelo, seemingly calling the end of the match, which woke up The Don for a major comeback.
• The Mad Dragon sent The Don through the announce table with an H-Bomb then hit a diving senton for a near-fall.
• The two men shook hands afterward with mutual respect.
  

Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes

Trick Williams sent Carmelo Hayes into the crowd early, and the brawl got dangerous quick. In the end, Trick kicked out of Nothin' But Net and planted Melo with the Trick Knee for the victory.

The energy in the arena made this feel special, bigger than everything that came before. The action itself did not quite live up to the billing with multiple unnecessary ref bumps and a pace that made the finish feel out of nowhere.

Still, it was better than the expected alternative where Melo and Trick went over-long to sell the heated rivalry. The energy was enough to carry this one forward and make this a true crowning moment for Trick.

On a night of great action, this was an imperfect yet good battle elevated by the largest crowd an NXT event has ever seen completely invested in every moment.

Result

Trick def. Melo by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• NXT aired a hype video for Je'Von Evans ahead of his Tuesday debut.
• Meta-Four announced an NXT record-breaking attendance of 16,545.
• Melo showed Trick's jersey in the rafters before walking out in a Black Panther-inspired battle vest.
• Trick came out in a boxing jacket with the entire crowd chanting "Whoop That Trick". Booker T provided freestyle backing, much to Wade Barrett's chagrin.
• This crowd absolutely lit up for this match, louder than any other match from the opening bell.
  

• Melo untied the tape from his wrists, threatening to choke out Trick. While Trick fought through, he accidentally ran into the referee.
• The referee recovered in time to take a steel chair away from Trick. Melo took advantage with a low blow for a near-fall.

Overall Show

The stars of NXT did not shy away from competing in front of a massive crowd, working with the spotlight. Hopefully, this night will convince more fans to show for future NXT premium live events across the United States.

The best match of the night was a shocker. Oba Femi, Dijak and Josh Briggs brought it in a battle of big men that will not be soon forgotten. The spots from that match will stand up to WrestleMania's best.

The rest of the card was universally strong. Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin set a wild pace with Nathan Frazer and Axiom.

Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez took the biggest risk by going to the mat, and they took the crowd on a journey that ended with a new welcome NXT women's champion.

Ija Dragunov and Tony D'Angelo could not quite reach the heights of The Mad Dragon's best work but still beat each other up until only one man could stand back up.

Even the match with the weakest build, the six-woman tag, was better than it had any right to be, highlighting by a division that wanted to prove they belonged.

It all culminated in the match everyone came to see. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams delivered with a big-match feel that could have gone longer but absolutely never lost the crowd.

While a few nitpicks keep this from being NXT's greatest show, this stands amongst the elite NXT TakeOvers as the show that should put the gold brand back on the map. WrestleMania has a tough act to follow.

Overall Grade: A-