WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 26

Stand & Deliver 2024 is just around the corner. The March 26 edition of WWE NXT would continue to build the gold brand's WrestleMania weekend show.

Tony D'Angelo challenged Ilja Dragunov to battle The Underboss, Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo, ahead of the NXT Championship battle of The Don and Mad Dragon.

Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin agreed to fight Alpha Academy's Otis and Akira Tozawa, promising that the two would be added to the NXT Tag Team Championships match if they won.

Dijak and Josh Briggs both wanted a shot at Oba Femi. They would have to earn it in separate matches against Shawn Spears and Duke Hudson.

NXT would look more in-depth into the feud of Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams with Prime Target. Lola Vice issued an open challenge to get back to action after several weeks away.

This week's show had a chance to truly set the stage for the biggest show of the year for NXT.

Dijak vs. Shawn Spears

Dijak was locked in throughout this match, always ready for Shawn Spears' next counter. When The Chairman caught his superkick, he backed up and hit a second clean to set up Feast Your Eyes for the victory.

While Hard Justice has often looked best in stipulation matches, this was a great showcase of his impressive athleticism. He shined in a babyface role for the first time in years.

It may be temporary, but Dijak fits a crowd-pleasing role with his impressive varied offense. Spears was a solid foil for him, pushing him to go bigger with each move.

It was obvious that the two are veterans, especially on the NXT roster. The pacing built nicely throughout until everyone was behind the action.

The right man won, and NXT has to consider Dijak as an option to dethrone Oba Femi if he stays in NXT past WrestleMania.

Result

Dijak def. Spears by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Dijak wiped out Spears with a somersault senton to the floor, working as the surprise fan favorite in this early on.
• Joe Gacy pulled Spears' steel chair under the ring during the match. Afterward, he hopped on the announce table to taunt Spears.
  
• Crowd was all in on this match as it hit its top gear, even giving a "Fight Forever" chant.
  

• Gacy threw Spears' steel chair from the ceiling of the Performance Center as a taunt, but he almost hit Oba Femi.
  

Thea Hail (w/ Chase U) vs. Jazmyn Nyx (w/ Jacy Jayne)

Jacy Jayne managed to get Chase U thrown out by the referee with some tricky use of the Chase U towel. She then slapped Thea Hail behind the referee's back.

Hail still rolled through Jazmyn Nyx's pin attempt to force a tap out with the Kimura Lock. Afterward, Kiana James and Izzi Dame helped Jayne beat down Hail until Fallon Henley and Kelani Jordan made the save.

Hail did some heavy lifting in this match as Nyx did not do much here with her offense. However, it was smoother than expected, leading to a finish that felt entirely appropriate.

The way she intentionally snapped the arm in the Kimura showed how much Hail has been pushed to hate Jayne and Nyx. That attitude will hopefully extend to a heated singles match between Hail and Jayne soon.

Immediately, it looks like a six-woman tag is the plan. That could be a good way to get more women on the Stand & Deliver card.

Result

Hail def. Nyx by submission.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Jayne distracted the referee and Hail early, setting up a school boy pin that almost stole the win.
• Various stars including Hank Walker and Tank Ledger as well as Mailk Blade and Edris Enofé auditioned for hosting duties at Stand & Deliver.
• Later, Meta-Four officially announced the group would host the NXT premium live event.
  

Lola Vice vs. Natalya

Natalya was the surprise opponent for Lola Vice, who answered her open challenge. Vice took over the action early, using physical strikes to wear down The BOAT.

Karmen Petrovic arrived to cheer on Natalya, which distracted The Breakout Superstar long enough for The BOAT to trap her opponent in a pinning combination for three.

While Natalya's appearance was a surprise, The BOAT was not the most exciting opponent for Vice. However, they hinted at something good in the future. Some of the transitions were impressive as Vice showed off her technical prowess.

While this would have been a nice opportunity to get The Breakout Superstar some momentum, Vice is not ready to defeat a main roster star like Natalya.

If the plan is for The BOAR to stay in NXT longer though, she would be a valuable rival for the young roster. She could also team up with Petrovic to get her over in NXT finally.

Result

Natalya def. Vice by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Vice seamlessly reversed the Sharpshooter into a heel hook.
  
• In a pre-taped video, Sol Ruca challenged Blair Davenport to a match next week. Davenport accepted in a follow-up interview.

Ilja Dragunov vs. Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo (w/ Adrianna Rizzo)

Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo was given marching orders, attacking the left hand fingers of Ilja Dragunov. The Mad Dragunov won with Torpedo Moscow, but his fingers looked contorted afterward from the focused assault.

This was a short match but impressively focused. Stacks and Dragunov told a strong story, sold by the way Dragunov contorted his fingers throughout after The Underboss laid in his stomps.

The result was inevitable, but the two made a unique impression that should linger to Stand & Deliver. Tony D'Angelo has his target, potentially the way to break the NXT champion.

With so many big matches set for Stand & Deliver, this is the least exciting Dragunov match in a while, but The Don and The Mad Dragon will make it well worth watching.

Result

Dragunov def. Stacks by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Only Arianna Rizzo was in Stacks' corner, but The Don and Luca Crusifino watched from the locker room.
  
• The Underboss surprise Dragunov with an early clothesline and running low uppercut to take over the action.
• Afterward, The Don told The Consigliere to invite The Mad Dragon to a special dinner next week.
  

Ridge Holland Announces He Is Stepping Away from In-Ring Competition

Ridge Holland announced that he was stepping away from in-ring competition indefinitely due to his concerns about his physical and mental resilience.

Much like everything Holland has done in NXT, the former rugby star just came off awkward making this announcement. It did not feel sincere and will likely not require a long absence.

No matter how long it takes, NXT must rewrite Holland's story upon his return. He needs a fresh character and focus to make the most of this chance.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• The crowd clapped for Holland at the end as he walked away, though they did not seem too concerned with telling him to stay.
• Roxanne Perez and Lyra Valkyria cut pre-taped promos looking back at their legacies. The Prodigy was disgusted with her past self. The Valkyrie was content and refused to lose to the "broken" Perez.
• In a trio of dramatic video packages, NXT highlighted the journeys of Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams to Stand & Deliver, including comments from Booker T, CM Punk and Randy Orton.
  

Josh Briggs vs. Duke Hudson

Duke Hudson was completely focused as the underdog in this match, but Josh Briggs hit too hard when it mattered. He finished this with a running clothesline.

Dijak stared down Briggs before Oba Femi arrived to officially announce he would face both big men in a triple threat at Stand & Deliver.

This was a fun clash of talented big men. They blasted each other with forearms and slams backed up by power and speed.

The finish came out of nowhere though because the two were more focused on hitting the moves than ramping up the pace. This was not at the same level as Dijak's opener with Shawn Spears.

Still, the right man won again, and the expected triple threat has been announced. The three men will deliver, but Dijak will be the veteran that needs to guide the pace of the clash.

Result

Briggs def. Hudson by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Dijak joined commentary to talk up his case for a North American Championship match.
• Briggs was too focused on Dijak at ringside, allowing Hudson to stay in control.
  

Tag Team Qualifier: The Wolf Dogs vs. Alpha Academy (w/ Maxxine Dupri)

It took a double powerbomb on Otis through the announce table, but The Wolf Dogs managed to isolate Akira Tozawa. A Baron Corbin powerbomb into a Bron Breakker Spear won it.

Afterward, LWO, The OC and Nathan Frazer and Axiom arrived to start a brawl ahead of the No. 1 contender match next week.

Once again, Corbin and Breakker deliver as a tag team. This was a phenomenal title match where The Wolf Dogs showed out but still made their rivals look good, especially Otis.

NXT has three interesting teams set up as a potential opponents for The Wolf Dogs. All signs point to Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson emerging from that match as the challengers and eventual champions at Stand & Deliver.

However, The Wolf Dogs will likely make any pairing work. The tag team division feels hot again, and hopefully that plays out in big matches next week.

Result

Corbin and Breakker def. Tozawa and Otis by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson told The Wolf Dogs backstage to get the job done tonight so that it was a traditional tag title match at Stand & Deliver.
• Alpha Academy took the early advantage after Otis threw Tozawa onto The Wolf Dogs outside.
• Otis flipped both Corbin and Breakker over her shoulders then hit the worm on the former Lone Wolf for a near-fall.

Overall Show

While this was not the most exciting show for NXT in the ring, the presentation building toward Stand & Deliver was fantastic.

The multiple video packages sold the top angles for the NXT PLE. Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams once more feels like the hottest angle in NXT and one of the best in all of WWE for WrestleMania weekend.

Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker delivered a fantastic main event while Dijak continues to deliver week in and week out as he did in the opener.

Ilja Dragunov and Tony D'Angelo are moving a little slow in comparison, but the match with Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo was a quality sprint that set the target for The Don at Stand & Deliver.

Overall, the goal was met on the road to Stand & Deliver, and the hype is clear for one of NXT's biggest cards ever assembled. Hopefully, the go-home show will continue that trend.

Overall Grade: B