After a brilliant first night, NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver brought another five matches that promised some great moments. The pre-show saw Drake Maverick and Killian Dain defeat Breezango to earn a title opportunity against MSK, which led to a night of brutality and devastation. Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart defended their tag team titles against Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, Bronson Reed had an opportunity to end Johnny Gargano’s North American Championship run, and Karrion Kross faced off against the Prince as he looked to dethrone the NXT Champion. The main event was going to be a brutal affair, as Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole planned to beat the hell out of each other in an unsanctioned match, but first up, Jordan Devlin and Santos Escobar battled to see who would be the official Cruiserweight Champion of NXT.

Cruiserweight Unification Championship Ladder Match: Santos Escobar (C) vs Jordan Devlin (C)

Both men start off strong, unloading punches on each other as soon as the bell rang. Devlin hit a standing moonsault after a modified Rock Bottom, then dived off the apron and hit a moonsault onto Escobar who was stood outside. He grabbed a ladder from under the ring and smashed it into Escobar’s face, then set it up to grab the belts. Escobar pulled Devlin down and slammed him into the ladder. After a bit of back and forth, he whipped Devlin hard into the ladder that laid against the turnbuckle, sending him flying outside. Outside the ring, Escobar hit a running knee into Devlin who stood against the barricade.

Escobar set the ladder up, and as Devlin climbed in the ring, he dropkicked it and knocked the ladder into the Irish Ace. Escobar then rammed the ladder into Devlin’s sternum a few times before connected with a basement dropkick which knocked the ladder into a grounded Devlin. A third ladder was brought into the ring by Escobar. He set it up on top of the turnbuckle, then continued to talk trash to Devlin as he struggled to get up. Devlin was able to whip Escobar into the ladder that had been set up on the turnbuckle, but Escobar recovered and knocked Devlin to the mat with a dropkick. Devlin quickly got to his feet and ran up the ladder, then dived off and connected with a DDT.

Escobar dived through the ropes and knocked Devlin into a ladder. Back in the ring, Devlin reversed Escobar’s move and sent him over his shoulders back first into a grounded ladder. They traded blows in the middle of the ring until Escobar hit a jumping knee, but Devlin hit a Spanish Fly followed by a spinning cutter. Devlin headbutted Escobar and climbed to the very top rung of the ladder and hit a moonsault in spectacular fashion. He recovered and climbed the ladder to recover the belts, but Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza ran out and pushed him off, sending him flying out the ring.

They continued to attack Devlin outside the ring. Escobar set a ladder up in the ring to grab the belts, but Devlin threw another ladder at his back. He set up a ladder of his own next to Escobar. With both men at the top of different ladders, Devlin hit a Spanish Fly. Devlin got back to his feet and ascended a ladder under the belts, but Escobar joined him. They fought at the top to get the belts, ending with Escobar pushing Devlin off and into a ladder that rested in the corner, snapping it in half. He grabbed both belts and held them high on top of the ladder to pick up the win. Phenomenal performance by both guys and a great start to the night. Escobar celebrated at the top of the ramp with his 9-year old son, Wilde, and Mendoza.

Winner: Santos Escobar Rating: 9/10

NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: The Way (Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) vs Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon (C)

All four women start fighting out the gates, but LeRae hit a standing senton onto Blackheart’s back to gain an early advantage. Hartwell dropped Blackheart into LeRae’s knee, then hit an elbow into her face. LeRae continued to beat down Blackheart with some stomps, then locked in a submission. Hartwell tagged in and went for the pin, but only got a two-count. The Way worked well to prevent Blackheart from tagging in Moon. Shotzi hit a step-up enzuigiri on LeRae and finally tagged in Moon who hit a spinning strike to LeRae after telling her to “suck it.”

Hartwell powerbombed Shotzi who held LeRae, who had Moon in a suplex off the turnbuckle. Hartwell slammed Moon into the mat, but only got a two-count. Moon tagged in Shotzi who hit a crossbody on LeRae and Hartwell, then connected with a tope con hilo through Moon’s legs on The Way who stood outside. Moon flipped off the turnbuckle and landed on The Way outside. They hit a double team move on LeRae, but she was able to kick out. The Way hit a double team move of their own, but Moon broke up the pin.

Moon kneed LeRae in the face as Shotzi hit another step-up enzuigiri. Moon then hit a double Eclipse as Shotzi hit a senton off the turnbuckle onto Hartwell to pick up the win.

Winners: Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon (Still Women’s Tag Team Champions) Rating: 8/10

NXT North American Championship Match: Bronson Reed vs Johnny Gargano (C) W/ Austin Theory

Reed tossed Gargano across the ring and avoided a hurricanrana in the style of Bam Bam Bigelow. He landed a fallaway slam then continued to beat down Gargano in the corner. Gargano hit a slingshot spear, but Reed answered with a slap across the chest. Gargano was able to take Reed off his feet and boot him in the ribs. He dived over the ropes but was caught by Reed, however, he was able to push him into the announce desk. Back in the ring, Reed went for a banzai drop and missed, allowing Gargano to hit a crossbody off the turnbuckle.

Gargano worked on Reed’s ribs on the mat. He jumped on Reed’s back but was thrown into the corner. Gargano jumped off but ate a spinning slam. He squashed Gargano in the corner, then hit a chokeslam. Reed went for a suplex and held Gargano in the air, then hit a jagged edge slam. Reed tried to lift Gargano on the turnbuckle into a suplex, but Gargano knocked him down and hit a backstabber. Reed went for a double chokeslam but Gargano got out, however, Reed landed a big suplex to counter.

Reed went for a standing senton but Gargano rolled out of the way. Gargano tried to lock in the Gargano Escape, but Reed found the ropes. Reed hit a Razor’s Edge off the ramp and into the ring. He climbed the ropes to land a Tsunami, but Gargano moved and hit a superkick, only getting a two-count. He went for another superkick, but Reed hit a clothesline instead. He climbed to the top rope where Theory distracted him, allowing Gargano to attempt a hurricanrana that didn’t connect. Reed went for a pin but Theory put Gargano’s foot on the rope. Reed then went after Theory which ended with Gargano being thrown on top of him. Reed ended up diving through the ropes and hitting Theory.

Back in the ring, Reed dropped Gargano and went for another pin, only gaining a two-count. Gargano hit two superkicks, but Reed hit one of his own and climbed to the top rope. He went for a moonsault and missed, allowing Gargano to hit two One Final Beats and pick up the victory. Gutted for Bronson Reed who was incredible tonight.

Winner: Johnny Gargano (Still NXT North American Champion) Rating: 8.5/10

NXT Championship Match: Karrion Kross W/ Scarlett vs Finn Balor (C)

The bell rang and both men stared each other down. They locked horns and neither could gain an advantage. Balor locked in a headlock, but Kross threw him off and knocked him to the mat. Kross launched Balor across the ring, but Balor just smiled and slapped him across the face. Kross snapped and beat the hell out of the Prince. He whipped him into the corner, but Balor moved out of the way. Balor wrenched Kross’ left arm to try and exploit a weakness. He worked Kross’ left arm in a submission, putting pressure on his shoulder.

Kross broke out and unloaded a flurry of strikes, then connected with a suplex. He locked Balor in the tree of woe and hit a running knee into his sternum. Balor locked in an armbar out of nowhere on the injured arm, but Kross got to his feet. Balor was able to drop Kross to the mat by wrenching his arm into the mat, then continued to focus on the left arm once again. Balor booted Kross in the chest, then stomped him into the ground. Balor unloaded forearms into Kross’s stomach as he was stuck between the ropes, but he managed to get out and run into the turnbuckles with Balor on his shoulders.

Balor dropped Kross as both men lay in the centre of the ring. Kross hit an overhead suplex and a lariat, then a big powerbomb over his shoulder, only getting a two-count. Balor landed a double stomp and a running knee, then locked in an abdominal stretch. Kross threw him off, but Balor hit a slingblade. He went for a missile dropkick, but Kross clotheslined him and hit a Doomsday Saito. He went for the fatal punch but Balor hit a Pele kick and a boot to the back of the head. He connected with the Coup de Grâce and Kross kicked out, locking in the Kross Jacket. Balor hit another double stomp and ripped Kross in half with a modified abdominal stretch.

Kross got out and unleashed a flurry of punches to the back of Balor’s head. He hit a release German suplex on Balor then a Doomsday Saito. Kross hit a blow to the back of Balor’s head, then another to pick up the win and become the new NXT Champion. What a phenomenal match. Balor was impressive, but Kross was and is a monster.

Winner: Karrion Kross (New NXT Champion) Rating: 9/10

Unsanctioned Match: Kyle O’Reilly vs Adam Cole

Security guards lined the ring as Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole stood in opposite corners. The guards dispersed as the bell rang and both men beat the hell out of each other. O’Reilly hit a big boot into Cole’s face, but Cole returned with a pump kick. O’Reilly launched himself over the ropes to Cole outside. Cole threw O’Reilly into the barricades, but O’Reilly whipped Cole into the barricades as well. O’Reilly threw Cole into the barricade and grabbed a steel chair from under the ring. He sat Cole down on it and unleashed some kicks into his chest. Cole got up but was thrown onto his back.

Back in the ring, O’Reilly locked in a guillotine, but Cole knocked him off the turnbuckle and he went crashing to the outside once more. Cole launched O’Reilly into the barricade and grabbed multiple steel chairs and placed them in the ring. He hit O’Reilly with a chair in the stomach, then smashed him over the back. Cole smashed O’Reilly’s head into the scaffolding and forced a chair into O’Reilly’s neck back in the ring. He whipped O’Reilly into the corner then connected with a neckbreaker onto a chair. Once again, O’Reilly was thrown into the turnbuckle. Cole hit a neckbreaker into his knee, then went for a pin. Cole taunted O’Reilly, telling him he was nothing without him. They traded blows until O’Reilly hit a knee. Cole hit a superkick, but O’Reilly hit another knee. This was carnage.

O’Reilly threw Cole into a chair in the ring, then jumped off the apron and hit a double stomp as Cole sat in the steel chair outside the ring. Back in the ring, O’Reilly punched a chair into Cole’s face. He grabbed a steel chain from under the ring, and as he climbed in Cole hit a hangman neckbreaker onto the chain. Cole attached the chain to the rope as the two traded blows. O’Reilly wrapped the chain around his foot and started to boot Cole in the face. Cole locked in a Figure-Four but O’Reilly reversed. As O’Reilly ran at the ropes, Cole held the chain as he ran into it. Cole then hit a backstabber to knock the wind out of O’Reilly. As two chairs were set up by Cole, O’Reilly tried to pick him up but failed. Cole hit a shining wizard into the two chairs.

Cole dragged O’Reilly out of the ring, and as he went for a suplex onto the steel steps, O’Reilly locked in a guillotine, finishing off with a knee into his chest. O’Reilly contemplated suplexing Cole into the steel steps, but Cole knocked him into the barricade. O’Reilly cleared the announce table and threw Cole on top of it. The two traded blows on top of the table, but O’Reilly was able to suplex Cole on top of it. As Cole escaped behind the barricade, O’Reilly followed. Cole struck him with a TV monitor then threw him back into the ring. Cole grabbed a toolbox and emptied it. He picked up some pliers and went to strike him with them, but O’Reilly temporarily stopped him. Cole hit an enzuigiri, then O’Reilly hit a clothesline.

He went for a pin, but Cole kicked out. O’Reilly wrapped the chain around Cole’s arm and locked in an armbar, transitioning into a triangle choke. Cole reached for the tire iron and plunged it into O’Reilly’s ribs to break the hold. They set up chairs and sat on them whilst trading blows until Cole hit a low blow. Cole connected with a superkick and went for a pin, but O’Reilly kicked out. Cole trapped O’Reilly’s head in a chair then went to strike it with another chair. The referee told him to stop, so Cole knocked him out. Cole hit Panama Sunrise and went for a pin, but the ref was still out. O’Reilly rolled out the ring as Cole followed with a chair. He threw it at O’Reilly who rolled off the ramp. Cole bashed O’Reilly into the barricades repeatedly until O’Reilly did the same.

O’Reilly locked in a hanging guillotine as Cole jumped into the steel part of the ramp and sent them both crashing through. Cole climbed out then knocked in the plasterboard at the side of the stage to pull him out. They both climbed back into the ring, but O’Reilly fell out again. Cole then hit a suplex onto the steel steps which left O’Reilly motionless. Cole went for the pin in the ring, but somehow O’Reilly got a shoulder up. Cole went for the Last Shot, but O’Reilly fell to the mat. He went for it again, but O’Reilly moved and locked in an ankle lock. Cole wrapped the chain around his fist and punched O’Reilly to break the hold.

Cole climbed the turnbuckle to deliver a Panama Sunrise, but O’Reilly countered with a shoulder neckbreaker and hit a Last Shot of his own, but couldn’t get the pin. O’Reilly trapped Cole’s leg in the chair then climbed the turnbuckle. Cole got up and hit a steel chair across his back. Cole then set up a chair with the legs face-up. He climbed the turnbuckle as O’Reilly hit a low blow. O’Reilly grabbed the chain and wrapped it around his knee and jumped off the turnbuckle, driving it into Cole’s head as he rested on the chair. O’Reilly then pinned Cole to pick up the win in one of the most brutal matches ever witnessed inside an NXT ring. After the match, Adam Cole was put in a neck brace as officials flooded the ring. Kyle O’Reilly made his way to the back, but stood on the ramp and watched on as Cole lay motionless in the ring.

Winner: Kyle O’Reilly Rating: 10/10

What Else Went Down

– Cole and O’Reilly were shown arriving earlier, surrounded by security guards. They were both met by William Regal.

– MSK were interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. They talked about their first title defence against Drake Maverick and Killian Dain. They shared their predictions for the two headlining matches.

– Gable Steveson was shown at ringside with Stephanie McMahon.

– A video package aired of Karrion Kross and Finn Balor’s feud.

.@StephMcMahon knows. Nice to see you, @GSteveson! #NXTTakeOver pic.twitter.com/JSygZP44ys

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 9, 2021

– Pete Dunne, Danny Burch, and Oney Lorcan were shown at ringside before Kross vs Balor match.

– Another promo aired for Franky Monet.

– Escobar was interviewed backstage about his win where he called himself the Emperor of Lucha Libre.

– Raquel was shown in the crowd with her belt.

– A video package hyping the main event aired before the unsanctioned match. Goosebumps.

After The Bell

After witnessing Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly’s match, I’m speechless. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as bad as that since Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa’s feud. Both men gave it everything, but I’m chuffed for O’Reilly. I have no idea what happens from here, but I can see Cole taking some time away, or maybe even a call-up to the main roster. Karrion Kross and Finn Balor also had a fantastic match. Balor is a phenomenal athlete, but Kross was too strong for him. If Balor can’t defeat Kross, who can? A return for Keith Lee would mean everything to me, but I doubt it’ll happen.

Santos Escobar and Jordan Devlin’s match was great. Escobar is in my top three wrestlers in NXT, so it was great to see him win. Going forward, I’d like to see Escobar against a better calibre of Superstar, so I hope he defends it against some bigger names. The women’s tag team match wasn’t as good as the rest of the card, but it was important for Moon and Blackheart to retain. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for them. Finally, Bronson Reed losing tonight was disappointing. He’s worked so hard since joining the company, and he’s incredible in the ring. It would have been great to see him as North American Champion, but alas, it wasn’t to be. Another wonderful night of Wrestling, but it’s not over yet. WrestleMania weekend is only a day away.

Star of the Show: Kyle O’Reilly Overall Rating: 9.5/10

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