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On the March 10, 2021, episode of WWE NXT, William Regal made a couple of monumental announcements to change the landscape of the company. Regal unveiled the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships to boost the Black and Gold brand's women’s division.
The other big announcement was regarding the first-ever TakeOver event that will be held over two nights. NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver is scheduled to take place this year on April 7 and 8. This will be the 34th TakeOver event as well.
The Black and Gold brand's creative team will attempt to make this a big show, as it will be held just before WrestleMania 37. TakeOver: Stand & Deliver will likely feature at least five major matches that can help boost the ratings for both nights.
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With that in mind, let’s take a look at five matches that should take place during NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
#5 Santos Escobar vs. Jordan Devlin for the WWE NXT Cruiserweight Championship at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
Santos Escobar has been ruling the Cruiserweight division of WWE NXT since May 2020. He won the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship during the COVID-19 pandemic shows because the reigning Champion was stuck in the United Kingdom.
Jordan Devlin, who won the NXT Cruiserweight Championship in January 2020, calls himself the actual Champion as he never lost the title. Devlin has held the title for well over 410 days but has had limited defenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.
Devlin recently revealed to the WWE Universe that he was coming to NXT in the United States to confront Santos Escobar. This will likely lead to a rivalry between the two men as Escobar has remained undefeated in his title matches for well over 280 days.
As a result, WWE could create a storyline surrounding the two men leading up to TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. The people in charge could book a big NXT Cruiserweight Championship match between the two men to crown one single Champion.
Just as WWE booked a match to crown a single Intercontinental Champion last year, NXT fans could be treated to a similar match.
Having one man hold the NXT Cruiserweight Championship again will add more value to the title since the travel restrictions have finally been eased. The match could be a hit during the first night of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
#4 Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. MSK for the WWE NXT Tag Team Championships at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
MSK took over the WWE NXT tag team division during the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Classic tournament. Wes Lee and Nash Carter made their debuts during the tournament, but they went all the way to win the Dusty Rhodes Classic Cup.
MSK was promised a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships following their victory, but an attack from Grizzled Young Veterans derailed their plans. NXT will likely put MSK and GYV in a rivalry heading into TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan have had a below-average NXT Tag Team Championship reign, and the creative team needs to give them good contenders at TakeOver. With that in mind, NXT should allow MSK to once again come out on top in their rivalry against GYV. This victory will allow them to challenge for the NXT Tag Team titles at Stand & Deliver.
WWE could book a multi-tag team match at the event to include GYV and possibly Breezango or Legado del Fantasma. However, the focus should mostly be on the Dusty Rhodes Classic Cup winners who have already earned a shot at the titles.
#3 Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole in a Last Man Standing match at WWE NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
Adam Cole did the unthinkable at WWE NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day and broke up the Undisputed Era with a superkick to Kyle O’Reilly. In the weeks that followed, Cole once again attacked Finn Balor and O’Reilly, and then also betrayed Roderick Strong.
KOR returned during Cole’s NXT Championship match against Balor and then attacked his former teammate after his match. The two men are well-positioned to get involved in a rivalry that can take NXT to new heights.
O’Reilly’s recent solo performances have been outstanding, while Cole is known as one of the best performers on the Black and Gold brand. WWE must continue to build the story between them at the moment.
Since this is a major rivalry, the creative team should add a special stipulation to their eventual clash to make it more entertaining. As a result, NXT can then book a Last Man Standing match between the two Superstars at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Having the match take place on the second night of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver would be great. Roderick Strong or Bobby Fish may get involved in Cole and O'Reilly's clash as well.
In any case, KOR and Cole should have their first conclusive match at the aforementioned event to take their rivalry to new heights.
#2 Finn Balor vs. Karrion Kross for the WWE NXT Championship at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
Finn Balor’s WWE NXT Championship reign did not kick off well as the Superstar suffered an injury early on. Balor was kept out of the ring for quite some time after a successful defense against Kyle O’Reilly.
Balor has since taken down KOR once again, and also defeated Pete Dunne to retain his title. On a recent episode of NXT, Balor overcame the former NXT Champion Adam Cole during a very good match.
After the match, Karrion Kross showed up behind The Prince and made his intentions very clear. Kross never lost the NXT Championship, and he will attempt to win back the title from The Prince.
Balor vs. Kross is a dream match for many fans, and WWE has already teased a confrontation between them. At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, the creative team should book a big NXT Championship match that must headline the first night of the event.
This will allow Kross to finally compete for the title he had to relinquish due to an injury. Kross could end Balor’s reign as the NXT Champion as well.
#1 Io Shirai vs. Raquel Gonzalez for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver
One of the biggest matches that could take place at WWE NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver is for the NXT Women’s Championship. In recent years, Io Shirai has been one of the best Champions in WWE. She has also performed extremely well in good matches throughout her reign.
Shirai recently overcame Toni Storm to retain her NXT Championship and immediately informed Raquel Gonzalez that she’d like to face her next. Gonzalez is the only Superstar to have pinned Shirai in recent months. The powerhouse pinned The Genius from the Sky at TakeOver: WarGames during the eight-woman tag team match.
Gonzalez has been one of the most improved performers in the past six months, and her work in the ring shows that she’s ready to take on a big responsibility in NXT. While she wasn't booked in the title picture after WarGames, Gonzalez should face Shirai at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
The two women must lock horns in the main event of the second night of the show to close out the big event. WWE could award Gonzalez the title and free Shirai to move up to the main roster after TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
