'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night 1 had a lot of memorable moments. The black and gold brand managed to put on another impressive TakeOver event.
Many superstars of the black and gold brand reached for that proverbial brass ring, looking to impress the fans and their peers.
As many seized their moment at the event, some of them missed the memo. While the likes of WALTER, Bronson Reed, and MSK stole the show, Io Shirai, Legado del Fantasma, and Dexter Lumis had a night to forget.
With that in mind, let's have a look at three Superstars who impressed on Night One of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver and two who missed the mark.
#5 Superstar who didn't impress: LA Knight makes a lacklustre NXT TakeOver debut
LA Knight made his NXT TakeOver debut at Stand & Deliver Night One. The former IMPACT Wrestling Champion has been brought into the brand with a lot of hype behind him.
Knight won the last position in the Gauntlet Eliminator match this past week on NXT and was touted as a favorite to challenge Johnny Gargano for the North American Title.
Instead, he had a rather odd outing on his TakeOver debut.
Knight came out to the ring, running down all his opponents on the mic. Although this fits his character, it didn't quite work on this night.
The promos came across as cheesy, and nothing he said really clicked. The chaos in the match also undermined his trash-talking.
It seemed like he was eliminated as quickly as he entered the bout. Knight was the third man eliminated after being in the ring for just a few minutes. He managed to take out Dexter Lumis during his time in the match. However, Knight was then put to sleep by The Tortured Artist immediately after he made his exit from the Gauntlet Eliminator.
This did very little to help the former IMPACT Wrestling Champion get over with the NXT fans. It also didn't do much to showcase his abilities as a performer.
It seems like Knight is set for a feud with Lumis after Stand & Deliver. He would be looking to bounce back from his lacklustre performance at the TakeOver event and get his NXT career back on track.
#4 Superstar who impressed: Isaiah "Swerve" Scott puts the entire NXT roster on notice
NXT's Isaiah "Swerve" Scott put on one of the performances of the night. Scott was a part of the Gauntlet Eliminator, where he started the match with Leon Ruff. Scott made it to the final two and became the iron man of the match.
Nothing can sway the audience's opinion on a superstar faster than an impressive physical performance. Swerve accomplished this on Night One of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
This match proved that Scott has all the tools to be a top guy in NXT. Throughout the bout, he was able to showcase his personality, athleticism, and versatility.
Swerve seemed to be lost in the shuffle on the black and gold brand and this performance should put him as a future contender for the North American title.
TakeOver: Stand & Deliver should prove to be a turning point for Scott. It truly felt like he's found the mantra for success at the event and fans will be hoping for more from him on NXT.
#3 Superstar who didn't impress: Leon Ruff falls down the pecking order on NXT
NXT is usually great at booking all their performers to the best of their abilities. Consistent and sensical storytelling ensures that a superstar will get over in a way the brand intends.
NXT rarely breaks this pattern. Shocks and surprises come few and far between as they don't want to deal with the consequences of random booking.
The story of Leon Ruff is, however, different. Ruff shocked everyone when he won the North American title from Johnny Gargano. It was a moment that left many NXT fans shocked.
However, TakeOver was another step back for him in his career. Ruff was the first man who was eliminated from the Gauntlet match.
The former North American Champion did show a lot of athleticism and did entertain the fans. However, there are two glaring issues with him as a performer.
One, WWE and NXT don't seem to be behind him and secondly,his character on the brand seems to be lacking consistency.
This match did nothing for Ruff and it seems like he is stuck in a tough spot at the moment on NXT.
#2 Superstar who impressed: Gonzalez captures the big one at NXT TakeOver
Big Mami Cool rules the Women's division now
NXT has a new Women's Champion. Raquel Gonzalez managed to dethrone the Io Shirai in what was her first big solo test at TakeOver. It's safe to say Big Mami Cool delivered when she needed to the most.
It's hard to match up to the impressive skillset of Io Shirai. She's been putting on fantastic matches with almost all of the women's division on the black and gold brand. However, Gonzalez did more than hold her own in this clash.
The match was a story of Gonzalez's power up against Shirai's wits. The Joshi Judas was crafty throughout the bout, finding multiple ways to take down the much larger Gonzalez.
Shirai put in a great effort, but this would prove to be Raquel's night. She showcased strength in some of the most innovative ways possible.
Gonzalez also flexed her unique power-based offense. By the time the bell rang, NXT's Women's division had a new queen and it will take some effort to dethrone her from the top.
#1 Superstar who impressed: NXT has their Psycho Killer back
Tommaso Ciampa and WALTER put on the best match of Night One of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. The two superstars put each other through their paces in a bout with stiff strikes and heavy slams.
WALTER arguably came out of the match the bigger star. He managed to hold onto his NXT UK title.
Ciampa, however, managed to win something else. He got back his Psycho Killer mantle back.
Leading up to the brawl, the NXT Universe questioned if Ciampa would be able to rekindle his killer instincts.
The answer was yes. He took WALTER to his absolute limit in a bout that felt more like a brawl.
The Blackheart of NXT feels like he's returned to the man he used to be. There's no telling where his future will go now. If he manages to keep this edge, it's safe to assume he could reach the mountain top again.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
