NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night One - 3 superstars who impressed and 2 who didn't 

#3 Superstar who didn't impress: Leon Ruff falls down the pecking order on NXT

Leon Ruff as North American Champion

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.

.@LEONRUFF_ wanted to welcome @bronsonreedwwe to the #GauntletEliminator with open arms. #NXTTakeOver 🤗 pic.twitter.com/zluBFBnorH

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 8, 2021

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.