WWE NXT Results: Io Shirai lays out women’s roster

WWE NXT is charging toward NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, the big two-night event that is going to kick off WrestleMania week starting on Wednesday, April 7. Along with news of the upcoming move to Tuesday nights, there is a lot going on in the yellow and black brand. But before those moments can be reached, there was still a lot of build left for that major event and those angles continued the latest edition of WWE NXT.

The night started with Roderick Strong, no longer a member of the Undisputed Era, facing Cameron Grimes in singles action. Grimes continued to try to get Strong to sell the Undisputed Era IP, and that did nothing but set Strong off, as he attacked before the bell. Strong’s anger sent him over the top, battering Grimes, who kept trying to fight back with some success. Strong’s control looked very dominant, as he knocked Grimes from the ring and landed a dropkick to the outside. But he caught a glimpse of someone wearing a UE shirt in the crowd and Grimes took advantage.

Grimes remained in control, grounding Strong and nearly finishing the match with a Uranage. Strong laid out Grimes with a big clothesline, but Grimes kicked out of the pinfall attempt. Strong went into his series of suplexes and backbreakers but could not pick up the win. Even a Superplex could not put Grimes away.

Grimes pulled out an Undisputed Era armband and Strong was in a trance staring at it, which opened the door for Grimes to land the Cave in and pick up the victory.

Santos Escobar came out with the members of Legado del Fantasma and put forth an open challenge to anyone in the back. Tyler Breeze answered the call and finds himself in a match against Escobar.

Escobar immediately attacks, stomping him to the ground in the corner. Breeze fights back, forcing Escobar into the corner as well after a stiff dropkick. Breeze begins to roll, wrapping Escobar’s leg around the ring post, then dropping the other two members of the faction.

Breeze did not remain in control for much longer, after getting back into the ring and taking a lot of offense. Escobar hit a nasty gut buster then wrapped Breeze up into submission holds that he continued to fight out. Breeze landed a counter head-scissors takedown, ground, and pound, and picked up the pace in his favor. Breeze even locked in the Sharpshooter, but Escobar fought his way out of the hold. Escobar did so, and he caught Breeze with the Phantom Driver to pick up the win.

Women’s tag action was up next with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell out for the Way to face off against Gigi Dolin and her partner. Dolin was doing well initially until Hartwell grounded her with a sidewalk slam before tagging in LeRae. Dolin was able to make the tag, and Hartwell found herself in trouble, nearly getting pinned.

LeRae and Hartwell continued to show great chemistry, including the finish which included a combination of the Wicked Sister and a springboard elbow from Hartwell.

Raquel Gonzalez and Zoey Stark were set for single’s action up next, and Dakota Kai was out to support her friend.

Gonzalez immediately goes to the power game, throwing Stark into the corner. Stark picked up the pace and landed some offense before getting planted into the mat by Gonzalez, face first. Stark begins to rally, landing a superkick and a knee to Gonzalez’s face. She goes for a plancha outside the ring but Gonzalez catchers her, only to be sent into the post.

Stark drops Gonzalez in the ring with a stiff looking knee. Gonzalez attempts to pull Stark off the top rope but is fought off as Stark lands a neck breaker that leads to another near fall. Gonzalez gets to her feet, catches Stark and finishes her with the one-arm powerbomb to pick up the win.

Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro were out next with the task of facing the team of Tian Sha and Xia Li. Li started the match by herself, turning the match into a handicap match. Catanzaro and Carter take turns attacking Li, keeping her in the corner with success. They continued to double team her until Li rolled outside the ring, isolating Catanzaro.

Carter attempted to approach Sha and was put to sleep. Back inside the ring, Li finished off Catanzaro with a nasty kick to the face, picking up the victory.

The Gauntlet Eliminator main event was up next. Isiah “Swerve” Scott was out first, and he was immediately met by Leon Ruff and those two brawled before the match could even begin. The match finally filled, and things kicked off. Jake Atlas, Tyler Rust were the first two eliminated. Austin Theory soon follows as the next man out. Kushida and Pete Dunne start to battle, and they end up eliminating each other with Kushida keeping the hoverboard lock in tight.

Bronson Reed eliminates Ruff and Scott on his own, setting them up to start the gauntlet match next week. Dexter Lumis, LA Knight, and Cameron Grimes collaborate to eliminate Reed, but Grimes is the next guy tossed over the top. During the scramble at the end, LA Knight eliminates Lumis to pick up the victory and earn himself the last slot into the Gauntlet match on night one of NXT TakeOver.