Coming out of NXT Vengeance Day, this episode had a pretty clear job: take a women’s division that just wrapped up several major rivalries and start showing us what the road to Stand & Deliver is actually going to look like. Saturday’s PLE gave us decisive finishes across the board. Tatum Paxley defeated Izzi Dame to become the new NXT Women’s North American Champion, Blake Monroe beat Jaida Parker in a Street Fight, and Lola Vice knocked out Kelani Jordan in Underground rules. All of that felt like clean endings, so naturally the expectation was fresh direction this week… at least in theory.
NXT also confirmed that next week’s March 17 episode in Houston will feature Jacy Jayne defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Sol Ruca and Zaria in a triple threat, which is a legitimately big match to headline the women’s side of the card.
Tatum Paxley Opens as Champion, But NXT Immediately Circles Back
The new NXT Women’s North American Champion, Tatum Paxley, opened the show for her first title promo, and honestly, she came across really well here. The crowd gave her a strong reaction right away which felt earned if you’ve watched how long it took her to get to this point.
Paxley talked about finally feeling like she belongs. She said for a long time she thought she needed friendships and validation to make everything worth it, but Vengeance Day made something clear to her: the title happened because the fans believed in her. She also made an important distinction, saying she won the NXT Women’s Championship before for The Culling and for Izzi, but this North American title was the first one she won for herself.
That lasted about thirty seconds before Izzi Dame came out, bleh.
Dame aired footage of Paxley’s early NXT days and basically tore into the idea that Paxley has ever been comfortable in her own skin, calling her fake and saying every version of her is just another mask. The delivery itself was solid, even if the crowd noise swallowed parts of it.
Then Shawn Spears and Niko Vance appeared on the apron behind Paxley, Dame took the opening, kicked her, planted her with a powerbomb, and stood over her holding the title.
The delivery wasn’t bad here but where this lost me a little was the direction. Their Vengeance Day match felt like the right ending. It was strong, it was decisive, and my immediate reaction watching this was: Why? I always get nervous when Tatum starts building momentum because NXT has a habit of pulling the rug out the second she gets moving.
Tatum, Shiloh Hill, and a Completely Unhinged Parking Lot
After the break, Paxley was backstage looking for Dame and ran into Shiloh Hill in what looked like a tool shed, casually holding a lug wrench like that was a perfectly normal thing to be doing.
She asked if he had seen Izzi. He said no. She noticed the socket remover in his hand with way too much interest, and the two headed outside.
That led to one of the stranger backstage scenes of the night: The Culling found their car with all four wheels removed. Robert Stone tried to get control of the situation while Hill explained that he didn’t know which car belonged to The Culling, so he took apart all of them.
Not super efficient Shiloh, but we love the commitment.
Arianna Grace and Birth Right Finally Get Their Missing Piece
This is the second week in a row where I’m mentioning men’s action because it matters around the edges of what NXT is building, especially with TNA Knockouts Champion Arianna Grace attached to this new group.
During the tag match featuring Lexis King and Uriah Connors against Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights, the long teased turn finally happened.
All four men spilled outside, Dempsey briefly embraced Heights, then looked up and saw William Regal standing there with Fit Finlay. That visual changed everything instantly. Dempsey hit Heights with a German suplex on the floor, rolled him inside, Connors landed a running kick, and Dempsey finished with The Coronation.
Winners by pinfall: Charlie Dempsey & Tavion Heights
After the match, Dempsey acknowledged Regal before entering the ring, officially joining Birth Right.
This turn has been obvious for weeks, but the bigger thing for me is TNA Knockouts Champion, Arianna Grace. She is leaning hard into early Stephanie McMahon Helmsely era vibes in the best way possible. I’ve always been a big fan of Arianna’s comedy chops but this stable could end up being the breakout role for her.
Sol Ruca vs. Lainey Reid
Sol Ruca faced Lainey Reid with Fatal Influence at ringside, and this ended up being more competitive than I expected.
Ruca started quickly, tripping Reid, doing the surfing spot, and working the knee early. Reid answered with a shoulder tackle, headlock control, and a dropkick before Ruca fired back with a spinning slam for two.
Ruca then sent Reid flying with a monkey flip, tossed her outside, and hit a moonsault off the turnbuckle to the floor, which looked great.
From there, Fallon Henley distracted the referee while Jacy Jayne grabbed Ruca’s leg, giving Reid the opening to take over for a stretch.
Reid actually got quite a bit here: corner offense, apron kicks, a Stunner style counter, and later a Blue Thunder Bomb that nearly stole it. Ruca answered with the Electric Chair drop, a release German suplex, dropkick, and running knee before both started trading counters late.
Reid nearly stole it again with a crucifix bomb, but when she missed the knee smash, Ruca recovered instantly and landed Soul Snatcher clean.
Winner by pinfall: Sol Ruca
Good match, and Reid got more than I expected offensively. I thought Ruca’s win might be more decisive, especially with next week’s title match coming, but a win is what mattered most. Also, for a group standing right there, Fatal Influence really showed unusual restraint tonight, which almost deserves applause.
Blake Monroe Looks Toward Tatum Paxley’s Championship
Backstage, Blake Monroe told Blake Howard (NXT, can we do better with the name generators), that Jaida Parker learned what happens when you play with hell.
She made it clear Stand & Deliver is about her, then Paxley walked into frame holding the North American title and asking if anyone had seen Izzi.
Monroe immediately looked at the championship.That felt intentional, and honestly, that’s a much more interesting direction for Tatum.
Speed Tournament Qualifier: Wren Sinclair vs. Thea Hail
The Women’s Speed Tournament Final gave Wren Sinclair and Thea Hail just three minutes, which means everything had to happen fast.
Hail opened aggressively with a dropkick, Sinclair answered with a slap, rolling senton, and quick mat work. Hail hit a neckbreaker, followed Sinclair outside, then landed a suicide dive.
Back inside, Hail tried for the Kimura, but Sinclair reversed straight into Final Wrench and forced the tap.
Winner by submission: Wren Sinclair
That sends Sinclair into next week’s Women’s Speed Championship match against Fallon Henley in Houston, and I honestly think that could be her moment.
Later backstage, Jacy Jayne complained about having to defend in a triple threat while Fallon dismissed Sinclair, saying she only needs five minutes. Sinclair and Kendal Grey interrupted, with Grey saying Fatal Influence could be losing one of their titles soon, and if Jayne is still champion by Stand & Deliver, she wants next.
That possibility feels very real right now. If both titles go, the group suddenly looks very different.
Backstage, Paxley finally found Dame and attacked her before security separated them. Robert Stone stepped in and announced that next week in Houston, Paxley will defend the NXT Women’s North American Championship against Izzi Dame inside a steel cage.
That is a bigger stipulation than I expected, but it should help this finally feel definitive. Both women have done excellent work together. I’m just ready for the story to close so both can move into something new.
Next Week’s NXT in Houston
• NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne vs. Sol Ruca vs. Zaria
• NXT Women’s North American Championship Steel Cage Match: Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame
• WWE Speed Women’s Championship: Fallon Henley vs. Wren Sinclair
Three title matches, several possible title changes, and a card that will determine whose heading into Stand & Deliver with gold on their shoulder. Sound off in the comments below.