Welcome to WrestlePurists coverage and results from the February 27 2024 episode of WWE NXT.
NXT CHAMPION ILJA DRAGUNOV OPENS THE SHOW
Ilja Dragunov opens the show, calling out Carmelo Hayes. He says he does not want to wait any longer as it’s Stand and Deliver season. Melo comes out and has a line of security guards. Says Ilja’s custom suits and integrity make him sick. He won’t step in the ring with Ilja until he gets a contract. He’ll give him til the end of the night. Dragunov attacks one of the security guards.
KELANI JORDAN DEFEATS KIANA JAMES
Good, fast-paced exchange between the two to start the match. Kelani Jordan hits a springboard moonsault to the outside on Izzi Dame and Kiana James. James takes control during the commercial break. Both women exchange blows on the mat before getting to their feet. The athletic offense of Jordan can’t put James away as James spikes her with a spinebuster. Interference from Dame opens up the opportunity for James to hit the dealbreaker and the pinfall. It was a decent matchup to open up the action on NXT. Jordan’s athleticism continues to impress.
KARL ANDERSON & LUKE GALLOWS DEFEAT EDRIS ENOFE AND MALIK BLADE
Karl Anderson and Malik Blade start for their respective teams. Blade and Edris Enofe trade tags to hit some team moves. Luke Gallows eventually gets in and shows off his power on Blade as far and away the biggest man in the match. Both Good Brothers show off their signature headlock maneuvers before Blade makes the hot tag to Enofe. While Enofe showed some grit, it unfortunately was not enough for “Bright Lights” and the Magic Killer. Pretty basic tag match between these teams to get Gallows and Anderson a win in NXT.
Post-match, Duke Hudson and Andre Chase of the esteemed Chase U followed by Nathan Frazer and Axiom, express their grievances towards the Good Brothers, who are attacked from behind by the LWO. The NXT Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin watch from above.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION OBA FEMI BACKSTAGE
Oba Femi is in Ava’s office to find out who his next opponent is. NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov shows up, and we get a face-off between the two beasts.
ROXANNE PEREZ DEFEATS JAKARA JACKSON
Roxanne Perez pounces on Jakara Jackson as soon as the bell rings, getting in Lash Legend’s face on the outside. Jackson took a nasty knee to the face on Perez’s springboard moonsault. Legend saved Jackson from a Pop Rocks and got ejected from ringside, allowing Jackson to take control. A slap battle eventually breaks out between the competitors when Perez starts to get back into the match. Perez hits a side-Russian leg sweep into a cross-face, forcing Jackson to submit. Good match between both women to continue building on Perez’s new attitude. Her finishing sequence was smooth.
THEA HAIL, JACY JAYNE AND JADE GENTILE BACKSTAGE
Thea Hail talks about a bad date because the guy wanted the old Thea. Jacy Jayne calls the “old Thea” and the male members of Chase U losers. Kiana James and Izzi Dame come in to diss Fallon Henley’s advice.
BRON/CORBIN AND GALLOWS/ANDERSON BACKSTAGE
Baron Corbin says NXT reinvigorated his career, and he’s back to kicking ass. The Good Brothers say their time in NXT has lit a flame. Luke Gallows says he and Karl Anderson will be waiting if the Wolf Dogs get past Chase U.
DIJAK DEFEATS LUCA CRUSIFINO
Luca Crusifino starts hot by sending Dijak over the announcers’ table. A surprising amount of meat got thrown around in this contest. Both men exchanged heavy chops, suplexes and lariats. Dijak’s big boot and feast your eyes take down Crusifino. These two dudes beat the heck out of each other in a short amount of time. Just heavy blows and power moves. Absolute beast match.
Post-match, Joe Gacy broke out and is in a straightjacket. Crusifino hits Dijak with a crowbar while Gacy takes revenge on Dijak.
THE FAMILY BACKSTAGE
Tony D’Angelo tells Stacks to “go get him” after seemingly watching Luca Crusifino use the crowbar.
NOAM DAR AND ORA MENSAH BACKSTAGE
Noam Dar says Meta-Four is ready for any member of the No Quarter Catch Crew.
NXT WOMENS CHAMPION LYRA VALKYRIA IN THE RING
Lyra Valkyria is in the ring. She wishes Shotzi a speedy recovery and owes her a title shot, then she gives Lash Legend credit. Lyra says she made Tatum Paxley a promise and she must uphold her end of the bargain. Paxley’s spooky ass emerges from behind the barricade. Paxley says she will do anything for her dove. Lyra’s surprise for Paxley is they will be teaming together next week to face the Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
RIDGE HOLLAND IN THE RING
Ridge Holland interrupts Lyra Valkyria, saying he’d like the ring if the two finished their business. Holland would like to apologize for taking it too far. The lights go out, and the PC walls have scripture. A mysterious figure attacks Holland with a chair revealed to be the returning Shawn Spears, wearing his “Chairman” gimmick attire. Huge pop.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION OBA FEMI AND BROOKS JENSEN IN THE PARKING LOT
Brooks Jensen challenges Oba Femi to a match.
CARMELO HAYES BACKSTAGE
Melo says he wants Ilja out there, and Ava ready with a contract to be signed. No contract, no Melo.
VONN WAGNER DEFEATS LEXIS KING
Vonn Wagner uses his power to control the match early. Lexis King dissects Wagner’s knee to gain an advantage while dealing with a massive size difference. Interference from Mr. Stone allows Wagner to win with a roll-up. King attacks Wagner and Mr. Stone post-match. This was certainly one of the matches on NXT.
TATUM PAXLEY, LYRA VALKYRIA, JAIDA PARKER AND ARIANNA GRACE BACKSTAGE
Tatum Paxley and Lyra Valkyria talk about beating the Kabuki Warriors to win the titles. Jaida Parker says they are about to get embarrassed. Arianna Grace chimes in to say they are supposed to be sophisticated and settle conflicts with their words, asking why Paxley and Valkyria want to face the Kabuki Warriors. Parker says she would rather have a championship than a dumb crown.
DIJAK AND AVA BACKSTAGE
Dijak and Ava are seen fighting backstage. Joey Gacy steals a camera and attacks Dijak again.
JAIDA PARKER DEFEATS GIGI DOLIN
The women start with some grappling, exchanging waistlocks. Jaida Parker knees Gigi Dolin in the gut and slaps her against the ropes. Dolin lands a hip attack followed by a shotgun dropkick. Neither competitor takes control for long before the other strikes back. Parker gets some sustained offense, but Dolin evens things up. Arianna Grace comes out mid-match to plead with both women to stop fighting. Dolin headbutts Grace, while Parker takes advantage of the distraction to hit a sliding forearm for the victory. Grace still pleads with Dolin post-match. A solid back-and-forth match between Parker and Dolin, giving Parker a massive win. This was the third match of the night where interference led directly to the finish.
MYSTERIOUS VIDEO PACKAGE
A beach is shown with the message “See you soon,” followed by the NXT Roadblock logo.
CHARLIE DEMPSEY DEFEATS NOAM DAR FOR THE NXT HERITAGE CUP
Charlie Dempsey steps in to represent the No Quarter Catch Club. Noam Dar wants to stay against the ropes, while Dempsey tries to keep the action in the middle of the ring. Neither man can get much of anything going as they exchange counters until Dempsey uses a jackknife cover on a backslide to pick up a pinfall in round one. Damon Kemp hits Dar with a cheapshot after the pin. Dempsey starts round two hot with an uppercut and gut wrench suplex just before the commercial break. During the break, Dartook control. The second round winds down as both men exchange blows, continuing as soon as round three starts. Dempsey looks for an armbar, but Dar transitions out into a triangle armbar. Dar hits a spinning back elbow to end round three that rocks Dempsey, allowing Dar to immediately pick up a pinfall at the start of round four. The numbers of the No Quarter Catch Club distract Dar, allowing Dempsey to hit a dragon suplex to win the Heritage Cup in round five. This was one of Dempsey’s better matches in NXT. He and Dar played off each other well. It’ll be interesting to see where Dempsey goes from here now that he holds the Heritage Cup.
SHAWN SPEARS INTERVIEWED IN THE PARKING LOT
Shawn Spears is asked why he attacked Ridge Holland. He answers that he likes Holland, but he’s been lying to himself for far too long. The truth can bring you to your knees, and that is why Shawn Spears is in NXT.
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP CONTRACT SIGNING
Ilja Dragunov is in the ring, ready to sign the contract. Melo comes out with his security. He says it’s been far too long without his title, and next week will be a sweet reunion. Tony D’Angelo interrupts. D’Angelo snaps his fingers, Melo’s security leaves ringside, and D’Angelo takes Ava’s spot. The Don says he will earn a title match at Stand and Deliver. Dragunov says he respects a man willing to work for his position. Ava and D’Angelo propose Melo vs D’Angelo at Roadblock next week for a championship opportunity at Stand and Deliver. Melo plants D’Angelo through a table and signs the contract.
