What a WrestleMania Week it was! The “Showcase of the Immortals” has truly become a week-long affair. Between the go-home edition of Monday Night RAW and the conclusion of WrestleMania itself on Sunday night, there was action to enjoy all week long. NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver surpassed expectations in a big way too. Every match of the two-night card was intense. It was a great event to kick off a “new season” of NXT.
Aside from the TakeOver storylines and developments, WWE NXT is set to officially make the switch from Wednesday evenings to Tuesdays going forward. Read on for details on this scheduling change as well as what to watch for on tonight’s NXT card.
WWE NXT Gets Full Spotlight on Tuesday Nights
After competing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) for the mid-week viewing crown on Wednesday nights since launching on the USA Network, NXT will have the stage all to itself on Tuesdays. Many believe this is WWE’s way of waving the white flag and admitting that AEW won the Wednesday night wars of the past year. While that may be true, moving to Tuesdays figures only to benefit the black and gold brand and the superstars of NXT. More eyeballs and recognition among the fans are just what the next generation of WWE superstars need to gain traction in professional wrestling.
NXT Ratings Set to Increase?
The multi-year contract extension that WWE signed with NBCUniversal served as the catalyst for NXT’s switch from Wednesday nights to Tuesday. The move ensures that the USA Network will now air back-to-back nights of wrestling once again. If the Nielsen ratings are any indication, this will be a positive move for both parties involved. NXT reportedly averaged 847,000 weekly viewers in 2020. When the brand aired special Tuesday episodes throughout the year, that number saw an increase of about 30% in both the 18-49 and 25-54 age demographics.
WWE NXT What to Watch For | April 13
After the epic event that was NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver, there is sure to be plenty of fallout and backlash on the first Tuesday edition of WWE NXT. Here are some key matches and developments to keep an eye on tonight.
Aftermath of Kyle O’Reilly vs Adam Cole
The main event of Night 2 at TakeOver: Stand and Deliver lived up to the billing and then some. Former Undisputed Era brothers in arms Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole beat the living hell out of one another in an unsanctioned match that lasted for over an hour. Steel chains, toolboxes, chairs and more were used as weapons of mass destruction. Heck, both superstars even went crashing through the stage! O’Reilly emerged victoriously, but those in the NXT Universe are now being told there is more to come.
What happened after the cameras went dark on TakeOver: Stand and Deliver is anyone’s guess. We find out tonight on WWE NXT. Did O’Reilly inflict more punishment as medical personnel tended to the fallen Cole? Did Roderick Strong make his presence felt after walking out of his place in the gauntlet match on NXT two weeks ago? Undisputed Era is no more, but this storyline may have more in store after all.
New NXT Champion Karrion Kross Speaks
After winning the NXT Championship for the second time, Karrion Kross is expected to kick off tonight’s show. This time, don’t expect him to relinquish the title. Kross has worked his way back from a separated shoulder injury and once again stands atop the NXT mountain. Perhaps we get a glimpse at who might be next to challenge the most dominant superstar on the roaster as soon as tonight. If not, the entrance of Kross and Scarlett alone is worth tuning in for every time.
Open Challenge for NXT Cruiserweight Championship
This development has my curiosity peaked. The ladder match between Santos Escobar and Jordan Devlin at TakeOver to unify the NXT Cruiserweight Championship was absolutely wild. I was a bit surprised to see Escobar win, as the leader of El Legado del Fantasma seems destined for bigger and better things on NXT. Who answers the call on tonight’s open challenge is anyone’s guess. I have to say I wouldn’t be shocked if the cruiserweight title changes hands tonight.
MSK Make First Tag Team Title Defense
As sweet as it was to see MSK get their hands on the NXT Tag Team Championships at TakeOver, it was also so incredibly predictable. I’d be shocked if Wes Lee and Nash Carter turned around and actually lost the titles tonight. Nonetheless, they’ll put the belts on the line against Killian Dain and Drake Maverick. What this match could do, however, is start setting the table for what to expect going forward in a rather cloudy tag team division.
Franky Monet Arrives
At long last, the NXT Universe will see just who the fluffy dog that has been running all over the Capitol Wrestling Center belongs to. Franky Monet will take to the ring tonight. A match is unlikely, but we will get to see just who this new female superstar is and what she’s all about tonight.
