NXT Stand & Deliver Breaks Away from WrestleMania Weekend

The annual NXT premium live event will stream on YouTube from St. Louis, marking the first time it's fully detached from WWE's biggest show.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:54am

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A dynamic, cubist-style painting depicting the energy and intensity of an NXT wrestling match, with overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a bold color scheme conveying the standalone significance of the Stand & Deliver event.NXT's annual premium live event Stand & Deliver breaks free from WrestleMania's shadow, allowing the brand to shine in its own spotlight.St. Louis Today

For the first time in its history, NXT Stand & Deliver will not take place on the same weekend as WrestleMania. The event, showcasing the top talent in WWE's developmental brand, will stream live on YouTube from St. Louis on Saturday night. NXT stars say the standalone event allows them to potentially draw a bigger crowd and gives fans who can't attend WrestleMania the chance to see the future of WWE.

Why it matters

Traditionally, Stand & Deliver has served as an appetizer for WrestleMania, taking place the morning before WWE's biggest show of the year. By breaking away, NXT can now establish its own identity and momentum separate from the shadow of WrestleMania, potentially reaching a wider audience of fans.

The details

Stand & Deliver will take place at The Factory in St. Louis at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, streamed live on YouTube. In previous years, the event was held on the same day as WrestleMania, forcing fans to choose between the two shows. NXT stars believe the standalone format will allow them to sell more tickets and give fans who can't travel to WrestleMania the chance to see the future of WWE in action.

  • Stand & Deliver will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2026.
  • In previous years, Stand & Deliver was held on the morning of WrestleMania.

The players

Tony D'Angelo

An NXT Championship contender who believes the standalone format will allow more fans to tune in.

Sol Ruca

An NXT star who is looking forward to the calmer pace of a WrestleMania weekend without having to rush between multiple shows.

Ricky Saints

An NXT Championship challenger who sees the standalone event as an opportunity for fans who can't attend WrestleMania to experience NXT.

Jacy Jayne

The current NXT Women's Champion who has 'mixed feelings' about the event being outside of WrestleMania, but sees it as a chance to prove NXT is the third brand in WWE, not just a developmental show.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's good. I mean, it has its pros and cons, but I think this one specifically, it's not on the same weekend so we can get more eyes on the event.”

— Tony D'Angelo, NXT Championship Contender

“I think a lot of us would love to be involved in the whole WrestleMania weekend but I do think this gives us an opportunity to potentially draw a bigger crowd now that we're separate because having to go to multiple shows in the same weekend – it can be a lot for the fans.”

— Sol Ruca, NXT Star

“I think it's a good opportunity for people who may not have the time, the money, or whatever the case may be, to go see it during 'Mania weekend. So, to have it on a standalone, you don't have to wake up early. You can go to another place and just get to chill out and not feel so overwhelmed with things that you have to do or want to do.”

— Ricky Saints, NXT Championship Challenger

“Yeah, I have mixed feelings about it but I feel like this is the perfect opportunity for us to show that we really are the third brand. It's not just a developmental brand. We can stand on our own. We can sell tickets. We're not just the future, we're the now.”

— Jacy Jayne, NXT Women's Champion

What’s next

The NXT Championship match at Stand & Deliver will determine who challenges the winner of the WrestleMania 42 main event for the WWE Championship.

The takeaway

By breaking away from WrestleMania weekend, NXT Stand & Deliver has the opportunity to establish itself as a must-see event in its own right, showcasing the future stars of WWE and proving the brand is more than just a developmental system.