NXT Stand & Deliver Breaks Away from WrestleMania Weekend

NXT's premier event will take place separately from WWE's biggest show for the first time.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:19am

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A dynamic, cubist-style painting depicting the intense action and energy of an NXT wrestling match, with the competitors and ring broken down into fragmented geometric shapes and planes of vivid color.NXT's premier event breaks free from WrestleMania's shadow, allowing the developmental brand to shine on its own.St. Louis Today

For the first time in its history, NXT Stand & Deliver will not be held on the same weekend as WrestleMania. The event showcasing NXT's top talent will take place on Saturday night at The Factory in St. Louis, allowing fans to focus solely on the NXT brand without the demands of also attending WWE's flagship event.

Why it matters

Decoupling Stand & Deliver from WrestleMania weekend gives NXT a chance to shine on its own, potentially drawing a larger audience that doesn't have to choose between the two events. It also allows NXT stars to have their own moment in the spotlight without being overshadowed by the spectacle of WrestleMania.

The details

Stand & Deliver has traditionally been held the morning before Night 1 of WrestleMania, forcing fans to choose between the two events. This year, the NXT premium live event will be broadcast on YouTube at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, giving it a standalone platform to showcase the brand's top talent.

  • Stand & Deliver will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2026.
  • The event will air live on YouTube at 7 p.m. ET.

The players

Tony D'Angelo

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

Sol Ruca

An NXT star who is looking forward to the calmer pace of WrestleMania weekend and the potential for a bigger crowd at Stand & Deliver.

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 separate from WrestleMania but sees it as a chance to prove NXT is a true third brand in WWE.

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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

Several NXT stars who compete at Stand & Deliver could earn call-ups to the main WWE roster in the following year, as has happened with previous NXT events.

The takeaway

Separating NXT Stand & Deliver from WrestleMania weekend allows the developmental brand to truly stand on its own and showcase its talent without being overshadowed by WWE's biggest event. This move could help grow the NXT fanbase and solidify it as a third major brand in the company.