WWE RAW On Netflix Stays In Global Top 10 With Increased Viewership For March 16 Episode

WWE RAW On Netflix Stays In Global Top 10 With Increased Viewership For March 16 Episode

The March 16 episode of WWE RAW on Netflix continued its strong global performance, remaining in the platform’s Top 10 while posting another week of growth in key metrics.

According to data released by Netflix, the episode drew three million global views over the past seven days. This marks an increase of 200,000 viewers compared to the previous week. In addition, the show generated 5.9 million global hours viewed, up by 900,000 from the prior report.

The consistency of RAW’s performance on Netflix has been notable. Since early February, the show has maintained a steady range between 2.7 million and 3.1 million global views each week. This latest update also extends its streak to seven consecutive weeks in the global Top 10, highlighting continued audience engagement across international markets.

The 5.9 million hours viewed figure represents the highest total for the program since the January 5 episode. That increase also aligns with a slightly longer runtime for the March 16 broadcast, which came in at one hour and 56 minutes.

Globally, the episode ranked in the Top 10 across 19 different countries. In the United States, RAW performed particularly well, climbing as high as third place during the tracking period.

With steady growth and consistent placement among Netflix’s most-watched content, WWE RAW continues to establish a reliable presence on the streaming platform as the road to WrestleMania 42 progresses.

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NXT Results – March 24, 2026

NXT Results – March 24, 2026

NXT Results – March 24, 2026 – Welcome to Wrestling Attitude’s live coverage of WWE NXT for March 24, 2026, coming to you from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida!

Shiloh asks to go first in the Eliminator. Tatum Paxley walks up and asks where Blake is. Robert Stone says he hasn’t seen her. Tatum says she has Blake’s title, and Oba Femi’s associate Hill says he can help. Josh Briggs approaches Stone to talk, but a co‑worker pulls Stone away before he can respond.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey vs. Fatal Influence

Fallon and Wren start the match. Wren takes Fallon down, and Fallon chokes her in the corner. Wren gets a sunset flip for a near fall. Fallon hits a forearm, but Wren answers with a back elbow and a back heel kick. Fallon fires back with a forearm, an Irish whip, and an uppercut in the corner. Reid tags in, hits a corner splash, and follows with a snap mare. Fallon adds a forearm, and Reid covers for a near fall.

Wren hits a headscissors takedown, and Grey tags in. Wren lands a dropkick, and Grey goes for a slingshot stomp but misses and rolls through. Reid hits a forearm to the back of Grey’s head and applies a side headlock.

Backstage, Elio LeFleur is shown holding his arm.

Back to the match, Wren gets a near fall with a jackknife cover. Reid elbows her and sends her into the turnbuckles. Fallon tags in, but Wren fights both opponents with forearms and lands a round kick. Wren hits a shoulder tackle and a leapfrog faceplant, followed by a butterfly suplex. Fallon grabs a waist lock, misses a forearm, and Reid tags in to hit a blockbuster. Reid knocks Grey off the apron and gets a near fall before hitting a leg drop and a punch. She sends Wren into the turnbuckles and tags Fallon.

Fallon sweeps the leg and chokes Wren in the corner. She hits a snap mare and elbows to the back of the neck before applying a headlock submission. Fallon gets a near fall on a rollup, then goes back to the headlock.

Wren punches free, blocking Fallon’s strikes with chops. Fallon kicks her and blocks a spinning back heel kick. Wren keeps throwing punches, trying to reach her corner. Fallon hits an Irish whip, but Wren elbows her and Fallon answers with a sliding German suplex. Reid tags in and gets a near fall.

Wren kicks Reid away multiple times, gets to her feet, and kicks her again. Wren misses an enzuigiri, and Reid knocks Grey off the apron. Wren back body drops Reid and finally tags Grey. Fallon tags in as well. Grey hits back elbows and an overhead belly‑to‑belly suplex on Reid. The straps come down, and she hits a Saito suplex on Fallon, followed by a corner DDT for a near fall.

Fallon hits a forearm, but Grey answers with a spinning heel kick. Reid stops Grey from taking Fallon down and hits a backbreaker. Wren breaks up the cover, then clotheslines Fallon on the floor. Grey hits a jawbreaker and a back elbow on Reid for a near fall.

Grey goes for a cross‑arm breaker, but Reid locks her hands and rolls her up for a near fall. Grey takes her down again and transitions into the cross‑arm breaker. Wren applies Cattle Mutilation on Fallon at the same time, and both opponents tap out.

Winners: Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair

After the match, Kendal says Wren won the Speed Title last week and tapped someone out tonight. Grey says she is coming after Jacy.

Lola Vice comes out and says it is time for a change at the top. She tells Kendal she will be a champion someday, but Lola says she will break Jacy’s jaw and become the first Cuban champion.

Robert Stone arrives and says both women want a title match, so next week they will face each other in a number one contender’s match for Stand & Deliver.

Results for WWE NXT on March 24, 2026, continue after a commercial break.

Sol Ruca and Zaria Confrontation

Sol Ruca is in the ring. She says she has gone back and forth trying to figure out what to say and didn’t want to say anything at first. She has seen what Zaria has posted on social media, but that isn’t the Zaria she knew. Sol thought Zaria was stronger. She tried to figure out where she lost Zaria, but realizes Zaria simply didn’t want to stand beside her.

Sol says she trusted Zaria as a tag partner and friend. After every spear and every snarky comment, she gave her the benefit of the doubt. She made sure people talked about Zaria whenever they talked about her. Sol says Zaria didn’t want a team — she wanted a moment. When she couldn’t have her moment, she took Sol’s away.

Sol says she always tried to pull Zaria forward and shared every opportunity with her. She thought they were better together. Maybe she was too naive and loyal. Sol says she wanted Zaria to shine as much as she did. She gave Zaria her spot in the battle royal. She vouched for her for the TNA Title. She let Zaria defend — and lose — her titles. When Raw and SmackDown called, she wanted Zaria with her. None of it would have been the same without her. While Sol was fighting for “us,” Zaria was waiting to make it all about “you.”

Sol says she now sees who Zaria really is and tells her to prove she can stand on her own at Stand & Deliver.

Zaria comes out and says Sol doesn’t get it. Zaria says she wanted “us,” but Sol wanted her own success more. Sol didn’t give her anything. Every time she stepped in the ring, she wasn’t Zaria — she was Sol Ruca’s partner. When she speared and F‑5’d Sol, she was taking back everything Sol took from her. Zaria says she is no longer in Sol’s shadow. It is fitting that where it started is where it will end.

Zaria says Sol is mad because she got hurt and didn’t win the Women’s Title. Now she knows how Zaria feels. Sol was never going to share. Zaria brings up Sol pushing her off the ladder last year. Standing next to someone who has everything you want, and they think they’re doing the right thing by letting you near it — she hated it. Zaria says she does care, but she cares enough to know that as long as Sol is standing, she won’t be able to. This isn’t about Sol. It’s about Zaria choosing herself. If breaking Sol is what it takes to become what Sol would never let her be, she will do it.

Sol asks why Zaria is trying to make her the villain. She says Zaria gaslit and manipulated her so she would give Zaria opportunities. Zaria says she threw it all away because Sol is too insecure to stand beside her.

Zaria says Sol isn’t the villain in her story — she is the mistake.

Ricky Starks, Ethan Page, Josh Briggs, and Joe Hendry Backstage

Ricky Starks and Ethan Page watch footage from last week and make excuses. Ricky tells Ethan to get things off his chest. Ethan says he wants to be World Champion.

Josh Briggs, sitting next to them, yells at them for complaining about the World Title match when he can’t even get time with Robert Stone.

Results for the March 24, 2026 episode of WWE NXT continue after a commercial break.

Kelani Jordan vs. Thea Hail

They lock up, and Thea applies a wristlock. Jordan breaks free with a forearm. Thea takes her down with a Thesz press and punches. Jordan answers with an ankle pick out of a leapfrog and follows with punches. Jordan hits a back drop for a near fall and sends Thea into the turnbuckles multiple times.

Thea blocks another attempt and sends Jordan into the turnbuckles instead. Thea hits elbows and a running elbow in the corner. Jordan blocks an exploder, but Thea hits a snap mare and goes for a kimura. Jordan escapes, but Thea reapplies the hold. Jordan drives her into the turnbuckles to break it.

Jordan goes up and hits a split‑legged moonsault for the three count.

Winner: Kelani Jordan

After the match, Kelani Jordan attacks Thea Hail and applies a wrist‑lock submission. Jaida Parker runs out, kicks Jordan, and hits a gourdbuster. Jordan rolls to the floor.

Jasper Troy, Tatum Paxley, and Shiloh Backstage

Jasper Troy says Booker T is a father figure to him, and when Keanu acted up, he felt he had to step in. He says next week in New York, he’ll take care of Keanu.

Tatum Paxley approaches Shiloh and says she needs help finding Blake. Hill says he knows where Blake is and tells her. Tatum asks if that’s weird.

The show cuts to a commercial break. We will be back for more WWE NXT results for March 24, 2026.

North American Title Eliminator Gauntlet – Shiloh Hill vs. Jackson Drake (Opening Round)

Shiloh Hill and Jackson Drake start the Gauntlet. They lock up, and Drake applies a side headlock. Hill hits a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Drake rolls him up for a near fall of his own. Hill targets the arm with divorce court, but Drake hot‑shots him on the ropes. Drake hits a dropkick in the corner and kicks Hill repeatedly. Drake follows with a springboard knee drop for a near fall.

Drake hits a snap mare and a kick to the back, then another kick. Hill fights back with punches, but Drake takes him down with a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Drake gets another quick cover. Hill responds with a hot shot and drives Drake face‑first into the mat. Hill hits a tilt‑a‑whirl side slam for a near fall, then a back elbow for another.

Dion Lennox Enters the Gauntlet

Dion Lennox is the next entrant. Dion hits elbows on both men and follows with shoulder tackles. He hits a Northern Lights suplex on Hill and a spinebuster on Drake. Dion poses and yells at the crowd while both opponents are down.

Hill escapes a slam attempt and punches Dion. Hill and Dion hit running clotheslines at the same time and both go down. Drake covers Dion for a near fall. Drake hits a neckbreaker on Hill, and Hill takes Dion down with a DDT. Drake hits a shooting star press on Hill for a near fall.

Drake hits a running hip attack to Dion’s back against the ropes. Drake punches Dion, Dion punches back, and Drake fires a forearm. Drake chokes Hill in the corner.  Hill with a take down and punches to Drake.  Drake with a double thrust to Hill’s hroat.  Drake with a Fisherman’s suplex on Dion for a near fall.

North American Title Eliminator Gauntlet – Charlie Dempsey Enters

Charlie Dempsey is the next entrant. He hits Drake with a shot and kicks Hill. Dempsey delivers a German suplex to Dion and a backbreaker to Drake. He follows with a European uppercut to Drake and applies a crossface chicken wing in the ropes. Drake grabs a sleeper on Dempsey, and Hill applies a sleeper on Drake, stacking all three men in holds.

Dion rolls to the floor. Hill hits a gutwrench suplex on Dempsey, then slams Dion and slams Drake on top of both men for a near fall. Dempsey applies a Muta Lock, but Drake breaks it with a double stomp. Dempsey and Drake trade forearms. Dion returns and sends Hill through the ringside barrier.

Dion hits a German suplex on Dempsey.

Johnny Gargano Is Revealed as the Final Entrant

Candice LeRae comes out and says she has tried to pull Johnny Gargano out of his funk, so she brought him back to where he made his name. Johnny Gargano is the final entrant.

The four men stand in the ring as Candice coaxes Johnny forward. Johnny finally steps in, and Drake immediately boots him in the head, sending him face‑first to the mat. Dion hits a sit‑out powerbomb on Drake for a near fall. Dempsey fires European uppercuts and knees, then applies a triangle on Dion. Dion powers out with a one‑arm sit‑out powerbomb. Drake kicks Dion to the floor.

Nima and Price attack Dion at ringside and hit a curb stomp through the barrier.

Hill covers Dion with a powerbomb and scores the three count.

Dion Lennox eliminated

Hill looks at Johnny and rolls him back into the ring. Johnny slowly rolls across the canvas, barely reacting. Dempsey shoves him back toward the center, and Drake knocks him to the floor. Dempsey kicks Hill while Johnny slumps across the ringside barrier.

Hill hits a flying double shoulder tackle and gets a near fall on Drake. Hill gets another near fall on Dempsey. Dempsey gets a near fall on Hill. Dempsey applies a cravate, and Drake hooks a headscissors on Dempsey. Dempsey transitions into a heel hook, and Hill grabs a heel hook on Dempsey’s other leg.

Johnny Gargano slowly considers stepping onto the ring steps. Drake fights through the pain of the submission chain as Johnny climbs onto the apron. Hill forearms Johnny, sending him back down to continue his “nap.” Hill returns to the heel hook. Hill and Dempsey trade chops. They fight to the floor, and Drake hits a flip dive onto both men but grabs his ankle on landing.

Drake sends Hill back into the ring and hits a 450 splash for a near fall. Dempsey targets the leg and hits a German suplex. Drake fires back with an enzuigiri and clotheslines Dempsey to the floor. Drake follows with a suicide dive. Drake kicks Hill, Hill avoids a follow‑up, and Drake escapes a suplex. Drake goes for a handspring, but Hill catches him and hits a pop‑up TKO.

Jackson Drake eliminated

Dempsey hits elbows and covers for a near fall. He gets another near fall, then another. Hill punches back, but Dempsey hits a Northern Lights suplex and a butterfly suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Hill blocks a Saito suplex and hits another pop‑up TKO for the three count.

Charlie Dempsey eliminated

Channing and Uriah attack Hill at ringside, and Dempsey sends Hill into the steps. Hill is rolled back into the ring, and Candice LeRae pushes Johnny onto Hill. The referee counts three.

Winner: Johnny Gargano

After the match, Oba Borne comes to the ring for the contractually obligated title‑belt pose, and Gargano shows a flicker of life.

Backstage With Stone, Briggs, and Jaida Parker

Brad and Ricky ask Robert Stone who will replace Elio and Eli. Josh Briggs tries to talk to Stone, but a referee walks in. The referee says no one wants to officiate the Keanu vs. Jasper match next week. Stone says he will handle it.

Jaida Parker arrives, and Stone tells her he can give her a match against Kelani Jordan next week.

We will return after a break with more results from the March 24, 2026 episode of WWE NXT.

Price & Nima Respond; Mike Santana Sends a Message

Sarah is backstage with Lucien Price and Bronco Nima. Nima says what happened earlier was the receipt for what Dark State did in Houston. Sarah brings up the other incidents tonight, but Nima says it all became personal in Houston. He announces that next week there will be a six‑man tag match. Price adds that Dark State has no friends in New York.

Mike Santana appears on the screen. He says when OTM made the call, he was happy to answer. He tells Dark State they’ve felt his hands before, but never like this. Santana reminds them this is Madison Square Garden and tells them to wipe their feet and pay their respects when they get off the plane.

NXT Tag Team Championship Eliminator – Niko Vance & Shawn Spears vs. Rayo & Bravo Americano

Spears and Bravo start the match. They lock up, and Spears applies a wristlock. Bravo reverses into a takedown. Spears counters, but Bravo hits an armdrag and dances. Spears cuts him off with a punch to the midsection and a snap mare, then cartwheels. Bravo answers with a headscissors takedown and a dropkick. Rayo tags in as Niko enters.

Rayo and Bravo hit kicks, punches, and chops. Niko leapfrogs both men and hits a double clothesline. Niko kicks Rayo, who chops him with no effect. Niko hits a knee and an Irish whip that sends Rayo into the ropes, then gets a near fall with a rollup. Bravo tags in, and Rayo and Bravo kick Niko before hitting a double dropkick. Spears gets knocked to the floor. Bravo hits a pescado to the outside. Niko catches Rayo, but Bravo follows with a suicide dive that takes Niko down.

Bravo hits an uppercut, but Niko blocks a slam and delivers one of his own. Spears tags in and chops Bravo. Spears misses another chop, and Bravo fires back with a chop and punches. Bravo hits a snap mare and tags Rayo for a slingshot senton.

Rayo takes Spears down with a double‑leg and catapults him into a forearm. Bravo follows with a slingshot senton onto Spears across Rayo’s knees. Bravo gets sent over the top rope and crashes into the edge of the steps. Niko boots Bravo and runs him into the apron. Niko follows with a back‑drop driver onto the apron. Niko rolls Rayo inside, hits a hard Irish whip, and follows with a backbreaker for a near fall.

Niko runs Bravo into the turnbuckles. Spears tags in and chops Bravo on the ropes. Bravo kicks back, and Spears throws punches. Spears goes after Bravo’s mask, but Bravo knocks him off the turnbuckles with punches. Bravo hits a crossbody, and both men are down.

Niko tags in, and Rayo meets him with a splash. Rayo goes up top and hits a moonsault for a near fall. Bravo tags in, and Rayo lands a thrust kick. Bravo leaps, but Niko catches him and choke slams him onto Rayo. Bravo recovers with an enzuigiri and a slam. Bravo gets Spears up for an airplane spin, but Niko stops it with a knee.

Niko goes up top and misses a frog splash when Rayo pulls Bravo out of the way.

Bravo slips a piece of metal into his mask while Rayo distracts the referee. Spears tags in and hits a running Death Valley Driver. Rayo loads his mask as well. Spears goes for an O’Connor Roll, and Rayo headbutts him with the loaded mask. Bravo knocks Niko off the apron and hits a flying headbutt for the three count.

Winners: Bravo & Rayo Americano

Backstage With Keanu, Stone, Briggs, and Tatum

Keanu tells Robert Stone he will smash Jasper next week. Stone says there are no referees willing to work the match. Josh Briggs walks in and says he has an idea — he’ll referee it himself. Briggs says he can control both men and that Keanu doesn’t scare him. Stone agrees and makes Josh the referee.

Tatum Paxley walks down a hallway calling out for Blake Monroe.

Results for WWE NXT on March 24, 2026 continue after a commercial break.

– Next week, Jasper Troy faces Keanu Carver with guest referee Josh Briggs.  Bronco Nima, Lucien Price, and Mike Santana face Dark State.  Kendal Grey faces Lola Vice in a Number One Contender Match.

Ricky Saints vs. Tony D’Angelo

Ricky offers a handshake, then tries for a kick, but Tony blocks it. Ricky favors his foot. Ricky shoots for the leg, but Tony blocks again. Tony gets a waistlock, and Ricky counters with a front facelock. They trade positions on the mat until Tony takes him down into a rollup for a near fall. Tony holds a front facelock. Ricky hits a double‑leg takedown. Tony answers with a single‑leg and another takedown.

Ethan Page checks on Ricky on the floor. Ricky stumbles over the ring steps. When Tony charges, Ricky kicks him. Tony presses Ricky overhead and dumps him through the ropes. Ricky kicks Tony to the floor when Ethan distracts him. Ricky catches Tony on a pescado attempt and sends him into the steps. Ricky kicks Tony again and drives him into the steps a second time.

Ricky lands chops and kicks. Tony fires back with punches, and his hair goes full Brody style. Tony hits more chops. He sends Ricky into the corner, charges, and hits the ring post shoulder‑first. Ricky follows with an arm breaker.

Ricky punches Tony, then walks the ropes for Old School. He poses, and Tony punches him down. Tony hits corner clotheslines. Ricky boots Tony and hits divorce court for a near fall. Ricky applies a reverse chinlock. Tony backs him into the corner to break it. Ricky hits a neckbreaker for another near fall.

Ricky applies a rear‑naked choke. Tony breaks free with an Olympic Slam. Ethan Page trips Tony and distracts him. Ricky goes for a tornado DDT, but Tony blocks it and counters with a suplex.

Ricky dropkicks Tony into the corner and hits another dropkick. Tony escapes Roshambo, but Ricky hits a spear for a near fall. Ricky follows with a hard Irish whip, then another. He chops Tony, hits a snap mare, and kicks him in the back. Tony starts to fire up, punches Ricky, and hits a clothesline.

Tony delivers an overhead belly‑to‑belly suplex, a splash, and another overhead belly‑to‑belly. Tony hits a spear. Ethan Page gets on the apron, and Tony knocks him down. Page attacks Tony, and the referee calls for the bell.

Winner by DQ: Tony D’Angelo

Ethan and Ricky double‑team Tony. Ricky goes up top, but Joe Hendry’s music hits. Hendry stops both men, hits a fallaway slam on Page, and clotheslines Ricky over the top rope. Hendry helps Tony to his feet and gives him a Standing Ovation.

Backstage With Sarah and Robert Stone

Sarah asks Stone about the NXT Championship situation. Stone announces that the title match at Stand & Deliver will be a Fatal Four Way. He adds that there will be a contract signing next week.

We go to credits.

–– Here is what’s in store for tonight’s show ––

  • Tony D’Angelo vs. Ricky Saints
  • Sol Ruca and Zaria face-to-face
  • Thea Hail vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Gauntlet eliminator match for a shot at the NXT North American title at Stand and Deliver
  • First-round tournament match for a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship | Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears and Niko Vance)
  • Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey vs. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid)

NXT Preview – March 24, 2026

With NXT Stand & Deliver just days away on April 4, the road to the Premium Live Event continues tonight as Myles Borne learns who will challenge him for the North American Championship. Several yet‑to‑be‑revealed competitors will battle in a Number One Contenders Gauntlet Match, with the winner earning the Stand & Deliver title shot. Borne’s most recent televised defense came on the March 3 episode of NXT, where he successfully retained against former champion Ethan Page.

Former NXT Champion Ricky Saints returns to action tonight as he squares off with former North American and Tag Team Champion Tony D’Angelo. Tension between Saints and Ethan Page has been building for weeks as both men set their sights on Joe Hendry’s NXT Championship. Their alliance finally cracked last Tuesday when Hendry confronted them, sparking a three‑way brawl—only for D’Angelo to storm in and leave all three men laid out.

The NXT Tag Team Championship Tournament continues as the field narrows toward determining the next challengers for Vanity Project. Tonight, Shawn Spears and Niko Vance of The Culling face Eli Knight and Speed Champion Elio LeFleur. Last week, Uriah Connors and Heritage Cup Champion Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo advanced by defeating Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. Knight stepped in for Sean Legacy—who was sidelined with an injury—to team with LeFleur, and the duo now look to keep their momentum alive.

Last Tuesday, Wren Sinclair captured her first WWE title by dethroning Fallon Henley to become the new Women’s Speed Champion. Tonight, Henley looks to strike back as she teams with her Fatal Influence partner Lainey Reid to take on Sinclair and her WrenQCC ally Kendal Grey in tag team action.

Also on the card, Kelani Jordan and Thea Hail return to the ring to face one another one‑on‑one. Both women are hungry for a rebound victory—Jordan is coming off a loss to Lola Vice in the NXT Underground Match at Vengeance Day, while Hail fell short against Sinclair in the finals of the Women’s Speed Championship No. 1 Contenders Tournament on March 10.

NXT Results – March 24, 2026

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Ex-UFC Star Mirko Cro Cop Says He Received Offer To Fight Francis Ngannou In Comeback

MMA legend and UFC alum Mirko Cro Cop said that he was offered an opportunity to fight Francis Ngannou in May, though he didn’t confirm the offer came from MVP. 

Ngannou will be fighting Philipe Lins in the co-main event of the MVP MMA card on May 16, which will be headlined by Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano and stream on Netflix. There had also been talks of a fight between Ngannou and Rico Verhoeven, but Verhoeven will instead fight Oleksandr Usyk in boxing for the WBC Heavyweight title on May 23. 

Cro Cop said in an interview with “RMC Sport Combat” that he had been approached to fight Ngannou as well, and at the age of 51, retired as of 2019 having suffered a stroke, he laughed and could not take it serious. He said that he was approached by a “serious guy” who is the “CEO of one big organization.” 

“I said, ‘What do you mean, did you say fight? Did you use the word fight or did you use the word playing cards, chess, swimming, running? You mean fight?’ … I started laughing,” he said. “If I had to fight now and they said make me a list from the worst to the best that you will fight, of course Francis Ngannou will be the last one that I fight.”

Cro Cop jokingly said he would have asked for $500,000 for himself and $19.5 million to give to his mother for the expression on her face when he tells her about it. He said that the fight would have been at too short of notice in May anyway, and he didn’t understand why so much money was being thrown about. 

Rico Verhoeven Explains Rejecting MMA Fight With Francis Ngannou In Favor Of Boxing

Rico Verhoeven explained why he turned down a bigger payday fighting Francis Ngannou in MMA for his upcoming WBC Heavyweight Championship boxing fight against Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt. 

Verhoeven left GLORY Kickboxing in 2025 much like Ngannou had left UFC in 2023, reigning as the unbeaten Heavyweight Champion. And he will be doing the same as Ngannou had in one regard, boxing the Lineal Heavyweight Champion Olekandr Usyk. 

The bout will be contested for the WBC Heavyweight Championship, pitting Verhoeven against the 24-0 multiple time and weight Undisputed World Champion at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, in just his second professional boxing bout after debuting with a KO win in 2014.

But he could have been facing Ngannou in his second MMA bout instead, as he confirmed during Chael Sonnen’s “Smash Cast” that a large offer had been tabled for them to fight. However, Verhoeven said that he had already verbally agreed to the Usyk fight with Turki Alalshikh. 

“My word is my everything,” he said. “For me, that was the thing, like, I gave my word. There were multiple people that really put their necks out for me. So that’s like Jason Statham, his excellency Turki Alalshikh, his right hand man Doctor Rakan [Al-Harty], and I was like this is what I got to do. The other option is amazing and they’re paying an amazing amount of money but I gave these guys my word.”

Ngannou is now due to fight Philipe Lins on the MVP MMA card headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano streaming on Netflix on May 16. It will be his first fight since beating Renan Fereira for the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship in 2024. Verhoeven fought his one and only MMA bout with a first-round knockout win over Viktor Bogutzski in 2015.

WWE NXT Title Four-Way Set For Stand & Deliver

Joe Hendry will defend his NXT Championship against three others at Stand & Deliver, with Robert Stone declaring that he, Ricky Saints, Ethan Page, and Tony D’Angelo will all fight in fatal four-way to close “WWE NXT.”

D’Angelo was wrestling Saints in the main event of Tuesday’s show, with Saints flanked by Page as part of their recent alliance to both become two-time champions – while simultaneously disagreeing on which titles they should be vying for. Ultimately, D’Angelo got the win via disqualification as Page got involved in the match, hitting a chop block and initiating a two-one-one attack. 

Hendry then ran down to the ring to make the save, clearing the ring alongside D’Angelo before hitting him with a Standing Ovation for leaving him behind last week. Meanwhile, Saints and Page had a hold of the NXT title belt on the outside of the ring and were tussling for it.

The camera then panned to Stone backstage, who confirmed that after what had happened in the main event the due course would be a fatal four-way between them for the title. A contract signing will be held during next week’s show in New York.