Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s live coverage of the March 31 episode of “WWE NXT!” There’s a big fight feel in the Big Apple this Tuesday evening, with several high-profile matches and face-offs scheduled for “NXT’s” Madison Square Garden takeover. With “Stand and Deliver” just around the corner, who knows what WWE’s explosive roster of hungry upstarts will do to secure a last-minute place on St. Louis’ hallowed card?

After Blake Monroe stole Tatum Paxley’s “NXT” Women’s North American title following her March 17 title defense, Paxley interrupted Monroe’s signature bath-time monologue to lay down the gauntlet for a face-to-face segment. The champion is keen on getting her championship back, but just what Paxley has planned for the title thief Monroe is anyone’s guess as the two women meet in middle of New York City.

Both women’s titles will be in the spotlight tonight, as Lola Vice takes on Kendal Grey in a Number One Contender’s match to determine current “NXT” Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne’s “Stand and Deliver” opponent. The current AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion has been on fire in both the United States and Mexico, but how will she hold up against the former “WWE Evolve” Women’s Champion Grey? Will Jayne and her Fatal Influence lackeys interfere in the match? All questions will be answered as Vice and Grey battle in the concrete jungle, with Jayne’s title hanging in the balance.

Ethan Page, Ricky Saints, Tony D’Angelo, and “NXT” Champion Joe Hendry have been at each other’s throats for weeks, with hands flying indiscriminately from contender-to-contender, contender-to-champion. What was just a long-rumored match for the “NXT” Championship will be made official tonight, as Page, Saints, D’Angelo, and Hendry will sign the contract for a Fatal Fourway match at “Stand and Deliver.” Words will be exchanged, pen will meet paper, and bodies will certainly litter the ring. Just what these four competitors will do to each other ahead of “Stand and Deliver,” however, will be revealed.

And we’re live in New York City! We’re joined by Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary as Madison Square Garden erupts in raucous applause.

Francis Ngannou confirmed that his deal with MVP and Netflix is a one-and-done situation. 

Ngannou is returning to MMA on May 16 against Philipe Lins on the card headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, the first MMA event to be streamed on Netflix. It will mark his first fight since 2024, having beaten Renan Ferreira for the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship, which was in itself his first fight since leaving UFC as the unbeaten Heavyweight Champion the year earlier. 

Ngannou confirmed to Ariel Helwani that he will be fighting just the one time for MVP as it stands, confirming it isn’t a multi-fight deal or promotional agreement. He also said that streaming on Netflix was a major drawing factor for him to sign.

“It’s just this fight, not a promotional agreement,” Ngannou said. When asked whether he was getting paid better than when was with PFL, he said, “That doesn’t matter… Of course [I’m happy with it], otherwise I wouldn’t have said yes. I’m happy for the opportunity as well. This is the first MMA fight that will be on Netflix. So I was more excited about that. That was a big decision factor.”

Ngannou departed PFL in January, though the promotion announced it only a few days before his fight was confirmed for May 16. He has since said that he had been pushing for another fight under the PFL banner, that it was their decision for him to leave, and he would like to remain with the PFL Africa brand if that remains a possibility.

Historically, WWE’s Road to WrestleMania generates the most interest in the promotion, and that has reflected once again in “Raw’s” Netflix viewership. Since the immediate aftermath of the Royal Rumble, “Raw” has found itself generally within the 2.8 to 3.0 million views range every week, with the show safely finding itself in Netflix’s Top 10, and even placing higher than usual. And the March 23 episode of “Raw” airing out of Boston, Massachusetts proved to be no different.

Wrestlenomics reports that the episode drew 2.9 million views over the course of the week, slightly down from 3.0 million views from March 16, but still well within the average “Raw” has done in recent weeks. The story was similar when it came to hours viewed, with the show drawing 5.5 million, also only slightly down from 5.9 million the week before.

The best news for “Raw’s” viewership, however, was regarding their placement in both Netflix’s global and top ten rankings. Despite the slightly lower numbers in views and hours viewed, “Raw” saw it’s ranking rise globally, with the show placing 6th, up from 8th place. This ties the March 23 “Raw” for the highest placing the red brand has had in the global top ten, alongside the March 2 episode. Domestically, “Raw” placed 3rd, making it the second straight week “Raw” placed in the top three in the US.

As has been the case for “Raw” throughout Mania season, the show was headlined by another confrontation between CM Punk and Roman Reigns, who are set to face off for Punk’s World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. One week after Punk took down Reigns with a punch, Reigns got the better of his rival, putting him through the announcer’s table with a powerbomb, though Punk was seen laughing afterward, believing he had gotten in Reigns’ head.

Former WWE chairman Vince McMahon was alluded to during a segment on “WWE Raw” during a promo involving Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie made a surprise appearance to warn Rhodes about Randy Orton ahead of WrestleMania 42, and during the segment, she brought up Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes responded that Stephanie was also “nothing like her father,” but didn’t mention McMahon by name.

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray believes that the line was WWE testing the waters after McMahon’s second departure from the company in January 2024. The announcement of McMahon’s resignation came days after former WWE employee Janel Grant accused him of sex trafficking in a civil lawsuit.

“They put their toe in the water,” Bully Ray said on “Busted Open Radio.” “They very, very gently took the temperature of the room and it didn’t get booed out of the building. Here’s what shocked me on social media last night… After the segment was over, I asked, ‘Okay, fine. Who do you think was on the phone with Randy?’ Resounding responses for Vince McMahon. Not only resounding responses, ‘I think it’s Vince,’ but people were saying, ‘I hope it was Vince.’ It’s interesting that they floated it out there. It’s interesting that it wasn’t met with an overwhelmingly negative reaction.”

Bully Ray referred to the backstage segments involving Orton talking on the phone to who was previously believed to be “the voices in his head,” though is now widely believed to be an actual person who could help him in his feud with Rhodes. Fans have also speculated it could be Triple H or Ric Flair, who Orton worked alongside during his early days in Evolution.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.