Generation NXT - NXT recap for March 14, 2023

Johnny Gargano heads to the ring to start tonight's show. As the crowd chants "Johnny Wrestling" and "Welcome Home," Johnny Gargano tells the fans to watch his back in case Grayson Waller tries to hit him from behind with a chair, then says he will teach his son to be the best man he can be by finishing what one starts. He says that there is a lot of talk about finishing one's story this WrestleMania season and that he is here to finish his story after it ended on a cliffhanger fifteen months ago downed on the announce table with Grayson Waller above him. He says that he took closure away from him on his last night here, then says he somewhat respects this and that he waited to see what Waller did with his moment, as Tommaso Ciampa was the last person to take him out and he became one of the greatest NXT Champions of all time.Gargano then says that Waller had two opportunities at the NXT Championship, failed at both of them, and whined, cried and complained to the point that he disrespected all of NXT. He says that no matter what brand he is on, NXT is his home. All of a sudden, somebody shows up and tells Gargano that Waller is at his home and bragging about it online. Gargano runs to the back.

In footage from earlier today, Wes Lee is met by Axiom, who says that he will follow him everywhere. Wes Lee says the open challenge is in eight hours, but Axiom says he is willing to do whatever Wes Lee is willing to do. The two of them then get a bite to eat.

In backstage footage from moments ago, Johnny Gargano heads home, and a camera crew follows him.

Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) retain the NXT Tag Team Championships against Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince).

Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley sneak into Kiana James' office. Fallon finds a contract for an NXT Women's Championship qualifying match, then finds out from Kiana's planner that the tag team and dating Brooks Jensen was part of a plan to hide a relationship with someone named Sebastian. Fallon then finds and takes a picture of the card that Kiana hid from Josh Briggs, in which Kiana thanks Sebastian for a wonderful night and morning, then she and Briggs leave.

It is announced by "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels that Roxanne Perez's health is still in question after last week and that there may have to be a new NXT Women's Champion. Starting tonight, there will be a series of qualifying matches with the winners vying for the Women's Championship in a ladder match at Stand & Deliver.

We hear from Dr. Warren Becker, sports medicine physician. He says that Roxanne Perez's blood came back as reassuring and that she is systematically stable, but is is not known yet what causes Roxanne to pass out. He says that tests will be ongoing to investigate the issue further and that is is unknown when Roxanne will return to in-ring action.

Zoey Stark beats Sol Ruca to qualify for the NXT Women's Championship Ladder Match at Stand & Deliver.

We hear from Scrypts, who says that if you give a man a mask, you will see his true face. He says he has seen all sorts of masks, but his gaze is drawn to one man.

Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn beat the team of Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley and the team of Kayden Carter and Katana Chance to become #1 contenders for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships at Stand & Deliver after Tatum Paxley turns on Ivy Nile, refusing to tag her out and saying they were never a team before attacking her and throwing her into the ring.

Backstage, Bron Breakker is met by Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo. D'Angelo and Stacks ask if they can take Carmelo Hayes out for him. Bron Breakker jokes around with them, but declines and leaves. Afterwards, Tony D'Angelo says it is time to add some gold in the family and aims for the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Ilja Dragunov heads to the ring. Dragunov says his WWE career has been life-changing for him and his family and that they have had opportunities that they never felt would happen, but with every step he has taken, there has been a blemish. He says that JD McDonagh has cut his legs out from under him, and in order to maintain his autonomy, he must get rid of McDonagh once and for all. McDonagh then shows up. McDonagh tells Dragunov not to pretend this would be avoidable, as this never was because they were both two sides to the same time and they are both more alike than they are different. Dragunov says McDonagh is obsessed with him and it will lead to bad things, but McDonagh tells Dragunov that he drove him out of NXT UK and that since then, the both of them has suffered. Dragunov reminds McDonagh that pain makes him feel alive and that he has chosen this life, but McDonagh says that while Dragunov's greatest strength is withstanding pain, it is also why he has no title over his shoulder. He then says that he will never get tired of coming up with new ways to make Dragunov suffer and that it will never end between them, but Dragunov says it will all end next week and there will be nothing but a pile of body parts and a gravestone for McDonagh when he is done. McDonagh says that he looks forward to their symphony of suffering more than Dragunov can imagine, and that it will be hard to watch. He then tries to headbutt Dragunov, but Dragunov avoids it and the two men brawl. The brawl then makes is way backstage, and McDonagh throws Dragunov out of the arena.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince). Kit Wilson says that Stand & Deliver needs them, not the other way around, and that no match can contain their star power. He asks why they should be part of the show and they can be the show, and decide to become the hosts for Stand & Deliver.

Wes Lee runs into the brawl between JD McDonagh and Ilja Dragunov - and briefly brawls with McDonagh when McDonagh hits him when Wes Lee tells him that Dragunov will mess him up - before heading to the ring.

Backstage, Thea Hail and Tyler Date do some yoga, then Andre Chase talks with Duke Hudson. Hudson says he is not over Chase U's win-loss record. Andre Chase says Chase U is more than just a school, but a feeling, a place to prepare for the future and a place to belong, and that is also true for Duke Hudson. As a member of The Schism (Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, Jagger Reid, Ava Rayne) watches from the background, Andre Chase says that for the first time, Duke Hudson actually cares, and that maybe Chase U has done more for him than anything else in his life. Chase leaves, then the member of The Schism - Ava Rayne - places her mask around the Chase U megaphone.

We see cellphone footage of Grayson Waller near Johnny Gargano's house, then decides to make his way inside.

Backstage, everyone brawls to get a chance at Wes Lee's open challenge. Axiom gets in the ring, but he is attacked by Scrypts. All of a sudden, Wes Lee is attacked by JD McDonagh, who is attacked by Ilja Dragunov. Wes Lee then takes out everyone brawling at ringside and joins in on the brawl.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Dragon Lee. He says that making it into NXT is exciting and the greatest thing in his career, and he plans to be a shining example of lucha libre and show what makes him special.

We see a video package for Apollo Crews vs. Dabba-Kato, which is coming up next.

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Jacy Jayne - who is wearing a sling on her right arm - who says that even on her best day, Gigi Dolin is not as good as she is, even if she beat her last week. She also says that Gigi separated her shoulder a minute into the match because she just had to take a shortcut, and she could not even lift her right arm in the match. She says that if Gigi Dolin considers that a victory, then she is more pathetic than she thought she was. Jacy then says that as she is away from NXT, she will think about what Gigi did to her, and when she returns, she will break her heart and her face again.

Dabba-Kato beats Apollo Crews.

We see footage from the NXT Anonymous Twitter account, where "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels tells Wes Lee that he loves him, but that the open challenge is killing him. Wes lee says he wants to prove himself, but Shawn says he does not have to. Wes Lee says he has to, especially after Shawn had to prove himself. Both men then compromise on making a Fatal 5-Way match for the North American Championship, with Wes Lee picking his opponents. Wes Lee says he has to, especially after Shawn had to prove himself when he became WWF Champion. Both men then compromise on making a Fatal 5-Way match for the North American Championship, with Wes Lee picking his opponents.

Backstage, Kiana James tries and fails to call Fallon Henley, then tells Brooks Jensen she will have to go her match tonight alone.

Gigi Dolin beats Kiana James to qualify for the NXT Women's Championship Ladder Match at Stand & Deliver. After the match, Kiana James is attacked by Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, and they run away when Brooks Jensen runs out to the ring.

Johnny Gargano makes it to his house, but he is attacked by Grayson Waller. Both men brawl, but when Candice LeRae checks on Gargano, Waller hits Gargano with a low blow. Waller snaps a rake in half on Gargano's back, then curb stomps him as Candice LeRae keeps telling Waller to stomp. Waller then says Gargano is not the same man anymore before leaving.

Backstage, Brooks Jensen checks on Kiana James, then Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley shows up. Fallon confronts Kiana about not telling her about the Women's Championship Ladder Match qualifier As both Carmelo and Breakker ask if there should be a moderator for the contract signing, Pretty Deadly show up. Prince says that since they are hosting Stand & Deliver, they might as well host the contract signing.tonight, and Jensen tells Fallon that she and Kiana now have to defend the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships against Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn at Stand & Deliver.

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams show up for the contract signing for the NXT Championship at Stand & Deliver. Bron Breakker shows up after that. As both Carmelo and Breakker ask if there should be a moderator for the contract signing, Pretty Deadly show up. Prince says that since they are hosting Stand & Deliver, they might as well host the contract signing. Carmelo tells Breakker that he has held the NXT Championship and all that comes with it on his shoulders, then says that at Stand & Deliver, there will be a changing of the guard and that he will take the title further. After Carmelo says that Breakker is coming in second to him, Breakker says that Carmelo made the North American Championship his own because he was not ready for his title, but he does not want the "A-Champ," but the Carmelo who gets the fans on his feet and the one who beat Ricochet.Carmelo then says that the Bron Breakker that breaks through walls and made Tommaso Ciampa tap out, as he cannot deny his greatness. He then says that when Breakker gives his all against him, it will not be good enough, because he is "Him." Breakker believes Carmelo is "Him," but he has to show him that "Him" means something, because if he does, both men will get everything they want, as this will be one of the biggest matches in history. Carmelo says that at Stand & Deliver, he will deliver, and he wants to know that Breakker will do the same. Breakker says that something has to give, then Carmelo signs the contract before saying he is not giving an inch. Bron Breakker signs the contract, then says that neither is he. Breakker and Carmelo shake hands. As both men try to leave the ring, Pretty Deadly say they want drama, and both Breakker and Carmelo put Pretty Deadly through the table before ending the show with a staredown.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!