Generation NXT - NXT recap for February 27, 2024

Ilja Dragunov heads to the ring to start tonight's show. He says he is not in the mood to wait around all tonight, for this is Stand & Deliver season, and calls out Carmelo Hayes so they can have a discussion regarding the NXT Championship. Carmelo shows up and says Dragunov may be champion for now, but he is the one that makes the brand go. Security shows up to stand between him and Dragunov, who Carmelo says makes him sick with his custom suits and has to be ticked off that he used him. Dragunov says that he can be spiteful, and Carmelo says that he will not step into the ring until he sees a contract. Carmelo says Dragunov's biggest fear is losing the NXT Championship, then tells Dragunov to get everything in order before the end of the night so they can talk business. Dragunov approaches the ropes, and when a few members of Carmelo's security approach him, they get laid out.

Backstage, General Manager Ava is met by Gigi Dolin, who wants to talk about her NXT future. When Ava heads to her office, Jaida Parker is already there, and this leads to an argument between Gigi and Jaida. Ava kicks Jaida out.

Kiana James beats Kelani Jordan after Izzi Dame trips Kelani off the apron, which allows Kiana to hit the Dealbreaker for the win.

In backstage footage from last week, an irritated and enraged Roxanne Perez beats Jakara Jackson up in the locker room after losing out on another opportunity for the NXT Women's Championship.

The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) beat Edris Enofe and Malik Blade. After the match, Andre Chase and Duke Hudson show up from the Chase U section and challenge Gallows and Anderson to a match when Nathan Frazer and Axiom show up also wanting a piece of Gallows and Anderson. All of a sudden, Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro hit Gallows and Anderson from the top rope from behind, and all three teams clear Gallows and Anderson out of the ring. Meanwhile, Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker are on the nearby balcony.

Backstage, Oba Femi meets with General Manager Ava concerning his next challenger. After Ava says she is figuring this out, Ilja Dragunov shows up, wanting to speak with her.

Roxanne Perez beats Jakara Jackson with the crossface. During the match, Lash Legend gets ejected when Jakara grabs onto Lash Legend to counter the Pop Rox.

Backstage, Thea Hail talks about Riley Osbourne, who says that that the Thea Hail he dated was not the one that he got to know and that they are better off as friends. Jacy Jayne says "the old Thea" was a loser, Fallon Henley is a moron who begs people to be her friends, and that Andre Chase and Duke Hudson are also losers. Suddenly, Kiana James and Izzi Dame show up to talk about the calenders, which leaves Thea alone with her thoughts.

Backstage, Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker are met by The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson). Anderson makes fun of "Comedian Corbin" "liking it in NXT," then says it will not take him and Gallows long . Corbin says the only thing funny was the sound Anderson's made when AJ Styles slapped in the mouth. A fight almost breaks out, and Breakker says that when they get in the ring, the dogs come out. Gallows says they will see if Breakker and Corbin can get past Chase University, and if they do, he and Anderson will be waiting for them.

Dijak beats Luca Crusifino. After the match, Joe Gacy shows up freeing himself from his straitjacket, and Crusifino hits Dijak from behind with a crowbar before Gacy and Dijak brawl their way to the back.

Backstage, Tony D'Angelo tells Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo to go get Luca Crusifino for him after the two of them and Adriana Rizzo watch the previous match.

Backstage, Kelly Kincaid interviews Noam Dar and Oro Mensah. Noam says Meta-Four (Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson) is ready for anything and that nobody is doing it like they are right now, and that regardless of who he faces, it will end the same way.

Lyra Valkyria heads to the ring. She wishes Shotzi a speedy recovery and tells her that she still owes her a title shot, then gives credit where credit is due to Lash Legend for stepping up afterwards. She says she promised to stand in the ring as NXT Women's Champion and held up that promise, then mentions she made a promise to Tatum Paxley for staying in the background like she asked her to and asks her to come to the ring. Lyra crawls out from behind the barricade and says she would do anything for her, then says she has proven that she is a woman of her word after trying to come off as less creepy. Lyra tells Tatum that she has gotten with General Manager Ava and that they will face The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. As Tatum gets excited for the match, Ridge Holland shows up and wishes the both of them the best of luck, then asks for the ring in order to get something off his chest. Tatum and Lyra leave. Ridge says he is a man of action than he is a man of words, and that his actions have gotten him in this predicament. He says that when he retaliates against someone, he takes it too far, and he apologizes for defending himself and his family. As he says that there was no malicious intent in his actions, the lights go out, and a message stating "Truth will ultimately prevail, but there is bringing it to light" is heard. A man then hits Ridge with a chair when a spotlight is on the ring, and the man is Shawn Spears, previously known as Tye Dillinger.

Backstage, Brooks Jensen confronts Oba Femi and challenges him for the North American Championship, saying Josh Briggs told him to grow some balls and that this is what he is going to do. Oba Femi says that looking for a fight is one thing, but when he is done with him, he will not even be able to walk.

Backstage, Kelly Kincaid is able to interview Carmelo Hayes, who is surrounded by security. Carmelo says he wants Ilja Dragunov in the ring and General Manager Ava with a contract for him to sign. He tells Dragunov "no contract, no Melo."

Von Wagner beats Lexis King with a schoolkid pin after Mr. Stone - who was accidentaly sandwiched between Von Wagner and the barricade earlier in the match - gets on the . After the match, Lexis King attacks Von Wagner's leg, and Mr. Stone grabs Lexis King by the hair only to get punched in the face. Lexis King then hits Mr. Stone with the Coronation, and referees rush in to check on Mr. Stone.

We see a video package chronicling the careers of The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). Backstage, Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley entertain the idea of being women's tag team champions. Jaida Parker says The Kabuki Warriors will embarrass them, and Arianna Grace tries to defuse the situation through words only for Jaida Parker to make fun of her crown.

Backstage, Joe Gacy sneaks up on Dijak as he argues with General Manager Ava and attacks him. Referees have to break up the ensuing brawl.

Jaida Parker beats Gigi Dolin when Arianna Grace shows up and grabs Gigi's arm when she rears back only to get decked, which allows Jaida Parker to get the win when Gigi is distracted.

We see the message "See you soon" written on a beach followed by the NXT Roadblock logo.

Charlie Dempsey beats Noam Dar two falls to one (2-1) to become the NXT Heritage Cup Champion! Charlie Dempsey scores the first fall with a bridge pin with 1:14 (one minute, fourteen seconds) left in Round 1. Noam Dar scores the second fall with the Nova Roller with 2:39 (two minutes, thirty-nine seconds) left in Round 4. Charlie Dempsey scores the third and deciding fall with a German suplex bridge pin with 2:08 (two minutes, eight seconds) left in Round 5 following the distraction by the rest of No Quarter Catch Crew (Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp, Myles Borne) and Drew Gulak taking a Nova Roller for Dempsey.

Backstage, Shawn Spears says he likes Ridge Holland, but says Ridge has lied to himself for far too long and that the pain coursing through his body is the truth. He says the truth can bring one to their knees, and this is why he is in NXT. After Shawn Spears walks away, Roxanne Perez refuses an interview on the way out.

Ilja Dragunov and General Manager Ava are in the ring for a contract signing between Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship at Roadblock. Carmelo Hayes soon shows up with a security detail. Carmelo says that he and Dragunov are now speaking the same language, then states that he has brought security with him for Dragunov's protection and that he will become NXT Champion again at Roadblock. Dragunov says he and Carmelo have known each other for eight months and was initially shocked by his blatant honestly, but has realized that is who he is and that he will do anything to become champion. Carmelo mentions Dragunov saying he wants to take his soul and tells him that he is colder than Dragunov can imagine, then The D'Angelo Family shows up. Tony D'Angelo gets in the ring and says that if everyone is talking about big business, then he should be part of the conversation. Carmelo is against this, but D'Angelo says one must not be "Him" to move things around here, for there is only one Don. All of a sudden, Carmelo's security detail walks away, then D'Angelo says he has been watching this feud go on for the last eight months and that he is the one man who can flip things on their head. He says Carmelo has had more of, then tells Dragunov is the man who wants to take the NXT title from him and not Carmelo, as he has earned everything he has ever gotten and that anyone who crossed him earned what they got coming to them. He says he will earn a title match at Stand & Deliver, then Dragunov says D'Angelo has gotten his interest. Tony D'Angelo says it will be him and Carmelo Hayes at Roadblock, with the winner facing Dragunov for the title at Stand & Deliver. Dragunov says he would like nothing better than Carmelo earning something for once in his life, and tells D'Angelo he has his match before telling him "Whoop that 'Melo." D'Angelo and Dragunov shake hands as Carmelo asks if Ava will stand behind the decision of a cowardly champion before telling D'Angelo that he cannot beat him, saying D'Angelo is better suited for a menial job while he is the real Don. D'Angleo confronts Carmelo, who shoves him into Dragunov and casues D'Angelo to inadvertently elbow Dragunov, then signs the contract for the match.

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