NXT General Manager Robert Stone has addressed the decision to move Stand & Deliver away from WWE WrestleMania week.
From its introduction in 2021, NXT Stand & Deliver has been attached to that year’s WrestleMania, with the upcoming entry set to take place much earlier in April.
Marking the first time that the event will take place without WrestleMania, Robert Stone has addressed the decision for the change.
Speaking to The Sportster, the NXT General Manager touted the benefits of not being attached to WrestleMania for both the fans and stars, saying:
“You take any situation, what do you do? You get— I tell my wife all the time, is the glass half full or empty? It’s half full. You make the best out of it. Stay positive. This is great.
“This is a chance for NXT for their biggest show of the year to stand alone and not to start early afternoon, not where people maybe say ‘It’s not that I don’t want to see it, but I don’t know if I can handle two shows in one day,’ and maybe they pass.
“Now all eyes are on this show, St. Louis, Missouri, at an awesome building. Everyone that’s on the show from NXT is going to Stand and Deliver. You know, the call time isn’t going to be 4:00 in the morning, so it’s a lot better for everyone performing.”
Stone served as the interim NXT General Manager following the departure of Ava in February of this year, with the role being made permanent the following month.
Too Much Wrestling At WrestleMania Week?
Whenever there’s a WrestleMania, the location becomes a hotspot for wrestling, be it WWE, independent shows or conventions featuring stars from across the scene.
It’d be a bold move to hold a wrestling show on the either of the two nights occupied by WrestleMania, with this year’s Las Vegas showing being no exception.
As Stone mentions, past iterations of Stand & Deliver have fallen on the same day as one of the nights of WrestleMania, meaning an earlier start time for the shows, stars having to be available much ealier than they would for an evening show, and yet another show that eager fans have to decide whether to attend or not, while also fitting other things such as food and drink.
Las Vegas, very much like any location that hosts a key Premium Live Event, isn’t short of entertainment for fans, with independent shows showcasing talent and giving the WWE fans a chance to see something they may not get from WrestleMania.
Then there’s the thorny issue of the premium ticket prices. Chances are that the fans will be going to Las Vegas to see WrestleMania and want to get their money’s worth from all the entertainment they intend to consume. With both nights of WrestleMania likely to be much longer than an average show, there can be no doubt that some may have skipped a show like NXT Stand & Deliver to ensure they are as fresh as possible for what’s to come at Allegiant Stadium.
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