Folks, let me tell you, the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia was buzzing more than my old record player on a Saturday night, as “WWE NXT” pulled off its fourth Stand and Deliver Premium Live Event. This wasn’t just any show; it was part of the WrestleMania 40 extravaganza, and oh boy, did it deliver more than my promise to always keep things interesting.
Now, NXT usually likes to keep things cozy at the WWE Performance Center in sunny Orlando, Florida. But for those special occasions, they go big or go home, aiming for that “big fight feel.” And big it was, right in the same spot where WWE had just rolled out the red carpet for “WWE Smackdown” and the 2024 Hall of Fame shindig. Despite those events playing it more intimate, NXT went full throttle, breaking the attendance meter.
Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful shared a little whisper in my ear, telling me NXT’s Stand and Deliver was the talk of the town, setting a brand-new attendance record. Now, WrestleTix had folks scratching their heads, showing numbers like 13,453 tickets flying off the shelves from a total of 13,770. You might think, “Joe, that’s impressive, but what about those TakeOver events in Brooklyn, Orlando, and New Orleans?” Well, let me tell you, those numbers might have had a bit of that political campaign puffery.
And guess what? WWE’s making a grand return to the Wells Fargo Center this April 8 for “WWE Raw” – the aftermath of WrestleMania’s wrestling bonanza. If you thought the debates were something, you haven’t seen anything yet.