Women’s title match to headline NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one

A Women’s Championship match will headline the first night of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.

WWE has announced that Io Shirai will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Raquel Gonzalez in the main event of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one. The two-night event is taking place on Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8. Night one will air live on the USA Network. Night two will be live on Peacock in the United States and live on the WWE Network everywhere else.

Shirai retained her NXT Women’s Championship against Toni Storm on NXT last week. Later in the night, Shirai confronted Gonzalez and declared that she wants to face Gonzalez next. Shirai then shoved a contract at Gonzalez on this week’s NXT and told her to sign it. Gonzalez posted a video today of her signing the contract for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.

At NXT TakeOver: WarGames in December, Gonzalez pinned Shirai to get the win in the women’s WarGames match. Gonzalez was part of Team Candice with Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai & Storm, while Shirai was part of Team Shotzi with Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon & Rhea Ripley.

Shirai & Zoey Stark are facing Gonzalez & Kai in a tag team match on this coming Wednesday’s episode of NXT.

Shirai has been NXT Women’s Champion since defeating Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match at TakeOver: In Your House in June of last year.

Shirai vs. Gonzalez is the third match that’s been made official for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. The NXT Championship will be on the line at the event as Finn Balor defends against Karrion Kross. And NXT Cruiserweight Champions Jordan Devlin and Santos Escobar will face off in a title unification match. WWE hasn’t announced which night those matches will be taking place on.