Your Monday Post #407: Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell vs Athena and Shotzi Blackheart for the WWE NXT Womens Tag Team Championships at WWE NXT Takeover: Stand and Deliver Night Two (April, 8th 2021)
Happy WrestleMania week everyone! And also, Happy NXT: Stand and Deliver week as NXT deliver their WrestleMania week pay per view. While Stand and Deliver unfortunately isnt under the two night format unlike the main rosters show of shows, the women are a part of the card this year, but the NXT Womens Tag Team Championships evade the card for reasons unknown. Last year saw the NXT Womens Tag Team Championships defended for the first time on PPV, as the second overall champions Athena (formerly Ember Moon) and Shotzi Blackheart defended against the duo of Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell.
Late 2020 into 2021 saw the Gargano Family “expand” with Johnny Gargano taking Austin Theory under his wing while Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell took on a mother/daughter type dynamic. Meanwhile, Athena and Shotzi’s NXT womens tag team championship reign came so suddenly, defeating the christened inaugural champions Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai on the night of them being awarded the newly introduced championships after their initial shot at the main rosters championships post Dusty Classic Win ended in controversy. Athena and Shotzi’s rise to championship glory displeased Indi and Candice especially, and on the go home show before Takeover, Candice and Indi confronted Athena and Shotzi with intentions to get a match with them at their own time, on their own stage. Hearing this, the champions decided to put their titles on the line against Candice and Indi at NXT Takeover, the match commencing on Night Two. While Candice and Indi came up short despite their efforts on that night, the two later shockingly dethroned Shotzi and Athena, with Shotzi proceeding to move to the main roster in July, abruptly moving Athena into solo ventures in the process. Athena went on to challenge for the NXT Womens Championship, coming up short then later teasing a heel turn that never fully came to fruition before her shocking release from the company amongst a plethora of other superstars.
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 