WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 12

The hype for NXT's Takeover: Brooklyn was in full force as the revolutionary developmental brand hit the WWE Network airwaves Wednesday.

Bayley's journey to the NXT Women's Championship culminated with a No. 1 Contender's match between her and main roster addition Becky Lynch. To move on to Brooklyn, New York, and a championship date with Sasha Banks, she would have to fend off a focused arm attack by the Irishwoman.

Did she succeed, or did the neon orange-haired Diva score the win, setting up a match between members of Team BAD and Team PCB on the eve of SummerSlam?

Finn Balor battled Marcus Louis in a warm-up for his NXT title defense against Kevin Owens. Baron Corbin found out that not all NXT Superstars are willing to bow before his in-ring dominance. And Tye Dillinger debuted a new gimmick.

Who picked up big wins heading into the most important show in NXT history on Aug. 22?

Find out now with this look back at this week's broadcast.

Solomon Crowe vs. Tye Dillinger

Credit: WWE.com

Both Solomon Crowe and Tye Dillinger made their respective returns to the NXT Arena on Wednesday night, the latter with a brand-new gimmick he had tried out in arenas across Florida in live-event appearances. "The Perfect 10," as he was referred to, entered the building to chants of "10" by the fans, proving that he may have finally found a gimmick that works for him.

Crowe and Dillinger chain-wrestled to start, the latter scoring the upper hand, the crowd continuing its chants in his direction. A cartwheel by the arrogant competitor earned further praise.

Not to be outdone, Crowe used his speed to frustrate Dillinger, tripping him up and taking him over with a headscissors. A big boot to the face cut off his momentum.

Dillinger controlled momentarily, but Crowe mounted a comeback with some hard-hitting and high-impact offense. The Perfect 10 sent Crowe to the arena floor and, when he returned to the squared circle, caught him with a knee to the face for the pinfall victory.

Result

Tye Dillinger defeated Solomon Crowe.

Grade

C-

Analysis

This was not the finest way to introduce the new Perfect 10 gimmick to the NXT audience. The fans love chanting "10," but that may be the result of audiences liking to participate more than actually digging the new character.

The match was disjointed, never had any real fluidity and the outcome made Dillinger look more like someone lucky to have scored the win than talented enough to have defeated Crowe without the brief dump to the outside.

It was an inauspicious debut for Dillinger, but there is certainly potential for the talented technician.

Baron Corbin in Action

Baron Corbin arrived in the NXT Arena to a mixed reaction, a portion of the audience bored by his act. That portion rained down on him with chants of "boring" as he laid into Axel Tischer.

End of Days netted Corbin the win in short order.

Corbin grabbed a microphone after the match and bragged about his continued dominance. "The same old story," he said. Steve Cutler attacked Corbin only to find himself on the receiving end of another End of Days.

Samoa Joe's music played, and he made his way to the ring, staring a hole through Corbin the entire way there.

Joe called Corbin a domineering figure then guaranteed that the Lone Wolf would not replicate his path of destruction against him. Joe challenged Corbin to a fight right away, but the former Arizona Cardinal backed down, refusing to fight.

He caught Joe with a cheap shot then pounded away at the former Ring of Honor and TNA star. Joe countered the End of Days then locked in the Coquina Clutch, leaving Corbin lying unconscious in the center of the ring. 

Result

Baron Corbin squashed Axel Tischer.

Grade

B

Analysis

This was excellent. For the first time in months, Corbin discussed the repetitiveness of the squash matches, was confronted by someone much more suitable to his ability...and then backed down like a cowardly heel, only to be laid out by Joe.

In one fell swoop, Creative hit a number of different bullet points and set up a match between two unstoppable forces for next Saturday's Takeover special. It was solid work by all involved, even if Corbin still comes across as green on the microphone.

Finn Balor vs. Marcus Louis

The unstable Marcus Louis made his way to the ring, screaming and without the accompaniment of theme music. NXT champion Finn Balor entered to a response befitting a major star.

Balor took Louis down and outwrestled him early. Louis battled back, wearing the champion down with some very basic offense.

The Irishman, proving why he is the top dog in NXT, recovered and delivered Sling Blade to ground his opponent. The dropkick into the corner was the prelude to the Coup de Grace by Balor, who scored the pinfall victory. 

Kevin Owens came from out of nowhere after the match, blindsiding Balor and trying for the apron powerbomb. Balor fought out then delivered a dropkick to Owens that sent him into the guardrail.

The top contender, though, recovered just in time to flatten the champion with the Pop-up Powerbomb, leaving Balor lying unconscious in the center of the ring. He laid the NXT title across the fallen body of his rival then insultingly stepped on him to leave the ring.

Result

Finn Balor defeated Marcus Louis.

Grade

B

Analysis

This was but a squash match designed solely to put the focus on Balor ahead of his title defense against Kevin Owens in a ladder match at Takeover.

The post-match segment was fantastic, reminding fans of just how dangerous and dastardly Owens is. That he left Balor unconscious suggests, at least according to the 50-50 style of booking that the company typically incorporates, that the champion will retain.

Regardless, the company did a fantastic job of putting more heat on the bout Wednesday night.

No. 1 Contender's Match: Bayley vs. Becky Lynch

Just prior to the night's main event, NXT Women's champion Sasha Banks made her way to the commentary table. The fans erupted for the arrival of The Boss, who was greeted with great enthusiasm by Corey Graves.

In the most important match since her return from injury, Bayley was greeted with the adoration of the NXT faithful, who had watched her journey every step of the way to this point. Becky Lynch, like her opponent, was met with a huge pop.

The Divas traded armbars to start, with Bayley nearly scoring a quick upset seconds in.

Bayley delivered an armdrag from the middle rope and a big running forearm to the face in the corner. An elbow drop continued her early dominance. Lynch wrested control of the bout away, using a hammerlock suplex to damage her opponent's arm and plant the seeds for her armbar finisher.

Lynch continued to work over the arm of her opponent, demonstrating outstanding psychology while doing so. Bayley tried fighting back, but Lynch cut her off repeatedly. A springboard kick continued Bayley's pain and punishment, as did a pumphandle suplex.

Bayley dodged a third straight legdrop and delivered a back elbow in the corner. A flying back elbow from the middle rope continued her momentum-filled comeback.

A superplex was teased but instead Bayley brought Lynch off the top with a huge powerslam for a count of two.

Lynch trapped her opponent in the Disarmer, but Bayley made the ropes, forcing the break. Bayley fought out of a T-Bone suplex and delivered a snap suplex of her own. The Bayley-to-Belly was countered with another attempt at the Disarmer. This time, Bayley countered with a rollup for the win.

Result

Bayley defeated Becky Lynch.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was another excellent NXT Divas match steeped in psychology and storytelling.

Lynch spent the entire bout working over the arm so that when she went for the Disarmer finisher, it meant something. Bayley, ever the resilient underdog, overcame everything she endured in the bout to score a rollup and earn a shot at the title that has eluded her to this point.

The finish protected Lynch, now a main roster Diva, while giving Bayley another way to pick up a win without resorting to her one Bayley-to-Belly finisher.