WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 2

The rivalry between Pete Dunne and The Undisputed Era's Roderick Strong culminated Wednesday night in a main event that may have failed to conclude the program. However, thanks to the introduction of Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan to the proceedings, it did propel things forward.

It was a quality headliner on a show that also featured the genesis of new rivalries and the continuation of others.

Kairi Sane found herself on the receiving end of a cheap shot from Lacey Evans; TM61 showed a new side of themselves; and Candice LeRae failed to shake off the vivid imagery of Tommaso Ciampa beating down her husband, Johnny Gargano, and lost a match to Bianca Belair.

Kona Reeves' re-emergence rounded out the show.

Kairi Sane vs. Shazza McKenzie

Credit: WWE.com

Result: Sane defeated McKenzie. Grade: B

Indy darling Shazza McKenzie of Australia battled Kairi Sane to kick off the evening's broadcast.

The match was all Sane, who delivered her signature offense and finished off an overmatched McKenzie with her Insane Elbow for the squash victory.

After the match, Lacey Evans made her arrival and feigned apologizing to Sane for her recent actions. She insisted Sane does actually belong in NXT and extended her hand. Rather than show respect, Evans blasted Sane in the face and left, brimming with pride over her actions.

Analysis

It was disappointing to see McKenzie dispatched of so quickly given her considerable talent, but this put Sane over strong enough before shifting focus to her budding rivalry with Evans.

Evans has thrived as a heel more than she did as a babyface, and positioning her with a talented worker like Sane, whom she can learn from between the ropes, is a wise move from the booking team.

A solid segment to start the show.

The Street Profits vs. TM61

Result: TM61 defeated The Street Profits. Grade: B

For the first time in weeks, The Street Profits and TM61 returned to the squared circle, battling each other in tag team action.

The crowd was split for the two teams, creating an electric atmosphere for the relatively short tag match.

The tide turned late when Angelo Dawkins tagged in Montez Ford, who took the fight to Shane Thorne and Nick Miller. Unfortunately for the charismatic fan favorites, The Street Profits would fall to underhanded tactics by TM61.

Ford saw his attempt at a pin countered by Thorne, who put his own feet on the ropes and scored the victory.

Analysis

The match was too short to be great, but this was a serviceable way to introduce a new attitude for TM61 while igniting a rivalry between two underutilized teams.

The Australians were not doing much of note as babyfaces, so it makes sense to reintroduce them to audiences with a new attitude.

The Street Profits are so ready to be the next big babyface duo in NXT; they just need the opportunity. This is a great way to prepare them for a push, if that is what management is doing.

Kona Reeves Debuts

Result: Reeves defeated Scott. Grade: C-

After years of appearing on and off as an enhancement talent in NXT, Kona Reeves re-debuted using the nickname "NXT's Finest," taking on Patrick Scott.

Channeling his inner Rock, Reeves ran over his overmatched opponent. He delivered generic offense that culminated with a modified Samoan Drop for the win.

Analysis

Kona Reeves has the fundamentals to be a star for NXT, but trotting him to the ring and having the commentary team essentially admit the obvious—that he is inspired by The Rock—only serves to tell the audience they are watching a lesser version of an iconic character.

The crowd was not especially excited for Reeves, nor did it treat him like a star who will one day do big things for the developmental brand.

It was a flat debut for a Superstar who probably deserved better given the time he has put in.

Candice LeRae vs. Bianca Belair

Credit: WWE.com

Result: Belair defeated LeRae. Grade: B

One week after watching her husband Gargano receive a beating from Tommaso Ciampa and get taken to an emergency room, LeRae competed against Bianca Belair with a heavy heart.

It showed, as Belair overmatched and overpowered her.

At one point, the former fitness competitor deadlifted LeRae from the mat, over her head and back down in a slam. Belair finished off her opponent moments later, scoring one of the biggest wins of her young career.

Analysis

With one match not even including the male Superstars, NXT advanced the Gargano-Ciampa story.

This was less about putting Belair over and more about demonstrating the long-reaching effects of Gargano's beating from last week. LeRae was so bothered by what happened that she was unable to focus, and she got beat.

That is the type of layered storytelling that makes this feud so spectacular, and that deadlift by Belair was amazing.

Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong

Result: Dunne defeated Strong via disqualification. Grade: B+

United Kingdom champion Pete Dunne and Roderick Strong have battled before. They have been tag team partners, and at TakeOver: New Orleans, Strong betrayed The Bruiserweight and joined Undisputed Era.

Wednesday night, the Superstars wrote the latest chapter of their rivalry when they squared off in the main event.

The action was back-and-forth, with neither man earning sustained control. Strong taunted his opponent, showing more character in the middle of the bout than he had to that point.

As Dunne mounted a comeback late and turned his attention to manipulating Strong's fingers, The Undisputed Era hit the ring and drew the disqualification.

The heels teased a three-on-one beatdown, but Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch appeared, driving the heels to the back and standing tall to close the show.

Analysis

Dunne and Strong are incapable of having a bad match. This was a hard-fought, quality main event that was less about the match itself and more about setting up the ending angle.

The Undisputed Era beat down Lorcan and Burch a week ago, and they made their presence felt in dramatic fashion Wednesday. Their hard-hitting, no-nonsense approach matches Dunne's and makes them suitable allies of The Bruiserweight.

A six-man tag team rivalry between the two teams should make extraordinary television in the weeks to come.