WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from February 28

WWE NXT is ramping up for WrestleMania season, particularly looking ahead toward NXT Roadblock, and the February 28 edition was the final step before the event on March 7.

Carmelo Hayes faced Tyler Bate, with Bron Breakker watching closely for his next challenger to emerge.

Meiko Satomura fought Zoey Stark in preparation for her NXT Women's Championship bout with Roxanne Perez.

After Gigi Dolin's big return, she addressed Jacy Jayne, while Wes Lee continued his NXT North American Championship Open Challenges.

The show also included other interesting matches such as Indus Sher facing Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, and Sol Ruca going up against Elektra Lopez.

This show did not have the biggest card, but it did continue to build toward Roadblock and Stand & Deliver on April 1.

NXT North American Championship: Wes Lee (c) vs. Nathan Frazer

After a brawl in the back, Nathan Frazer made a surprise return to take his NXT North American Championship shot.

The challenger had Wes Lee on the ropes, but the champion found his opening for the Cardiac Kick to retain his title.

This was a great contest between two athletes who know how to spark the crowd. With the title on the line, each near-fall was felt. It was as good an opener as NXT could have put together.

While it would be nice to see a heel step up and build a story with Lee, he is crafting unique title defenses each week. Even if he does an Open Challenge at Stand & Deliver, it will be a guaranteed standout.

The brand is not short on challengers who can give Lee another great title defense as the champion is elevating everyone.

Result

Lee def. Frazer by pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship.

Grade

A+

Notable Moments

• A brawl broke out to start the show in the back, as so many hoped to get the title shot. Dabba-Kato almost made it until Apollo Crews cut him off, allowing Frazer to jump in.
• This was Frazer's first televised match since October. He got a "welcome back" chant.
• Frazer took down Lee with a springboard inverted DDT for a near-fall. The challenger planted the champion with a superplex and spinning neckbreaker for another.
• The challenger went for it all with a jump over the top but hit the table, and the champion responded with a corkscrew dive to the floor.
  

Indus Sher (w/ Jinder Mahal) vs. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen

Sanga planted Brooks Jensen with a chokeslam and then threw him into a clothesline from Veer, which sealed the win.

While the excuse of Jensen being distracted protected the losers, this was far too one-sided for a match featuring former NXT UK tag team champions taking the loss. Josh Briggs and Jensen could have done more here.

Still, the focus was clear. Veer and Sanga remain an unstoppable force, and Julius and Brutus Creed cannot match them at this time. Hopefully, that mystique will remain if The Creed Brothers get revenge.

Result

Indus Sher def. Briggs and Jensen by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Briggs talked up a distracted Jensen, asking that he focus on their match.
• Afterward, Jinder Mahal warned The Creed Brothers that Indus Sher would finish this feud at Roadblock.
• Julius had to ask Damon Kemp for help in the six-man tag against Indus Sher and Mahal, but he refused. Bron Breakker then agreed to help.
  
• Later, Briggs promised to speak to James on Jensen's behalf to clear up the issues between them.
  

Gigi Dolin Promises to End Toxic Attraction

Gigi Dolin vowed to put the final nail in the coffin of Toxic Attraction after comparing Jacy Jayne's betrayal to the abuse she faced at the hands of her mother.

Next week, Dolin will face Jayne one-on-one, and it will be a major test for both women. Hopefully, they can deliver as neither quite sold their dynamic through their words.

No matter how much truth was spoken, Dolin comparing a storyline betrayal to parental abuse came off as exploitative. There are better ways to build up the former teammates' rivalry.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• JD McDonagh warned Ilja Dragunov that he would pay for injuring him.
• Duke Hudson apologized to Thea Hail before their latest class. The Schism interrupted class to berate everyone in Chase U. Chase challenged Joe Gacy for next week.
• Shawn Michaels agreed to meet Grayson Waller next week on "The Grayson Waller Effect." Waller later asked if he would be speaking to the stooge or the competitor.
  

Meiko Satomura vs. Zoey Stark

Meiko Satomura and Zoey Stark went blow-for-blow in a physical battle.

However, when it mattered most, The Final Boss hit a higher gear, taking the win off a fireman's carry slam and the Scorpio Rising.

Unsurprisingly, this was one of the better women's matches on NXT television in months. Even with a few obvious miscues, the two had a hard-hitting battle that allowed both to look like dangerous competitors in the division.

Satomura needed the win in this moment, but Stark is still the best next challenger to Roxanne Perez. She could well be on her way to the main roster, but she can have one last strong match before the call-up.

Result

Satomura def. Stark by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Perez joined commentary ahead of this match and faced off with her latest challenger after the contest.
  
• Stark clotheslined Satomura and then went for a springboard clothesline, only to run into a stiff side kick from The Final Boss.
• Satomura nearly took the win off a frog splash on Stark. The heel responded with a near-fall off a springboard corkscrew.
  
• Dijak agreed to face Tony D'Angelo next week in a Jailhouse Street Fight.

Elektra Lopez (w/ Valentina Feroz) vs. Sol Ruca

Elektra Lopez barely kept Sol Ruca grounded before she went for the brass knuckles.

However, Valentina Feroz had taken them, allowing Ruca to steal the win with the Sol Snatcher.

It is telling that Ruca is already a cleaner performer than Elektra Lopez. The athletic surfer gets better with each performance, while La Madrina talks a much better game than she executes in the ring.

This was a fine but forgettable match that got just enough time to showcase the continued improvement of Ruca. She needed to win this, even if it was a messy finish.

Result

Ruca def. Lopez by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Ruca and Stark stared each other down as the heel was heading to the back.
• Ruca went for a cartwheel splash in the corner, allowing Lopez to slam her into the lower turnbuckle.
• After the match, Lopez pushed Feroz until she decked her with the brass knuckles.
  
• Mark Coffey pushed Wolfgang's anger with Pretty Deadly until Wolfgang beat up a nearby pool player. Kit Wilson and Elton Prince invited them to a face-off next week.
  

Tiffany Stratton vs. Katana Chance (w/ Kayden Carter)

Tiffany Stratton found herself outmatched athletically by the speedy Katana Chance.

However, when Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn made a surprise appearance, it distracted Chance. Stratton took advantage with a rolling fireman's carry into a moonsault to win.

This was shaping up to be decent early but was too short to be good. Stratton has found her footing as a performer to the point that she can work well with anyone. She allowed Chance most of the match to shine, highlighting a potential contest down the line.

It was odd for Fyre and Dawn to appear and confront Chance and Carter while still not clearly finished with Diamond Mine.

However, the assumed story is that they want to get rid of any tag team that can stop them from going for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships. Kiana James and Fallon Henley could quickly become transitional titleholders for the spooky duo.

Result

Stratton def. Chance by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Chance and Carter found Wendy Choo laid out in the parking lot. Later, Stratton mocked Choo, which got on the bad side of Chance and Carter.
• Chance draped Stratton over the second rope and hit her with a diving foot stomp.
• The Standard laid out a challenge afterward to the NXT women's champion.
  

Axiom vs. Hank Walker

Hank Walker matched Axiom throughout this match, challenging The Superhero to beat him in a striking contest.

However, Axiom was working at a higher level than his competitor and put him away with the Golden Ratio.

For a short sprint, this was better than it had any right to be. The two made the most of their minutes. Axiom sold well for Walker, making him look like a world-beater.

The Superhero is one of NXT's best role players. He does not miss in the ring. Walker is far from having the same reputation, but he is building his own stature. He has been a true homegrown success story for the brand.

It was a great feeling to finally see one of the NXT talents acknowledge Walker as a competitor, which shows how well this story has developed.

Result

Axiom def. Walker by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Walker tried to apologize to Axiom for kicking him backstage during the Open Challenge brawl. The two nearly came to blows, leading to this match.
• Axiom responded by striking Walker with chops, kicks and a crossbody for two. He then pushed Walker with low kicks that aggravated his opponent.
• Walker whipped Axiom between turnbuckles and then clotheslined him hard to the floor.
• The Superhero showed respect to Walker afterward.
  

Carmelo Hayes vs. Tyler Bate

Carmelo Hayes took the best moves from his arsenal to take down Tyler Bate, but it was a timely distraction from Trick Williams that saved him.

The Big Strong Boy missed a corkscrew senton, and Hayes responded with a Codebreaker and diving axe kick to win.

On any other night, this would have been NXT match of the night, but the opener was the more heated contest. That should take nothing away from a great effort by two impressive performers that had the crowd roaring.

Melo made his final statement, and hopefully NXT will go full steam ahead on Hayes vs. Bron Breakker after Roadblock.

Hopefully, there is a clear path for Bate, who has been one of NXT's most consistent performers since returning. He is a special talent who should not be left off the brand's biggest show of the year at Stand & Deliver.

Result

Hayes def. Bate by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• A video package was shown early in the night to hype Bate.
• Hayes countered Bop and Bang and then an Airplane Spin for the first time, but Bate fought back and sent Him on a ride with the Airplane Spin.
• The Big Strong Boy finally landed Bop and Bang, and then the rebound clothesline.
• Melo kneed Bate in the face followed by a lifted cutter for a near-fall. He went to the top rope for a diving axe kick but got caught for a superplex.
• Hayes looked into the camera afterward and made clear that he was the only man left standing to challenge Breakker at Stand & Deliver.