WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 18

WWE always moves forward, and WWE NXT is already looking toward another big show in Spring Breakin'. The April 18 episode was the last stop before then.

The main event of the television special will see Carmelo Hayes defend his NXT Championship against Grayson Waller. The two would face off first on "The Grayson Waller Effect" on Tuesday.

The night also promised two big title matches. NXT North American champion Wes Lee faced his most motivated challenger to date, Charlie Dempsey, while Gallus defended their tag team gold against The Creed Brothers and The Dyad.

Roxanne Perez returned to the ring after losing her NXT Women's Championship to fight Zoey Stark, and Noam Dar made his in-ring return.

This was not all for the night. Bron Breakker was certain to continue causing mayhem with his new attitude, while others hoped to earn their spot on the Spring Breakin' card.

NXT Tag Team Championships: Gallus (c) vs. The Creed Brothers vs. The Dyad

Julius Creed and Brutus Creed were distracted by an injury to Ivy Nile thanks to Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler.

Wolfgang and Mark Coffey hit the distracted Brutus with their elevated single-leg dropkick combo to take the win.

This was a hot start to the show, and everyone delivered in a big way. The energy of the match was pure chaos, with a brawl breaking out even before the bell.

The champions pulled off a deserved win as Gallus continue to make an impact at the top. NXT's tag division is deep enough for Mark and Wolfgang to remain titleholders for a while without it getting boring.

The Creed Brothers could well be on their way out of NXT, and taking the loss here could be a way to pass the torch. Julius and Brutus are ready. Nile might be able to make it work, too, if they want to keep The Diamond Mine rolling.

Result

Gallus def. Creed Brothers and Dyad by pinfall to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• A brawl between the teams began before the show, and multiple officials stayed at ringside for the match to ensure the action was contained.
• Reid super-kicked Mark. Julius kneed Reid in the face, and he fell into a cover on Mark for a near-fall.
• Brutus ran over Wolfgang and Fowler and then nearly pinned both men at the same time with a suplex and leg trap combination.
• Ava Raine distracted Julius to set up The Dyad, and Nile got in her face for it. Brutus accidentally knocked Reid off the top rope and into Nile.
  

Noam Dar vs. Myles Borne

Noam Dar taunted and insulted Myles Borne, who rallied for a moment in this bout. However, he was still no match for the Heritage Cup winner, falling to the Nova Roller.

This was a fine squash match. Dar proved his ability to quickly take out an opponent while also highlighting his own arrogance.

The Scottish Supernova should not need too many matches like this, though.

Borne is still a developmental star, and Dar has legacy beyond NXT and can quickly challenge top guys like Dragon Lee, Axiom, Apollo Crews and others.

Result

Dar def. Borne by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• In the debut of Harding Hitting Home Truths with Nathan Frazer, Frazer told everyone he realized he needed to keep moving fast to succeed.
• Josh Briggs begged Kiana James to talk to Brooks Jensen, who showed off his fashion glow-up while telling his friend to leave James' office.
• Jensen and James headed to Fallon Henley's bar later to challenge Henley and Briggs to a mixed tag team match at Spring Breakin'.
  

Duke Hudson Challenges Bron Breakker on Behalf of Andre Chase

Odyssey Jones headed to the ring for a match, but Bron Breakker planted him with a Spear. Duke Hudson confronted the former NXT champion from the crowd and challenged him to fight Andre Chase next week.

This was a fun segment that continued to highlight the potential of Hudson. He stood up to Breakker better than he has before, carrying this segment without taking too much away from the former champion.

It was a clever move for Hudson to put Chase in the match, continuing to show that he has heel tendencies. He may love Chase U, but that does not mean he won't put The Professor on the line rather than risking his own skin.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Hudson mocked Breakker about his title loss and had the crowd chanting "loser" at the former champ. His charisma was obvious throughout.
  
• Hudson interrupted Breakker, which seemed to genuinely annoy him.

Roxanne Perez vs. Zoey Stark

Zoey Stark talked a big game, but she was caught by Pop Rox in the corner to take the win.

Indi Hartwell arrived afterward and challenged Roxanne Perez to a match at Spring Breakin'. Tiffany Stratton took offense, though, which lead to a Triple Threat being set up.

Even with a full commercial break without picture-in-picture, Perez and Stark had a great match together. The chemistry between these two has been underutilized in NXT, but that may change on the main roster.

With the way Stark lost this and the rushed build for Hartwell vs. Perez vs. Stratton, this could be the end for both women in NXT. Both are ready due to their in-ring ability in particular, but the brand will have trouble replacing them.

Hartwell has done well solidifying herself as a fighting champion early, and she needs to keep stepping up in the ring to back it up.

Result

Perez def. Stark by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• In a pre-match vignette, Perez ran down Stark as a bully and warned Stratton and Hartwell that she was going after the NXT Women's Championship.
• The Prodigy sent her opponent to the floor with a headscissors takedown and then went for a tope suicida. Stark caught her and planted her face first on the apron.
• Stark ducked Perez then hit a combination superkick into a half-and-half suplex for the closest near-fall of the match. Booker T even sold it on commentary.
• Stratton called Perez a beatable challenger. The Prodigy reminded her that she beat her the last time they fought. The Center of the Universe called that "so 2022."
  
• Pretty Deadly explained their attack on Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo before challenging The Family to a rematch in a "No Rules" match next week.

Cora Jade vs. Gigi Dolin

Jacy Jayne jumped on the apron early in this match, and Gigi Dolin beat her down for it. The distaction allowed Cora Jade to hit Dolin with a running high knee and DDT to win.

Lyra Valkyria ruined Jade's celebration promo and challenged her for next week.

The actual match was barely a contest. It had only just started when Jayne got involved. Jade and Dolin may be able to have a good fight down the line, but this was all angle.

Jayne continues to get in the way of Dolin's opportunities, and Jade still cannot shake the threat of Valkyria. At least one of those feuds will be settled at Spring Breakin'.

Many of the matches set for next week could be farewells to key NXT talent with the WWE draft on the horizon. This was another example as Jade could head to the main roster unless she is booked to be NXT women's champion soon.

Result

Jade def. Dolin by pinfall.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Dolin warned Jade that she would pay for her comments in the ring.
• Later, Jayne decried Dolin as someone who abandoned her young brother to a bad family situation.
  
• Mr. Stone finally got Wagner opening up backstage, which seemed to cause the manager to have second thoughts about stopping representing him.
• NXT showed a vignette in the style of a comic book for Axiom, who promised to put Scypts behind him immediately.
• Hank Walker celebrated Tank Ledger at the Performance Center. Ledger told Dani Palmer that she would have a special moment when she debuted on the main roster.
  

Apollo Crews vs. Dijak

Apollo Crews tried to fight off the powerful display of Dijak, but he was overwhelmed.

Hard Justice took the win with Feast Your Eyes, and Ilja Dragunov stopped him from inflicting more damage afterward.

This was a solid contest, defined by two very good athletes. The main problem was the predictability. Crews never really had a chance as his credibility is shot in NXT. He could use a fresh start.

Both Dijak and Crews mentioned the WWE draft and have worked on the main roster before. It seems more likely Crews will move on, but both have the potential to work any WWE roster.

Hard Justice still has more story to tell in NXT, beginning with Dragunov. The two should have a memorable collision soon.

Result

Dijak def. Crews by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Dijak knocked down a cameraman for getting in his way. Crews got in his face and challenged him to a match.
• Crews went for a standing moonsault, but Dijak caught him by the throat for a chokeslam to nearly take the win.
  
• Eddy Thorpe talked about his NXT future with McKenzie Mitchell, and Damon Kemp interrupted to congratulate him.

NXT North American Championship: Wes Lee (c) vs. Charlie Dempsey (w/ Drew Gulak)

Drew Gulak tried to insert himself at key moments in this match, but Wes Lee caught him with an uppercut before planting Charlie Dempsey with the Cardiac Kick.

The two heels laid out Lee after the bell.

This was a hard-hitting fight in the ring, though it was not as heated as some of Lee's recent title defenses. Dempsey needed to pace himself better and could use some extra help with emoting in the ring to elevate his ground game.

In the end, it was just the first step as Gulak remains the priority for the moment in this tag team. He will have a great title match against Lee soon enough.

Result

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

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Gulak attacked Lee during his entrance behind the referee's back.
• Dempsey found his opening to target each limb of Lee, bending him almost to the point of breaking.
• Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo decided they wanted to fight Pretty Deadly next week in a first-ever trunk match.

Carmelo Hayes and Grayson Waller Exchange Final Words

"The Grayson Waller Effect" turned against the host quickly as both Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams taunted him about his losses on the big stage.

The Australian responded with confident jabs, certain he would win when it mattered.

This was simply a verbal battle. Melo and Waller did not take more than a few breaths as they tore into each other. It worked wonders. They did not need to exchange blows to sell what this match meant.

It helps that there won't be any wait for the contest. Next week, either could win. It is more likely that Hayes will take it as he just got his big break.

However, with the WWE draft set to start on April 28, there could be a shock title change if the main roster wants Hayes fast.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• NXT showed a vignette before the main event for Oba Femi's debut next week.
• Grayon Waller told McKenzie Mitchell in an interview backstage that he was certain he would be NXT champion by the time Spring Breakin' ends.
• Waller got Trick riled up by saying he was the only reason Melo was champion.
• The loudmouth taunted Hayes about joining The Hurt Business after he loses.