WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 9

WWE NXT promised a packed show for May 9, including many of the top stars on a new gold brand following the WWE draft.

Indi Hartwell got the call-up to Raw, leaving the NXT Women's Championship behind. This set up a tournament that would begin this week.

In the first round, Tiffany Stratton faced former NXT women's tag team champion Gigi Dolin. Lyra Valkyria looked to break out by defeating another former tag champion, Kiana James.

Gallus would face The Dyad with the NXT Tag Team Championship on the line, while Bron Breakker wanted to make an example of Trick Williams before fighting Carmelo Hayes at Battleground on May 28.

Ilja Dragunov wanted revenge against Dijak, who had attacked him backstage recently. Tyler Bate would go one-on-one with Charlie Dempsey, with NXT North American champion Wes Lee watching closely.

This was only the beginning of a packed night that would also include Duke Hudson fighting for Chase U, plus the second edition of "Hard-Hitting Home Truths" with Nathan Frazer.

NXT Women's Championship Tournament: Tiffany Stratton vs. Gigi Dolin

The gold brand opened the NXT Women's Championship Tournament with Tiffany Stratton vs. Gigi Dolin.

Dolin fought hard, but her taped-up shoulder was her weakness. The Center of the Universe won off a rolling fireman's carry and The Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

This was a fine opener in which Stratton was the driving force of the action. Her athleticism pushed the former Toxic Attraction member to pick up the pace more than usual.

The result was never in question. Stratton is the odds-on favorite in the tournament, and she barely broke a sweat against a woman who has been featured like a relatively top name in the division.

She is likely to face Roxanne Perez in the second round, though, which will be an unpredictable match as either competitor could win.

Result

Stratton def. Dolin by pinfall to advance to the semifinals of the NXT Women's Championship tournament.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• The eight women announced for the tournament stood on the ramp together to start the show: Stratton, Dolin, Perez, Cora Jade, Jacy Jayne, Lyra Valkyria, Fallon Henley and Kiana James.
  
• Stratton and Dolin talked themselves up in pre-taped interviews.
• Dolin's left shoulder was taped up to show the wounds from last week.
  

NXT Tag Team Championship: Gallus (c) (w/ Joe Coffey) vs. The Dyad (w/ Ava Raine)

Ava Raine distracted Wolfgang at the right time to set up Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid for the win.

However, Ivy Nile attacked Raine at ringside and distracted The Dyad. This allowed Wolfgang and Mark Coffey to hit the Gallus Gate for the win.

Two of the best tag teams in NXT delivered a hard-hitting match that was worthy of the NXT Tag Team Championship. The teams got enough time to deliver, despite an unexciting finish.

Whether it be The Family or The Creed Brothers that challenge Gallus at Battleground, the next match for the champions needs to be a straight-up fight, avoiding unnecessary interference.

Result

Gallus def. The Dyad by pinfall to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• Joe Gacy told Raine to represent Schism as he would be focusing on himself Tuesday night and not at ringside.
• Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo watched this match closely.
• The Creed Brothers teased Ivy Nile about her hatred of Schism. She did not find it funny.
  
• Raine distracted Gallus, allowing Reid to DDT Coffey and set up the finish.
• Afterward, Gallus confronted the Creeds about getting in their business.
• At the pub later, The Family challenged Gallus to a title match, but Joe Coffey refused.
  

Duke Hudson (w/ Thea Hail) vs. Javier Bernal

Thea Hail hyped up Duke Hudson until he became too powerful for Javier Bernal. He sealed the win with a Razor's Edge.

It was a dominant showing for The MVP. While Big Body Javy continues to impress in short spells, he is more or less enhancement talent.

What has been interesting is watching the bad instincts of Hudson emerge as he gains confidence. He proved himself as a representative of Chase U, but power may be going to his head with Andre Chase out.

Result

Hudson def. Bernal by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Bernal taunted Thea Hail backstage until Hudson got in his face, setting up a match.
• The MVP began to hulk up after a few strikes for Big Body Javy on the floor, and Bernal never got back into the fight after that.
  
• Someone in a hood watched the attacks of Nikkita Lyons, Wendy Choo and Sol Ruca in the NXT parking lot.
  

Eddy Thorpe vs. Damon Kemp

Damon Kemp schooled Eddy Thorpe early with a ground-and-pound focus, but the latter caught his rival off the ropes with a big boot and German suplex followed by a running elbow drop for the surprise win.

This was a physical clash of styles. Kemp pushed Thorpe to dig into grappling playbook, and it showed even more of his versatility. He shined in his best NXT match to date, finally picking up an impressive victory.

This feud may not be over based on how much Kemp was arguing the result with the referee. If so, these two should outshine this with more story behind the in-ring action.

Result

Thorpe def. Kemp by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Kemp grounded Thorpe with a slingshot jackhammer and then a Death Valley Driver. This set up the NXT veteran to dominate the action for a long stretch.
  
• Backstage, Mr. Stone tried to get Von Wagner to open up about his childhood picture. A man in a suit interrupted to taunt the big man and faced Wagner's wrath.
  

Dijak vs. Ilja Dragunov

Once Dijak felt himself losing control of the action, he grabbed a steel chair. He shoved the referee and smacked Ilja Dragunov with the chair. He carried him outside where he trapped him underneath the steel steps.

Dijak and Dragunov are two of the best in-ring performers in NXT, and it showed in this absolute slug fest. The two had the kind of match that no one else on the brand can. Each strike echoed.

While this was only a half-finished contest, the tease of what is to come makes a rematch tantalizing. They will steal the show at Battleground if they get the spotlight.

Since these two did not get a call-up in the WWE draft, they need to be highlighted over the next year on the gold brand. This is only the beginning.

Result

Dragunov def. Dijak by disqualification.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• This started off fast. Dragunov caught Dijak with a jumping knee and a pair of corner chops. Dijak tried to hit back but faced a flurry of chops in the corner for it.
• Hard Justice took over by chokeslamming Dragunov off the second rope to the floor.
  

Tyler Bate (w/ Wes Lee) vs. Charlie Dempsey (w/ Drew Gulak)

In an even fight between Tyler Bate and Charlie Dempsey, Joe Gacy played the key role. After distracting Wes Lee, he caught The Big Strong Boy with a right hand, which sent Bate right into a dragon suplex from Dempsey to take the win.

This bout was quite good for three minutes, helped by the familiarity of the NXT UK names. It's just a shame that the action was abbreviated alongside a messy finish. This shouldn't have been the shortest contest of the night.

It looks like the NXT North American Championship scene has gotten complicated once again. Perhaps the plan is for another Fatal 5-Way match at Battleground, but Gacy looks out of place in this story.

Result

Dempsey def. Bate by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Lee found Bate backstage and thanked him for helping last week.
• Dempsey countered the roll-up attempts of Bate into submissions that The Big Strong Boy reversed back into roll-ups until they ended up at a standstill.
  

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen (w/ Fallon Henley) vs. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger came in motivated, taking Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen by surprise.

However, the veterans eventually struck hardest and hit their tag team finisher on Ledger for the win.

This was an exciting sprint. It was all gas and no brakes from the opening bell, packing in more action than most of the rest of the night in less time. Ledger looked like a world-beater, taking the big guys' best offense and trucking right on.

While the result was never truly in question as Briggs and Jensen have a solid place in the top five NXT tag teams, the new stars showed their potential. Walker and Ledger could be a force with a little more seasoning.

Result

Jensen and Briggs def. Walker and Ledger by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Dani Palmer asked Jensen and Briggs to give her advice. 
• The rookies came out swinging, brawling with their big veteran opponents.
  
• Ledger lost his front tooth off a big boot from Briggs and kept fighting.
  
• Noam Dar interrupted Dragon Lee's interview to invite him to "Supernova Sessions."
  

NXT Women's Tournament: Kiana James vs. Lyra Valkyria

Kiana James dominated the action throughout Tuesday's battle, targeting the ribs of Lyra Valkyria. However, The Valkyrie was scrappy and sealed the win off a snappy roundhouse kick.

James has improved hugely in recent months, and it showed more than ever against Valkyria. The two had a much more complete contest than the opener.

The action moved smoothly and steadily while never losing the plot. James was the calculating heel, pushing Valkyria to fight while wounded. It was the best both women have looked in NXT.

The right woman won, setting up a likely rematch with Cora Jade in two weeks. While The Valkyrie will likely lose there, she is at least set up well enough to tease an upset.

Result

Valkyria def. James by pinfall to advance to the semifinals of the NXT Women's Championship Tournament.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• James complained about facing the toughest first opponent in the tournament but was confident. Valkyria promised she was ready to take the next leap forward.
• Booker T and Vic Joseph talked up each competitor in the tournament.
• James knocked Valkyria into the bottom rope and then slammed her into the corner post before wrapping her around it to do more damage to her ribs.
• James nearly took the win by getting her knees up off a splash and then planted Valkyria with a sit-out powerbomb.
  
• In the second edition of "Hard-Hitting Home Truths," Nathan Frazer talked about the spots that opened up in NXT after the WWE draft. He also called out Noam Dar.
  

Bron Breakker vs. Trick Williams

Trick Williams was rolling early in this match, pushing Bron Breakker to fight from underneath. However, Trick spun right into a Spear that set up a Steiner Recliner to seal the victory.

The former champion continued the attack after the bell until Carmelo Hayes arrived. However, he jumped right into a Spear.

This was a solid, if surprisingly short, main event. Trick looked like a star against Breakker when he was in motion. The crowd was behind him as the motivated underdog, putting on his most complete performance to date.

Once again, Breakker has laid out an injured Melo, setting up the champion as vulnerable heading into the title match. The story is already much stronger from this rematch.

Result

Breakker def. Trick by submission.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Trick talked to Melo in The Barbershop and told The A Champion to let him handle his business alone.
• Breakker taunted Melo, promising to put Trick in hospital.
• Trick slammed Breakker repeatedly into the corner and then booted him to the floor. The former champion responded by throwing his rival onto the announce table.
• Trick pulled Breakker up into a Rock Bottom for a near-fall.