WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 14

With qualifiers beginning and a major title match on the card, the May 14 edition of NXT promised major momentum for the gold brand.

Tony D'Angelo set the challenge to Charlie Dempsey for the Heritage Cup. The Family made sure it would be a fair one-on-one match after taking out the rest of No Quarter Catch Crew.

In the first qualifiers for the Women's North American Championship ladder match, Sol Ruca battled Izzi Dame while Ivy Nile returned to NXT to face Lash Legend.

Je'Von Evans set a challenge to Noam Dar after The Scottish Supernova's sneak attack on Trick Williams last week. Edris Enofé and Malik Blade hoped to finally get back on the winning track against OTM.

The gold brand's stars hoped to make an impact Tuesday night in order to earn an opportunity to compete at NXT Battleground on June 9.

Women's North American Title Qualifier: Sol Ruca vs. Izzi Dame

Sol Ruca was battered by the powerful Izzi Dame throughout this match, but she kept fighting.

And Ruca pulled off an impressive Sol Snatcher out of a headscissors in the corner to win.

While most are aware of how good Ruca is, Dame showed out in this match and looked smooth and consistent against the high-flier. The action flew by, and the finishing sequence was phenomenal.

It's just a shame that it could not go longer. The two had so much more to give. Both are likely to stand out in this new generation of NXT's women's division.

Ruca needed to win here as she stands out as a front-runner to capture the Women's North American Championship.

Result

Ruca def. Dame by pinfall to qualify for the Women's North American Championship ladder match.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Kiana James talked up Dame ahead of her qualifier.
• Ruca cut a promo, promising to win big, on her way to the ring.
• The unexpected transition into the Sol Snatcher could be a sign that the move can become WWE's next RKO, delivering big "out of nowhere" highlights.
  

OTM vs. Edris Enofé and Malik Blade

Edris Enofé and Malik Blade could not keep any momentum against Bronco Nima and Lucien Price. And OTM laid out Blade with their finisher.

This match never really got going like Enofé and Blade have shown in the past. OTM remains a work in progress as the two can hit the moves but haven't found the right rhythm to deliver great matches.

The action was solid enough between two talented teams, but more should have been possible with the time they had.

NXT has repeatedly undervalued Enofé and Blade, who have more value to the tag team division. While this was not the time to give them a win (selling the bad luck of the duo), the time should come soon to push them into the title scene.

Result

OTM def. Enofé and Blade by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Enofé struggled to get over his worry about bad luck in the locker room.
  
• A fight broke out between Brinley Reece and Jaida Parker as the match went to commercial break. The fight continued after the break until both were sent backstage.
  

Women's North American Title Qualifier: Ivy Nile vs. Lash Legend (w/ Jakara Jackson)

Ivy Nile had Lash Legend on the ropes throughout this match, but Jakara Jackson grabbed the leg of Nile to save Legend from the dragon sleeper.

The distraction allowed Legend to hit a running big boot for the win.

Nile was working overtime in this match to get in what she could. Unfortunately, with three minutes, that did not amount to enough to show what she has.

Still, she did most of the work before Legend hit her finisher to win. There was potential here for a lot more.

Legend was always going to win. These qualifiers will be mostly predictable, but they can deliver good matches given time.

Result

Legend def. Nile by pinfall to qualify for the Women's North American Championship ladder match.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Dar was found laid out to start the show. 
• In the training room, The Scottish Supernova blamed either Je'Von Evans or Trick Williams. Legend could not believe it was Trick.
• Nile impressively reversed a top-rope chokeslam attempt into a diving bulldog.
  

Oro Mensah (w/ Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend) vs. Je'Von Evans

Taking the place of an injured Noam Dar, Oro Mensah promised to take down Je'Von Evans, believing The Young OG attacked The Scottish Supernova.

Trick Williams arrived to stop Lash Legend from giving Oro Mensah a steel chair. In the follow-up chaos, Evans kicked Mensah to the mat and then hit a corkscrew senton for the win.

While Evans vs. Dar might have been a better match, it was smart to pivot to a contest that could get The Young OG a big win.

He has impressed in every outing so far, and this was no different. Both men were flying, and Mensah was very giving, putting over the speed and impact of Evans.

This booking seems to indicate Evans could start working more with Trick, which is a smart pairing. It could get The Young OG on TV weekly while setting up a fun story of the rookie learning under the champion.

Result

Evans def. Mensah by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Mensah went for a springboard moonsault but missed. Evans laid him out with a springboard cutter. Mensah barely rolled outside.
• Trick and Evans shook hands after the result.
  

Oba Femi, Ivar and Josh Briggs Interrupt Wes Lee

Wes Lee explained that he almost gave up on his dream after his latest injury, but Oba Femi interrupted followed by Ivar then Josh Briggs.

Lee told Femi to make it a Fatal 4-Way match for the title. Instead, the big man told all three to fight to earn their shot at him.

This was a fine promo segment that went a bit long for all the expected interruptions. Lee was especially good in the moment and continues to deliver underrated promos.

While a Fatal 4-Way could be fun, the best matchup is Femi vs. Lee. If it does not happen at Battleground, it should still happen at a major NXT event.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

• Lee got progressively more frustrated with each frustration.
• Ivar brought up that he and Lee had the same spinal surgeon.
• Briggs was the full heel in this moment, mocking the injuries of his rivals while the crowd booed him through his word.
  

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Ridge Holland and Riley Osborne (w/ Chase U)

Ridge Holland and Riley Osborne looked great in solo bursts but could not find their team synergy.

Osborne accidentally hit Holland with a springboard dropkick, knocking him into a pin from Karl Anderson to steal the three.

The action in this match was fine, but the lack of reaction from the NXT crowd made a major statement on this one.

Holland continues to struggle to sell himself as a babyface, and Osborne is by far the least interesting member of Chase U. The two had no chemistry in and out of story.

The result was obvious as The O.C. continue to build up wins for a likely NXT Tag Team Championship challenge.

Result

Gallows and Anderson def. Holland and Osborne by pinfall.

Grade

D+

Notable Moments

• Gallows and Anderson interrupted a friendly conversation between Nathan Frazer, Axiom and Ridge Holland. They challenged Holland to find a tag partner.
• Andre Chase told Osborne that he should team with Holland to settle the differences between them.
  
• The NXT crowd was completely silent for Holland's hot tag sequence.
• Jazmyn Nyx tried to get signatures for Jacy Jayne's "get well soon" card. Only Lexis King signed, but he misspelt Jacy's name.
  

Lola Vice (w/ Shayna Baszler) vs. Carlee Bright

Carlee Bright showed some fire in her in-ring debut, but Lola Vice knocked her out with a spinning back fist for the three-count.

Afterward, Natalya and Karmen Petrovic ran down to take out Vice and Shayna Baszler. They challenged them to a tag match next week.

Few NXT wrestlers look good in their first in-ring action, but Bright overachieved in what was ultimately a squash match. She has impressive athleticism and solid timing.

This was an understandably quick match, but it served its purpose. Vice picked up another win in her bid to challenge Roxanne Perez next, while the story with Petrovic and Natalya may finally be reaching its conclusion.

Result

Vice def. Bright by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• Early in the night, Petrovic interrupted Vice during an interview to fight her. As officials broke them up, Natalya attacked Baszler.
• Bright asked NXT general manager Ava to give her a match with Vice after getting into it during the backstage brawl.
• NXT showed a quick vignette to highlight Bright's happy demeanor.
  
• Natalya and Petrovic were watching backstage.
  

Heritage Cup: Charlie Dempsey (c) vs. Tony D'Angelo (w/ The Family)

Tony D'Angelo picked up the first pinfall in Round 1 with a surprise roll-up. Charlie Dempsey responded in Round 3 with a bridging German suplex for the three.

Myles Borne and Damon Kemp arrived to interrupt the match in the fourth round, but The Don overcame it all to plant Dempsey with the Forget About It to win the Heritage Cup.

This was the best Heritage Cup match in a good while, helped by fresh competitors fighting for the accolade. Dempsey was the leader here, wearing down The Don with technical offense.

It did end faster than expected, but this could set up for a more extensive rematch with No Quarter Catch Crew back to full strength.

D'Angelo needed to win this after coming so close in his bid for the NXT Championship. However, it would not be surprising if No Quarter Catch Crew manage to get it back as the group's gimmick fits the Cup more in the long term.

Result

D'Angelo def. Dempsey 2-1 to win the Heritage Cup.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• Ava fined The D'Angelo Family for their actions last week, and Adriana Rizzo was immediately ready to pay.
• In an interview, Dempsey promised to make D'Angelo pay for what happened with Kemp and Borne.
• Dempsey targeted the left arm of The Don, nearly making him tap out with an armbar in Round 2.
• The broadcast abruptly cut to backstage after the finish to show that Wes Lee, Ivar and Josh Briggs laid out by a returning Gallus.
  

Overall Show

This wasn't expected to be an exciting episode of NXT on paper, but multiple matches overdelivered. Moreover, everything mattered on a night that felt like it was driving forward toward Battleground.

Tony D'Angelo captured the Heritage Cup, finally getting back on track with the best match of the night alongside Charlie Dempsey.

Sol Ruca and Lash Legend punched their tickets to Battleground while setting a solid tone for the qualifying matches.

Je'Von Evans showed out again and may have found his way into the main event scene by helping out Trick Williams.

The NXT North American Championship scene is heating up, including the return of Gallus to end the night with a genuine surprise.

Overall, the gold brand delivered on the promises of the night. While the NXT Championship scene is not quite shining yet, the rest of the talented roster is stepping up.

Overall Grade: B-