WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 3

Two major stories took center stage as WWE presented the April 3 episode of NXT on the WWE Network.

Brodus Clay made his first televised appearance in months, taking on Xavier Woods. The former Funkasaurus dominated the man who took his gimmick, scoring a measure of revenge in the process. Most noteworthy, however, was the fact that he threw his name into contention for the NXT Championship, currently held by Adrian Neville.

What would the Man That Gravity Forgot have to say to Clay's challenge?

Recent weeks have seen a heated rivalry unfold in NXT between Sami Zayn and Corey Graves. After a sneak attack that may have concussed the young Canadian, Zayn had the opportunity to get his hands on Graves. Would he be fully healed and ready to score another win over the submission specialist or would Graves be able to single out Zayn's previous injury and score a major victory?

With Tyler Breeze, Emma, Sasha Banks and NXT Tag Team champions The Ascension in action, this week's program was jam-packed with wrestling. Who would head into WrestleMania weekend riding a wave of momentum?

Let's take a look.

Emma vs. Sasha Banks

Credit: WWE.com

The Boss of NXT was once again in action this week as Sasha Banks of the BFFs took on main roster Diva Emma in singles competition. After being frustrated and outclassed early, Sasha gained control of the bout using her offensive skill set to ground Emma. Unfortunately for Banks, a miscommunication between she and Charlotte allowed Emma to get back into the match, apply the Emma Lock and score the submission victory.

Result

Emma, via submission, with the Emma Lock

Highlights and Quotes

"Does Emma think this is a joke?" —Byron Saxton on Emma's lighthearted approach to the match early on

"I will go on record by saying that Sasha Banks is the hidden gem here in NXT. She will go on to be a force for years to come here in NXT." —William Regal

The entertaining banter between Renee Young and William Regal is always a highlight.

Grade

C

Analysis

A rather nondescript match that existed seemingly just to put Emma over. There was very little substance to it and Sasha lost yet another match. Most of the attention seems to be on Charlotte at this point, which is disappointing since Banks is clearly the better wrestler. The more losses she accumulates at this point, the more likely fans are to perceive Banks to be a loser, which is definitely not good for her.

Luckily, her fierce in-ring style and sassy Boss character should be enough to keep her over for the time being, but at some point, she is going to have to start winning matches.

The Ascension vs. Jack Hurley and John Vandal

Credit: WWE.com

Clearly NXT Tag Team champions The Ascension do not get paid by the hour, something they proved once again Thursday night as they destroyed Jack Hurley and John Vandal in very short order by pinning Vandal following the Fall of Man.

Result

The Ascension, via pinfall, following Fall of Man

Quotes and Highlights

"Intensity and ferociousness, two men who have dared the NXT locker room to step up." —Byron Saxton

"It looks like their opponents aren't too quick to get in the ring." —William Regal

"No one wants to get in the ring with these two because they know what's going to happen. They're going to get battered." —Regal on The Ascension

"Dare I say that young Mr. Vandal has been vandalized?" —Regal

Grade

C-

Analysis

It is always fun watching two dominant competitors such as Viktor and Konnor beat up enhancement talent. With that said, the tag team division in NXT is absolutely nonexistent at this point, and it is really hurting the tag title reign that the commentators are trying to put over. Of course the reign is as long as it is, and of course the team is dominating competition when said competition is as lackluster as Hurley and Vandal.

The champions are in need of legitimate competition and an actual storyline because the squash matches are beyond stale at this point.

Xavier Woods vs. Brodus Clay

Credit: WWE.com

The rekindling of a rivalry that no one remembers was a thing and no one really cared about in the first place occurred on this week's show as Xavier Woods took on the former Funkasaurus, Brodus Clay. While Woods would put up a valiant effort against the man whose gimmick he stole months ago, Clay picked up his first televised win in what seems like an eternity.

His post-match promo showed an edgier, darker side of Clay, who vowed to take the NXT title from Adrian Neville.

Result

Brodus Clay, via pinfall, with the second-rope splash 

Highlights and Quotes

"My funk soul brother Xavier Woods." —William Regal

"How much of a slap in the face is it that Xavier Woods comes out to Brodus' old theme music?" —Regal

"WWE, you took everything from me. You took my music, my girls, my tag team partner. You took my pride and my dignity. But Brodus, from now on, I'm doing the taking." —Brodus Clay

"I'm going to take the NXT Championship and you do...know...that." —Clay

"Like Brodus said, he's had everything taken away. He has nothing to lose and that makes for a dangerous man." —Regal

Grade

B+

Analysis

While the match was nothing special, it did what it set out to do and that is put Brodus Clay over as a dominant force. He controlled the action, fended off a late comeback by Woods and finished him with a second-rope splash—and looked very impressive doing so.

Clay's in-ring style is one that favors suplexes and tosses, so to be able to work with a smaller competitor in Woods, who can take the necessary bumps, makes the offense look that much more devastating.

A nice little reintroduction to the monstrous Clay, who has been missing since disappearing from television way back in 2011. The days of the Funkasaurus are clearly long gone.

Backstage Promo: Adrian Neville, Brodus Clay and Devin Taylor

Credit: WWE.com

Just moments after watching Brodus Clay destroy Xavier Woods and throw his name in contention for a future NXT Championship opportunity, Adrian Neville met with beautiful backstage interviewer Devin Taylor, who congratulated him on his victory over Bo Dallas.

Neville was impassioned as he took exception to Clay thinking he could simply walk in the door and get a title shot by demanding one. He said he was a fighting champion, but in NXT, competitors earn a shot at the title—they are not given one.

Highlights and Quotes

"We're young, we're hungry and we're just as good as anyone on Raw or SmackDown." —Adrian Neville, in regards to his fellow NXT stars.

"We earn opportunities here." —Neville

Analysis

A very good promo by Neville, who is not necessarily known for his strong talking abilities. He was passionate and got his point over without feeling forced at all. It should put a decent amount of heat on a potential feud between the two, a feud that will unfold over the coming weeks in NXT.

Yoshi Tatsu vs. Tyler Breeze

Credit: WWE.com

Tyler Breeze continued his winning ways this week, showing great aggression as he took down former main roster Superstar Yoshi Tatsu. Breeze dominated from bell to bell and knocked off Tatsu following the Beauty Shot heel kick.

Result

Tyler Breeze, via pinfall, following the Beauty Shot

Highlights and Quotes

"Now Tyler Breeze wants me to tell everyone at home that the boots he is wearing tonight are made out of quartermarlin alpaca made specially for him by a humpback dwarf from the Panara tribe." —William Regal with the quote of the night

"It's one thing to prove how good you are and its another to know how good you are. Tyler Breeze is never at a loss for confidence." —Byron Saxton

"Look at this ruthless side of Tyler Breeze." —Tom Phillips

Grade

B-

Analysis

The match was far too short to mean anything as Tatsu falls deeper and deeper into irrelevance. With that said, like the Brodus Clay match, it did exactly what it was meant to do. The commentators put over the fact that Breeze has been less worried about protecting his face and, as a result, has shown a much more vicious and ferocious side in recent weeks than many thought he had in him.

He dominated the action against Tatsu on Thursday night and capped off a one-sided performance with the Beauty Shot for the pinfall victory.

The Breeze character has needed to evolve for weeks now and it is good to see that they are giving it a bit of an edge. As great as the portrayal of the character has been, it is time to inject it with a bit of attitude and aggression, and it appears as though that is exactly what is happening.

Final Thoughts: Sami Zayn and Corey Graves

Credit: WWE.com

Prior to the evening's main event, Sami Zayn spoke with Devin Taylor in the backstage area, while cameras caught up with Corey Graves earlier in the afternoon.

Zayn spoke about his health and claimed to be fine after the sneak attack by Graves two weeks ago. Graves equated Zayn to a scrappy underdog who got caught in a bear trap and fell victim to a pack of wolves. He finished his brief promo by promising that the main event against Zayn would not be pretty.

Highlights and Quotes

"Mentally is a bit of a different story. See, Graves kind of opened a can of worms here and the only one with anything to worry about is Graves." —Zayn

"Let me tell you a story about an underdog that wandered a little bit too far into the woods. He got his little paw trapped in a bear trap. He fought and he scratched and he clawed until out came the wolves. Out comes the wolf. This isn't going to be pretty." —Corey Graves

Grade

A

Analysis

Brief to-the-point promos by both Zayn and Graves ahead of what should be a phenomenal main event match.

Zayn comes across as the genuine nice guy who may have been pushed a bit far by Graves' sneak attack a few weeks back, while Graves is the cerebral star who is always thinking and always prepared to unleash a very focused attack on his prey.

A great way to hype the night's final bout.

Backstage Promo: Paige

Credit: WWE.com

Prior to the main event, a video package looking at NXT Women's Champion Paige aired. She discussed the fact that she is not the prototypical WWE Diva and said that she knew competition was coming her way. Spliced into the video was footage of her defeating some of NXT's top Divas throughout her lengthy title reign.

Afterward, NXT cameras caught up with the champion, who discussed Charlotte and how the BFFs got in her face after Arrival, not giving her the opportunity to enjoy what should have been one of her finest moments.

She finished by telling Charlotte to face her alone.

Highlights and Quotes

"So Charlotte wants to come at me? She needs to stop hiding behind her daddy and face me alone." —Paige

The entire video package was phenomenal as WWE continues to prove why it has one of the best production teams in all of entertainment.

Grade

A

Analysis

A great way to get Paige on this week's show despite not having a match. It also furthers her rivalry with Charlotte, which has been put on the back burner in recent weeks thanks to the involvement of Natalya.

Sami Zayn vs. Corey Graves

Credit: WWE.com

Sami Zayn had the opportunity at revenge this week as he took on the man who attacked him from behind two weeks ago, Corey Graves. From the very get-go it appeared as though Zayn was not at 100 percent and Graves wasted little time targeting the head and neck area of his opponent.

Graves was relentless as he applied headlocks to Zayn and repeatedly caught him in the head with hard rights and lefts. Zayn stumbled around the ring, swinging wildly as he fought on pure instinct alone.

Eventually the attack of Graves proved too much as the referee spent more time checking on Zayn's health than officiating the match. After bumping heads late in the bout, Zayn was clearly unable to continue and Graves ended his night with the Lucky 13, leading the official to call for the bell without an actual submission.

Result

Corey Graves via referee decision

Highlights and Quotes

"Corey Graves just has an air of pure menace about him." —William Regal, who has been on fire this week

"They are very confident in their skills. They know what they're about." —Regal

"Graves believes he should be the one talked about every single night on NXT" —Byron Saxton

"Sami Zayn gets in the moment of competition and everything else falls by the wayside." —Saxton

"The referee may need to step in here." —Regal

"I think he's just competing on instinct." —Regal

Grade

A

Analysis

A very good match to cap off this week's show but an even better story. Graves continued to prove his cerebral nature, methodically targeting the head of his opponent and never waning in his attack. Zayn was superb in his portrayal of a proud competitor trying to overcome an injury he had no control over and drew great sympathy as a result.

The finish worked as Zayn never really gave up but, instead, simply could not continue. He showed great heart throughout the match, endearing himself to the audience while Graves looked like a ruthlessly aggressive star who worried about one thing only: winning.

Zayn has a greater upside in terms of succeeding on the main roster, thanks to a style that lends itself better to WWE style.

Graves, however, is being sold as a master in-ring intellect and a legitimate contender to the NXT Championship. If he can continue the level of performances he has delivered in recent weeks, both on the microphone and in the ring, he may find himself carrying gold sooner than later.