WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 17

After weeks of build, Brodus Clay would get his opportunity to earn an NXT title match as he met champion Adrian Neville in singles competition in this week's main event.

Would the former Funkasaurus be able to put away "The Man Who Gravity Forgot," or would Neville continue to ride a wave of momentum with his current title reign?

The Ascension looked to continue its dominant winning ways as the duo took on Wesley Blake and Cal Bishop. Potential contenders to The Ascension's tag titles made their television debuts as Ty Dillinger and Jason Jordan took on Baron Corbin and Sawyer Fulton.

CJ Parker's year continued its terrible downward momentum as he took on The Great Khali, and Oliver Grey returned to the ring as he met Camacho.

Who would emerge from the April 17 episode of NXT victorious? Who would set themselves up for future title opportunities?

Find out now.

Colin Cassady vs. Aiden English

Credit: WWE.com

It appeared as though the rivalry between Colin Cassady and Aiden English ended weeks ago, but, alas, it continued this week as they met in singles competition.

English targeted the knee of his opponent, but Cassady was able to mount a comeback and appeared to be en route to a victory. Unfortunately for the 7-foot competitor, English was able to counter into a roll-up, hold the tights and score the win.

Result

English, via pinfall, with a roll-up

Highlights and Quotes

"Every match Aiden English has had with Big Cass, he's gone after the left knee." -Tom Phillips

"I'm a mine of information, aren't I?" -William Regal (Answer: Yes.)

Grade

C

Analysis

Treadmill booking continues for both Cassady and English, neither of whom has done much of note since the WWE Network era of NXT began back in March.

The match was technically fine but never got out of first gear, nor did it improve on any of the matches they had together in the past.

It was merely "there."

Oliver Grey vs. Camacho

Credit: WWE.com

In a match set up by a backstage promo on last week's show, Oliver Grey returned to the ring for the first time in nearly a year to take on Camacho.

Looking to prove himself and send a message to Adam Rose, Camacho made quick work of the former NXT tag team champion, finishing him off with a Samoan Drop.

Result

Camacho, via pinfall, with the Samoan Drop

Highlights and Results

"Why not beat someone up you know is slightly vulnerable?" -Regal

Grade

D

Analysis

A completely nondescript match in which neither man looked particularly good.

The entire purpose of the match was to set Camacho up for a rematch with Adam Rose, presumably coming up in the next week or two. Considering that Camacho would only serve as another win for Rose before Rose's debut on Raw, why time was wasted to build him up at all is a bit of a mystery.

Grey's return to the ring was anticlimactic, and one has to wonder what is next for the Brit as he watches Neville, his former partner, star as the NXT champion.

The Ascension vs. Wesley Blake and Cal Bishop

Credit: WWE.com

The Ascension continued to dominate the competition in NXT, this week dispatching of Blake and Bishop in impressive fashion.

Viktor's flurry of chops and uppercuts to Blake was impressive and brutal to watch, as was most of the beatdown the team dealt to its opposition.

The announcers continued to put over the NXT Tag Team champions and their title reign, which has stretched as long as it has thanks to the lack of quality opposition.

Result

The Ascension, via pinfall, following The Fall of Man

Highlights and Quotes

"The time has arrived for total maximum carnage." -Tom Phillips

"Bloodthirsty lot." -William Regal in regards to the NXT fans

Grade

C

Analysis

The Ascension is in desperate need of competition. Konnor and Viktor have torn through jobbers for the last three months, and while the crowd is still buying into their act, they will become stale and tired if the quality of competition does not improve. That is not to mention just how devalued the title reign will become when one looks back at the number of squashes against no-name wrestlers it consisted of.

Luckily, it appears as though NXT will fix that problem in the near future given what happened later in the night.

The Great Khali vs. CJ Parker

Credit: WWE.com

2014 has not been kind to CJ Parker, and that trend continued for the Moonchild Thursday night as he went one-on-one with The Great Khali.

Parker tried to mount a fight against the former World Heavyweight champion, but Khali's size and strength proved to be too much. The Punjabi Plunge spelled the end of Parker, who has become the object of the NXT Universe's scorn.

Result

Great Khali, via pinfall, following the Punjabi Plunge

Highlights and Quotes

"When I try to sleep at night, I stare at the ceiling and wonder what this planet would be like without the NXT Universe." -Parker

"How can you boo a guy who cares?" -Parker

"Great Khali is like the SUV of people." -Renee Young

Grade

B+

Analysis

The CJ Parker character has become one that fans want to see get beat up. Fans enjoy watching him suffer, for some reason, and they were quite happy following Khali's dismantling of the Moonchild on this week's show. Given the fact that this match was set up to be exactly what it was, one cannot complain.

The chops from Khali were especially nasty, and the Punjabi Plunge, thanks to a big leap from Parker, was incredibly impressive.

Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger vs. Sawyer Fulton and Baron Corbin

Credit: WWE.com

With a lack of tag team depth on the NXT roster, the company set out to showcase two new teams and did so successfully.

Jordan and Dillinger brought great energy to their work while Corbin and Fulton were prototypical heels who wore the opposition down with power-based offense.

The fiery babyface duo scored the win off of the Snapshot, which was previously utilized by NXT trainer Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro (later John Morrison) as the tag team MNM.

Result

Dillinger and Jordan, via pinfall, following the Snapshot

Highlights and Quotes

"He's the kind of guy who just wants to fight." -Renee Young on Baron Corbin

Grade

A

Analysis

NXT is in need of tag teams. This match introduced two new teams and set up a potential contender to The Ascension's title reign.

Dillinger and Jordan looked good, worked well together and brought a lot of energy to the bout. With that said, they came off as very generic babyfaces. If put in the ring with a team like The Ascension that is extremely over, Dillinger and Jordan could face the backlash of the crowd.

For now, though, their win set them on the right path and could lead to bigger and better things for the duo.

Adrian Neville vs. Brodus Clay

Credit: WWE.com

In his first attempt to knock off Adrian Neville, Brodus Clay impressed but fell just short of his goal.

Clay targeted the chest of his opponent and was dominant throughout the bout. Neville fought his way back into the contest with kicks and looked to deliver Red Arrow for the win. He landed on his feet as Clay rolled out of the way, and the action spilled to the outside.

Clay's bodyslam on the floor flattened Neville, but an elbow drop off the ring steps missed and ended his night.

He was forced to watch from ringside as Neville scored the win.

Result

Neville, via count-out

Highlights and Quotes

"Brodus Clay may believe he is a main event player, but the NXT Championship proves Neville is THE main event player." -Byron Saxton

Grade

C

Analysis

A very basic match in this week's main event. The story they were telling was solid, but Clay just is not skilled enough to keep up with Neville and deliver the type of match the Brit likes to work.

As the monster heel, Clay worked well, especially when he was in charge. But when he had to try to keep up with Neville, he looked severely out of place and it hurt the quality of the match.

The finish means the program is not over and that Clay will remain in the title hunt. Hopefully he and Neville work a match that is better suited to Clay's skills rather than one that asks him to match Neville move for move.