WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from July 31, 2014

The Exotic Express rolled into Full Sail University for the July 31 episode of NXT, but Tyson Kidd was definitely not in the mood for a party as he squared off with Adam Rose in the evening's main event.

With marital issues and championship aspirations weighing heavily on the mind of the Hart Family Dungeon graduate, would he be able to deal Rose his first loss or would the leader of the Rosebuds further frustrate Kidd and drive him to the brink of a mental breakdown?

NXT Women's champion Charlotte attempted to maintain momentum just one week after defeating mentor Summer Rae to retain her title. Would she be able to knock off the up-and-coming Becky Lynch, or would the energetic Irishwoman score a monumental upset over the second-generation Diva?

No. 1 contender Tyler Breeze was in action against Angelo Dawkins, but it was the promise of a huge announcement that piqued the interest of the NXT faithful. Would he announce the time and place for his NXT Championship bout against Adrian Neville? Perhaps he has a new music video on the way or he took his 1 millionth selfie. Whatever the case may be, all eyes were on Prince Pretty Thursday night.

With the world of NXT ever-changing, the brand continues to produce a quality, entertaining show for its fans. What worked, what did not and what does this writer have to say about it all?

Find out for yourself by checking out the grades, highlights and analysis from this week's WWE Network broadcast.

Angelo Dawkins vs. Tyler Breeze

Credit: WWE.com

Breeze made his way to the squared circle to kick off this week's show. His opponent? Dawkins who, despite exhibiting great athleticism, has been a major disappointment when it comes to winning matches and building any sort of momentum for himself.

Dawkins stunned Breeze with a takedown early, but Prince Pretty replied with an aggressiveness that the former collegiate wrestler was unprepared for.

Just one minute into the match, Breeze caught Dawkins with the Beauty Shot for the win.

After the match, Breeze introduced footage from last week's show, in which he was instrumental in Neville's beatdown at the hands of Rusev. He followed up by making an announcement regarding his music video before being interrupted by Neville.

The NXT champion and his No. 1 contender traded insults before coming to blows. Breeze bailed, leaving Neville standing tall in the center of the ring.

Result

Tyler Breeze, via pinfall, following the Beauty Shot.

Highlights and Quotes

"He is the man that single-handedly saved the music industry." -Renee Young on Tyler Breeze

"You just saw a message signed, sealed and delivered to Adrian Neville." -Byron Saxton on Breeze's dominant victory

"Well that was annoying." -Breeze on his victory

"I have submitted my music video for Oscar consideration in the documentary category." -Breeze's major announcement

"I'm getting a call from the director of The Hobbit. It looks like you're needed back on set." -Breeze to Neville

"You cannot joke about a man's momma." -Young

Grade

A

Analysis

Another dominant victory for Breeze, who continues to demonstrate increased aggression and intensity with every passing match.

The post-match promo did an excellent job of putting heat on the impending NXT Championship bout. Breeze was ridiculous and egotistical until confronted by Neville. When that happened, the two instantly came to blows, something that would have never happened with the old Breeze, who would have been more interested in protecting his face.

A very effective way to kick off this week's show.

Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte

NXT Women's champion Charlotte looked to continue her monumental 2014 as she took on Lynch, who was attempting to knock off the titleholder and catapult herself into championship contention.

Lynch had new music and carried herself completely different from the Irish stereotype fans were exposed to a month ago.

The experienced Lynch outclassed Charlotte early and repeatedly kept her off guard with her superior wrestling skill. Charlotte targeted the left leg, however, and took control of the bout. Demonstrating tremendous focus as she assaulted the knee with pinpoint accuracy, Charlotte dominated the majority of the bout.

Bow Down to the Queen finished Lynch off and kept up Charlotte's winning ways.

Result

Charlotte, via pinfall, following Bow Down to the Queen.

Highlights and Quotes

"You talk seamless transitions, you talk Charlotte as NXT Women's championship." -Byron Saxton

"Ever since splitting from the BFFs, she's been like Beyonce splitting from Destiny's Child." -Renee Young

"Always diversifying her attack." -Saxton on Charlotte

Grade

B

Analysis

The difference in the quality of matches when Charlotte wrestles established workers compared to when she squares off with models-turned-wrestlers is astonishing.

Last week, she disappointed against Summer Rae. This week, she wrestled a very solid match against Lynch, who demonstrated great babyface fire early before falling prey to the women's champion's knee-based offense.

Lynch is a talented wrestler who deserves better than she has gotten to this point, but with the focus on Charlotte and an impending title defense against Bayley, as hinted at later in a backstage promo, the match at least allowed her to get on television and build a connection with the audience.

The Ascension in Action!

Credit: WWE.com

Oh, wow. The Ascension vs. two jobbers. I wonder how this ends.

Steve Cutler and Mack Miles were this week's victims.

A double shoulder block took Cutler down as the former U.S. Marine likely wished he was anywhere but the NXT Arena. So dominant were the tag team champions that they stopped dead in their tracks, exchanging a look while Cutler struggled at their feet.

Fall of Man finished the jobbers as Konnor and Viktor picked up another noncompetitive win. 

Viktor took the microphone after the match and addressed the No. 1 contender tournament that starts next week. "Total anni-yah-lation," Konnor said to end the segment as fans cheered the seemingly unconquerable champions.

Result

The Ascension, via pinfall, following the Fall of Man.

Highlights and Quotes

"The gatekeepers of NXT's tag team division are present." -Byron Saxton

"No one has been able to touch them." -Renee Young

Grade

C

Analysis

Wash, rinse, repeat.

At least this week's squash served a purpose, hence its "C" rating. The commentators did a fabulous job of putting over the upcoming tournament to determine the next victims...No. 1 contenders...to the tag titles while simultaneously hyping the sheer dominance that The Ascension has enjoyed over the last 300-plus days as the standard-bearers of the division.

Bull Dempsey and Mojo Rawley vs. Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder

*Ignore the snapshot above. Video is over Dempsey and Rawley's win.

Bull Dempsey and Mojo Rawley formed a physically punishing team Thursday night and showed signs of being a team capable of matching aggression, intensity and physicality with Konnor and Viktor of The Ascension.

The returning Scott Dawson and debuting Dash Wilder, known collectively as the Mechanics, were unlucky enough to cross them this week.

Dawson, an incredibly skilled worker, wrestled circles around Rawley early. He and Wilder made fast tags, demonstrating impressive tag team ability despite teaming for the first time on NXT television.

Rawley delivered a big Stinger Splash and tagged Dempsey, who finished Wilder off with the Bulldozer powerslam.

Result

Rawley and Dempsey, via pinfall, when Dempsey pinned Wilder following the Bulldozer.

Highlights and Quotes

"I don't think they're looking to solve any problems in this match. Maybe break some bones." -Byron Saxton on the Mechanics

"They're opposites but they both have the goals of becoming champions." -Saxton on Dempsey and Rawley

Grade

B 

Analysis

As a match, it was not much. Dawson and Wilder were incredibly smooth but were ultimately there to be tackling dummies for the bigger and stronger opponents.

Dempsey and Mojo now roll into the No. 1 Contender Tag Team Tournament as one of the dark-horse tandems. They have all the tools to tear through the competition en route to challenging The Ascension's reign of terror.

Even if they did very little to impress in the brief time that was allotted to them. 

Adam Rose vs. Tyson Kidd

Rose returned to the NXT Arena but found himself standing across the ring from Kidd, a man determined to toss his name back into NXT Championship contention following several disappointing outcomes against Neville in recent months.

The match was made following a quick argument between Kidd and wife Natalya earlier in the broadcast. Speaking of the former Divas champion, she accompanied her husband to the ring for the match.

Rose offered his lollipop to Natalya at ringside and the third-generation Diva willingly sucked it, to the delight of the NXT fans. This drew the ire of Kidd, who tossed the treat on the arena floor and stared his wife down.

The leader of the Rosebuds unleashed with some rare aggression on Kidd, landing a beautiful snap suplex and generating a nearfall. Outside the squared circle, he sent Kidd chest and sternum-first into the ring apron as we headed to commercial break.

Back from break and Rose still controlled the match, grounding Kidd with an armbar. A clothesline over the top rope sent Rose to the arena floor, giving Kidd the chance to recover and wrest control from his opponent.

He sent Rose face first into the steel post twice as Natalya looked worried at ringside.

Kidd caught Rose with a big legdrop to the back of the head as the resident party-goer really struggled for the first time. Rose found himself hung in the Tree of Woe and the recipient of several hard knees about the body.

Rose fought back, catching Kidd with a few forearms, some jabs and a running fist to the face. The "choo choo" clothesline caught Kidd in the corner and a big spinebuster followed up for two.

The babyface attempted the Party Foul, but Kidd countered, tried for the Sharpshooter and settled for hanging Rose up throat first across the middle rope. Kidd badmouthed Natalya at ringside, taking his eye off the ball for a brief moment and allowed Rose to catch him with a small package rollup for the win.

Natalya checked on Kidd after the match, but the frustrated Superstar shrugged her off.

Result

Adam Rose, via pinfall, with a small package.

Highlights and Quotes

"The bunny looks nicer tonight." -Renee Young

"Damn right I have." -Young on Tom Phillips' claim that she has been on the Exotic Express

"Two competitive spouses who want to be successful in this company and when they're not, you don't think that creates tension between them?" -Byron Saxton on the marital issues between Kidd and Natalya

"Is this all about the sucker?" -Young on Kidd's brutal, aggressive assault on Rose

Grade

A

Analysis

Easily Rose's best match to date, the contest was a tremendously competitive one that showcased how solid a performer the party-loving character can be when given more than two minutes to ply his craft.

Kidd continues to be one of the MVPs of WWE in 2014. His ring work has been superb, and his portrayal of the unlikable, jealous husband has helped him get over in ways he never had before. The storyline with the lovely Natalya has been very well done and has helped keep two of the most talented stars in the company busy.

A great way to cap off a very fun episode of NXT.