WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 21, 2014

Triple H's official announcement regarding NXT Takeover 2, and the revelation that all three of the brand's top titles will be on the line at the blockbuster two-hour event, created a sense of urgency among the Superstars and the Divas of WWE developmental as they took to the ring for the August 21 episode.

The Vaudevillains and Sin Cara and Kalisto advanced to the finals of the No. 1 Contender's Tag Team Tournament with victories over Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady and Sami Zayn and Adam Rose, respectfully.

Tyler Breeze sought revenge on Tyson Kidd, who cost him an opportunity to win the NXT Championship on last week's show, but he wound up running away when things got a bit too rough for him.

Becky Lynch provided a tough test for Charlotte, who will defend her title against Bayley at Takeover 2, but the second-generation Diva still managed to squeak by with the victory.

The NXT Universe showed no love to Mojo Rawley, who showed none to Bull Dempsey in return.

To top it all off, Triple H also announced that a new general manager would be revealed next week.

With so much riding on wins and losses and leaving an impression on matchmakers as Takeover 2 rapidly approaches, the stars of NXT again proved why they are the future of WWE.

Relive all of the action from Thursday night's broadcast with grades, analysis and highlights from the August 21 episode of NXT!

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady vs. The Vaudevillains

The No. 1 Contender's Tag Team Tournament continued this week as Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady, the front-runners to win the whole ordeal, took on Aiden English and Simon Gotch, the Vaudevillains.

Amore and Cassady entered the NXT Arena to a huge ovation, as is par for the course with the charismatic Jersey Shore duo.

Cassady and Gotch started the match, the seven-foot big man getting the best of his carnival act opposition.

Cassady sent Amore flying into Gotch in the corner in a display of superb teamwork.

From out of nowhere, English delivered the senton bomb to Amore and won the match for the Vaudevillains.

After the match, The Legionnaires (Sylvester Lefort and Marcus Louis) attacked Amore and shaved part of his beard.

Result

The Vaudevillains, via pinfall, when English pinned Amore.

Highlights and Quotes

"Semifinals with these dudes."—Renee Young on Amore and Cassady.

"Which is actually a terrifying situation to be in, going up against The Ascension."—Young on a tag tournament win not necessarily being a good thing.

Grade

C-

Analysis

The match was way too quick to mean as much as it should have. Neither team was able to have any sort of extended offense and the finish came from out of nowhere.

A disappointing match considering the two teams involved.

The post-match angle was fine in that it planted the seeds for a match at Takeover between Amore and The Legionnaire's Sylvester Lefort, but it overshadowed what was supposed to be the semifinals of a major tournament. Never a good thing.

Tyson Kidd vs. Tyler Breeze

After he ruined Tyler Breeze's NXT Championship match against Adrian Neville on last week's show, Tyson Kidd squared off with Prince Pretty in the opening match of this week's broadcast.

Breeze showed aggression early, pounding Kidd in the corner before the Canadian turned the tables and floored the Gorgeous One with a big snap suplex.

After an onslaught from Kidd, Breeze bailed on the match, walking to the backstage area. Kidd celebrated the count-out victory as if he had just captured the NXT Championship, much to the dismay of the NXT Universe.

Result

Tyson Kidd via count-out.

Highlights and Quotes

"It's like waiting all these months for Christmas morning to arrive and getting that big present sitting behind the tree and then your neighbors slides in and steals it."—Byron Saxton on Kidd ruining Breeze's NXT title shot.

Grade

D- 

Analysis

So Breeze was so angry, so determined to get revenge for Kidd's interference in the NXT title match last week that...he walked out on the match when things got just the slightest bit tough?

Sure, it fits the character but it did not necessarily fit the story.

Kidd mocking Breeze's shtick after the match drew more cheers than boos, capping off a very interesting segment of television. For all the wrong reasons.

Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte

Credit: WWE.com

Charlotte squared off with Becky Lynch on this week's show, just a few weeks after a hard-fought victory over the Irishwoman.

Lynch outclassed Charlotte early but the women's champion targeted the knee of her opponent. Lynch countered with a rollup for a two count.

Charlotte pounded Lynch into the corner, then she trapped her in the figure four headlock. Lynch countered into a pinning combination but Charlotte grounded her again. Chants of "Becky" broke out. A big forearm by Lynch stunned Charlotte momentarily but the champion resumed her offensive attack.

Lynch fired back with a dropkick and two straight legdrops for two.

Charlotte countered a suplex and hit Bow Down to the Queen moments later for the pinfall win.

Result

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

Highlights and Quotes

"Becky Lynch is exactly the breath of fresh air that this Divas division in NXT needs."—Renee Young.

"Here's a hashtag for ya: winner."—Byron Saxton on Charlotte's impressive victory over Lynch.

Grade

B 

Analysis

Another very competitive match between these two. Despite putting up another valiant effort against the champion, Lynch just could not avoid the Bow Down to the Queen. Her lack of success against Charlotte could be a huge plot device in a future storyline.

Young really put Lynch over as a future star in the Divas division, perhaps indicating that she will play a much bigger role in post-Takeover NXT.

Mojo Rawley vs. Steve Cutler

Credit: WWE.com

After being attacked by his tag partner Bull Dempsey last week, Mojo Rawley was impressive in singles action this week, tearing through Steve Cutler as he attempted to reestablish his dominance in NXT.

It took less than two minutes for Rawley to put away Cutler following Hyperdrive.

After the match, Rawley grabbed a mic from ringside and had some ominous words for Dempsey.

Result

Rawley, via pinfall, with Hyperdrive.

Highlights and Quotes

"Bull Dempsey wants to win. They didn't win so he moved on. It's like breaking up with a girlfriend."—Byron Saxton on the implosion of Rawley and Dempsey's team.

"You think all I am is a smile? Well the smile is gone."—Rawley.

"We've seen what happens when people lose their smiles around here."—Renee Young, with the line of the night.

Grade

C-

Analysis

There was not much to enjoy about this segment.

Mojo Rawley won another squash match over inferior talent, then he cut a promo that said something to the effect of his smile being gone. It was a very awkward bit of mic time for a guy that came across so well in the video packages that preceded his debut nearly a year ago.

The NXT crowd is solidly behind Dempsey in this feud, which is something management in NXT cannot be pleased with considering their aspiration for Rawley to become a big babyface star for the brand.

The impending match between them, and the crowd response during it, could be ugly.

Adam Rose and Sami Zayn vs. Kalisto and Sin Cara

A battle of babyface duos headlined this week's show as Sin Cara and Kalisto squared off with Sami Zayn and Adam Rose to determine who would meet the Vaudevillains in the finals of the No. 1 contender's tournament.

Rose and Kalisto started the match for their respective teams. After a brief exchange, Zayn and Sin Cara tagged into the match and engaged in some chain wrestling. A headscissors took Zayn down and forced him and Rose to regroup at ringside.

Back from break and Kalisto had Rose trapped firmly in a side headlock. A twisting springboard body block took Rose down and popped the NXT Universe.

Kalisto and Sin Cara continued to wow the audience, using some unconventional, flashy offense to keep the veteran Zayn and Rose off-guard.

Zayn and Rose eventually recovered from the onslaught by the luchadors and used a more aggressive, ground-and-pound offense to wear the much smaller Kalisto down.

Sin Cara made the hot tag and entered the ring with a head of steam, taking both Rose and Zayn down. He exploded through the ropes with a dive to outside, taking Zayn out. A senton bomb to Rose moments later won the match for him and Kalisto, advancing them one step closer to the NXT Tag Team Championships and the Ascension.

Result

Sin Cara and Kalisto, via pinfall, when Sin Cara pinned Rose.

Highlights and Quotes

"The Ascension better keep their eyes peeled on these two."—Renee Young on Sin Cara and Kalisto.

"I hate that thing. Look at its weird face. It looks sad or something."—Young on the Rosebud bunny.

"Granted, I have no idea what it takes to get ready for a match but that looks like fun."—Young on Rose's entrance.

"Please don't thrust your hips within a three mile radius of me."—Young to Byron Saxton.

Grade

B+ 

Analysis

The only thing wrong with this one was that it was not long enough.

With lightning-fast offense and four likable Superstars, the main event of the August 21 broadcast was as much fun as a wrestling fan can have in the brief amount of time allotted to the contest.

Kalisto and Sin Cara have developed into such an effective, exciting team, while Zayn and Rose make a much more formidable duo than anyone could have imagined. The action was non-stop throughout, and the NXT Universe greeted it with the appropriate reaction.

Kalisto and Sin Cara will now meet the Vaudevillains in the finals of the tag tournament to determine the unlikely twosome to challenge The Ascension at Takeover 2.