WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from October 2, 2014

Two huge championship rematches headlined this week's episode of NXT!

With the possibility that he would receive no further championship matches as long as Adrian Neville held the NXT title, Tyson Kidd let it all hang out as he squared off with The Man Who Gravity Forgot in the night's main event.

Would he deal a third loss to the Brit, taking his title in the process, or would Neville knock off Kidd and put his days of worrying about the Canadian as a threat to his title behind him?

Just three weeks after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Charlotte at NXT Takeover II, Bayley got another shot at glory as she met the second-generation Diva one-on-one. Would she make up for the crushing defeat at the last major two-hour special, or would Charlotte prove that genetics are greater than desire?

Add to those two humongous matches the scheduled in-ring debut of Hideo Itami and the latest appearance by breakout star Baron Corbin, and the October 2 episode of NXT was ripe with potential to be one of the best weekly editions of the show in quite some time.

Did it live up to expectations?

Take a look for yourself.

NXT Women's Championship Match: Bayley vs. Charlotte

While the first match between Bayley and Charlotte for the NXT Women's Championship was based on the latter's desire to punish and humiliate the former, their match Thursday night was born out of the respect that the NXT Women's champion gained for her top contender.

Bayley proved her determination early, outwrestling the champion and countering her offense at every turn. Charlotte responded like a champion would, targeting the leg of her opponent. She twisted and contorted Bayley's leg, softening it up for an eventual figure-four attempt.

The challenger mounted a comeback, but Charlotte slammed her leg into the ring post, cutting off her momentum and turning the tide back in favor of the champion.

Bayley survived a figure-four and made a valiant comeback but had a suplex attempt countered into a neckbreaker. Charlotte finished with a Natural Selection for the pinfall victory and successful title defense. 

Result

NXT Women's champion Charlotte defeated Bayley via pinfall to retain the title.

Highlights and Quotes

"Brennan, hug him!" — Jason Albert ordering Rich Brennan to hug a fairly miserable Alex Riley

"She did let down her mother and all of the fans. She lost." — Alex Riley on Bayley

"She's gonna have to beat her with her brains as well as physicality." — Riley on Bayley's path to victory

"It seems like Bayley has learned from her mistakes." — Riley 

"Respect deserved, respect earned." — Brennan

Grade

A 

Analysis

What a match!

Charlotte is so much better at this point in her career than anyone could have imagined, and the fact that management recognized her potential and put her in the position to wrestle meaningful matches against top talent so early on only helped her grow as a performer.

Thursday night, fans got a glimpse of a young woman comfortable in her position and more importantly with the little things that go into making a truly great in-ring performer. She understands storytelling, she gets why certain things are done at certain times and her in-ring psychology is outstanding.

Whether she should have retained her title or not, given how incredibly popular and hot Bayley is right now, is another question for another time. Right now, WWE can relish the fact that it has a young female performer capable of carrying the women's division alongside the likes of AJ Lee and Paige for years to come.

Hideo Itami vs. Viktor

Since debuting in NXT back at Takeover, Hideo Itami has been embroiled in a rivalry with former tag team champions The Ascension. This week, he was slated to square off with Viktor, with Konnor lurking at ringside. Unfortunately, as viewers found out, the match was not to be.

Before the match even started, The Ascension assaulted Itami, double-teaming the international Superstar and taking out weeks of aggression and frustration on him.

The vicious, violent Konnor and Viktor left Itami lying on the mat following a middle forearm/side suplex combination.

Referees and trainers checked on Itami as commentator Rich Brennan pointed out the glazed-over look in the eyes of the newcomer.

Result

No contest.

Highlights and Quotes

"This is an opportunity for Viktor to teach the new guy not to stick his nose where it doesn't belong." — Alex Riley

"I don't think I've seen another guy kick with such force." — Jason Albert on Itami

Grade

A

Analysis

After Itami got one over on The Ascension at Takeover, clearing them out of the ring on his own, and then costing Konnor and Viktor the tag titles last week, he was due to get a beating this week. The former champions obliged.

It put heat on The Ascension, reminding fans just how dangerous and destructive they are. More importantly, it served notice to Itami that a war with Konnor and Viktor is not something he wants to engage in alone.

Who Itami recruits to join him in battle should be interesting to see, even if those familiar with the spoilers for the next month of action are well aware of the answer.

Baron Corbin vs. Troy McClain

Credit: WWE.com

After dismantling CJ Parker with relative ease in two straight matches, Baron Corbin returned to the NXT Arena in Full Sail University, welcomed by fans chanting his name.

McClain was absolutely no match for Corbin, succumbing to the End of Days after mere seconds of action.

Result

Baron Corbin defeated Troy McClain via pinfall.

Highlights and Quotes

"The question is, will Baron Corbin even break a sweat?" — Alex Riley

"Baron's gonna kill you!" — The NXT Universe

Grade

A

Analysis

The match was exactly what it needed to be. Corbin tore through McClain to a strong reaction from the NXT audience, which seems to be buying into Corbin as the next big breakout star in ways it simply did not with Mojo Rawley or Bull Dempsey.

If the bookers can remain patient and not rush the development of the character or the worker himself, the organization may very well have someone special on its hands.

The Vaudevillains vs. Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger

Credit: WWE.com

The Vaudevillains made their returns to NXT television this week, squaring off with Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan in a match that could very well have determined the future contenders to tag champions The Lucha Dragons.

Simon Gotch and Aiden English cleared the ring early, much to the delight of an NXT Universe who clearly wants to see them take the next step up the ranks in the tag team division.

Jordan and Dillinger isolated English, but eventually The Artiste was was able to make the hot tag to Gotch, who exploded into the ring and set up the That's A Wrap senton bomb from English for the win.

Result

The Vaudevillains defeated Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan via pinfall.

Highlights and Quotes

"Put your dukes up!" — The NXT Universe, in support of the Vaudevillains

Grade

B

Analysis

Midway through the match, the teams seemed to have switched roles, as Dillinger recognized that the fans were more receptive to the Vaudevillains and thus began mocking his opponents and taunting the audience. It was the sign of a veteran in-ring competitor who understands in-ring psychology.

As a match, the contest was too short to really be anything special. As a chapter in a story, it worked extremely well. Reigning babyface tag champions The Lucha Dragons will need a heel tandem to challenge them for the titles. The Vaudevillains fit that description and are probably the best option remaining.

Even if the fans love them far more than the champions at this point. 

NXT Championship Match: Adrian Neville vs. Tyson Kidd

It all came down to this.

The rivalry between Adrian Neville and Tyson Kidd reached its zenith Thursday night as the tremendous in-ring performers squared off in a high stakes main event where both Neville's NXT Championship and Kidd's ability to challenge for it were at stake.

Looks of determination were painted on the faces of the Superstars as they took the ring for the night's main event, with commentators Jason Albert, Rich Brennan and Alex Riley describing the significance of the bout fans were about to witness.

Prior to the bout, Titus O'Neil took a seat at ringside, clearly interested in the match and the outcome.

Neville dominated early, going as far as to play on the history between him and his challenger by breaking out some of Kidd's signature offense against him. Kidd recovered nicely, tripping Neville up on the ropes and taking control of the contest.

The near-falls were fast and furious late in the match, with Kidd scoring several and creating doubt that Neville would emerge with his title intact. The champion fired back, delivering a hesitation dropkick and a huge sit-out powerbomb that shook the ring and rattled the bones of Kidd.

Kidd locked in the Sharpshooter late as the NXT Universe rose to its feet. Neville, showing tremendous strength and determination, crawled over five feet to the ropes, his body wracked with pain.

With the referee tending to Kidd, Titus O'Neil stood up at ringside and planted Neville with a huge clothesline. From out of nowhere, Sami Zayn connected with the Helluva Kick to O'Neil, then cheered on the NXT champion.

Seconds later, Neville exploded off the top rope with the Red Arrow for the win.

Neville and Zayn ended a spectacular episode of NXT with a great match.

Result

NXT champion Adrian Neville defeated Tyson Kidd to retain his title.

Highlights and Quotes

"Look at his face. You cann it determined, I call it worried." — Jason Albert on Tyson Kidd

"These two know each other so well that you have to try to break out something the other has never seen before." — Albert

"He's got Total Divas, he's got his wife. I'm not sure that's gonna make him happy." — Alex Riley on a dejected Kidd

Grade

A 

Analysis

Adrian Neville and Tyson Kidd have outstanding chemistry with each other, and Thursday was just another example of the magic they create when they square off in a big-match situation.

The match was crisp, told a great story and featured some very strong false finishes late. The involvement of both Titus O'Neil and Sami Zayn keeps both of those men involved in the title picture, while the outcome forces Kidd to move on to something or someone else as long as Neville holds the title.

Wrapping up one story and moving onto a new one in a single segment is exactly the type of storytelling NXT does to perfection, while WWE's main-roster shows struggle so much with it.