WWE NXT Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from November 6, 2014

On the heels of the most eventful and newsworthy episode in weeks, NXT is picking up momentum as it rolls into Takeover: Evolution on December 11.

Sami Zayn continued his road to redemption, and an NXT Championship opportunity, as he defeated "Prince Pretty" Tyler Breeze in a phenomenal match to kick off the broadcast.

"I feel like I'm avenging myself," he told Renee Young, and with his title opportunity taking place next week, his happy ending could very well take place before the next live special hits the WWE Network airwaves.

Finn Balor made his much-anticipated debut, joining Hideo Itami for a vicious beatdown of The Ascension. The international star unleashed a flurry of kicks and demolished both Konnor and Viktor with double stomps. What was once inconceivable played out in front of the entire viewing audience. The formerly dominant tag team champions were punished, humbled and left lying by two superior athletes.

Sasha Banks scored a big tag team victory as she rolls toward a shot at Charlotte's NXT Women's Championship.

Who emerged from this week's episode of NXT as winners, and who needs a boost if she hopes to make a big splash come Takeover?

Here's a look.

Winner: Finn Balor

The Irish-born Superstar made his NXT debut and wasted little time making an impression on the fans who treated him with such respect as he stepped through the curtain for the first time. He was treated like a huge star by the commentators, who put over his beatdown of The Ascension as something monumental.

It is that type of treatment that makes fans unfamiliar with Balor and his international in-ring exploits sit up and take notice.

That his debut was treated with such respect indicates a major push awaits the former Prince Devitt. While he and Itami are almost guaranteed to battle The Ascension at some point in the near future, it is what Balor does in the weeks and months after that huge match that is so very intriguing.

Loser: Bayley

Remember when the lovable Diva was on her way to becoming NXT Women's champion? How about that time she wrestled Charlotte in two very good matches, nearly taking the gold from the second-generation Diva?

That appears to have been forgotten, as Bayley has become a bit player in the war between Charlotte and Banks over the very title she so desperately chased just months ago. Thursday night, she was pinned by Banks after suffering a beating by the Boss and her partner, Becky Lynch.

Bayley could still make an appearance at Takeover: Evolution—perhaps in a match against Lynch, who betrayed her a few weeks back—but capturing the title appears out of the question at this point.

Winner: Sami Zayn

The most popular star in NXT continued his winning ways this week, beating Breeze and becoming the sole No. 1 contender to Adrian Neville's NXT Championship. It is not the victory that earns him "winner" recognition but the intensity and energy with which he performed.

From the moment the bell rang to the moment he destroyed Breeze with the exploder suplex that led to the Helluvah Kick, Zayn performed with the fire of a guy who knew his big opportunity was right around the corner and was putting in the work necessary to make the absolute most of that opportunity.

It is that side of him fans have not seen to this point, and that attitude and aggression will ultimately carry him to the so-called promised land.