WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 13, 2014

After weeks of hype, build and anticipation, Sami Zayn got his opportunity at the NXT Championship as he challenged Adrian Neville in this week's main event.

The road to redemption for Zayn has seen the Canadian Superstar overcome prior enemies such as Titus O'Neil, Tyler Breeze and Tyson Kidd, but for him to achieve his goal of capturing the top prize on the brand, he would have to beat the one man whom no one else has been able to in a big-match situation, his friend Neville.

Would he succeed, or would Neville turn Zayn's dream into a nightmare?

Finn Balor made his in-ring debut, teaming with Hideo Itami to meet Kidd and Justin Gabriel. How would the Irish-born star, and international star, fare in his first bout in an NXT ring?

Sasha Banks squared off with Alexis Bliss and The Lucha Dragons were in action to round out the remainder of the card.

Who had their heads held high and their arms raised in victory coming out of Thursday's show?

Get the answer to that and all of the above questions right now with this look back at the November 13 episode of NXT.

Finn Balor and Hideo Itami vs. Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel

Just one week after making his NXT debut in impressive fashion, Balor took to the ring for the first time, teaming with Itami in a match that came about via a promo at the top of the show.

Kidd and Gabriel interrupted Balor, insulted him and hit the ring for what appeared to be a two-on-one beatdown. Itami made the save, and ring announcer JoJo revealed that, per NXT general manager William Regal, the two teams would clash to kick off the evening's in-ring action.

Balor took a great deal of punishment throughout the contest, including a vicious chop from Gabriel, but he rebounded nicely to put Gabriel away with the double stomp off the top rope.

Result

Finn Balor and Hideo Itami defeated Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd.

Highlights and Quotes

"I'm here at NXT because I'm the future!"—Balor.

"Every week, an international star comes here with cool music and thinks they're a star."—Gabriel.

"Don't talk about it, be about it."—Alex Riley.

Grade

B+

Analysis

From the moment he took to the ring until the moment he pinned Gabriel, the entire segment was about Balor and establishing him as the future face of NXT. For the most part, it succeeded. 

Balor seemed slightly uncomfortable on the microphone, but that will come with time. Where he did not appear uncomfortable was between the ropes as he proved his ability to take a beating but also fire back with intensity and aggression when it came time for the finish. 

The only complaint from the entire segment was the fact that Balor played the babyface in peril when he probably should have been the recipient of the hot tag. He scored the pin so that made up for it, but he really could have benefited from looking like an unstoppable force.

Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks

As is the case every time these two Divas compete against each other, Alexa Bliss wound up with her nose bloodied as she attempted to knock off Sasha Banks on the road to the NXT Women's Championship.

Banks rolled over Bliss Thursday evening, catching her with a big slap to her face that not only served as an insult but also an injury as it broke her nose and left her bloodied. Stunned by the pain, Bliss was no match for Banks as she found herself trapped in the Bank Statement.

She tapped out, awarding the match to her opponent via the submission.

After the match, Banks addressed the NXT Universe, referring to herself as the baddest Diva in the promotion.

Result

Sasha Banks defeated Alexa Bliss via submission.

Highlights and Quotes

"I'm going to show you and the entire world why I'm the baddest Diva in NXT."—Banks.

Grade

C

Analysis

On one hand, the match was a major disappointment due to the injury suffered by Bliss, but on the other hand, the sight of the bloodied blonde helped enhance fan perception of Banks as a mean, nasty Diva capable of inflicting great damage in her pursuit of the NXT Women's Championship.

At the very least, it certainly lent credibility to her post-match comments.

On a side note, as much as this writer enjoys Becky Lynch's work both in NXT and the Indys, she needs to become more confident in herself as a performer and adapt her act to better fit Banks'. Throwing up the rock-star devil horn as she strutted to the ring with Banks made her look completely out of place.

Non-Title Match: The Lucha Dragons vs. Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy

Credit: WWE.com

The NXT tag team champions entered Full Sail University for a huge match against the blossoming Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake.

Blake and Murphy showed strong tag team skills as they attempted to defeat Sin Cara and Kalisto, but the champions demonstrated just why they were the first team to defeat The Ascension in nearly a year. Showing great resiliency in the face of a stiff challenge, Sin Cara helped his team rebound and delivered the Swanton Bomb to Murphy to secure the victory.

Result

The Lucha Dragons defeated Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy.

Highlights and Quotes

"These two are always at the (WWE) Performance Center trying to get better."—Jason Albert trying to put over the work ethic of Murphy and Blake.

Grade

B

Analysis

Never underestimate the effectiveness of a good power vs. speed tag match. Thursday night, Blake, Murphy and The Lucha Dragons wrestled an incredibly fun tag bout that not only showed the continued progression of the heels as in-ring competitors but also demonstrated just how good Sin Cara and Kalisto have become at overcoming fan apathy to deliver a molten hot finish.

Blake and Murphy have all the makings of a team that could be an outstanding addition to the NXT tag division. They have overcome the jobber label and continued to work hard and to develop chemistry to the point that they really should be treated as legitimate competition rather than enhancement talent.

Sin Cara and Kalisto are not quite as over as management likely wishes they would, as evidenced by the cheers Blake and Murphy got early in the match, but their ability to not let it affect them, to wrestle their match and draw the audience in, is what makes them such a strong team.

This was a strong performance by all involved.

NXT Championship Match: Adrian Neville vs. Sami Zayn

A match weeks in the making headlined this week's show as Sami Zayn challenged Adrian Neville for the NXT Championship. The match was set up perfectly with a series of highlights and video packages documenting their matchup history, and as a result, the contest very much had that big-match feel to it.

The fans were incredibly excited about the match, which saw each Superstar take control on numerous occasions. Neville countered some of Zayn's signature offense, including both the Exploder suplex and Helluvah Kick, while the former El Generico avoided the Red Arrow.

As Neville crashed to the mat, he smacked his knee and immediately grabbed hold of it. Sensing the competitor was injured, the official threw up the "X" sign, signaling to the backstage area that Neville was, indeed, hurt.

Zayn allowed himself to get suckered into Neville's act as he attempted to check on his friend, only to be rolled up and defeated, his championship aspirations once again crushed.

Result

Adrian Neville pinned Sami Zayn to retain the NXT Championship.

Highlights and Quotes

"They know each other inside and out. It's who will exploit the other that will win the match."—Alex Riley.

"In the past, Sami had self-doubt, but he believes he is a Superstar."—Jason Albert.

"There are no friends in NXT Championship matches."—Alex Riley.

Grade

A

Analysis

The brilliance of this match came in Neville repeatedly stating that Zayn could not win the big one in the weeks leading into Thursday's main event. For a guy who was so confident that he would retain his title, despite Zayn's considerable talent, he again had to stoop to actions unbecoming of a champion to leave Full Sail University with his title still around his waist.

Fans of NXT are so incredibly desperate to see Zayn win the title that they were right there along with the near-falls, eating each and every one up and making the contest seem even that much more important than it already was.

The finish almost guarantees that there will be one last battle between Zayn and Neville, likely on the December 11 NXT TakeOver special. Zayn will almost assuredly win the title on that evening, and when he does, expect one of the loudest, and most deserved, ovations in the history of NXT.

And a potential heel turn by Neville.