WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 20, 2014

Thursday night, NXT continued its march to Takeover: Revolution with a show dedicated to Sami Zayn's obsession with capturing the heavyweight title, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch's attempts to make life a living hell for Bayley, the Vaudevillains staking their claim to a tag title opportunity and the potential feud brewing between Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin.

Oh, and Tyson Kidd wrestled CJ Parker for reasons unknown to anyone practicing common sense.

The show was another fast-paced hour of wrestling but, unlike other episodes, felt very messy. There was far too much going on and no break for the viewer to actually sit back and take it in. That none of the wrestling was particularly good did not help matters.

In what was easily the worst broadcast in quite some time, too much attention was paid to angles and story development rather than in-ring action. Typically, NXT excels at walking the fine line, which makes Thursday's broadcast an anomaly more than anything.

Still, there were definitely things to like, things to be excited about and feuds that were developed for December 11's huge prime-time special.

Who won, what segment graded highest and what did this writer have to say about it all?

Take a look for yourself.

Bayley vs. Becky Lynch

Bayley attempted to avenge Becky Lynch's betrayal from a few weeks back as she met the fiery redhead to kick off this week's show.

Lynch gained control early, but a series of ax handles to the face from Bayley appeared to turn the tide in her favor. That is, until a momentary distraction by Sasha Banks occupied the referee's attention, which allowed Lynch to use Bayley's ponytail against her and score the win with a rollup assisted by a handful of tights.

After the match, it appeared as though the heels would assault Bayley, but Charlotte made the save.

Result

Becky Lynch pinned Bayley.

Highlights and Quotes

“She let me down. I used to have a poster of her on my wall.” - A sarcastic Alex Riley on Bayley

“Rocker chick? Who are you, my dad?” - Renee Young, in response to Riley calling Lynch a rocker chick

“Charlotte is trying to keep the Divas division together. That’s her job.” - Renee

Grade

C-

Analysis

It is a shame that Bayley and Becky Lynch had their time cut, especially considering some of the uselessness that would come later in the show. Both women are extremely talented, and to see them try to rush through a match like they had to Thursday night was disappointing, to say the least. 

That nothing was added to the rivalry only hurt matters. After all, we have seen Charlotte come to the aid of Bayley in the past, and this week, the entire Divas portion of the show felt very rehashed, as has the entire division since Takeover: Fatal 4-Way.

Props to Sasha Banks, though, who continues to make the most of her push by being as unlikable as humanly possible.

"The Lucha Dragons" vs. the Vaudevillains

The Vaudevillains made their way to the ring and immediately called out Lucha Dragons, the NXT tag team champions, demanding what they feel is rightfully theirs: a title opportunity.

Instead of Kalisto and Sin Cara, though, two mini-wrestlers dressed in masks and Lucha Dragon T-shirts made their way to the ring.

As one would expect, they were picked apart by Aiden English and Simon Gotch, who, for the first time, actually acted the part of heels rather than playing to the crowd.

They dispatched the opposition in short order.

Pun most definitely intended.

Result

The Vaudevillains defeated "The Lucha Dragons."

Highlights and Quotes

“I get a little bit excited about these guys.” - Renee on the Vaudevillains

“Those are two men right there. Manly, manly, hairy men. Ah!” - Alex Riley on English and Gotch

“They’re like luchaloopas.” - Renee

Grade

D

Analysis

This did not work. At all. Most of that has to do with the fact that Lucha Dragons are simply not over enough, and their characters are not interesting enough, for fans to care if The Vaudevillains are making fun of them. Thus, Gotch and English did not get the heat they and management likely expected, and as a result, the entire ordeal fell flat.

Baron Corbin vs. Elias Sampson

Credit: WWE.com

Baron Corbin rolled into the NXT Arena and continued to look every bit the brand's next breakout star as he squared off with enhancement talent Elias Sampson.

With the fans in the stands counting as the seconds ticked by, Corbin dismantled Sampson in short order, picking up the win with the End of Days.

After the match, he made his way up the ramp, passing by Bull Dempsey, who made his way to the squared circle for the next match.

Result

Baron Corbin defeated Elias Sampson.

Highlights and Quotes

“Baron Corbin has thrashed anyone put in front of him.” - Rich Brennan

Grade

A

Analysis

From the response he gets upon his arrival to the fans counting the seconds as they pass by, Baron Corbin squashes are as fun as it gets. 

He has such a presence about him that he exudes star power. If Triple H and the rest of NXT management can follow up on it, they could have a huge breakout star on their hands. 

Bull Dempsey vs. Steve Cutler

Credit: WWE.com

Just seconds after Baron Corbin laid waste to Elias Sampson, Bull Dempsey made a beeline for the ring, walking right past Corbin and teasing tension between the dominant competitors.

While he did not defeat Steve Cutler in the same short amount of time that Dempsey did, he finished off the rookie competitor with a diving headbutt to continue his winning ways.

Result

Bull Dempsey pinned Steve Cutler.

Highlights and Quotes

“He’s just gonna get in there and beat your brains out.” - Riley on Dempsey

“We don’t have one but two monsters here at NXT.” - Riley

Grade

C

Analysis

As a match, it was nothing. Dempsey has been squashing fools since his debut months ago and has made no measurable movement up or down the card. With that said, the tease of a rivalry between him and Corbin was fun and could make for a fun rivalry.

However, "fun" and "Bull Dempsey" don't typically go hand-in-hand, so it could also mean disaster for Corbin.

CJ Parker vs. Tyson Kidd

Credit: WWE.com

Tyson Kidd recovered from his tag team loss with Justin Gabriel to Finn Balor and Hideo Itami by squaring off with CJ Parker.

Kidd completely outclassed Parker, overcoming a brief onslaught to deliver a fisherman neckbreaker and apply the Sharpshooter for the submission victory.

After the match, Kidd challenged Balor to a singles match on next week's show.

Result

Kidd defeated Parker by submission with the Sharpshooter.

Highlights and Quotes

“May the forest be with you.” - Riley on CJ Parker

“I haven’t seen him accomplish anything other than picket with the NXT Universe.” - Renee

“I don’t think they want to get on the side of either of these guys.” - Renee

“If you have what it takes, next week I will see you in this ring and you will be excellently executed. Fact.” - Kidd

Grade

C-

Analysis

The match did nothing for either competitor. Parker lost another contest, and Kidd gained nothing because he beat a guy as meaningless as NXT's resident environmentalist.

While it did serve as the setting for Kidd's challenge to Balor, that could have easily been saved for a backstage promo.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder

Credit: WWE.com

Big Cass and Enzo Amore electrified the NXT Universe, returning to the ring for the first time in weeks as they met Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder in tag team action.

Accompanied to the ring by Carmella, Amore and Cass overcame an early portion of the match that saw Dawson and Wilder isolate the smaller competitor. A hot tag to Big Cass, though, led to a comeback that ended when Cass planted Dawson with a huge boot to the face for the pinfall victory.

After the match, The Ascension attacked the victors on the ramp, tossing Cass off the ramp. Viktor and Konnor then entered the squared circle, laid out Dawson and Wilder and addressed the NXT Universe.

In particular, they made some very pointed and threatening comments to Hideo Itami and Finn Balor.

Result

Big Cass and Enzo Amore defeated Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder.

Highlights and Quotes

“We’re not the Parker Brothers, but we’ll Scrabble your head piece.” - Enzo Amore

“Scott Dawson told me he likes his opponents like he likes his hash browns: scattered, smothered and covered.” - Renee Young

“We are not dead, but the two of you very soon will be.” - Viktor to Finn Balor and Hideo Itami

Grade

B-

Analysis

The bit with The Ascension at the end of the match not only elevated the entire segment but shined a light on one of the premier rivalries in NXT—Konnor and Viktor's program with Itami and Balor.

That they re-established their dominance by beating up four men on their own was a testament to WWE Creative's determination to keep the team over with the audience, thus making the eventual win by Itami and Balor that much more impressive when the teams finally do meet up.

It is a shame Amore and Big Cass had to endure the beatdown, but it created even more heat for the villains, who may have been cheered otherwise.

Sami Zayn Addresses the NXT Universe

On the heels of another disappointing championship defeat, Sami Zayn took the ring to address the NXT Universe. Dejected, he discussed his inability to win the "big one" and questioned whether he even belonged in NXT.

After reviewing the video package that kicked off the show, he called NXT champion Adrian Neville to the ring.

Zayn requested another match against Neville, who stated his willingness to grant him a rematch...but could not because NXT general manager William Regal makes the final decisions. That response drew boos from an audience who very much believed that Neville was ducking the challenge of his "friend."

Luckily for Zayn, Regal appeared and made the match for NXT Takeover: Revolution, stating that he could not think of a better rematch.

Zayn echoed his words from earlier, promising to leave if he did not capture the title on December 11.

Highlights and Quotes

"My entire career, I thought...I knew...I had what it took to be a champion. But then I watched the video back and that proved otherwise.” - Sami Zayn

“If our friendship...or whatever’s left of it at this point...means anything, then you’ll give me one last shot.” - Zayn

“I refuse to be responsible for ending your career.” - Neville, implying he’s going to beat Zayn again

“If I can’t beat you for that, then I don’t need to be here.” - Zayn

Grade

B+

Analysis

The passion displayed by Zayn in the promo is exactly the element he needed to really put him over the top as a performer. Fans have known for a long time that he is a stellar in-ring worker, but his microphone skills have always been in doubt. He always had this niceness about him.

With anger, intensity and desperation altering his psyche, it should be fun to see how it changes the Zayn that fans know so well.

To his credit, Neville was outstanding in continuing to fake his knee injury and then peppering his so-called "friend" with thinly veiled insults.