WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from December 4, 2014

Sami Zayn's road to redemption rolled through Full Sail University for this week's NXT, just one week out from the biggest match of the Canadian's career.

More desperate than ever to prove he's a winner, a champion, Zayn made it abundantly clear to Adrian Neville and the NXT Universe that he has no intentions of being the same lovable Sami fans have come to adore over the last year.

He is more focused than ever, while Neville has made his intentions to win by any means possible crystal clear.

Hideo Itami and Finn Balor double-stomped their way to victory over Tyler Breeze and Tyson Kidd, which not only provided the last bit of momentum for them as they prepare to clash with The Ascension but also established them as very real threats to the roster of talented individuals already established in NXT.

With the impending debut of Kevin Owens, NXT is a brand on the precipice of change.

What does the future hold for the brand? Who will champion it coming out of Takeover: R Evolution?

You will have to wait until next week's live special to find out.

In the meantime, check out everything that went down on Thursday's go-home show, including an incredible promo from the aforementioned Zayn.

Charlotte vs. Mia Yim

With a huge title defense coming up at Takeover against Sasha Banks, Charlotte kicked off this week's broadcast with a tuneup match against Indy standout Mia Yim.

Charlotte scored the victory in seconds, using Natural Selection to put Yim away.

Sasha Banks appeared and exchanged words with Charlotte before Bayley appeared and threatened the No. 1 contender. That ended with Banks knocking the injured Bayley over, catching Charlotte with the Backstabber and standing over the fallen champion to close out the show's opening segment.

Result

Charlotte pinned Mia Yim.

Highlights and Quotes

"She's really the reason Charlotte is a champion today." — Alex Riley on Sasha Banks and the history between her and the NXT Women's champion

"I have more flair than you and your little daddy combined." — Banks

Grade

D

Analysis

The feud between Charlotte and Sasha Banks is, to this point, one of the most disappointing in quite some time. Heading into Takeover, their issues are easily the least interesting thanks to mediocre booking.

This week, Charlotte won a match, Sasha Banks talked some trash and Bayley was beaten up. If that sounds familiar, it's because it is. Over the last two months, management has taken an incredibly lazy approach to booking the feud, and as a result it has been met with lackluster response.

Will Charlotte and Banks do everything they can to have a great match? Absolutely. But it is difficult to ignore the fact that the heat for their contest simply is not at the level it has been for other Divas rivalries at NXT live specials.

That is incredibly disappointing for Banks, who has been outstanding for a long time and is finally getting her opportunity to shine in a high-profile title bout.

Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy vs. The Vaudevillains

Credit: WWE.com

The constantly improving duo of Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy attempted to derail the Vaudevillains' momentum just one week before their huge tag team title match against The Lucha Dragons.

Blake caught English with a big powerslam to start but had his knee worked over by both opponents, isolated from his partner and in a fair amount of pain.

Murphy received the hot tag and mounted a tremendous comeback, nearly putting English away by pinfall.

Ultimately, it was Gotch and English who secured the victory with the Whirling Dervish, an uppercut/neckbreaker combo, on Murphy. 

Result

The Vaudevillains defeated Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake.

Highlights and Quotes

"Let's not forget that The Lucha Dragons are the only team to defeat The Vaudevillains, in the original No. 1 contender's tournament a couple months back." — Rich Brennan, making a great point that has not been played up nearly enough ahead of the upcoming title bout

Grade

B-

Analysis

The Vaudevillains may be the team that challenges The Lucha Dragons for the NXT Tag Team Championships at Takeover, but it is Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake who continue to impress each and every time they step foot inside the squared circle.

Murphy in particular raises his game with each opportunity he has to make a name for himself.

The vignettes involving English and Gotch have been pure gold and have really put over the nostalgic feel of the team.

Elias Sampson vs. Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin vs. Steve Cutler

Credit: WWE.com

Bull Dempsey attacked Elias Sampson from the moment the bell rang, finishing him off with a diving headbutt in mere seconds. 

As the victor made his way up the ramp, the lights dimmed and Baron Corbin's music played. The former Arizona Cardinal walked right past Dempsey, ignoring the other dominant force in NXT.

Just 13 seconds into his match with Steve Cutler, Corbin had recorded another victory following the punishing End of Days finisher.

Dempsey, who had been watching from the ramp, appeared unimpressed as he returned backstage.

Results

Bull Dempsey defeated Elias Sampson; Baron Corbin defeated Steve Cutler. 

Highlights and Quotes

"Talk about a face only a distant cousin would love."— Alex Riley on Dempsey

"They say competition brings out the best in people. Baron Corbin, Bull Dempsey...there's competition there." — Jason Albert

Grade

B

Analysis

At this point, Bull Dempsey is a black hole of charisma. He has no personality, nor is he supposed to, at least based on the way he has been booked to this point in NXT.

He generates little in the way of reaction but is booked like a dominant force in the brand, despite looking like a jobber from the 1980s.

Baron Corbin, on the other hand, looks and feels like a main event star in the making. He has such presence, not unlike The Undertaker, Kane or Sycho Sid before him. He is money if management can protect him and build him the correct way.

The complete destruction of Dempsey should be next on his list of accomplishments.

Hideo Itami and Finn Balor vs. Tyson Kidd and Tyler Breeze

Just one week before they battle The Ascension in one of the main events of NXT Takeover: R Evolution, Hideo Itami and Finn Balor faced a much more technically sound duo in Tyson Kidd and "Prince Pretty" Tyler Breeze.

Kidd was accompanied to the ring by Natalya, who continues to look absolutely beautiful in the Miss Elizabeth role.

Kidd and Breeze gained control of the bout after an early exchange, isolating Balor and working him over to prove they will not roll over and let the newcomers take their spots.

Itami made the hot tag and exploded into the squared circle with a flurry of offense, catching Breeze with a wicked dropkick in the corner.

The pain and punishment continued for Breeze, who suffered a vicious double stomp from Balor and a kick from Itami for the win.

Result

Finn Balor and Hideo Itami defeated Tyson Kidd and Tyler Breeze.

Highlights and Quotes

"If you ask the NXT Universe, I wouldn't say this is Tyson Kidd's yard." — Jason Albert, ignoring the fact that the fans are chanting pro-Kidd sentiments

"Sometimes it's not what you do, but how you do it." — Alex Riley, discussing the well-placed offense of Tyson Kidd in a great bit of insight from the underrated commentator

Grade

A

Analysis

The match was nowhere near the quality fans would come to expect from these four Superstars, but then again it was never meant to be. Instead, it was a showcase for Itami and Balor heading into their match with The Ascension.

Their opponents just happened to be two of the best workers in NXT, who for whatever reason are not booked on the December 11 Takeover: R Evolution show.

In that context, it worked to perfection. The babyfaces showed some outstanding intensity late in the bout, as poor Tyler Breeze was brutalized to the amusement of the fans.

Most interesting about the entire ordeal was a brief moment early, before the bell, where Tyler Breeze attempted to hold the ropes open for Natalya, drawing the ire of Kidd. If you recall, there was a promo a few weeks back in which Breeze made an offhand comment about having Nattie's number in his phone, leading Kidd to question why he would be in possession of said information.

It was never really hinted at again until Thursday's show, as Breeze tried to be gentlemanly and Kidd took exception. Could a rivalry between Kidd and Breeze over the affection of Natalya be on the horizon?

Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville Promo

Ahead of their huge NXT Championship main event, Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn met in the squared circle for a promo to close out this week's show.

Neville discussed Zayn's lack of killer instinct and its effect on his inability to capture the title. Zayn hit the ring and confronted his Takeover opponent.

Zayn admitted that the champion's comments were bugging him. As the segment progressed, he grew more and more irritable before slapping Neville and vowing to end his reign as champion.

Highlights and Quotes

"My goal will be exactly the same as it has always been: to win. To win at any cost." — Neville

"What we have stumbled upon is the fundamental difference between Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn. Whereas Adrian Neville is willing to do whatever it takes to win, Sami Zayn lacks the killer instinct necessary to be NXT champion." — Neville

"It's really starting to piss me off." — Zayn on Neville's comments

"You don't decide my fate; I do." — Zayn

"I respect you more than anyone else on this planet." — Neville

"This isn't about respect. It isn't about respect. Do you understand that?"— Zayn

"You don't get to end me. I end you and your story with that NXT Championship."— Zayn

Grade

A+

Analysis

This writer will admit that prior to this segment, the build to NXT Takeover: R Evolution had been a bit lethargic. Even the go-home show had lacked the energy one would hope for from a show hyping such an important live special event.

Then Sami Zayn displayed a side of himself that fans had never seen before, and suddenly Takeover became a must-see event once again.

From the increased intensity to the slap to the face of a largely unlikable and disingenuous Neville, Zayn proved why he is one of WWE's MVPs of 2014.

Zayn absolutely must leave next week's show with the championship or risk having his credibility ruined. He is so hot at this point that not giving him a run with the title would be a monumentally bad decision on the part of management.

Luckily, Triple H and crew do not have the same poor reputation that WWE Creative has and thus should actually do what is best for business.