WWE NXT Takeover III Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

Sami Zayn's journey to the NXT Championship led to Thursday night's Takeover: R Evolution pay-per-view, which aired exclusively on the WWE Network. To attain the championship glory that he has so desperately chased over the last year, he had to defeat the man that no other NXT Superstar has been able to dethrone: Adrian Neville.

Despite coming up short on so many occasions, Zayn felt confident enough in his abilities that he put his career at stake. Had he failed to wrest the title from Neville, he would have stepped away from the business that he devoted his life to.

With the stakes higher than ever, the two stars took to the squared circle for the most anticipated match in NXT history.

Who left with the title in his hands?

Fans got their answer Thursday and watched as Charlotte defended her women's title against Sasha Banks, Finn Balor and Hideo Itami battled The Ascension and Kevin Owens made his debut in NXT.

For everything that went down during the developmental brand's latest live special, here is a look now at the grades, results, highlights and moments from Takeover: R Evolution. 

Kevin Owens vs. CJ Parker

Credit: WWE.com

After weeks of hype, Kevin Owens made his in-ring debut at NXT Takeover: R Evolution, taking to the squared circle as chants of "fight, Owens, fight" rained down. His opponent for the night? The eco-friendly CJ Parker, who likely wished he was anywhere but at Full Sail University.

Owens dismantled Parker in a largely noncompetitive match, using vicious clotheslines and a pumphandle shoulder breaker to soften him up and a big powerbomb to finish him off.

Result

Kevin Owens pinned CJ Parker.

Highlights and Quotes

"That has to be the most intense couple of minutes I've seen in this business." - Rich Brennan

"If that doesn't show you that Kevin Owens belongs here, I don't know what does." - Brennan

Grade

B+

Analysis

As a match, Owens vs. Parker was nothing special. But it was not meant to be, either. It was merely a showcase for Owens to destroy someone, thus introducing himself to the fans in the most impressive fashion possible.

His nose bloodied in the process, Owens looked like a destructive force to be dealt with and someone guaranteed to make an impact at the top of the card sooner than later.

NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Lucha Dragons vs. The Vaudevillains

Credit: WWE.com

After weeks of pretaped video packages and in-ring segments portraying the tag champions Lucha Dragons as minis, The Vaudevillains arrived to Full Sail University for their NXT Tag Team Championship match against Sin Cara and Kalisto.

Unfortunately for Simon Gotch and Aiden English, their night would not go according to plan, despite isolating Sin Cara and punishing the main roster star for the majority of the bout.

A hot tag to Kalisto caused a breakdown in the action, with both babyfaces diving over the top rope. English took the brunt of the impact, while Kalisto finished off Gotch seconds later with the Salida Del Sol, retaining the titles for him and Sin Cara.

Result

Lucha Dragons defeated The Vaudevillains to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Highlights and Quotes

"Manners do not win championships." - Corey Graves

"It's only cheating if you get caught." - Graves

Grade

C

Analysis

There was nothing inherently wrong with Thursday's tag title bout, but there was nothing outstanding about it either. In fact, it was not any better than some of the tag matches that fans have come to expect from the brand on its weekly television show.

The fans' reactions to English and Gotch were outstanding, and they clearly enjoy the Vaudevillains act far more than the generic Lucha Dragons. With that said, management seems intent on continuing to push the dynamite Kalisto and Sin Cara for the time being.

Baron Corbin vs. Tye Dillinger

Credit: WWE.com

Baron Corbin has been one of the young stars of NXT to reach potential breakout status since his re-emergence at NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way. Thursday night, he continued his destruction of the NXT roster by running over one-half of a tremendously athletic tag team.

Bull Dempsey watched from ringside as Corbin dismantled and demolished Tye Dillinger with End of Days in a longer-than-usual 39 seconds.

Result

Baron Corbin pinned Tye Dillinger.

Highlights and Quotes

"Baron Corbin doesn't say much but he doesn't have to." - Corey Graves

Grade

D

Analysis

It is clear that we are heading toward a match between Baron Corbin and Bull Dempsey as NXT looks to crown its undisputed unstoppable force. Corbin, at this point, is such an engaging and interesting character that one cannot help but hope he brings Dempsey's undefeated streak to an end.

NXT management must be careful, though. Continuously booking Corbin in squash matches against jobbers does little to help his credibility. Eventually, he is going to have to beat someone of note.

When he does, he can finally make real strides toward the top of NXT.

Finn Balor and Hideo Itami vs. The Ascension

Credit: WWE.com

The most physically intense rivalry entering Takeover: R Evolution was the war between former NXT tag team champions The Ascension and international stars—and newcomers to WWE developmental—Hideo Itami and Finn Balor.

After weeks of brutalizing each other, the two teams battled in one of the night's marquee bouts.

Balor entered the arena to a brand-new entrance, complete with beating light, smoke and face paint reminiscent of that which he sported during his time in Japan. As soon as he and Itami hit the ring, a brawl broke out. Eventually, things settled down into a more traditional tag bout, with Konnor and Viktor of the Ascension isolating Itami.

The hot tag to Balor elicited a roar from the crowd, as did Itami's attempt at a GTS. That was broken up, but a dual double stomp secured the victory for the babyfaces.

Result

Finn Balor and Hideo Itami defeated The Ascension.

Highlights and Quotes

"I have heard of creativity, but I didn't think we would see it to this extent." - Corey Graves on Balor

"The anarchy in this room right now is through the roof." - Rich Brennan

"Get that entrance trending somehow." - Riley

Grade

B

Analysis

The match did not meet the quality of the two that followed it, but it was still a great look at the talents of all four men involved.

The Ascension has been biding time before a jump to the main roster, and with that coming sooner than later, this may have well been the last time we see Konnor and Viktor in an NXT ring. If it was, they went out the right way, putting over Balor and Itami like the world-beaters that they are.

On a side note, how about that reaction for the teased GTS by Itami? While it will always be associated with CM Punk, it was the Japanese star's invention. It should be interesting to see if he is allowed the opportunity to use it as his finisher going forward.

NXT Women's Championship Match: Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks

Credit: WWE.com

Charlotte's rise to the top of NXT came as part of the BFFs with Sasha Banks. Championship glory, as it has with many friends, came between the two Divas and set them on a collision course.

Entering Thursday's broadcast, Banks appeared to have the upper hand, rolling into Takeover: R Evolution with momentum on her side. But Charlotte, a second-generation Diva, did not get to the top of the women's division in NXT by folding when confronted with the challenge of a fierce rival.

With her championship on the line, Charlotte overcame a brash, cocky challenger who used her own signature offense against her to emerge victorious and with her title intact following the Natural Selection from the top rope.

Chants of "this is awesome" greeted the women, who proved doubters of their talents wrong in spectacular fashion. 

Result

Charlotte pinned Sasha Banks.

Highlights and Quotes

"That's what you have to have; a mean streak like that. Good for her." - Alex Riley on Sasha Banks

"Using your own moves against you. It shows you there is no respect for the champion." - Riley 

Grade

A

Analysis

In the wake of Charlotte's match against Natalya for the vacant NXT Women's Championship back at the first Takeover, there was a great deal of hype centered on the daughter of the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. To say this writer did not buy that hype—that I attributed the greatness of that match to the underrated Natalya—would be an understatement.

Thursday night, Charlotte proved me wrong, delivering another outstanding performance against Sasha Banks, who may be the most underappreciated woman on the entire roster.

The two women had a legitimate wrestling match that set aside story, for the most part, and focused on in-ring action. And that in-ring action was outstanding, showcasing the talent of both women.

Charlotte will have a long and prosperous future ahead on the main roster, and if Takeover: R Evolution taught us anything, Banks should, as well.

NXT Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Adrian Neville

Credit: WWE.com

Sami Zayn's road to redemption culminated Thursday night with his match against Adrian Neville for the NXT Championship. The bout was easily the most anticipated of the entire broadcast and, for those faithful NXT fans, one of the most anxiously awaited of the year.

"Ole!" chants rained from the stands, establishing Zayn as the overwhelming crowd favorite. Neville, the picture of confidence, seemed to bask in the disdain from the NXT Universe.

Zayn took control early, using a springboard moonsault to the floor to wipe Neville out. 

Neville applied a sleeper and then followed up with a nasty running uppercut to score a two-count, wresting control from Zayn. A big knee drop to the face further put the challenger at a disadvantage.

Zayn exploded over the top rope with a running plancha, mounting a comeback. A high cross body block scored a two-count for him. The crowd rose to its feet following a near-fall off the blue thunder bomb from the challenger.

The champion, not to be outdone, delivered another of his wicked uppercuts to take back the upper hand.

Both competitors exchanged hard right hands as the crowd came unglued. A nasty lariat clothesline turned Neville inside out, but a missed Helluvah Kick led to a Red Arrow attempt by Neville. He caught nothing but knees, and Zayn applied the Koji Clutch.

"Tap! Tap! Tap!" the crowd demanded, but the champion denied them of their happy ending by draping his foot over the bottom rope. A head-to-head collision between Neville and the official threatened Zayn's title hunt, but he kicked out of a reverse headscissors at two.

Neville dodged a second Helluvah Kick attempt but could not duck out of the way of a tornado DDT onto the arena floor. Back inside the squared circle, Zayn finally delivered his finisher, but Neville had pulled the official in between him and the charging challenger.

After wrestling with the decision to blast Neville with the NXT title or not, Zayn tossed the title aside, delivered a huge exploder suplex into the corner and finished Neville's title reign off with the Helluvah Kick.

The NXT Arena erupted into a huge ovation as Zayn celebrated his much-deserved championship victory. Kevin Owens made his way to the ring and embraced his best friend, followed by the rest of the NXT roster. Even Pat Patterson, long a defender of guys who could bring it from bell-to-bell, joined in.

Neville returned to the ring and confronted Zayn. The opponents hugged in a sign of sportsmanship and respect.

Just as it looked like NXT fans would be left with the happy ending they waited so long for, Owens shoved Zayn down on the ramp and then delivered a vicious powerbomb into the ring apron, leaving William Regal and medics to check on the new champion.

Result

Sami Zayn pinned Adrian Neville to win the NXT Championship.

Highlights and Quotes

"Is this the last time that Sami Zayn answers the bell here in NXT?" - Rich Brennan

"I don't think I've ever seen the crowd turn on Adrian Neville like that." - Alex Riley

"As much as this match is Sami Zayn vs. Adrian Neville, it is Sami Zayn vs. himself." - Corey Graves

"Now is not the time for morals." - Graves

Grade

A+

Analysis

Longtime fans have waited, somewhat patiently, for the moment that Sami Zayn would finally capture the NXT Championship, and Thursday night, they got their moment. As is the case with everything WWE does, the celebration was extraordinary as the locker room emptied to show respect to Zayn.

The twist involving Owens was perfectly done as no one expected it, especially after the tearful embrace between the two just moments earlier. For two guys who have been so closely associated for so much of their careers, it was only a matter of time before they ended up working with each other.

Who knew, then, that it would be so soon?

Regardless, the actions of Owens instantly freshen up the main event scene in NXT and give fans an intensely personal program for the title unlike any they have ever seen.

From the match to the celebration to the shocking conclusion, this was easily one of the best half-hours of WWE programming all year.