WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from December 18, 2014

On the heels of a monumental Takeover: R Evolution special, NXT hit the WWE Network airwaves with an action-paced episode, headlined by newcomer Kevin Owens squaring off with former champion Adrian Neville.

Neville wanted to repay Owens for his shocking betrayal and brutal assault of Sami Zayn, but could he halt the former Ring of Honor standout's momentum?

Elsewhere on the card, Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin continued to play their game of one-upmanship, with each scoring decisive and dominant victories over enhancement talent.

The Ascension made amends for their loss to Hideo Itami and Finn Balor by making short work of Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady, while Becky Lynch started the post-Takeover era on the right foot, defeating Bayley in a competitive match.

With the year coming to an end, NXT appears to be hitting on all strides.

Was the brand able to build more momentum for itself?

Find out now with this in-depth look at Thursday's show.

Adrian Neville In-Ring Promo

Credit: WWE.com

Former NXT champion Adrian Neville made his way to the ring to kick off this week's show.

He admitted both defeat and that Sami Zayn deserves to be NXT champion. He wished he could introduce Zayn, but he could not, thanks to Kevin Owens. He called Owens out, and the former Ring of Honor star made his way to the ring, still showing the effects of a hard-hitting match with CJ Parker from last week.

Owens made it clear that Neville's opinions of his attack on Zayn are meaningless and challenged the former champion to a fight, walking away nonchalantly before Neville could respond.

Highlights and Quotes

"For what it's worth, it should be Sami Zayn out here right now." - Neville

"Last week, at NXT Takeover, I had the match of my career and I put in a performance I am proud of." - Neville

"At Takeover, the better man won." - Neville

"Maybe he'll explain himself, maybe he won't, but he doesn't owe an explanation to anyone as far as I'm concerned." - Corey Graves

"Shame on you, man!" - Neville, echoed by the NXT Universe

"Your opinion is absolutely irrelevant to me." - Owens

"I came here for one reason and that is to get to the absolute top." - Owens

"If you want a fight, you've got a fight." - Owens

Grade

B+

Analysis

Short, sweet and to the point, this was an excellent way to start the night's festivities.

Neville confirms that he is still a babyface, sticks up for friend Sami Zayn and admits that the new champion deserved to beat him at Takeover. Then, he denounces Owens' attack; the two have words, and a match is made for the main event without the segment running 20 minutes or overstaying its welcome.

Simple segments like this one really help NXT set itself apart from the overly scripted Raw and SmackDown. The show resembles the old territorial shows of yesteryear in that it is forced to get its point across while also maximizing every single second of television time it has.

Neville and Owens are polar opposites as characters, leaving fans to choose sides and setting up a live special-worthy bout. 

Bayley vs. Becky Lynch

As a result of last week's attack by Becky Lynch on Bayley during the Takeover Kickoff show, the recent rivals did battle in the night's opening match.

Lynch entered to new theme music and sporting new tights but found herself on the receiving end of an attack by a much more aggressive Bayley than fans are used to.

The babyface dominated the majority of the early portion of the bout until her opponent finally targeted the previously injured left knee. Bayley fought off attempts by Lynch to grab hold of the injured limb briefly, but the fiery redhead finally managed to lock her in the Four Leg Clover for the submission victory.

Result

Becky Lynch defeated Bayley by submission.

Highlights and Quotes

"Smiling and cheering doesn't mean anything when I'm losing week after week after week." - Becky Lynch in a pre-match promo

"I hope Bayley's eyes are open wide so she can see me end her career...permanently." - Lynch

"Bayley excites me." - Jason Albert

"I've got all the respect in the world for Becky Lynch, but she's as unstable as they come." - Corey Graves

Grade

B+

Analysis

Becky Lynch is one of the most talented women on the roster, so it was nice to see her finally get some much-deserved spotlight by way of a strong pre-match promo and an even more impressive in-ring performance against the always entertaining Bayley.

With the announcement that Sasha Banks will receive a rematch from Takeover on next week's show, the idea that Banks will remain the top contender to Charlotte's championship is a long shot.

That may be the opening Lynch needs to climb the ladder and enter title contention in NXT.

Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin in Action

Credit: WWE.com

Bull Dempsey was in action this week, squaring off with a local enhancement talent who was unnamed by the commentary team.

He used headbutts and other high-impact strikes to run over his opponent before finishing him off with the flying headbutt. 

As has been the case of late, the lights dimmed as Dempsey made his way up the ramp and Baron Corbin's music played. The talented big man made his way to the ring, walking right past his competitive rival, staring a hole through him as he made his way to the ring for his match.

Like Dempsey, he tore through his enhancement opponent, doing so in 14 seconds.

After the match, Dempsey shoved Corbin and ran off, a smile on his face. 

Results

Bull Dempsey pinned an enhancement talent. Baron Corbin pinned an enhancement talent.

Highlights and Quotes

"Bull Dempsey is a fan of hurting people." - Jason Albert

"He doesn't get paid by the hour." - Corey Graves

Grade

B 

Analysis

Bull Dempsey fired the first shot in the rivalry between him and Baron Corbin, shoving the former Arizona Cardinal before wisely, and cowardly, retreating.

While fans may dread the impending match between the two, there is no denying that WWE Creative has done a fine job of building both up as unstoppable forces.

Sure, Corbin is much more entertaining, with far greater upside and more of a presence, but both have been handled impressively by a writing staff that seems to understand pro wrestling far better than anyone writing Raw or SmackDown. 

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady vs. The Ascension

One week after a loss to Finn Balor and Hideo Itami, The Ascension attempted to get back on the right track as they battled Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady in tag team action.

Amore and Cassady greeted fans with their own rendition of the "Seven Days of Christmas."

A brief flurry by Amore, in an attempt to impress Carmella, backfired as he fell prey to the STO by Viktor and a pinfall loss just a minute or so into the match.

The Ascension cut a promo on Itami and Balor after the match, setting up one more match between the two somewhere down the line.

Result

The Ascension defeated Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady when Viktor pinned Amore.

Highlights and Quotes

"Rich Brennan, it's times like these that I wish real life had a mute button." - Corey Graves

"As long as the two of us are standing and there is breath in our lungs, this war is far from over." - Viktor on The Ascension's rivalry with Itami and Balor

Grade

D 

Analysis

At just about a minute long, there was no match to speak of. Worse yet is the idea that Konnor and Viktor, who are supposed to be debuting on the main roster soon, are stupid enough to pick another fight with Finn Balor and Hideo Itami.

Do they not get tired of getting beaten up?

Worse yet, a loss won't help them make the transition onto Raw and SmackDown.

Adrian Neville vs. Kevin Owens

Adrian Neville was a ball of energy right out of the gate. Sensing this and realizing he was less than 100 percent while nursing a broken nose, Owens repeatedly bailed out of the ring before catching a frustrated Neville with a big clothesline to the back of the head.

An arrogant and dominant Owens not only wore Neville down but did so while talking trash. The former NXT champion was completely outmatched by a determined Owens throughout most of the match until a huge kick to the head stunned the new villain on the block.

A running uppercut and a series of kicks by Neville left Owens reeling, and a springboard dropkick had the ex-champ on the verge of a huge victory. A huge senton by Owens halted Neville's momentum.

Owens' nasty spike DDT should have put Neville down for the count, but the resilient competitor fought back, destroying Owens with a German suplex and landing a beautiful tigersault over the top rope and onto Owens.

Unfortunately, the heel sent the surging hero into the steel post, and a double countout ended the bout.

Owens left Neville lying with the apron powerbomb, drawing a chorus of boos and claims by the commentary team that he has no respect for the NXT stars. 

Result

Adrian Neville and Kevin Owens fought to a double countout.

Highlights and Quotes

"Would Neville have been so upset with what Owens did if he hadn't lost the NXT Championship?" - Corey Graves

"Nothing I do makes me shameful." - Owens

"This is Neville we're talking about. He's anything but a joke." - Rich Brennan, in response to Owens talking trash to Neville while fighting him

Grade

A

Analysis

The match between Owens and Neville was a phenomenal choice to headline the first NXT after Takeover, and neither performer disappointed. 

It was a tremendously hard-hitting match, with an easy story to follow. Owens, believing he was the best, dominated Neville early but was cocky, and it nearly cost him. A well-timed use of the steel post and a vicious powerbomb onto the ring apron left him with a moral victory, if nothing else.

Owens is the perfect villain for NXT, even if half of the audience cheers him and his arrival to the company. The brand has long had strong babyfaces, but now it has a performer capable of being the heel that an entire broadcast is built around.

Not unlike NXT architect Triple H was once upon a time.