WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 14, 2015

WWE NXT wasted little time demonstrating why it is the best wrestling show on television, regardless of whether it is on Wednesday or Thursday night, with a phenomenal broadcast headlined by Sami Zayn defending his NXT Championship against Adrian Neville.

The two delivered a classic at Takeover: R Evolution, and expectations were reasonably high for the rematch.

Zayn and Neville did not disappoint.

Elsewhere on the program, Finn Balor battled Tyson Kidd in singles competition to kick off the evening's festivities. One look at the talent involved would seem to indicate an extraordinary contest.

They, too, would not disappoint.

After weeks of dominating the opposition, Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin faced off in singles match. Rounding out the card was Divas tag action pitting Charlotte and Natalya against Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch.

The most electric brand in WWE delivered another can't-miss show.

For all that went down, including grades and analysis for each match, click the little "next" button to the right.

Finn Balor vs. Tyson Kidd

Wasting no time this week, the show kicked off with Tyson Kidd battling Finn Balor in singles competition.

Balor delivered a huge dropkick and tried for the double stomp, but Kidd rolled out of the way. Balor dominated the action early, delivering a chop that knocked the former WWE tag team champion off his feet.

A missed baseball slide allowed Kidd to use Balor's momentum against him, sending him crashing spine-first into the guardrail.

Kidd wore down his opponent, slowing the pace and keeping the international star grounded.

The heel wore Balor down with a headlock but was taken down by a Pele Kick, igniting a comeback attempt from Balor. 

A huge dive over the top rope took Kidd out, leading to a sickening thud on the entrance ramp.

Kidd delivered a huge kick to the face, followed by a springboard elbow drop that nearly won him the match. He followed up with the Sharpshooter, a move that always draws a nice reaction. Balor fought through the pain to make it to the ropes as "this is awesome" chants broke out inside the arena.

With renewed energy, Balor planted Kidd and finished him off with a top-rope double stomp to the back of the head.

Result

Finn Balor defeated Tyson Kidd.

Highlights and Quotes

"On Wednesdays, I like to do my 'Woman Crush Wednesday,' and like always, it goes out to Joey Mercury of J&J Security." -Renee Young

"It's a little one-sided right now." -Young

"We've gotten to the point in NXT where matches are being dedicated to cats!" -Alex Riley on Kidd dedicating the bout to his pets

"This is the type of competitor that, as soon as he comes through the curtain, you know you're going to see something special." -Riley

Grade

A

Analysis

Courtesy of Finn Balor and Tyson Kidd, the opening match of the night introduced any new members of the audience to a stellar in-ring product right off the bat.

Kidd was one of the MVPs of NXT in 2014, while Balor is a relative newcomer who has captured the imagination of the audience thanks in large part to theatrics and superb ring work.

Kidd losing here does not hurt him since he has earned the respect of the NXT Universe. His antics and character development over the last year have rendered him bulletproof in the eyes of the NXT faithful, and he will remain over regardless.

For Balor, it gives him another major victory as he looks to climb the ranks of singles competition after weeks spent teaming with Hideo Itami.

Baron Corbin vs. Bull Dempsey

After weeks of silent encounters turned to physical brawls, Baron Corbin and Bull Dempsey battled it out in a match of the undefeated NXT Superstars.

An old-school brawl ensued with the ringing of the bell. The two heavyweights unleashed on each other with clubbing blows. The action spilled outside the ring for a moment before returning to the squared circle.

Dempsey gained the early advantage, bowling over Corbin and trying for the diving headbutt. It failed, however, as Corbin rolled out of the way and delivered End of Days to pick up the monumental victory.

Result

Baron Corbin pinned Bull Dempsey.

Highlights and Quotes

"You can expect to see Baron lying on his back, looking up at the last of a dying breed." -Bull Dempsey in a pre-match backstage promo

"He's a beast, he's been nothing but dominant. I'm going with Corbin." -Renee Young, making her pick for the match

"I don't know how he even had the strength to get a 300-plus pound guy up for the End of Days." -Alex Riley

"I think Baron Corbin just cemented a great position within NXT." -Young

Grade

B 

Analysis

This is exactly what it had to be.

For a minute or two, the behemoths exploded on each other with thunderous strikes before Corbin capitalized on an opening, grabbed hold of Dempsey, and scored the win.

Corbin was the right choice here, as he clearly demonstrates more camera presence and natural charisma than Dempsey, who is about as bland as his ring tights.

Something tells me this will not be the end of the story between these two, even if the prospects for a good match are nowhere near promising.

Charlotte and Natalya vs. Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks

Credit: WWE.com

The never-ending rivalry between Charlotte and Sasha Banks continued this week. The NXT women's champion teamed with Natalya to battle Banks and Becky Lynch.

Natalya and Lynch chain wrestled to start the match, with the Queen of Harts frustrating Lynch to the point that she delivered a cheap shot before bailing out of the ring. A double baseball slide by the babyfaces helped them keep momentum in their favor.

A double vertical suplex by Natalya and Charlotte furthered the torment endured by Lynch.

Banks tagged in, and things changed little. Natalya delivered a dropkick for two.

The Boss gained control of the contest for the first time, using a double knee to the midsection of Natalya to seize momentum.

Charlotte was the recipient of the hot tag and wasted little time taking it to Banks. A neckbreaker should have won the match for the women's champion, but Lynch broke the cover up.

Seconds later, Banks delivered a neckbreaker of her own and pinned the champion to put herself back in title contention. 

Result

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte and Natalya. 

Highlights and Quotes

"Are there two more genetically gifted Superstars here in NXT?" -Alex Riley on Natalya and Charlotte

"Those two are intertwined whether they like it or not. Better off backing each other up." -Renee Young on the babyfaces

Grade

B-

Analysis

There was nothing inherently wrong with the match, but there was nothing extraordinary about it to warrant a higher grade.

The exchange between Natalya and Becky Lynch early in the match has this writer wondering what the two of them could do with more time, but otherwise, this was essentially the same Divas tag match that fans have watched for the last few months. 

NXT Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Adrian Neville

In the rematch of their Takeover: R Evolution classic, Sami Zayn defended the NXT Championship against Adrian Neville in this week's main event.

Neville came out of the initial exchange with the upper hand, delivering a standing headscissors and catching Zayn off guard.

Zayn grabbed hold of a headlock, attempting to ground Neville. A big dropkick put Neville down for a quick one count, something that frustrated the former champion and led to a shove. Zayn responded with a hard forearm to the side of the face, which drew praise from commentator Alex Riley.

A dive over the top rope took Zayn out at ringside and put the proverbial ball in the court of Neville.

After the break, Neville delivered a vicious running uppercut to the face. Another headscissors nearly won the title back for the challenger.

Nevile countered a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt with a series of elbows to the back of the head, but Zayn caught him with the move seconds later anyway.

The challenger landed on his feet out of a suplex attempt and caught Zayn with a forearm. Moments later, he nearly scored the pin with a dramatic near-fall.

The referee checked on Zayn, who ordered that the match not be stopped.

Moments later, the champion tried for the diving DDT through the ropes that he typically pulls out in the biggest of matches, but Neville scouted it, delivering a big kick to the face. He tried for the Red Arrow, but Zayn rolled out of the way.

An Exploder Suplex and the Helluva Kick won the match for Zayn and ensured that he retained the title.

Kevin Owens attacked after the match, delivering a big powerbomb to the champion and standing with his foot over the throat of his former friend. He kicked the NXT title in Zayn's direction and looked at a fallen Zayn to close out the broadcast.  

Result

Sami Zayn pinned Adrian Neville.

Highlights and Quotes

"Don't lose sight of the fact that Adrian Neville has pulled some dirty tactics, too." -Renee Young

"Look how good that NXT Championship looks on that Sami Zayn!" -Young

"I think what's going through his mind is, 'I hope I don't lose the title in my first defense.'" -Alex Riley on Sami Zayn

"I don't know where I am after watching that." -Young

"Created a moment that makes you want to live forever." -Riley on Zayn's victory

Grade

A+

Analysis

Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville have chemistry that few Superstars will ever have. It is the same type of chemistry that made nearly every Steamboat-Flair bout a classic, every Rock-Austin match a must-see event and every Benoit-Angle contest destination viewing.

When Zayn and Neville share the ring, fans can rest assured that what they witness will be worth the price of admission alone.

Wednesday night, they waged war in another absolutely fantastic match that saw both men counter each other's signature move set to the point that no one really knew how one would beat the other.

But then it happened.

Neville got caught, suplexed and kicked square in the face to end his night and extend Zayn's title reign.

The post-match assault by Kevin Owens was somewhat generic in that he simply powerbombed Zayn before walking away to a chorus of boos. At the same time, it continues to the budding rivalry without overshadowing the near-classic.