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

One week out from NXT's next live event special, the top stars and Divas of the brand looked to make a final impact on viewers.

In the night's main event, Hideo Itami and Finn Balor wowed the NXT Universe with a phenomenal bout that wound up determining who would go to the final round of the No. 1 contender's tournament. Joining the winner of their match would be the winner of Adrian Neville vs. Baron Corbin.

Would Neville earn a spot in the finals, or would Corbin add to his impressive win-loss record with a win over the former NXT champion?

Ahead of their shot at the women's title next week, Bayley and Becky Lynch battled for the chance to gain momentum heading into the huge Fatal 4-Way match.

With Sasha Banks and Charlotte in the building, it was only a matter of time before they made their presence felt.

Would it come at the expense of one of the competitors?

Fans had the table set nicely for them ahead of next week's NXT TakeOver: Rival.

Take a look at what the brand presented when it invaded the WWE Network Wednesday night.

Emma vs. Carmella

Credit: WWE.com

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady got the crowd hot to kick off the show and introduced Carmella for her opening contest. Carmella did her normal shtick, responding to chants of " we want Blue Pants" by claiming Blue Pants had gone back to the clearance rack. She talked trash on Emma as the crowd greeted her with something less than enthusiasm.

The match itself lasted less than two minutes, with Carmella using her head scissors to put away the infinitely more talented Emma by submission.

Result

Carmella defeated Emma by submission.

Grade

D-

Analysis

Triple H and the NXT brass are going to have to seriously contemplate whether or not to keep Carmella with Enzo Amore and Big Cass. That team is incredibly over with the NXT Universe, but Carmella is not, drawing boos from the audience.

As it turns out, being the "hottest chick in the ring" does not earn you the respect of the fans. To this point, the relative newcomer has not wrestled a match long enough (or endeared herself to the audience with her abrasive personality) that anyone wants to support her on her rise to the top of the NXT Divas division.

No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Adrian Neville vs. Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin's undefeated streak faced its biggest challenge Wednesday night when he battled former NXT champion Adrian Neville in the semifinal round of the No. 1 contender's tournament.

Unfortunately, fans may never know exactly how the match would have turned out had Bull Dempsey not interfered.

Despite a performance by Corbin that seemed to point toward the former Arizona Cardinal heading to the finals, catching Neville and dropping him across the guardrail late in the match, it was Dempsey's interference and his shoving of his rival into the steel post that ultimately set Corbin up for the Red Arrow and his first pinfall defeat since returning as a singles star.

Result

Adrian Neville pinned Baron Corbin.

Grade

C

Analysis

Corbin looked excellent here, hanging with Neville throughout a match that almost lasted six minutes. Unfortunately, the finish really hampered what could have been an otherwise solid match.

Worse yet, it takes Corbin's undefeated streak and sacrifices it when it would have made much more sense to preserve said win-loss record until a major live special, where the match would have significantly more meaning.

To cap it all off, Corbin now is set up for another match with Dempsey despite thoroughly dominating him twice before.

Neville winning was the right decision. The former champion should definitely be competing in the finals of the tournament.

There were much better ways to get there than by sacrificing Corbin, though.

Bailey vs. Becky Lynch

Ahead of the Fatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship next week, Bayley battled Becky Lynch in Divas action Wednesday.

Lynch took control early, wearing Bayley down with a series of leg drops before covering for a count of two. She worked over the previously injured knee of Bayley as the crowd tried to get the fan favorite back into the match.

Bayley mounted a comeback after a brief distraction from Sasha Banks, who made her way to the ringside area. She snapped, turning her attention to the knee, very much in the same manner that Lynch once attacked hers.

She locked in a single-leg Boston Crab, but Lynch was able to grab hold of the bottom rope, breaking the hold.

Banks rolled Lynch back into the squared circle, where Bayley finished her off with a Belly-to-Bayley.

Result

Bayley pinned Becky Lynch.

Grade

B+

Analysis

As a segment putting over next week's women's title match, this more than did its job.

The interaction between Banks and Lynch put over the "every woman for herself" mentality, Bayley's win legitimized her as a favorite to capture the title, and Charlotte's appearance, well, reminded everyone that she is the champion and the standard-bearer of the division at this point.

Harmless fun.

No. 1 Contender's Match: Hideo Itami vs. Finn Balor

Tag team partners and friends battled for the right to square off with Adrian Neville in the No. 1 contender's tournament when Finn Balor and Hideo Itami waged war in the night's main event.

To try to provide play-by-play for this contest would prove futile.

The world-class competitors chain-wrestled early, and they then took turns showcasing their considerable athleticism.

Reversals and counters reigned supreme while the commentary team discussed with Adrian Neville his preparation for next week's bout and the psychology behind such an important match.

Late in the match, the competitors traded chops before a running knee nearly ended Balor's night. Itami teased the GTS, but Balor escaped.

Ultimately, Balor delivered the Sling Blade, a corner dropkick and the double stomp from the top rope to score the pinfall win.

The competitors showed respect and sportsmanship, shaking hands after the phenomenal contest.

Result

Finn Balor pinned Hideo Itami.

Grade

A

Analysis

"Better than Raw!"

The NXT fans got that right.

This match was everything fans had hoped it would be. It was hard-hitting and impactful. More importantly, it featured outstanding professional wrestling from two of the very best international stars in the industry.

Itami turned in his best performance to date, while Balor continued to prove why he, along with Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville and Kevin Owens, are rapidly turning the NXT brand into one of the most must-see shows in the sport.

While much has been made about the Zayn-Owens match at TakeOver, Balor vs. Neville is the type of match that could steal the show and present WWE with its second Match of the Year candidate in a month.