WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 25

With all eyes on World Wrestling Entertainment just days before its WrestleMania spectacular, NXT again tried to prove why it is the best sports entertainment product around, presenting a huge main event between heavyweight champion Kevin Owens and Finn Balor on Wednesday's broadcast.

The contest had been weeks in the making, dating back to NXT Takeover: Rival, where Balor defeated Adrian Neville in an outstanding match to become No. 1 contender and Owens dominated Sami Zayn to win the title.

After weeks of anticipation and the steady intensification of their rivalry, the elite in-ring performers clashed for the right to call themselves the brand's best.

NXT women's champion Sasha Banks was also in action on Wednesday night, defending her title against the adorable top contender, Alexa Bliss. Would the relative newcomer, still in her first full year of in-ring competition, be able to end The Boss' championship reign?

Fans got their answer, exclusively on the WWE Network.

Now, find out everything that went down during this week's show, complete with grades and analysis.

NXT Women's Champion Sasha Banks Defeats Alexa Bliss

One week after picking up a hometown, count-out victory over Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss entered Full Sail University in Orange County, Florida riding a wave of momentum, attempting to make it 2-0 over The Boss and take her NXT Women's Championship in the process.

Unfortunately for the former fitness model, Banks was able to overcome Bliss' flashy offense and burning desire to wear championship gold to trap her in the Bank Statement and force a tapout, successfully retaining her title by submission.

The contest was proof of Banks' talent as a heel.

Despite having the support of the NXT Universe, which respects her as a performer, she was able to turn the crowd against her in favor of the plucky underdog Bliss, who deserves credit for filling her role as the underdog babyface as effectively as she does.

This was a much better match than the one that aired a week ago, proving that Bliss may need further seasoning as an in-ring talent, but the foundation is certainly there.

As for Banks, she is clearly the most talented of the female performers on the NXT roster and, perhaps, the most main-roster-ready at this point.

Grade: B

A New Attitude for Emma

On Wednesday night, Emma returned to NXT, confronting Bayley and warning her about the lie that is the NXT Universe.

See, after rising to notoriety as one of the most popular stars in the NXT Arena, she was promoted to the main roster only to see all of her momentum erased. She lost more than she won and wallowed in mediocrity.

Bayley refused to believe Emma's claims about the fans and wound up receiving a hard slap to the face.

The development of the Emma character is incredibly interesting. It is based in reality and could work for the likes of Adam Rose and The Ascension as well, all of whom had their growth stunted when called up to Raw and SmackDown.

Better yet is the use of Bayley to get the character over. Barring Zayn, no one has a stronger connection with fans than the popular Diva, and defending them against an Emma emotionally ruined by what she sees as a betrayal by those very same fans is a bit of brilliant booking by those in charge of NXT Creative.

Grade: A

Dissension Between Carmella, Enzo and Big Cass?

The latest chapter in the story involving NXT tag team champions Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake, Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady, and Carmella unfolded on Wednesday night as the titleholders presented the Princess of Staten Island with jewelry.

The show of attention instantly made the rookie Diva question why her associates had never bought her anything, leading to teased dissension among the babyfaces.

Carmella has been treated like a heel by the NXT Universe to this point, so why not capitalize on it? She has demonstrated the type of attitude that would suggest she would be swayed by possessions, so it makes sense that the heel champions would try to manipulate her with shiny gifts.

This was a short, sweet development that could very well have long-lasting effects as the brand prepares for yet another Takeover special in the coming months.

Grade: B+

NXT Champion Kevin Owens Defeats Finn Balor

Half of Wednesday's show was devoted to the war over the NXT Championship bout between Owens and Balor, and rightfully so.

Two of the best in-ring workers in all of WWE, regardless of placement on the roster, Owens and Balor delivered a 30-minute near-classic that would have been an instant Match of the Year candidate had it not been for a somewhat slow start.

After such a physically grueling war, an injured knee prevented Balor from ascending the ropes and delivering the Coup de Grace that would have netted him the championship.

Owens was able to recover, deliver his devastating powerbomb and score the pinfall win.

The quality of the match was incredibly high. In fact, it was a bout that could have easily appeared on Sunday's WrestleMania pay-per-view and not looked out of place.

That is a testament to both Owens and Balor, who worked years to establish themselves in the independent circuit, competing all over the world before earning the opportunity to compete for the biggest company in the business.

Owens is steadily developing into one of the most intriguing characters in the industry, while Balor again proved that he could debut on the main roster tomorrow and instantly achieve success if given a legitimate chance.

This was an outstanding way to end another stellar broadcast—one that sets the stage for the weeks to come.

Most of all, it continued to establish Owens as an unstoppable force atop NXT, the first great heel the brand has had in quite some time.

Grade: A+