WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 22

Alex Riley sought one more shot at redemption Wednesday night as he battled Kevin Owens in the main event.

Humbled but not broken, Riley looked to make up for the disappointing outcome of his in-ring return by knocking off the NXT champion. But it was not the former analyst that Owens had to worry about. No, as fans would find out by night's end, that would be his one-time friend turned bitter enemy, Sami Zayn.

Elsewhere on the show, the NXT Women's Championship picture became clearer as Becky Lynch, Bayley and Charlotte fought for the right to challenge Sasha Banks at a later date. By night's end, it would be unmatched resourcefulness from one performer that would net them the victory.

Finn Balor and Hideo Itami were also in action this week, each looking to set himself up in contention for a shot at Owens' title.

How did they fare?

Take a look for yourself with this week's NXT recap.

Finn Balor vs. Tye Dillinger

Finn Balor looked to get back on the winning track Wednesday as he battled Tye Dillinger.

Unfortunately for Dillinger, the Irish-born Superstar was hellbent on making up for the defeat he suffered at the hands of Kevin Owens, squashing the veteran in-ring competitor with the Coup de Grace. 

Result

Finn Balor defeated Tye Dillinger.

Grade

C

Analysis

After dropping his NXT Championship match to Owens a few weeks back, Balor rebounded this week by putting away Dillinger with the Coup de Grace.

A win over Dillinger really does nothing to enhance Balor's spot on the roster, but it does help rebuild some of the momentum he saw erased via his last defeat.

Dillinger, for as solid a worker as he is, is dead in the water at this point, and his loss here only further established him as the most talented jobber in NXT.

This was as close to an old-school television beatdown between an established star and enhancement talent as it gets.

No. 1 Contender's Match: Charlotte vs. Bayley vs. Becky Lynch

With Sasha Banks reigning over the Divas division of NXT, Charlotte, Bayley and Becky Lynch battled for the right to be her next challenger in Wednesday's Triple Threat match.

Borrowing the best elements from some of the great three-way bouts in WWE history, the ladies delivered another stellar contest.

Late in the contest, Charlotte trapped Bayley in the Figure Eight leglock. Unfortunately, by doing so, she restricted her own view, keeping her from noticing that Becky Lynch had draped her arm over a fading Bayley and scored the pinfall victory. 

Result

Becky Lynch defeated Bayley and Charlotte in a No. 1 Contender's match.

Grade

A

Analysis

NXT treats its women like wrestlers, not Divas, and that allows them to continuously put on outstanding matches. The spots were cool and original, particularly the finish, and Lynch was quickly established as a very real threat to Banks' title.

Their history with each other, including their recent partnership and friendship, should help fuel the match. Whether the fans choose to support Lynch or the Boss of NXT remains to be seen, but the resulting match should be something special, especially if the workers can replicate the action that the three women in Wednesday night's bout did.

Hideo Itami vs. CJ Parker

Credit: WWE.com

Hideo Itami continued his upward momentum, while CJ Parker descended further into NXT obscurity Wednesday night.

Itami withstood minimal offense to fight back, deliver the delayed corner suplex and the Shotgun Kick to secure the pinfall victory.

Result

Hideo Itami defeated CJ Parker.

Grade

 C

Analysis

So last week was not Parker's swan song in NXT, but this week should be.

The environmentally conscience Parker fell in defeat at the hands of Hideo Itami, and never before has it been more apparent that any plans Triple H and NXT Creative may have had for the Superstar had evaporated.

Itami appears to be picking up steam, especially after his WrestleMania adventure, and could be poised to enter the NXT Championship picture in the coming weeks.

Rhyno vs. Jobber

Credit: WWE.com

Rhyno returned to action Wednesday night, determined to make up for his recent loss to Sami Zayn.

His opponent wishes he had not.

The Gore ended the unnamed enhancement talent's night on a painful note.

Result

Rhyno pinned a jobber.

Grade

D

Analysis

Well...this reminded us that Rhyno is still around and still a threat to anyone around him.

Judging from the squash, perhaps a showdown with Baron Corbin is right around the corner. Come to think of it, that may not be such a bad idea for either of them at this point.

Either way, this was what it was.

Alex Riley vs. Kevin Owens

The rivalry between Riley and Owens bled into another episode of NXT as, apparently, the Analyst of NXT has not yet become tired of getting beat up.

Riley put up a fight early but found himself in the clutches of Owens in a contest that felt very much like deja vu.

The former commentator managed to mount a comeback late in the bout, but an attempt at a high-risk maneuver found him crotched in the corner and the recipient of the cannonball splash. The powerbomb finished it for Owens.

After the match, Zayn attacked Owens, taking security out with a top-rope dive and allowing Owens to escape to end the broadcast. 

Result

Kevin Owens defeated Alex Riley.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The rivalry between Zayn and Owens is alive and well if the conclusion of this week's show is any indication.

For the first time since seeing his dream of being NXT champion evaporate before his very eyes, Zayn sought retribution for the beating that put him out of action, thus signaling what should be the intensification of the feud with Owens and the heating up of NXT programming as the next live special approaches.

The main event match itself was almost a carbon copy of their first one, down to the babyface brawling with Owens to close out the show.