WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 19

With just 72 hours until NXT Takeover: Brooklyn hits the WWE Network airwaves, physicality erupted as Finn Balor and Kevin Owens were under the same roof.

They were hardly the only two that waged war just days before a hotly anticipated championship clash. Bayley and Sasha Banks crossed the Ts and dotted each others faces with hard rights and lefts, proving that their feud can be just as intense as the men's.

Tyler Breeze warmed up for the biggest match of his career, a showdown with the legendary Jushin "Thunder" Liger, and had a disrespectful demonstration for the Japanese sensation.

Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin's feud heated up as the Lone Wolf repaid the Samoan Submission Machine with End of Days, gaining the upper hand ahead of their matchup Saturday evening.

And then there was the team of the Hype Bros and Enzo Amore and Big Cass, who picked up a big victory as they prepare to battle Dash Wilder, Scott Dawson, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable inside the luxurious Barclays Center.

This week's broadcast did an exemplary job of putting the final touches on the hype to what will be NXT's biggest and most important show to date.

Bayley and Sasha Banks Contract Signing

Bayley and Sasha Banks met inside the squared circle Wednesday night for their final face-to-face confrontation before they meet in one of Takeover's two marquee bouts.

With general manager William Regal overseeing the festivities, the issues between the two came to a head in the NXT Arena.

Banks refused to accept Bayley as a threat, and that is why she is not on Raw and SmackDown like the rest of the core four.

This led to a pull-apart fight between the two.

Grade

A

Analysis

Short, sweet and to the point is part of what makes NXT such a joy to watch. The segments do not have the opportunity to overstay their welcome, and that certainly is not a bad thing.

Banks' insults to Bayley were based in reality and cut sharp, making it more obvious that the typically lovable Diva would take them to heart and explode with anger at her rival.

It added a personal edge to the feud and really helped add a sense of hatred between the two.

Tyler Breeze in Action

Tyler Breeze prepped for his match with the legendary Jushin "Thunder" Liger Thursday night, squaring off against an unnamed opponent.

The contest consisted of an arm drag and the Supermodel Kick for the pinfall.

After the match, he pulled out a Liger mask replica, placed it on the jobber's head and delivered the Beauty Shot as a message to his opponent at Takeover.

Result

Tyler Breeze defeated an unnamed opponent (Rob Ryzin).

Grade

C-

Analysis

This was as generic as it gets when hyping a big match. The entire feud could have benefited exponentially from some Breeze mic work, but instead, this was so lazily booked that one has to wonder why anyone would be excited to see a match between a guy whom WWE Creative has neglected over the last month and an international sensation with no previous experience in a WWE ring.

Eight Man Tag Team Action

Credit: WWE.com

For the first time ever, Zack Ryder, Mojo Rawley, Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady partnered up, testing their teamwork ahead of next week's big tag team war with Dash Wilder, Scott Dawson, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable.

The heels were unnamed, but former TNA star Jesse Sorenson was there, as was newcomer Aaron Solow.

They isolated Amore, as is the case with nearly every bout involving the certified G, but Enzo made the hot tag to Big Cass. The seven-foot-tall competitor cleaned house and appeared to have the win picked up, but Sorenson broke up the pin.

Ryder dispatched of him with the Broski Boot, and Amore and Cassady finished with the Rocket Launcher for the win.

Result

Zack Ryder, Mojo Rawley, Enzo Amore and Big Cass defeated Jesse Sorenson, Aaron Solow and...two other guys.

Grade

C

Analysis

At the very least, this was energetic.

The babyface team's dynamic was nice, even if Mojo Rawley is still light-years behind his teammates.

The Eight Man Tag Team match next week could be very interesting if everyone is given enough time to get their stuff in. Enzo and Cass are the most over act, while Ryder brings veteran experience. On the heel side of things, Wilder and Dawson may be the most underrated team in wrestling, while Jordan and Gable have been wildly entertaining to this point.

It was a great teaser for what should be a fun exhibition Saturday night.

Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton vs. Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake

Credit: WWE.com

Prior to their NXT Tag Team Championship match against the Vaudevillains, Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake battled the young duo of Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton in non-title competition.

The champions completely outclassed their opponents, finishing with the suplex/frog splash combination for the pinfall win.

After the match, the Vaudevillains interrupted the victors' celebration, promising an announcement. Instead, Alexa Bliss slapped both Aiden English and Simon Gotch and the announcement is never made.

Well...alright.

Result

Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake defeated Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Murphy and Blake continued to excel as a team, but Dawkins and Fulton are the enhancement talent of the tag division, so a win over them is hardly inspiring.

The post-match led to a surprise revelation at Takeover, which should be someone to counteract Bliss' constant interference.

Samoa Joe vs. Steve Cutler

Credit: WWE.com

Samoa Joe prepared for his upcoming bout with Baron Corbin with a warm-up against Steve Cutler, one of the unfortunate souls unlucky enough to endure the End of Days a week ago.

He did not fare much better this week, falling victim to Joe's Coquina Clutch.

After the match, Corbin attacked Joe, delivering End of Days as repayment for last week's choke out.

Result

Samoa Joe defeated Steve Cutler.

Grade

B-

Analysis

The continuity here, with Cutler challenging yet another unstoppable force after trying to sneak-attack Corbin last week, was nice.

As for the angle, it worked. Corbin recovered momentum following his submission KO last week and reminded fans that he is as much an unstoppable badass as Joe.

Simple and effective...continuing the pattern.

Kevin Owens and Finn Balor Face-to-Face

Kevin Owens made his way to the ring for the main event segment of this week's show.

He cut a promo from a ladder, where he ran down fans for their hypocrisy. He event went as far as to call the NXT fans the "John Cena of fans." (BURN!)

He vowed to beat Balor in front of 13,000 fans, regardless of whether they like it or not.

The lights went out, Balor's music played, but instead of him entering on the stage, he was already in the ring.

The two fought, but Owens baled, leaving Balor to promise to retain the title on Saturday.

Grade

A

Analysis

Owens was outstanding here, cutting a convincing promo that rightly criticized fans for cheering him and then booing him the second he turned his attention to someone they like. Like he has done so often, Owens believed what he said, and the promo benefited from it.

Balor's mind games and parlor tricks added a new element to his character.

This was incredibly effective booking that gave fans a taste of the action they can expect Saturday night while also leaving them wanting more.