WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reactions and Highlights from August 26

Taped Saturday prior to TakeOver: Brooklyn, this week's NXT served as a setup for matches, storylines and angles going forward.

Emma picked up a big win in the main event, earning herself consideration for the No. 1 contender's spot and a date with new women's champion Bayley.

To pick up the victory, she had to defeat two-thirds of Team PCB in Charlotte and Becky Lynch, not to mention the powerful Dana Brooke.

Speaking of Divas, Eva Marie returned to the squared circle, squaring off with Carmella. The Staten Island Princess was game, but in the end, the Total Diva prevailed.

Bull Dempsey showed of his new (*cough*) physique against Elias Samson, defeating the newly nicknamed "Drifter" with a fitting seated senton.

And finally, a huge Eight-Man Tag Team match kicked things off as the fans inside Barclays Center were absolutely on fire for the hottest brand in sports entertainment.

How did this week's bouts grade out?

Take a look for yourself by clicking the "next" button to your right.

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Four teams jockeying for position in the tag division met in an Eight-Man Tag Team match that proved to be a fantastic way to kick off Saturday's NXT festivities and electrify the crowd.

Enzo Amore, Colin Cassady, Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley brought energy to the bout, while Chad Gable, Jason Jordan, Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson brought a raw and ruthless wrestling ability to the table.

Amore was isolated from his teammates, which is par for the course, leading to the hot tag to Cass late in the match.

If you have seen the certified Gs in action before, you know the script for this one.

The Rocket Launcher finished Gable, giving the babyfaces the win in an energetic opener.

Result

Amore, Cassady, Ryder and Rawley defeated Gable, Jordan, Dawson and Wilder.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This served its purpose, which was to get the crowd hyped for the rest of the evening's action.

Amore and Cassady are similar to The Godfather, an incredibly popular star during the Attitude Era who WWE Creative could rely on to pop the crowd early in the night and create energy and electricity that bled over into the rest of the night's show.

The action here was fun, but one has to question the logic behind jobbing out Chad Gable, who received one of the better reactions of the match from the members of the NXT Universe.

Considering the fact that he and Jason Jordan are a budding young team, it does not seem to make sense to have him drop the match when Dawson and Wilder were right there. 

Carmella vs. Eva Marie

Credit: WWE.com

Eva Marie has a way of generating venomous reactions from the NXT Universe just by stepping out onto the stage. Wednesday night, she took to the squared circle to face Carmella, and to say that she was not a fan favorite would be an understatement of massive proportions.

The crowd hated the Diva with the fiery red hair, greeting her with a reaction that would typically be reserved for the most despicable heels in the history of the industry.

She overpowered Carmella and seemed to bask in the boos of the fans but soon found herself on the receiving end of a Thesz Press.

Unfortunately for the Princess of Staten Island, she ate a jawbreaker and saw her night end on a losing note thanks to the Sliced Bread No. 2. 

Result

Eva Marie pinned Carmella. 

Grade

D

Analysis

This writer wants to think that Eva Marie will improve in the ring, that she will show flashes of the athleticism she did while training with Brian Kendrick out in California. But for the second-straight time, she looked clunky and nervous.

The star of Total Divas looks like she is thinking too much while inside the squared circle, and it shows. The more she works, the more she will have the opportunity to learn how to do things on the fly, but for now, the work she put in with Kendrick is not translating to actual in-ring action.

Bull Dempsey vs. Elias Samson

Bull Fit invaded the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, squaring off against perennial jobber Elias Samson, who carried a guitar and now referred to himself as "The Drifter."

Samson tried to derail Dempsey, who looked to be in better shape than the last time fans saw him, but it was to no avail.

Dempsey hulked up, fighting off the offense of his opponent, and finished Samson with a seated senton. 

Result

Bull Dempsey defeated Elias Samson.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Bull Dempsey is a unique character in that the whole "Last of a Dying Breed" persona did not work. It drew boos from the NXT fans, but turning the heavyweight into a comedic babyface may work.

He was fine here, and the cape look fits him so much better than it does Neville. Of course, the match was not nearly long enough to get an extended look at the performer, but it was also not long enough to expose his weaknesses.

Samson continues to be a quality enhancement guy, but the new Drifter gimmick reminds this writer more of Rockabilly than anything. 

Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Emma vs. Dana Brooke

There was no revolution in sight Wednesday night, just wrestling, as four talented women met inside the squared circle for a Fatal 4-Way bout.

Not even the prior relationship between Emma and Dana could withstand the desire of all involved to win.

Lynch was impressive late, delivering a big missile dropkick and continuing her comeback with a series of suplexes.

The ending came just moments later, in a confusing manner, as Emma delivered an Emma Sandwich to Charlotte, then to Lynch. A pinfall on the Irishwoman led to a three count that appeared to take all involved by surprise.

Emma kinda sorta celebrated her victory to end the show.

Result

Emma defeated Becky Lynch, Dana Brooke and Charlotte. 

Grade

B-

Analysis

Had the finish gone according to plan, this probably would have earned a higher grade. As it stands, though, the sudden and inexplicable finish really hurt what was a quality match to that point.

Emma winning, intended or not, actually helps the Divas division in NXT in that Bayley is looking for a new contender for the women's title, and the Aussie competitor would be the perfect woman to step up to the plate.

She is an immensely talented wrestler with main roster experience. She knows what it takes to appear on Raw and SmackDown and could help Bayley progress and develop even further.

It is a great booking decision that, depending on what the original finish was set to be, WWE Creative may have lucked into.