WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from December 2

Samoa Joe continued his journey to NXT TakeOver: London and a date with Finn Balor for the heavyweight championship Wednesday night, battling Tommaso Ciampa in a hard-hitting, physical main event.

He choked out his fellow Ring of Honor alumnus, scoring another victory while simultaneously establishing himself as the greatest and most dangerous threat to Balor's title to date.

Elsewhere on the show, The Vaudevillains showed the first hints of cracking under the pressure of defeat, refusing a sign of respect from Jason Jordan and Chad Gable and drawing a chorus of boos.

Emma scored an impressive victory and then found herself on the receiving end of a warning from Asuka, setting up another high-profile match for London.

Nia Jax demolished Blue Pants and left Bayley lying in a backstage segment, while Baron Corbin pummeled Tye Dillinger while sending a message to his upcoming opponent, Apollo Crews.

It was a focused show that managed to hype the major ongoing stories while simultaneously introducing new angles to fans, and it moved along at a brisk pace and continued the general awesomeness the brand has become synonymous with.

Now, find out how each match graded out on this week's WWE Network broadcast. 

Tye Dillinger vs. Baron Corbin

Credit: WWE.com

Just two days away from his showdown with Apollo Crews at TakeOver: London, Baron Corbin tested his focus against "The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger. 

Corbin demolished Dillinger with a twisting side suplex and then punished him further with a knee to the back of the head while basking in the jeers of the audience.

The Perfect 10 fought back but fell victim to End of Days as Corbin scored an impressive victory.

Result

Baron Corbin defeated Tye Dillinger.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was exactly what it needed to be: an extended squash match that allowed Corbin to show off more than his ability to hit his finisher. He did just that, and on top of it all, Dillinger bumped around the squared circle to make him look good.

The harmless segment put the focus on Corbin as he prepares for Crews in London.

Blue Pants vs. Nia Jax

Blue Pants made her return to NXT Wednesday night and was unfortunately greeted by a nasty, mean Nia Jax who was determined to advance further in her hunt for the NXT Women's Championship.

Jax used her size and strength advantage to ground the underdog and keep her there en route to a huge Samoan Drop.

The leg drop finished Blue Pants, and Jax pinned her with a single foot on the midsection. 

Result

Nia Jax defeated Blue Pants.

Grade

C+

Analysis

The purpose of this match was to take a wildly popular Diva like Blue Pants and have her get absolutely dismantled by Nia Jax as a way to build heat for the monstrous newcomer as she continues to chase the women's title.

It accomplished that in brutal and spine-crushing fashion, as Jax demolished Blue Pants.

Jax pinning her with a single foot was a nice touch to demonstrate the arrogance coursing through the competitor.

James Storm vs. Adam Rose

Credit: WWE.com

Adam Rose made it clear to the NXT Universe that the party was over as he stalked toward the squared circle with no musical accompaniment. He was clearly annoyed by the singing that fans were doing to the tune of his old theme. James Storm fired the crowd back up as he made his return to Full Sail University after a month away.

Rose got testy early and wound up eating a hard right hand to the face as a result. The Party Pooper did gain control of the bout, though, using a forearm to the face to take his opponent down.

Storm mounted a nice comeback, tearing through his opponent with a neckbreaker and the Last Call superkick for the victory. 

Result

James Storm defeated Adam Rose.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Storm appeared to be in better shape than he was in his debut match and moved better as well, but there was little to this match other than putting him over.

In that respect, it worked, even if it was a bit on the short side.

Rose is dead in the water at this point.

Chad Gable and Jason Jordan vs. The Vaudevillains

Credit: WWE.com

One week after losing their tag title rematch to Dash and Dawson, The Vaudevillains battled the surging Jason Jordan and Chad Gable.

"These are your first-round draft picks," Byron Saxton stated as the team of Gable and Jordan hit the squared circle.

Gable outclassed and outwrestled Simon Gotch early before Jordan tagged in. He kept up the momentum of the wildly popular team, flustering and frustrating English. The two blue-chip stars worked over the previously injured knee of The Artiste before Gable crashed to the mat on the outside.

Jordan was the recipient of the hot tag and unleashed a huge suplex on Gotch. The Grand Amplitude earned Gable and Jordan the victory moments later. 

After the match, the victims offered a handshake, but The Vaudevillains turned their backs and walked away.

Result

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable defeated The Vaudevillains.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was a great bit of booking as Gable and Jordan completely outclassed the former tag team champions, establishing themselves as the hottest tandem in WWE. The crowd clearly loves the guys, and the energy they bring to every performance enhances every show they appear on.

Emma in Action

Emma issued a word of warning to Asuka prior to taking to the squared circle for her match with NXT rookie Liv Morgan.

Frustrated early, the Aussie wasted little time trapping her opponent in the Tarantula and sandwiching her in the corner with a big splash. A stiff kick, a series of hard forearms and a boot to the throat punished the rookie.

Morgan mounted a momentary comeback, but a butterfly suplex and the Emma Lock earned the villainess the victory over her inexperienced opponent. 

After the match, a video of Asuka kicking a heavy bag, along with a challenge for a match in London, aired.

Result

Emma defeated Liv Morgan.

Grade

C-

Analysis

This was a vicious and unadulterated beatdown from the experienced Emma to a rookie in Liv Morgan, who showed fire but stood no chance. The strikes were convincing, with every one of them landing, which left the question of whether Emma got frustrated at some point with her opponent and really laid into her.

The video package after the bout was an awesome addition to the segment, eliciting chants of "Asuka's gonna kill you" while Emma retreated up the ramp, clearly intimidated by what just occurred.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Samoa Joe

It was a battle between former Ring of Honor talent as Tommaso Ciampa and Samoa Joe headlined this week's show. The commentary team set the stage nicely for the match, revealing that it was Joe who introduced Ciampa to his eventual wife. 

Joe casually and nonchalantly worked over Ciampa early, catching him with a brutal forearm that visibly stunned him. A slap war broke out midway through the bout and then again moments later. Ciampa grabbed hold of his opponent with a guillotine choke, but Joe powered out and crushed Ciampa with a scoop powerslam.

The Uranage out of the corner, the Muscle Buster and clutch combo finished off a resilient and defiant Ciampa.

Result

Samoa Joe defeated Tommaso Ciampa.

Grade

A

Analysis

This was the most physical and violent match WWE has produced in quite some time, and it lasted only seven minutes.

Joe looked like an absolute killer, withstanding Ciampa's vicious open-hand strikes to decisively and definitively pick up the win.

The match did more to put Joe over as a legitimate threat to Balor than anything else thus far, though that is not to say anything negative about the build to the next TakeOver special. At this point, Joe is the first dangerous heel NXT has produced since Kevin Owens bailed for the main roster six months ago, and his first shot at winning gold in WWE should make for some outstanding television.