WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from December 23

The NXT fans welcomed Sami Zayn back with open arms Wednesday night, the first time the former champion had competed on television since his U.S. Open Challenger match against John Cena earlier this year.

His opponent, Tye Dillinger, was out to prove he was no stepping stone for the master of the Helluva Kick, but would he be able to counter the wave of emotion and momentum Zayn brought with him to the match?

The tag team division was on display as Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, The Hype Bros, The Vaudevillains and Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy battled in a Fatal 4-Way match designed to set apart the legitimate challengers to Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson's NXT Tag Team Championships and the frauds.

And finally, Elias Samson returned to action, debuting his drifter gimmick as he battled Bull Dempsey.

Who left each match with their arms raised in victory, and how did each match grade out?

Find out now.

The Hype Bros vs. Gable and Jordan vs. Vaudevillains vs. Murphy and Blake

Tag team wrestling took center stage Wednesday night as Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, The Hype Bros, The Vaudevillains and Murphy and Blake battled in a Fatal 4-Way match to help determine the team next in line for a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder currently hold.

Gable and Jordan stole the spotlight, as usual, energizing the crowd.

The majority of the match was worked between them, Murphy and Blake and The Hype Bros, with the heels isolating Gable until a late-match hot tag was made to Mojo Rawley. The action broke down, and Gable and Jordan delivered Grand Amplitude to score the pinfall victory.

Result

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable defeated The Hype Bros, The Vaudevillains and Murphy and Blake.

Grade

B-

Analysis

This was an energetic and hot way to kick off this week's episode. The London fans loved Gable and Jordan, as does every NXT crowd they work in front of. They are the most over team on the brand's roster and one of WWE's most popular acts.

They deserved this win and should be set up to face Dash and Dawson for the tag titles.

That is, depending on what WWE Creative does with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady.

Bull Dempsey vs. Elias Samson

After weeks of buildup through vignettes, Elias Samson made his grand re-debut on Wednesday's show, battling Bull Dempsey.

There really was no contest, as Samson finished Dempsey off with a flying elbow drop after just one minute of action.

Result

Elias Samson defeated Bull Dempsey.

Grade

D

Analysis

The creepy smile Samson flashed just before he delivered his finisher was about all that one could take from this. The length was far too short to gather anything else from it.

The contest was far from impressive for Samson, though Dempsey is a tough first draw. How he responds in the coming weeks will determine how successful he is in his quest to star in NXT.

Sami Zayn vs. Tye Dillinger

Sami Zayn made his much-anticipated return to NXT Wednesday night, battling Tye Dillinger in a test of the former champion's ring rust.

Dillinger worked over Zayn's shoulder, but otherwise, the match consisted of the Montreal native hitting all his signature spots, much to the delight of the faithful London fans.

The huge senton over the top rope, the Blue Thunder Bomb and the Helluva Kick all connected, with the latter scoring the win for the beloved star.

After the match, Zayn proclaimed 2016 his year.

Result

Sami Zayn defeated Tye Dillinger.

Grade

C

Analysis

Sami Zayn wrestled a match. He won. Yay, Sami's back!

In reality, that is all this was intended to do. It reintroduced Zayn to the NXT audience, did it in front of a hot crowd that loved everything he did and gave him a quality win over the most unselfish star on the entire roster.

Zayn is an immediate favorite to challenge Finn Balor, and he's the one guy who could conceivably take the title off him in the near future.

The one guy not named Baron Corbin, that is.