WWE NXT Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from December 23

The year 2015 should have been a banner one for Sami Zayn. Instead, it was one marred by frustration and injury, leaving the Montreal native sidelined and his quest for NXT gold and WWE greatness halted.

After months of healing and rehabbing, not to mention watching as friend-turned-rival Kevin Owens debuted on the main roster, Zayn made his return to the ring Wednesday night.

He battled Tye Dillinger, one of the most unselfish performers in the entire company due to his willingness to put others over despite being a much more talented worker than the glorified jobber he is portrayed as.

Zayn ran through his signature offense, popping the crowd with his dive over the top rope, the Blue Thunder Bomb and, finally, the Helluva Kick. By the time the referee's hand slapped the mat for a third time and the bell rang, the former NXT champion had completed a successful comeback.

Receiving a hero's welcome back, the crowd reminding him that they had not forgotten everything he had accomplished for the brand, Zayn vowed that 2016 would be his year. And it may very well be, especially with the strong likelihood Finn Balor is called up to the main roster at some point over the next 12 months, leaving the brand in need of a lead babyface.

There is always an air of mystery surrounding a high-profile Superstar's return.

Will he be cheered? Will he be booed? Will the fans remember him or even care?

Wednesday night, the London fans erupted for Zayn's appearance and made it abundantly clear he still holds a place in their hearts. Now it is up to him to repay their loyalty and love.

That loyalty and love helped make Zayn the biggest winner of the December 23 broadcast. One returning star was not quite as lucky, though.

Loser: Elias Samson

For weeks, fans have been treated to intriguing vignettes featuring a singing drifter persona most assumed belonged to Elias Samson. Wednesday night, Samson made his in-ring return after a spell away from television, squaring off with Bull Dempsey.

With only a minute to work with, there was hardly any time to really showcase his skills, and what he did get off hardly left a desirable impression.

After weeks of buildup, he arrived with a thud, leaving the viewing audience to wonder what was so special about the guy that he deserved that much time devoted to him. 

In his defense, his opponent was a Bull Dempsey whose size and style makes it difficult to work with, but one never gets a second chance to make a first impression, and unfortunately for Samson, he may already be doomed to failure.

Winners: Chad Gable and Jason Jordan

Despite tagging for only a few months, Chad Gable and Jason Jordan are rapidly approaching the status of NXT's most over act. The reaction they received in London was phenomenal, and the energy they bring to their ring work is infectious. They are youthful and exciting to watch, and they bring an element of fun to the shows.

They never appear to be going through the motions—certainly not Wednesday night in a match so important to their continued growth as a team.

They overshadowed former tag team champions The Vaudevillains and Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy, all the while completely outshining The Hype Bros, en route to another signature win that should catapult them into the title hunt.

Gable and Jordan have the makings of a team that will dominate professional wrestling for years to come, especially in the tag ranks. Gable is a charismatic technician the likes of which have not been seen since Kurt Angle, while there may be no athlete in WWE more naturally gifted than Jordan. The future is bright for both stars, especially if Gable can continue dragging out Jordan's personality and quiet charisma.