WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 16

The allure of tag team gold was at the heart of Wednesday's broadcast as American Alpha and The Vaudevillains fought for the right to challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championships.

Riding a wave of momentum, could Jason Jordan and Chad Gable put away Aiden English and Simon Gotch and move on to a showdown with The Revival, or would the manliest team in wrestling cash a ticket to Dallas for their latest opportunity to regain the titles they lost late last year?

The Hype Bros were also in action, looking to rebound after a costly loss to those same Vaudevillains. Could they pick up a much-needed victory, or would their downward spiral continue, courtesy of a major upset loss?

Bayley and Asuka looked to avenge the attacks perpetrated on them by Eva Marie and Nia Jax. Would they succeed, and if so, what announcement could William Regal have that would impact the women's title picture?

Fans got the answers to all of those questions and more Wednesday night on the WWE Network. Now you can find out how the action graded out and what effects it may have going forward.

The Hype Bros vs. Angelo Dawkins and Kenneth Crawford

Credit: WWE.com

The opening match of the night was a squash of a tag bout as Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley returned to the ring to battle Angelo Dawkins and Kenneth Crawford.

The match was all Hype Bros, barring a brief moment in which Ryder found himself isolated from his partner.

The hot tag to Rawley was followed by The Hype Ryder for the pinfall victory.

Result

The Hype Bros defeated Angelo Dawkins and Kenneth Crawford.

Grade

D

Analysis

This worked only in that it got The Hype Bros back to their winning ways after a fairly one-sided, incredibly brief feud with The Vaudevillains.

They looked crisp as they tore through the competition, but fans have seen this match so many times it really has no effect at this point.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Emma

Credit: WWE.com

A few weeks ago, Emma and Dana Brooke poked fun at Deonna Purrazzo during a backstage promo. Wednesday night, the women came together for singles competition, with Brooke watching from ringside as Emma squared off with the newcomer.

Emma exploded with aggression and intensity early as she worked over her lesser experienced opponent. Purrazzo mounted the comeback but fell into a trap, with her own momentum betraying her as she found herself caught in the Tarantula.

The Emma Lock earned Emma the win.

Result

Emma defeated Deonna Purrazzo.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Emma was exceptionally aggressive here, which was nice to see, but this was the same squash match she has worked for months. Until she is allowed the opportunity to score a signature win, fans are always going to see her as a supremely talented wrestler who always loses.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Tommasso Ciampa vs. Jesse Sorensen

Credit: WWE.com

The Sicilian Psychopath Tommaso Ciampa battled former TNA star Jesse Sorensen Wednesday night and wasted little time proving who the superior talent was.

He unloaded on Sorensen, rocking him with a dropkick and a series of knees that left his opponent stunned.

Ciampa finished off an overwhelmed Sorensen with his bridging armbar for the submission win.

Result

Tommaso Ciampa defeated Jesse Sorensen.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Ciampa continues to roll and has been booked strongly in every one of his matches of late. Unfortunately, he has not experienced any upward movement or expanded role with the brand. Thus, he is essentially a cameo worker—a guy pops up every so often, turns in really solid performances and goes away until the next time he is called upon.

It is puzzling booking, to say the least.

Bayley and Asuka vs. Nia Jax and Eva Marie

The heat for Eva Marie was nuclear as her and Nia Jax battled NXT women's champion Bayley, attempting to reestablish themselves as top contenders to the title.

They would have no such luck.

Asuka completely outclassed Eva Marie early, but the heels took control late as Nia Jax scored a blind tag and wiped Bayley out with a crushing Samoan Drop. A bit of miscommunication from the heels saw Jax accidentally leg-drop Eva, drawing a big reaction.

Moments later, Bayley delivered a Bayley-to-Belly suplex to Eva off Asuka's kick for the pinfall victory.

After the match, William Regal appeared and announced Bayley is the No. 1 contender and will challenge Bayley at TakeOver: Dallas.

Result

Asuka and Bayley defeated Eva Marie and Nia Jax. 

Grade

C+

Analysis

This was a fun sprint of a match that wrapped up one story and turned NXT fans' attention toward another.

The announcement that Asuka will challenge Bayley at TakeOver provides the match with a legitimate main event that could headline the show were it not for Finn Balor's NXT title defense against Samoa Joe. That contest has serious potential to be the best women's match ever produced by the brand, and that says a great deal about the talent of the two women involved.

Of other interest was the miscommunication spot between Nia Jax and Eva Marie, which could lead to a split. If so, does that mean the former turns babyface, or do they go their separate ways but stay heel?

It is something that bears watching going forward.

American Alpha vs. The Vaudevillains

American Alpha may have controlled the match early, rocking Aiden English with a double dropkick, but The Vaudevillains responded, isolating Chad Gable from partner Jason Jordan and working him over for the majority of the bout.

Jordan exploded into the match, taking down both English and Simon Gotch with an array of suplexes. 

Late in the match, Gable reentered the match and found himself on the receiving end of a powerbomb from English. He had made the tag to Jordan, though, who exploded with a spear.

Grand Amplitude followed, and three seconds later, Jordan and Gable were No. 1 contenders.

Result

American Amplitude defeated The Vaudevillains.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was exactly what it needed to be. Gable and Jordan have been one of the hottest acts in NXT for months now. Pulling the trigger now is the right move. Every arena they appear in comes unglued for the guys, and they back their support up with tremendous in-ring work.

The only complaint to be had about this one is it could have stood to be a bit longer. Gable and Jordan have looked fantastic in the shorter matches but have not had the opportunity to really prove themselves in an extended bout.

One longer match would have been preferred before heading to Dallas for their big title opportunity.