WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 6

The April 6 episode of WWE NXT was less about moving on in the wake of WrestleMania and more about reliving the extraordinary TakeOver: Dallas special that earned rave reviews last Friday night, with a main event match between Apollo Crews and Elias Samson to boot.

On the March 23 episode of NXT, Samson lost his first match in stunning fashion. Johnny Gargano knocked him off in what can only be described a shocking upset.

Enraged by the defeat, he brutally assaulted his opponent after the bell, his calm and collected demeanor shattered by the cruel reality of defeat. Apollo Crews came to the aid of his fellow wrestler, staring down Samson and ignited a rivalry as simply as possible.

Wednesday night, in a match taped prior to NXT's stunning and awe-inspiring production in Dallas, Crews and Samson brought their brief rivalry to a conclusion when they squared off in this week's one and only contest.

The Match

Crews controlled the action early, frustrating Samson with a series of arm drags, but The Drifter took control just prior to the break by knocking his opponent off the top rope and to the ring apron.

Samson unloaded with a series of intense forearms and two straight knee drops that drew boos from fans who were all too familiar, and none too thrilled, with his strike-heavy offense. He wore the dynamic Crews down with a chin lock, then a crossface of sorts, working over the head in hopes of executing his signature neckbreaker.

Crews fought back, unloading with a series of rights, a Stinger splash and a big enzuigiri for two. Samson responded with a nasty jumping knee that kept Crews down for a long two count.

A big bicycle kick and toss powerbomb from Crews put Samson down for the count and netted the man formerly known as Uhaa Nation what could be his last NXT victory.

Grade

C

Analysis

Credit: WWE.com

From a character standpoint, Samson is interesting. He has a solid look, a strong hold on the Drifter persona and has done a fantastic job with his facial expressions and body language. Once one gets past the exterior, though, he has struggled to prove that he is a performer the same caliber of his fellow Superstars.

Against Crews, he showed no signs of drastic improvement.

Samson still used the most basic of offense, leaning heavily on knee strikes and the occasional forearm, while his rest holds were relegated to a simple chin lock and crossface. Sure, they suit the idea of a guy wearing his opponent's head and neck down for a neckbreaker finisher, but there are other ways to go about telling that story without relying on holds that any rookie could conceivably pull off with a year or two of training.

The potential is there, especially given the extraordinary talent he will have the opportunity to work with and learn from over the next few months, but it was not on display as he battled Crews.

Speaking of the supremely athletic Superstars, this was hardly the way Crews could have hoped to wrap up his NXT stint.

Monday night, he debuted on Raw, defeating fellow NXT alumni Tyler Breeze. With a SmackDown match against Curtis Axel slated for Thursday's show, it looks as though Crews has put the revolutionary brand in his rear window. It is a shame, then, that he did not have the chance to leave fans with a match more fitting of his talents and skills.