WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 20

Several recent main roster call-ups made some of their final NXT appearances Wednesday night as wrestling's most acclaimed brand presented its weekly broadcast on WWE Network.

Apollo Crews, he of the Social Outcast squash victories, battled Samoa Joe in a heated match born of the former's disdain for bullies. Would he be able to channel that dislike into an upset win over the angry, nasty, vicious and violent former No. 1 contender, or would Crews become just another victim?

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady had competed against every tag team to blow through NXT during their long and storied stint with the brand. That is, except for current champions Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, American Alpha. Wednesday night, they squared off for both tag team superiority and out of mutual respect.

Which team emerged victorious?

Find out the answers to those questions, as well how No Way Jose fared in his debut and whether or not Deonna Purrazzo was able to reverse her bad luck when she squared off with Nia Jax, with this recap of the April 20 episode of NXT.

American Alpha vs. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady made what may well be their final appearance on NXT Wednesday night, kicking off this week's show against new tag team champions Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, otherwise known as American Alpha, in a battle of babyface tandems.

Gable completely outwrestled Amore early, taking him down and trapping him in an armbar before making the tag to Jason Jordan. The champions worked over the smaller competitor, keeping him isolated from Big Cass and wearing him down in the process.

Back from a brief break, Enzo and Cass took over, using some double-team maneuvers on Jordan. It was short-lived, though, as American Alpha continued to remind fans why they are the champions.

"We built this thing. There's a lot of respect in that ring...and then there's Enzo Amore," Corey Graves mentioned on commentary, detailing the history that exists between him, Jason Jordan and Big Cass and their place in the evolution of NXT while simultaneously getting a knock in on The Certified G.

Cass worked over Gable, focusing on the left arm in the same manner that the former amateur star did to Amore earlier in the bout. A missed splash in the corner freed Gable up to make the hot tag to Jordan, who exploded into the match and unleashed with a series of suplexes and throws that ultimately led to Grand Amplitude and another impressive victory for American Alpha. 

Result

American Alpha defeated Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady.

Grade

B-

Analysis

The two popular teams delivered a fun match, but it lacked the energy that one would have expected from the audience. Perhaps it had to do with the hesitancy to cheer for one team at the expense of the other, but it suffered from a lack of crowd heat.

It was also a bit repetitive in that both of the heat portions of the match saw one team working the arms of the opposition, though Graves did a solid job of explaining why Cass would want to target that extremity of Gable.

It was an enjoyable opener but one that felt like it should have been better than it was.

No Way Jose vs. Alexander Wolfe

After weeks of pre-debut video packages, No Way Jose made his debut, battling German star Alexander Wolfe in singles competition.

"He reminds me of one of those shady guys who hangs outside of the resorts. One of those guys who says, 'come with me and I'll show you where the real party is.' I don't trust No Way Jose," Corey Graves said of his opinion of the newcomer.

Jose worked a largely comedic match, delivering an airplane spin to Wolfe before accentuating it with a rolling senton. Wolfe recovered, sending Jose face-first into the top turnbuckle. Jose fought back and landed a windup and "fastball" punch to the face for the pinfall victory.

Result

No Way Jose defeated Alexander Wolfe. 

Grade

D

Analysis

The theme song is fun, and Jose is into his gimmick, but it certainly has a shelf life. The "No Way" persona will die a quick death if it does not develop. Think CJ Parker during his '60s hippy days.

Watching that character's complete disconnect with fans was ugly, and the downfall of the performer was unpleasant to watch. It is clear that NXT management is designing the No Way Jose character to be the energetic act that pops crowds in ways that Enzo Amore and Big Cass did and, to a lesser extent, Adam Rose did once upon a time.

There was nothing about this first performance that suggests it will enjoy that level of success.

In fact, it more closely resembled a 1980s WWE cartoon character than anything innovative that NXT would churn out. 

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Nia Jax

Credit: WWE.com

Corey Graves and Tom Phillips put over the heart of Deonna Purrazzo but also mentioned the incredible string of bad luck she has experienced while suffering some tremendous beatings. Wednesday night, she was unlucky enough to find herself in the same ring with an angry and determined Nia Jax.

Jax tossed Purrazzo around the ring and delivered two big elbow drops. The plucky underdog tried fighting back but found herself on the receiving end of a Samoan Drop, following by a big leg drop that ended her night on a sour note.

Result

Nia Jax defeated Deonna Purrazzo.

Grade

C-

Analysis

There was nothing about this match that did anything to change perception of Nia Jax. She was intense and ferocious as she steamrolled Purrazzo en route to a victory. As a result, she remains in contention for a future women's championship match.

What really struck this writer about this match was the side story involving Purrazzo, her string of bad luck and the potential for a 1-2-3 Kid storyline. A plucky babyface whose courage was put over by Phillips and Graves, Purrazzo has lost enough on television that a potential storyline involving an epic upset could elevate her into relevancy in NXT.

Imagine the reaction she would receive if she could upset Eva Marie in the NXT Arena in Full Sail University. It would make a fan favorite out of her and give the division another talented star to help carry the weight of expectation.

Apollo Crews vs. Samoa Joe

On the heels of another NXT Championship match loss to Finn Balor, Samoa Joe was meaner and nastier than ever when he made his ring to the squared circle for the night's main event against recent main roster call-up Apollo Crews.

After some hold and counter-hold early, Joe backed Crews into the corner and delivered a series of jabs to stun Crews. That was not enough to take control, though, as the agile babyface delivered a big dropkick that put the veteran down.

Joe responded, catching Crews with a corner enzuigiri. He ran over Crews with the force of a freight train, cutting off any attempt at a comeback at that moment in the match.

After both men were knocked down, Crews finally did mount his comeback, delivering a big Stinger Splash and a jumping enzuigiri kick. The standing moonsault netted the dynamic babyface a two-count. A snap powerslam by Joe, in turn, only put Crews down for two.

Joe caught Crews with the uranage slam, a series of open-hand thrusts and applied the Coquina Clutch for the submission win. 

Result

Samoa Joe defeated Apollo Crews.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Samoa Joe looked as impressive here as he has in any match outside of the NXT Championship bouts, systematically dismantling Crews, despite a few attempts at comebacks.

He was vicious, ruthless and powerful as he dominated the match. The uranage slam was particularly impressive, assisted by Crews' bounce off the mat.

With Crews gone for the main roster, where he has picked up several squash victories, this did nothing to hurt him and did everything to maintain the aura of an indestructible monster that has surrounded Joe over the last five months.