WWE NXT Results: Biggest Winners, Losers and Moments from May 11

Finn Balor's loss to Samoa Joe in Lowell, Massachusetts, could have been the start of months of putting his fellow NXT mates over before jumping to the main roster.

Instead, it appears to have motivated The Demon and earned him "biggest winner" status for the May 11 episode of NXT.

Balor made it clear that he is not finished with Joe, that he bested the new champion twice before and that in any of their three matches, either man could have won. "The Drifter" Elias Samson made the mistake of interrupting the former titleholder and paid for it, both in the moment and later in the night when Balor finished him off with the 1916, named after the year of the Irish uprising.

Bookending the show would have been enough for Balor to reassert himself, but he listened as NXT general manager William Regal announced that he would challenge Joe for the title at the next TakeOver special, then put an exclamation point on his night by wiping the champion out at ringside and standing tall.

NXT's production team did a fantastic job of putting Balor over via video package last week, and management followed up with some of his strongest booking to date. While no one ever wants to lose a championship, dropping the title to Joe may have been the best thing that ever happened to the Irish-born Superstar, as he has renewed purpose.

Joining Balor on the winner's side of things this week is the most charismatic wrestler on the planet and a set of champions riding a wave of momentum. There was a notable loser from Wednesday's broadcast, a now-ex-employee of WWE whose stint with the company ended not with a bang but a whimper.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

Just when you find yourself waiting for the initial popularity of Shinsuke Nakamura to wane a bit, he enters the NXT Arena to an ovation unrivaled by any of his peers.

The King of Strong Style ran over Alex Riley Wednesday night, improving his undefeated streak and putting himself in contention for a future shot at the NXT Championship.

Nakamura was undeniably one of the most compelling and exciting workers in the world, but the reception he has received stateside from the NXT faithful has blown away any expectations that existed prior to his debut.

With so many talents called up to the main roster and more sure to come, it will only be a matter of time before Nakamura is the face of the brand.

Loser: Alex Riley

Poor Alex Riley. Once considered a breakout star, poised to excel on the main roster, he was little more than enhancement talent for Nakamura to bowl over Wednesday night. He got very little offense in and looked no more threatening to the Japanese sensation than Tye Dillinger or Elias Samson—maybe even less so.

That it was Riley's final appearance with NXT is the biggest disappointment, especially considering how hard he worked to rehabilitate his knee after the latest injury and make it back to the ring. Just as it appeared as though Riley's "Rage" gimmick would be making a return, he was squashed by Nakamura and wished well on his future endeavors.

Winners: American Alpha

The NXT tag team champions are no longer a cult phenomenon. Jason Jordan and Chad Gable look and carry themselves like stars, owning the spotlight and thriving with the support of the audience on their side.

Wednesday night was a showcase for the champions, who tossed John Skyler and Corey Hollis around the ring with reckless abandon en route to another impressive victory, courtesy of Grand Amplitude. They did it all while The Revival watched from the ramp, not allowing the potential distraction to deter them.

With Enzo Amore, Big Cass and The Vaudevillains now competing every Monday and Thursday night, American Alpha has slid into the void left by those two teams and excelled.