WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 2

The Nov. 2 episode of WWE NXT brought with it the latest round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, with plenty of controversy to go around.

An injury sidelined Austin Aries, leaving partner Roderick Strong to represent his team by himself. The Revival's Scott Dawson was also "injured," cancelling the NXT tag team champions' second-round match with Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano.

The only thing cancelled in the match between Rich Swann, No Way Jose and The Authors of Pain was the babyfaces' opportunity at emerging from the tournament victorious.

Then there was Kota Ibushi and former cruiserweight champion T.J. Perkins, whose path toward victory was obstructed by the dangerous SAnity.

The winners of those matches would advance to the next round of competition. The losers would see their hopes and dreams dashed.

Shane Thorne vs. Roderick Strong

An injury Austin Aries suffered at an NXT live event threw a wrench into the tag team tournament plans.

As a result of his eye injury, partner Roderick Strong battled TM-61's Shane Thorne in singles competition.

Despite utilizing his arsenal of backbreakers, Strong was stunned with a small package that allowed Thorne and partner Nick Miller to advance to Round 3.

Result

Shane Thorne defeated Roderick Strong.

Grade

C

Analysis

It is disappointing for Aries and Strong, who saw what should have been a prosperous tournament run derailed by the former's eye injury.

For Strong, the loss comes far too early in his run, and it will take considerably strong booking to ensure he does not go the way of his partner, who struggled mightily in the first six months of his NXT run.

#DIY vs. the Revival

A rematch of the NXT Tag Team Championship match at TakeOver: Brooklyn was slated for Wednesday's show, as The Revival were set to battle Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic bout.

As Scott Dawson revealed prior to the match, though, what may be a fabricated knee injury necessitated a forfeit on the part of the champions, allowing a frustrated Ciampa and Gargano to move on.

Result

#DIY defeated The Revival by forfeit.

Grade

B

Analysis

The storytelling here is strong.

The Revival regularly touts itself as the greatest team in wrestling, using wins over teams like #DIY as evidence to support its claims. But when presented with a rematch against the talented duo, it ducks and tucks tail.

The eventual showdown between the teams should generate another Match of the Year candidate.

No Way Jose and Rich Swann vs. The Authors of Pain

Credit: WWE.com

Rich Swann and No Way Jose attempted to become the first team to tarnish The Authors' win-loss record Wednesday night.

Unfortunately for the dynamic tandem, they proved unsuccessful.

A fast and furious start was halted via a punishing ground-and-pound attack from the heels. Jose appeared to have a huge upset scored with a TKO, but it was kicked out of.

Moments later, the physically imposing team scored the win with its double-team maneuver.

Result

The Authors of Pain defeated Rich Swann and No Way Jose.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This was infinitely better than it had any right to be, primarily because of the dynamic Jose and Swann presented. The speedy, agile babyfaces frustrated the bigger heels until they could no longer physically match them.

Swann and Jose were the most fun team in the tournament, but if The Authors can continue to impress in longer matches, they could be the revelation of the entire ordeal.

Kota Ibushi and T.J. Perkins vs. SAnity

One week after picking up the win that got them here, Kota Ibushi and T.J. Perkins faced the unenviable task of battling the unpredictable SAnity.

Eric Young and Nikki Cross watched from ringside as Sawyer Fulton and Alexander Wolfe punished the opposition, primarily working over Perkins.

Ibushi received the hot tag and unleashed a standing moonsault, followed by the Golden Star powerbomb, but Young and Cross' well-timed distraction opened up the opportunity for Wolfe and Fulton to deliver their combination suplex-powerslam finisher for the win.

Result

SAnity defeated Kota Ibushi and T.J. Perkins.

Grade

C+

Analysis

SAnity is a raw power-based team at this point, but working with skilled wrestlers such as Ibushi and Perkins is exactly what it needs to learn on the fly.

The team of Perkins and Ibushi may have been fun to watch, but the Japanese star is not under contract and should not be going over guys who are, no matter how significantly better he may be. The right move was made, even if it is not necessarily the most popular.