WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 9

The road to TakeOver: Toronto enjoyed a major twist Wednesday night as two teams cashed their tickets to the Great White North by advancing to the finale of the Dusty Rhodes Classic.

The November 9 broadcast not only shined a light on tag team wrestling through two energetic bouts, it also saw the contract signing between Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura—two industry giants seeking to achieve dominance in NXT.

Would their encounter remain peaceful or descend into the chaotic brawl most contract signings often turn into?

Ember Moon was also in action, her winning ways continuing to put her into contention for the NXT Women's Championship.

Who advanced to the Dusty Classic final? How did Moon fare? What went down between Nakamura and Joe?

Take a look now with this recap of Wednesday's event.

DIY vs. The Authors of Pain

In order for The Authors of Pain to continue their march to tag team supremacy, they would have to defeat former No. 1 contenders DIY—Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano.

For the first time, it appeared as though The Authors (Akam and Rezar) were rattled, unable to thwart the intense onslaught of their more experienced opposition. They rolled late, with Ciampa receiving the hot tag and taking the fight to the larger heels.

DIY nailed their double-team finisher, but Paul Ellering's and NXT tag team champions The Revival's interference led to their demise, courtesy of the The Last Chapter.

Result

The Authors of Pain defeated DIY.

Grade

B-

Analysis

This was fantastic in that it showed The Authors's potential; they delivered their finest performance to date here. Considering the opposition's talent, it should be no surprise the contest was as good as it was.

While it would have been nice to see Rezar and Akam go over clean, The Revival's involvement creates a scenario where the two best teams on the roster can defend the tag titles, with a title defense against DIY in Toronto a near-certainty.

TM61 vs. Sanity

Sanity's sneak attack of TM61 left the possibility of a heel vs. heel final at the Dusty Rhodes Classic looking certain.

Resiliency and timing rescued the brand from that outcome.

Shane Thorne worked the majority of the match alone, enduring a beating as partner Nick Miller attempted to get in the match. Alexander Wolfe and Sawyer Fulton isolated him and kept his partner from getting into the match.

At least for a moment.

Miller finally recovered and scored a hot tag, unloading on the heels. With the action breaking down, Thorne was able to deliver a well-timed dropkick, and Miller executed a jackknife rollup for the win.

Result

TM61 defeated Sanity.

Grade

C

Analysis

Sanity should not have list this early in their run. So much was made of their debut that allowing them to descend into mediocrity, just a team in the middle of the pack, is a mistake that should be rectified as quickly as humanly possible.

TM61 vs. The Authors of Pain is a fine tournament final, but the fact the heels have obliterated their opponents, on television, countless times, only lessens the impact of the contest.

Ember Moon vs. Rachael Evers

Credit: WWE.com

Rachael Evers continued to search for her first NXT win. Unfortunately, she would have to continue her quest after squaring off with Ember Moon.

Evers worked over her opponent, grounding her and even applying a surfboard.

Moon fought back, though, and delivered Eclipse for the victory.

Result

Ember Moon defeated Rachael Evers.

Grade

C-

Analysis

The Ember Moon experiment has been fun to watch to this point, but a drastic change is needed, and quickly. She needs to undergo some character development. Fans have to have a reason to care about the newcomer or any shot she has at becoming the great hope to dethrone Asuka is out the window.

With that said, her finisher remains one of the best in wrestling, and her ability to take a beating, generating sympathy and leaving fans waiting for the comeback, will serve her well going forward.

TakeOver: Toronto Contract Signing

Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura came face-to-face for the last time ahead of TakeOver: Toronto, where the former will challenge his rival for the NXT Championship, for a contract signing.

Joe was defiant and demeaning, humiliating William Regal as he ordered the general manager around the squared circle.

Nakamura attacked the security, refusing to sign the contract at first. He went as far as to powerbomb one of the guys through a table, then proceeded to drop the signed contract on his fallen body, sending a message loud and clear to the Samoan Submission Machine.

The two talked trash to end the show.

Grade

B

Analysis

The segment was strong, but the fed really peaked the night after TakeOver: Brooklyn. Nothing WWE Creative has done in the building of this match has lent it the intensity or big-match feel it probably deserves.

Instead, this felt like a chaotic way to wrap up a show, with the writing staff begging fans to be sucked in by the table spot enough to be excited about the rematch. Unfortunately, it is difficult to foresee a situation where Joe vs. Nakamura reaches the heights it probably should have to this point.