WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from December 14

The NXT Championship took center stage Wednesday night on the WWE Network.

Samoa Joe had one last opportunity to leave with the NXT Championship, challenging new champion Shinsuke Nakamura in a Steel Cage match.

From there, the four Superstars battling for the No. 1 contender's spot were in action, winning matches that catapulted them into contention.

With competitors such as Bobby Roode, Tye Dillinger and No Way Jose competing for the right to advance to the upcoming Fatal 4-Way, the show had the opportunity to be one jam-packed with action and excitement.

Did it meet expectations?

Take a look for yourself.

Steel Cage Match for the NXT Championship

A week after he regained the NXT Championship from Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura defended against The Samoan Submission Machine in a Steel Cage match taped this past weekend in Australia.

Joe controlled the middle portion of the match and even managed to cut off a comeback attempt, grabbing The King of Strong Style in a snap powerslam.

Nakamura did finally mount his comeback, blasting Joe with a Kinshasa and appearing to have an easy route to victory through the cage door. Not content, he put an exclamation point on the feud with a final Kinshasa, scoring the win and a successful title defense.

Result

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Samoa Joe.

Grade

C

Analysis

This paled in comparison to their prior matches, most likely due to the editing that went into making it fit the confines of this show.

The most memorable part was Nakamura's insistence in finishing Joe off for good, hopefully bringing an end to their program because, right now, the feud is feeling considerably overdone.

Qualifying Match: Tye Dillinger vs. Eric Young

Tye Dillinger's improbable rise to NXT prominence continued this week, as he battled Eric Young in a qualifying match, with the winner advancing to the Fatal 4-Way match to determine the new No. 1 contender to the NXT Championship.

Young, the leader of Sanity, attacked Dillinger from the bell and beat him down.

Dillinger fought back, though, and as he was setting up his finisher, Nikki Cross jumped on his back and drew the disqualification.

After the match, The Perfect 10 cleared the ring of Sanity but was leveled and laid out by Damo, whose mysterious connection to the faction was the topic of discussion among the commentary team.

Result

Tye Dillinger defeated Eric Young by disqualification.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Dillinger winning was to be expected, given the momentum he has at this point, but the disqualification was a smart way to preserve Young's heat while producing the desired outcome. More importantly, it fit the Sanity faction.

Damo's involvement is intriguing, especially since WWE has not rushed the answers, but one cannot help but wonder how much more effective it would be had Sanity been more defined as a group by now.

What are its motivations? How did it come together? Why?

Qualifying Match: No Way Jose vs. Andrade Almas

Andrade "Cien" Almas and No Way Jose may not have experienced the success many had them pegged for as future stars in NXT, but one of them had the opportunity to reverse his fortunes and take one step closer to the NXT Championship.

Almas seized said opportunity, controlling the majority of the match. He even withstood a late-bout comeback, countering a TKO attempt and delivering a hammerlock DDT for the upset win.

Result

Andrade "Cien" Almas defeated No Way Jose.

Grade

C

Analysis

Almas has not been featured on NXT in weeks, so to see him score a victory over Jose, whose stature on Wednesday nights has been undeniably greater, was a surprise. 

Almas is a talented worker, and he has history with one of the other Superstars competing for the title opportunity, so it is fitting that he was granted the win. Still, one cannot help but think the brand is missing a chance to make him a much bigger star than he is; its inability to recognize his strengths is hurting its promotion of him.

Qualifying Match: Roderick Strong vs. Elias Samson

Elias Samson, arguably the most underrated character in NXT, hit the ring and began to perform a song for the NXT faithful. Roderick Strong appeared and drew a big reaction, with fans at Full Sail University cheering at the prospect of Strong delivering backbreaker after backbreaker to the hated musician-turned-wrestler.

The Drifter weathered the storm early, surviving a beautiful pendulum backbreaker before taking control of the match with a big running knee strike while Strong was draped over the apron.

A Gut Check and Sick Kick by Strong, however, put an end to Samson's dreams of battling for the championship opportunity, and the former Mr. Ring of Honor advanced.

Result

Roderick Strong defeated Elias Samson.

Grade

C

Analysis

Samson continues to struggle with the middle portion of his matches, working a slow and boring rest hold rather than altering it to better play to his character and keep fans invested.

With that said, Strong looks crisp, sharp and ready to embark on a successful NXT run. Whether he can do that with so many other Superstars ahead of him in the pecking order remains to be seen, but he will get his chance to start in the upcoming Fatal 4-Way.

Qualifying Match: Oney Lorcan vs. Bobby Roode

Bobby Roode's arrogance nearly cost him early in Wednesday's match with Oney Lorcan, who fired off a flurry of offense that had the former TNA world champion reeling.

Roode worked a rather bland middle portion of the bout, using his strength advantage and unrivaled technique to wear Lorcan down.

The energetic babyface fired off another extraordinary spurt of offense but fell victim to the spinebuster and impaler DDT, which picked up the victory for Roode.

Result

Bobby Roode defeated Oney Lorcan.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This felt more like a showcase for Lorcan than the big victory for Roode it was designed to be.

Lorcan was explosive—an energetic babyface the fans at Full Sail University wanted to see score the upset. Roode was his methodical self, working the offense like an old-school pro. His comparison to Triple H is a fair one but also lends itself to, at times, dull or unexciting middle portions of matches.

Roode is the clear favorite to become No. 1 contender, but he is lacking that one definitive match that suggests he can be the great, brand-leading Superstar he will be asked to be.