WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 8

Months after suffering a debilitating knee injury during a match with Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: San Antonio, Shinsuke Nakamura made his return to the squared circle on Wednesday's episode of NXT.

TJ Perkins, the former cruiserweight champion, provided more than suitable competition in what was a fun, energetic and enthusiastic main event.

Elsewhere on the show, the issues between Tye Dillinger and SAnitY intensified, Ember Moon cashed her ticket to a spot on the NXT TakeOver: Orlando card and The Authors of Pain sent a message to The Revival as the spectacular draws near.

What went down Wednesday night on WWE Network, and how does it affect the brand's top rivalries, matches and Superstars going forward?

Relive Wednesday's episode to find out for yourself.

SAnitY Attacks Roderick Strong

Tye Dillinger kicked off Wednesday's broadcast, drawing a sizable ovation from fans inside the University of Central Florida as he prepared to battle SAnitY's Eric Young.

Young banished his teammates to the back, vowing that the fight would be between himself and Dilligner.

Before the match could start, Killian Dain, Alexander Wolfe and Nikki Cross reappeared, dragging a beaten and battered Roderick Strong on to the stage.

Dillinger abandoned the match and checked on Strong, joined by No Way Jose.

The babyfaces took the fight to SAnitY, even though they were outnumbered in the ordeal.

The heels laid out Dillinger and Jose and stood tall to close out the segment.

Grade

B

Analysis

The segment did exactly what it intended to in that it put further heat on SAnitY as it continues its war of attrition with Dillinger, Jose and Strong.

The only question is whether Strong was the right guy to be dragged on to the stage and left in a heap. A Superstar with a world-renowned reputation, he should be better utilized than he has been to this point.

A huge Six-Man Tag Team match of sorts is clearly the endgame here, and the crowd will likely pop huge when the babyfaces score their much-anticipated victory.

HoHo Lun vs. Andrade Almas

Credit: WWE.com

Andrade "Cien" Almas was in no mood to waste time as he squared off with HoHo Lun Wednesday night on NXT.

He brutalized the inexperienced Hong Kongese Superstar, laying waste to him with stiff, hard strikes.

Almas finished the outclassed Lun with the hammerlock DDT for the pinfall victory.

Result

Andrade "Cien" Almas defeated HoHo Lun.

Grade

C-

Analysis

The grade is reflective only of the match. For a one-sided squash that saw Almas beat the ever-living hell out of his opponent, a C- is probably generous.

This is exactly the type of match Almas needs to rebuild credibility with the NXT fanbase. He has been so wildly underutilized and, more importantly, mismanaged that fans have lost faith that he will develop into a legitimate star under the NXT banner.

The key will be building him through intense and aggressive performances such as this one so that Almas can one day work alongside Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura and other top NXT stars and be accepted in that role.

Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay

After Peyton Royce and Billie Kay aggravated and agitated her earlier in the day, Ember Moon was seeking revenge as she squared off with the latter in singles competition.

In what was a hard-hitting battle, Moon withstood the presence of Royce at ringside and was able to use an array of kicks to put Kay off guard.

From there, she climbed the ropes and launched herself off with the Eclipse for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Moon celebrated while commentator Nigel McGuinness pointed out the fact Kay was not moving. Referees, trainers and Royce checked on Kay, who gingerly walked away from the squared circle to a smattering of respectful cheers.

Result

Ember Moon defeated Billie Kay.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Generally speaking, cameras do not linger on Superstars when they are legitimately injured. Either Kay's post-match injury was an angle or it was not serious enough for NXT officials to cut away or turn off cameras for.

Moon's win would seemingly set up a match with Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship, especially based on the sheer number of times Tom Phillips mentioned that commissioner William Regal was watching the match closely. Regal's announcement later in the night confirmed as much.

Since Day 1, it has appeared as though Moon was being groomed to be the next Superstar to carry the Women's Championship. Whether she wins it in Orlando in April or the feud continues remains to be seen, but Moon vs. Asuka is the highest-profile female feud the brand can present.

The Revival vs. The Ealy Brothers

Credit: WWE.com

The Revival entered UCF to a thunderous ovation, prepared to do battle with twin tag team The Ealy Brothers. As the newcomers made their way to the squared circle, though, The Authors of Pain appeared and beat them down.

Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson seized the opportunity to retreat through the crowd as The Authors stood tall in the center of the squared circle, having left the Ealys lying for the second time.

Result

No-contest.

Grade

C-

Analysis

This was short and simple.

The Revival has repeatedly caught The Authors of Pain off guard via sneak attacks. Their chicanery has enraged the NXT tag team champions, and Dash and Dawson will have to look over their shoulders in every arena they enter, with the big men seeking vengeance for the assaults they have incurred.

Suddenly, the manipulative heels have the champions reacting to their emotions rather than the situation, which is something they will hope to take advantage of when The Revival squares off with The Authors somewhere down the line.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. TJ Perkins

Shinsuke Nakamura put his injured knee to the test in Wednesday's main event, as he squared off with former cruiserweight champion TJ Perkins.

Superstars familiar with each other, they had a clear understanding of what the other was going to throw at them and, more importantly, when.

Perkins worked over the knee, understanding his path to victory went through the injured joint. He applied a submission hold that was part-Cloverleaf, part-Sharpshooter and part-Boston Crab as he attempted to force a tapout from The King of Strong Style.

Instead, the Japanese star overcame the onslaught, destroyed Perkins with a reverse Exploder suplex and pinned him following Kinshasa.

After the match, Regal announced from his office backstage that the winner of the forthcoming match between Kassius Ohno and Bobby Roode will defend the NXT Championship against Nakamura at TakeOver: Orlando.

Result

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated TJ Perkins.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was, by far, the best Perkins has looked since the Cruiserweight Classic. In one night, NXT did more to put him over as a star on the level of Nakamura than Raw did during Perkins' stint with the cruiserweight title.

He hung in with the former NXT champion and did so with his staggering, lightning-quick offense, which meshed perfectly with the unconventional style of Nakamura.

Fans were into the match, never really cheering either because of the admiration they had for each.

Nakamura proved he was able to take out a quality opponent on a bum knee, setting the stage for one last championship opportunity at TakeOver: Orlando.