WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 31

Wednesday night on WWE Network, the fans of NXT learned the following things: Tommaso Ciampa will not be replaced, Pete Dunne will define the United Kingdom brand and SAnitY is not quite as dominant when the numbers advantage is negated.

In the night's opening segment, Ciampa explained his actions from TakeOver and vowed to come back from his injury the nastiest, meanest man on the roster.

Mean and nasty were the words used to best describe Dunne, who won a hard-hitting slugfest with Danny Burch and staked his claim to the top spot in WWE's expanding kingdom.

And finally, Roderick Strong looked to earn another victory over Eric Young and SAnitY, partnering with Kassius Ohno in an explosive main event.

How did each of the segments on the May 31 episode grade out and how might the effects of each shape NXT well into the summer?

Find out in this recap of the latest broadcast.

Tommaso Ciampa Explains All

After a shocking betrayal of partner Johnny Gargano at TakeOver: Chicago, Tommaso Ciampa took to the squared circle to explain his actions.

Visibly distraught, he called Gargano to the ring.

Ciampa revealed Gargano was not there and discussed replacements. He accused his best friend of trying to replace him after he was injured two days before the ladder match against The Authors of Pain. He put aside his health to be there for his partner when all Gargano wanted to do was replace him with dream partners.

He was bitter over the manner in which he was treated like an afterthought and responded the way he did, then blamed the fans and Gargano for the demise of DIY.

Ciampa said if he was going away for a long time with injury, Gargano was going away for a long time, too.

He wrapped up the segment by vowing to be the most dangerous S.O.B. in NXT when he returns and ended by emphatically stating, "I am professional wrestling."

Grade

A

Analysis

One day, Tommaso Ciampa is going to be the NXT champion and one of the hottest stars in the sport. When that happens, you can trace all of his success as a singles star to this promo.

This is the type of promo that elevates a performer from uncertainty to Superstardom in one fell swoop. The passion with which Ciampa asserted himself as both the most dangerous and intense man in the sport was something few Superstars routinely bring to the ring.

He felt vindicated and believed every single word he said. When a performer achieves that, it is so much easier for fans to buy into what they're selling.

Ciampa was extraordinary and did more to put over the eventual rivalry between him and his former tag team partner than even the angle from TakeOver did.

Danny Burch vs. Pete Dunne

Credit: WWE.com

Fresh off defeating Tyler Bate to become the WWE United Kingdom champion, "Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne returned to the NXT Arena to battle tough man journeyman Danny Burch.

The faithful fans inside Full Sail University erupted for the arrival of Dunne, clearly appreciative of the classic he turned in with Bate in Chicago.

Dunne targeted the arm and fingers of his opponent early, but Burch, an accomplished technician, escaped and took the champion down.

The wrestlers exchanged slaps and shoulder blocks before a hard right hand by Dunne earned him control of the bout. The champion savagely stomped the back of his opponent's head repeatedly, finding the most vicious manner in which to wear his opponent down.

Burch fought back and delivered a big exploder suplex as he rolled. He scored several near-falls, as did Dunne as the action hit its crescendo.

The champion caught Burch with an enzuigiri, but the double-tough veteran answered with a lariat.

A hard right hand by Burch and a draping DDT had the respected Superstar rolling, but Dunne recovered and scored the pinfall victory moments later off The Bitter End.

After the match, Dunne said he had to watch as a young boy carried the UK title, but now history will remember that everything that comes with the championship and the United Kingdom brand will be credited to him.

Result

Pete Dunne defeated Danny Burch.

Grade

A

Analysis

This was a superb television match that further ingrained the hard-hitting British style in the minds of the WWE audience.

The unflinching brutality of every strike and the ferociousness with which the Superstars approached the match continued to separate the United Kingdom from the rest of the show. As WWE continues to build that section of its roster, it would be wise to replicate the success it has experienced thus far.

Dunne is a star in the making, a cocky and arrogant bad guy who does not care who he hurts or who he offends. It is a breath of fresh air in today's often cookie-cutter WWE.

Cezar Bononi vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas

The arrogance of Andrade "Cien" Almas can be both his greatest attribute and his biggest weakness, as he found out Wednesday night as he squared off with Cezar Bononi.

Almas dominated early, but mid-match, cockiness allowed Bononi to get back into the fight. Even when Almas thwarted his comeback attempt, Bononi managed to stay just enough in the contest that he remained a threat.

A hard, insulting slap to the face had Almas rolling, but Bononi countered a suplex attempt into a small package roll-up for the win.

An enraged Almas threw a fit, kicking the ropes and slamming a chair in the ring out of frustration.

The anger subsided. He brushed it off as if it did not matter, a blip in his career despite those blips mounting with every passing week.

Result

Cezar Bononi defeated Andrade "Cien" Almas.

Grade

B

Analysis

The nonchalant attitude of Almas continues to overshadow every one of his recent losses. More important than the outcome of the match is the demeanor that proceeds it. He expresses brief frustration but ultimately shakes it off in favor of a night on the town with a bevy of beauties.

What he needs is someone to come into his life and force him to be more attentive, to rediscover his passion for wrestling and get his career back on the path.

Until that happens, he will remain a shell of the athlete he has the potential to be.

It is an intriguing story that only a focused brand like NXT, with clear vision and an end game, can actually carry out.

Roderick Strong and Kassius Ohno vs. SAnitY

Roderick Strong's war with SAnitY continued this week as Strong partnered with Kassius Ohno to face the unhinged stable's Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe in a blockbuster tag team main event.

An infuriated Young took the fight to Strong, who answered with rights and lefts of his own. A big backbreaker felled the leader of SAnitY as the NXT faithful came alive for the Ring of Honor export. Wolfe tagged in and found himself on the receiving end of a two-on-one by Strong and Ohno.

The heels wrested control of the match away from their opponents, isolating Ohno from his partner. Young worked over his head and neck, wrenching it in different directions and cutting off a comeback attempt.

Strong exploded into the match and unloaded on both Wolfe and Young. A big slam and enzuigiri put Wolfe down, while a backbreaker on the ring apron had Young reeling.

Young delivered a big neckbreaker to Strong off a blind tag and nearly scored the victory. Ohno interjected an attempted attack by Wolfe, and the returning No Way Jose prevented Killian Dain from interfering.

A huge suplex backbreaker from Strong earned the babyface team the victory.

Result

Roderick Strong and Kassius Ohno defeated Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe.

Grade

B+

Analysis

For so long, SAnitY got over on NXT's most popular stars because of a numbers game that was solidly in its favor. As we saw Wednesday night, when the odds are evened, it doesn't experience the same success.

It is an easy narrative to follow and one that makes complete sense within the context of the story that has been told from the beginning.

No Way Jose's triumphant return, coupled with the extraordinary performance of a surging Roderick Strong, put an exclamation point on what was a fantastic and energetic main event.

The stage is set for a wild blowoff match if, and when, the opportunity arises.