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

Asuka's reign as NXT women's champion was in great danger Wednesday night as she defended in a Triple Threat match against Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross, the main event of the June 14 episode of NXT on WWE Network.

A wild, chaotic brawl capped the show off as Asuka and Cross failed to settle their differences in the confines of the squared circle, spilling to the backstage area and through a production area.

That match was not the only newsworthy event from Wednesday's show, as The Authors of Pain appear poised to do battle with Heavy Machinery over the NXT Tag Team Championships.

The Velveteen Dream was in action, and Drew McIntyre dominated another unfortunate soul to round out the night's card.

Drew McIntyre vs. Rob Ryzin

Credit: WWE.com

Drew McIntyre sought to continue his winning ways Wednesday night as he squared off with Rob Ryzin in singles competition.

The Scot tossed his opponent across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex but found himself on the receiving end of a straight kick to the face.

McIntyre survived a valiant effort from Ryzin to deliver his running kick for the win.

Result

Drew McIntyre defeated Rob Ryzin

Grade

C

Analysis

This was a showcase for McIntyre and little more.

There is nothing wrong with that. If anything, it keeps him sharp and in the spotlight while management figures out which direction to take him and his character in going forward.

The Authors of Pain in Action

Credit: WWE.com

NXT tag team champions The Authors of Pain obliterated two enhancement talents Wednesday night with relative ease, expending little energy in securing the victory.

Manager Paul Ellering addressed the NXT faithful, calling Heavy Machinery dumb and running down the list of great teams defeated by his proteges.

This brought out Heavy Machinery's Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic. The heavyweights were unfazed by the presence of the titleholders, staring them down until they and manager Ellering wisely retreated.

Result

The Authors of Pain defeated Beastly Brody and Malken

Grade

B

Analysis

As a match, it was the same squash we spent months watching from the champions. From a storytelling perspective, it was a simple and effective way of setting up the next rivalry over the tag titles.

It may not result in show-stealing bouts the way series involving The Revival and DIY did, but it will be a spectacle between two heavyweight teams, a rarity in today's NXT.

Velveteen Dream vs. Raul Mendoza

Credit: WWE.com

Velveteen Dream returned to NXT TV Wednesday night and found his match with Raul Mendoza to be much more exhausting than he likely expected.

The eccentric newcomer attempted to use mind games to get ahead, but Mendoza responded by running circles around Dream and catching him off guard with agility and speed.

Ultimately, though, it was Dream catching his opponent with a Death Valley Driver and his top rope elbow drop that made the difference.

Result

Velveteen Dream defeated Raul Mendoza

Grade

C+

Analysis

While it is nice to see Patrick Clark find himself in the Velveteen Dream character, struggling to beat an enhancement competitor is not a good look for a Superstar this early in his push.

Is it, perhaps, nitpicking?

Perhaps, but competitive squash matches rarely benefit the Superstar involved.

NXT Women's Championship Match: Asuka vs. Ruby Riot vs. Nikki Cross

Credit: WWE.com

The three-way rivalry between Asuka, Nikki Cross and Ruby Riot continued into this week's episode of NXT as The Empress of Tomorrow defended her historic NXT Women's Championship reign against the two worthy challengers. The match, a Triple Threat elimination match, dominated nearly half of the broadcast.

Riot and Cross put aside their differences momentarily, disposing of Asuka at ringside before turning their attention to each other.

After the break, Asuka and Riot squared off, the latter catching Asuka off guard but not being able to follow up as Cross jumped back into the fray. A big kick by Riot scored her a near-fall, though.

Riot wiped both Asuka and Cross out at ringside with a dropkick off the apron and was surging as the match continued. A big side suplex to her archnemesis Cross continued that roll. She wiped out Asuka, but Cross caught her with a twisting neckbreaker to eliminate Riot.

Back from the commercial, Asuka fired off a series of kicks, but a rake of the eyes from Cross slowed her momentum.

The fight between champion and challenger spilled out of the ring, drawing a double count-out. The war spilled to the backstage area, where Asuka slammed Cross' head into the garage door, only to find herself shoved face-first into a cooler of ice water.

Back in the arena, the competitors took turns slamming each other into the announce table. Eventually, both women fell through production equipment to close out the explosive broadcast.

Result

No-contest

Grade

A+

Analysis

Remember the brawl between Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar from this week's Raw?

Who would have ever imagined that would be the second-best brawl of the week?

Asuka and Cross unleashed hell on each other late in Wednesday's show, and the result was an explosive situation that ended with both laid out, the victims of a wicked table spot.

While it was interesting to see Riot dismissed in the manner she was, the fight Asuka and Cross engaged in was wholly engrossing and has done more to generate interest in a match between them than a simple match announcement or repetitive contract signing would have.

Simply put, this was the best segment of television produced by WWE this week.