WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 28

Two weeks after a wild and chaotic brawl captivated the NXT faithful, Asuka and Nikki Cross brought their intense rivalry to a head Wednesday night in a brutal, unforgiving Last Woman Standing match with The Empress of Tomorrow's NXT Women's Championship up for grabs.

Supporting the blockbuster main event was the latest appearance from The Velveteen Dream, a bone-rattling war between Oney Lorcan and Hideo Itami and Sanity's latest exploits.

Add to it the return of Mauro Ranallo on commentary and you have an explosive episode of the WWE Network staple devoted to building toward TakeOver: Brooklyn this August.

Find out how each match graded out, what the results mean for the Superstars involved and how they may affect the course NXT takes in the weeks and months to come with this recap of the June 28 broadcast.

The Velveteen Dream vs. HoHo Lun

Credit: WWE.com

The Velveteen Dream returned to the squared circle Wednesday night looking to keep his winning ways up as he squared off with former Cruiserweight Classic competitor HoHo Lun.

The histrionics of Dream frustrated an energetic Lun early while the eccentric heel's mind games kept him off guard.

In short order, Dream delivered his top rope elbow drop for the impressive, one-sided victory.

Result

Velveteen Dream defeated HoHo Lun

Grade

B-

Analysis

As a showcase for Dream, this worked.

He was able to get the character over in the brief course of the match and picked up a convincing win.

At a time when he does not have to step up and be a prominent part of the roster thanks to the depth it currently enjoys, booking him in squash matches that let him explore the character more is exactly the right path to take.

Oney Lorcan vs. Hideo Itami

Credit: WWE.com

The new, possibly improved Hideo Itami took to the squared circle Wednesday night to battle Oney Lorcan in a battle of hard-hitting athletes.

Lorcan wasted little time avenging a savage beating from Itami from a few weeks back, unloading on Itami with a series of chops. A running uppercut obliterated the former No. 1 contender's nose, forcing blood to pour from it.

Trainers forced Itami from the squared circle, and the match was stopped prematurely.

Result

No-contest

Grade

B

Analysis

Though it was not intentional, the blood that gushed from Itami's nose enhanced the narrative that exists between the Superstars.

Itami repeatedly caught Lorcan with his Go To Sleep finisher weeks earlier. Seeking vengeance, the bald-headed blitzkrieg took the fight to his opponent, with the fury of an army.

The result was a stunned Itami retreating to the back, flanked by trainers, escaping the wrath of his budding rival.

For the time being.

Lorcan vs. Itami, Round 2

Credit: WWE.com

Itami wore a mask of rage as he made his way to the ring and demanded Lorcan return for the resumption of their battle.

He unloaded on Lorcan, seizing control of the bout heading into the break. He would not be able to hold control, though, as Lorcan unloaded with a series of uppercuts that put him down for a strong near-fall.

The former Biff Busick continued to take the fight to the internationally renowned Itami, but a cheap kick to the knee while the official had Lorcan distracted allowed the freshly minted heel to take control.

Lorcan fought out of an attempted Go To Sleep but appeared to hurt his knee even more. The Go To Sleep put Lorcan down for the count, and Itami secured the victory.

After the match, Itami demanded Kassius Ohno come to the ring, and The Knockout Artist did just that. A face-to-face was interrupted by Sanity's Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain and Nikki Cross. The heels got the best of Ohno and Itami, leaving them lying.

Wolfe vowed Sanity would end forced friendships and reign chaos on NXT. First, though, it was time for Cross to win the women's title.

Result

Hideo Itami defeated Oney Lorcan

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was a hell of a match that put over the toughness of the Superstars involved. The rivals unloaded on each other with some punishing blows that left both with welts on their chests.

Itami taking the cheap way out with that well-placed kick to the knee allowed Lorcan to preserve his heat in defeat while putting over the new attitude and philosophy of the Japanese competitor.

The interjection of Sanity into the proceedings sets up a scenario in which friends-turned-enemies Ohno and Itami have to set aside their differences in order to survive what should be a heated series of battles with the unpredictable faction.

A tried-and-true story that has worked numerous times before and will continue to thrive no matter how complicated wrestling writers try to make modern feuds.

Last Woman Standing for the NXT Women's Championship: Asuka vs. Nikki Cross

Credit: WWE.com

Asuka's historic championship reign was in jeopardy Wednesday night as The Empress of Tomorrow defended against the wild, chaotic and unpredictable Nikki Cross in the first Last Woman Standing match in NXT history.

Disdain painted the faces of the Superstars as Mike Rome introduced them, the pent-up anger and fury evident before the bell.

The women unleashed hell on each other early. Each was left writhing in pain, struggling to regain their footing ahead of the final break of the night.

A defiant, laughing Cross endured several hard kicks but shrugged them off and delivered a neckbreaker to the champion. A series of twisting fisherman neckbreakers left Asuka in dire straits, flat on her back as the referee began his count.

Cross fought out of an attempt at a suplex from the ring apron and delivered a big powerbomb onto a pile of steel chairs, creating serious doubts about Asuka's ability to recover in time to preserve her title reign.

The action made its way up the ramp, each woman teasing spots off the stage.

Cross pulled a table out in the production area and slammed Asuka face-first into it. She set up a ladder and teased a leap of faith that would end with her crashing onto her opponent and through the table. Eventually, both women ended up crashing through the announce table, the champion delivering a vicious superplex to her rival.

At the very last second, Asuka recovered and made it to her feet just as the official reached the count of 10, winning the match and ensuring her title reign would continue.

Result

Asuka defeated Nikki Cross

Grade

A

Analysis

After the women of WWE headlined both Raw and SmackDown Live, Asuka and Cross put an emphatic exclamation point on the week with a fantastic match that wrapped up their rivalry while staying true to its ferocious tone.

The brutality of the match, including the powerbomb on the chairs and the finishing superplex, hammered home the unadulterated hatred that existed between the two. Furthermore, the finish does not suggest Asuka is better than Cross but, rather, luckier.

The execution of it allows Cross to remain in contention while Asuka's historic reign marches on.

A fantastic conclusion to another superb presentation by the brand.