WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from July 5

The rivalry between Roderick Strong and NXT champion Bobby Roode escalated over the last month, culminating in a grudge match for the top prize the brand has to offer Wednesday night on WWE Network.

The contest, the main event of the broadcast, would give fans a clear look at the Superstar who would rule the NXT roost ahead of TakeOver: Brooklyn III in August.

Also on tap for this week's broadcast was a tag team showdown in which Hideo Itami and Kassius Ohno would have to set aside their differences to battle the team of Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain of Sanity.

With the next NXT live event special rapidly approaching, which Superstars put themselves in position to earn high-profile spots on the Brooklyn card?

Find out with this recap of the July 5 presentation.

Hideo Itami and Kassius Ohno vs. Sanity

Seeking vengeance for a sneak attack that left them lying in a heap a week ago, Kassius Ohno and Hideo Itami were forced to put aside the increasingly personal issues facing them as they squared off with Sanity's Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe.

Dain and Wolfe isolated Itami, his chest still adorned with scars following a physical battle with Oney Lorcan last week.

A hard fist and series of open hands allowed him to fight back against Dain while several clotheslines put Wolfe down for two.

Rather than tagging in the fresh Ohno, though, Itami selfishly fought by himself. While he blasted Wolfe with Go To Sleep, Itami missed a blind tag to Dain, who exploded across the ring with a cross-body block and scored the pinfall victory.

Result

Sanity defeated Hideo Itami and Kassius Ohno

Grade

A

Analysis

The dissension between Itami and Ohno predictably played a role in the outcome, and rightfully so.

Itami's ignorance and selfishness proved his downfall and surely added to the budding dislike between the former friends. His insistence on working the entire match not only cost him a victory but also Ohno, who will not take kindly to dropping a match that was entirely winnable.

The booking played to the ongoing story and allowed the lesser visible members of Sanity to score a quality victory.

A strong way to kick off this week's show.

Ruby Riot Shares Ember Moon's Championship Desire

Credit: WWE.com

During a pre-taped vignette, Ember Moon was interviewed by several members of the press at the WWE Performance Center.

Of the hottest topics was her desire to battle Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship and what she believes should be her placement at the front of the line to do so.

This drew the ire of Ruby Riot, who reminded Moon that she had her chance to compete for the title and lost. Riot did not.

The vignette ended with Moon telling the reporters she would go through whomever she had to in order to get to Asuka and the Women's Championship.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was a simple, effective way to set up a Riot-Moon match without needing a ton of backstory to get there. Moon considers herself the top contender to the women's title; Riot disagrees. Both have valid arguments for an opportunity.

The fresh take on the tired backstage or behind-the-scenes confrontation that NXT features is always appreciated.

NXT Championship Match: Roderick Strong vs. Bobby Roode

The main event of Wednesday's show was treated like the high-profile, marquee bout it was, complete with numerous video packages, a backstage interview with the champion before the match and special introductions before Bobby Roode and Roderick Strong brought the intensely personal differences to a head.

Roode caught Strong's knee between the ring post and the steps and immediately set out to deal his top contender incredible pain and punishment. Strong's significant other, Marina Shafir, watched with a concerned look painting her face as Roode targeted the injured limb.

The resilient Strong repeatedly tried to fight his way back into the match, but Roode cut him off at seemingly every turn.

Strong fired off a series of hard rights, two clotheslines and a big backbreaker that nearly won him the match. Surging thanks to adrenaline and pure desire to be the best, he was seconds away from a win when an alert Roode chopped his leg out from underneath him.

No matter what the champion did, though, it never seemed like enough to keep Strong down. He answered a spinebuster with another innovative backbreaker, and when Roode delivered his Glorious DDT, Roddy defiantly shot his shoulder off the mat at the count of two, refusing to see his championship opportunity end in defeat.

Controversy reigned supreme late when Strong pinned Roode for a three-count but later found out that the champion had shot his leg under the bottom rope in time to legally break the count. Roode, capitalizing on the disappointment that engulfed Strong, knocked him off the ring apron and into the guardrail.

A second Glorious DDT helped the champion retain.

Result

Bobby Roode defeated Roderick Strong to retain the NXT Championship

Grade

A

Analysis

NXT should have switched the title here.

Yes, there will be those who say the brand should stay the course, let the long-term booking play out as scheduled, but Strong had become such an incredibly sympathetic and likable Superstar over the last two months that booking him to win the title in front of his family would have been an incredible moment and made an even bigger star out of the longtime Ring of Honor competitor.

As it is, beating Strong under those circumstances makes Roode an even more detestable Superstar and the type of heel fans legitimately want to see beaten. He is a villain NXT can build entire shows around while it searches for the strong babyface to carry the brand into the future.

The match itself was brilliantly built and featured some truly dramatic near-falls that had even the most hardcore fans inside Full Sail University biting at the possibility of a new champion.

All in all, this was a beautifully crafted half-hour of television that made for an emotional roller-coaster ride for the viewer.