WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Sept. 5

Tiffany Stratton defended her NXT Women's Championship against Kiana James after a big win last week.Credit: WWE.com.

On the September 5 episode of NXT at the WWE Performance Center, one championship would be on the line while future challengers would be determined.

Kiana James defeated the impressive field of Roxanne Perez, Blair Davenport and Gigi Dolin to earn her first one-on-one NXT Women's Championship opportunity this week. Could she end the hot streak of Tiffany Stratton?

Mustafa Ali and Dragon Lee have both laid claim to the title of No. 1 contender to the NXT North American title, but only one could earn it. What role would "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio play as the special guest referee?

Von Wagner faced the biggest challenge of his career against Bron Breakker in what was certain to be a chaotic No Disqualification match. Could the big man make good on his promise to put the former NXT champion through a table?

Tyler Bate looked for revenge against Dabba-Kato. He needed to get past this rival before he could fully focus on the Global Heritage Invitational. In that tournament this week, Butch faced Axiom.

Carmelo Hayes went to Shawn Michaels' office last week to clear up the asterisk on his record. What did he propose? Would Ilja Dragunov get his wish following his match this week against Oro Mensah?

This show had a chance to set the stage for NXT's fall season.

Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James went at each other from the outset, throwing out their biggest shots immediately.

However, The Center of the Universe took the win with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

Becky Lynch appeared on the titantron afterward to lay out a challenge to Stratton for the NXT Women's Championship next week. The contest was then confirmed as the main event.

This was a bizarre match. Stratton and James flew through their choreography in the very definition of a sprint. The action was solid, but they never got a chance to breathe. It was like NXT was trying to get this out of the way.

Perhaps that was the exact plan because Lynch is already next up for The Center of the Universe. It seemed odd to dismiss a match that was built over three weeks to set up a a last-minute title bout next week.

The Man is a major challenge for Stratton as there is no bigger star in the women's division. Somehow, The Center of the Universe will keep her title next week, but Lynch will require her to wrestle the most complete match of her career.

Result

Stratton def. James by pinfall to retain the NXT Women's Championship.

Grade

B (for the action) but D (for lack of time and spotlight). Evens out to a C.

Notable Moments

• Stratton tried to steal a pin with her feet on the ropes. James responded with a roll-up and a handful of tights. The referee caught both.
• The Center of the Universe tried to use James' bag against her. She ducked it and hit the 401K for a near-fall.
• Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez tried to enjoy Dragon Lee vs. Mustafa Ali, but James came in to throw a tantrum. James and Perez came to blows.
• Stratton cut a confident promo on Lynch before the main event.
  

Oro Mensah controlled the action in this match, but he got too cocky. He mocked Dragunov's Torpedo Moscow, only for The Mad Dragon to cut him off and hit the finisher for the win.

Wes Lee interrupted the celebration and old Dragunov to stay out of his way for an NXT Championship shot. Carmelo Hayes arrived and announced the two would fight in a No. 1 Contender's match next week.

This could have been significantly shorter. Mensah has looked good with time, but he was never going to believably defeat The Mad Dragon. Because of the pace of the match, Dragunov did not look like the dominant challenger he should.

Lee vs. Dragunov next week should be a good one. Melo will have a great match with either man at No Mercy on September 30. The A Champion sold why he needed to beat the best man in NXT. He will be looking to have his best match yet with the brand.

Result

Dragunov def. Mensah by pinfall.

Grade

B- (for the match) and B (for post-match). Evens out to a B.

Notable Moments

• Mensah caught Dragunov with a side kick in the ropes that knocked him out.
• The crowd chanted the obvious "Triple Threat" with the three men in the ring, and NXT should consider going that route with the talent involved.
• In the locker room, Dragunov warned Trick Williams that he would need to give his friend a reality check before No Mercy because Melo had no chance to beat him.
  

Nathan Frazer reversed the Razor's Edge into a headscissors takedown into the turnbuckle. He followed up a Phoenix Splash to get on the board in this tournament.

The point of this Global Heritage Invitational was supposed to be to highlight top wrestlers in NXT, but squash matches like this help no one. It made Hudson look unworthy of his spot in the tournament.

Group B is already getting mixed up. If Joe Coffey loses next, everyone in the group would have the same record going into the final matches, invalidating the need for a round-robin format.

Result

Frazer def. Hudson by pinfall to earn two points in the Global Heritage Invitational.

Grade

C-

Notable Moments

• In a pre-match interview, Frazer refused to slow down, no matter how much it put him at risk.
• The Meta-Four took up their spot above the crowd to watch the Invitational matches.
  
• Akira Tozawa will again compete on NXT Level Up, facing Coffey. This is a wasted opportunity to use one of WWE's most underused acts.
  

Dabba-Kato threw around Tyler Bate with ease until The Big Strong Boi hit him enough to daze him.

Bate knocked him down with an impressive airplane spin followed by a Spinning Boi to win.

What was the point of Kato targeting Bate if he was just going to lose again? The NXT announcers attempted to sell this as a monumental victory for Bate, but he has been booked consistently as a bigger star than his opponent.

In less than three minutes, Bate put the supposed monster away. It wasn't even a fair fight. Kato never even teased that he had a chance. NXT has repeatedly failed to book these types of performer like dominant forces, and Kato has suffered for that more than most.

Hopefully, at least The Big Strong Boi can now fully focus on the Global Heritage Invitational.

Result

Bate def. Kato by pinfall.

Grade

D

Notable Moments

• Bate threw his towel into the face of his opponent and then charged him with forearm strikes before the bell.
• The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile put back together the Diamond Dojo. Many tag teams arrived including The Family before a complete division brawl broke out.
  

This looked like a fair fight early on, but after an argument between Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio, Ali caught the luchador with a roll-up for a quick three-count.

The new No. 1 contender punched the North American champion in the face and left him to Lee in case the luchador wanted revenge, but he walked out.

This was a fun segment that teased a great match down the line. However, Dirty Dom chose the man he was more willing to fight quickly and gave Ali his win before the two could truly get rolling.

It all made sense for the story, though. While Ali is a dangerous competitor, Dom fears Lee because he's already pinned the champion. It is likely this will end up becoming a Triple Threat in a similar style to the Great American Bash.

Result

Ali def. Lee by pinfall to become the No. 1 contender to the North American Championship.

Grade

B (even if a better match was left for the future)

Notable Moments

• Mysterio ripped pages out of the WWE rulebook as he prepared for this match. He then slipped on a special dark-purple referee outfit in reference to The Judgment Day.
  
• Dirty Dom told Carmelo Hayes to watch him "pick" his opponent next before correcting himself to say he would only "find out" his opponent.
• Lee sent Ali over the announce table. Ali responded by flipping over the table into a clothesline.
  
• After the result, Ali looked conflicted between celebrating his win and putting down Dirty Dom for giving it to him unfairly.
  

Axiom and Butch fought for this with everything they had.

The Superhero nearly got the win off the Golden Ratio, but The Brawling Brute slipped his arm under the bottom rope.

Butch hit Axiom with the Bitter End, but The Superhero kicked out just before time expired.

This is what the tournament needed. Axiom and Butch had the first true show-stealer of the event. While draws can be deflating, this felt like a statement of Axiom's worth. He fought Butch tooth and nail, never giving up.

What made the match so good was how The Superhero changed his style to match The Brawling Brute. He went forearm against forearm, kick against kick in one of the most physical matches in NXT's recent history.

Group A is already significantly outshining Group B. It helps that Butch is in Pete Dunne form, but Tyler Bate still has three matches to raise the competition level all the more.

Result

Butch vs. Axiom goes to a time-limit draw.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

• Axiom went for a standing moonsault, but Butch caught him and transitioned into a triangle choke. The Superhero had to escape to the ropes.
• Axiom and Butch fist-bumped in respect after the finish.
• Bate came out to stare down his future opponents.
  
• In their private ring, Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey and Charlie Dempsey told Myles Borne that he messed up by agreeing to team with Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen.
  

Gigi Dolin showed her wherewithal by dragging herself to the ropes after Thea Hail locked her in the Kimura Lock for the first time.

However, Blair Davenport attacked her at ringside to set up the Chase U student to lock in the Kimura a second time and force a submission.

While she is still coming along, Hail looked smoother in the ring than she did even with Tiffany Stratton. She is finding her way and executing with far more polish.

The revolving door of rivals in the women's division is becoming a little surreal. Dolin did not even finish her last feud with Kiana James, but she moved onto Roxanne Perez while Dolin gears up for Davenport.

What is working, though, is Hail and Jacy Jayne together. They are different acts who can push each other to show more dynamic range. This was a smart booking call that could help keep the NXT women's tag team division relevant.

Result

Hail def. Dolin by submission.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

• Jayne had Hail dressing more like her. Dolin tried to warn Hail about working with her former partner. In response, the Chase U student challenged Dolin to a match.
  
• Jayne told Hail to slow down and toss aside the Chase U cone before heading to the ring.
• Lyra Valkyria tried to cheer up Kelani Jordan backstage, but Dana Brooke took offense. The Valkyrie and Brooke agreed to a match next week.
  

Von Wagner fought with fire, including sending Bron Breakker through the stage.

He also powerbombed the former NXT champion through the announce table, but a low blow followed by a Spear won it for Breakker.

Afterward, Breakker continued to inflict damage. He smashed Wagner's head into the steel steps as the television feed cut out.

With the help of many different weapons, Wagner put together the best singles match of his career so far. Breakker made him look like a monster as he powered out of the former NXT champion's best offense.

It's a shame that this didn't lead to a win for Wagner, but Breakker remains the much higher-profile performer. The feud is clearly not over, though, so a win may come before it's done.

Baron Corbin's involvement with the commentary team seemed unnecessary, but he got a front-row seat to Breakker's most ruthless acts to date. This can set them up to work together sooner than later.

Result

Breakker def. Wagner by pinfall.

Grade

B+ (despite NXT failing to capitalize on the growing popularity of Wagner)

Notable Moments

• Earlier in the day, Wagner thanked the announce table for helping him find his confidence.
• Corbin said he did not care who won, but one of the two had to step up. He joined commentary for the main event.
• Wagner backed Breakker into a steel chair and then planted him with two big boots. Breakker caught his third boot and turned it into a powerbomb for a near-fall.
• The former NXT champion sent the big man to the mat for a Recliner with a kendo stick, but Wagner fought out and choked Breakker with the same weapon.
• Wagner broke a kendo stick on Breakker and then bashed him with a steel chair. He chokeslammed him for a near-fall.
  

This was the buildup show for what commentator Vic Joseph tried to hype as the biggest show NXT has ever produced next Tuesday.

This show did suffer for that focus. The first half of the night was rushed, particularly turning several competitive bouts into forgettable squash matches.

It did pick up around the time Mustafa Ali and Dragon Lee starting going at it, but the highlight of the show was Butch vs. Axiom as the Global Heritage Cup finally produced a big match.

The main event continued the rebirth of Von Wagner in his best match to date as a solo star. He and Bron Breakker battled hard to make their match feel worthy of its spot, even if there were multiple matches earlier that deserved more time and attention.

NXT will look to deliver an unforgettable night next week, so this one is quickly forgotten. Hopefully, the brand can live up to that promise as the shows have been decidedly up-and-down recently.

Overall Grade: C