WWE NXT 2.0 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 1

Tuesday's edition of WWE NXT 2.0 continued the rise of the brand toward NXT Stand & Deliver on April 2. And the show opened with a first-time-ever tag team showdown.

Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, former SmackDown and Raw tag team champions, stepped into an NXT ring together to take on the unique pairing of Bron Breakker and Tommaso Ciampa.

Carmelo Hayes has always been unafraid of a challenge, so he gladly accepted a match against Pete Dunne, even with his NXT North American Championship hanging in the balance.

Solo Sikoa set his sights on the biggest man in NXT, going after the dominant former NXT UK champion Gunther. Elsewhere, Von Wagner answered a challenge from Andre Chase, and Joe Gacy hoped to sway Draco Anthony to his side by forcing him to fight Harland.

The foundation of this show was set, but every episode of NXT 2.0 has its surprise ups and downs. It was all about who would emerge to set up the biggest matches NXT can put on for its WrestleMania special.

Robert Roode came out to his old "Glorious" theme. Bron Breakker and Tommaso Ciampa met The Dirty Dawgs at the entrance to start the fight early. The cohesion of the former SmackDown tag team champions allowed Dolph Ziggler to take over and wear down the NXT champion.

Ciampa got the first hot tag, but the heels kept their dominance, quickly taking back over. Breakker saved his partner with a big tag. The two hit a reverse Doomsday Device for a near-fall, which was followed by The Blackheart hitting the Fairy Tale Ending on The Showoff to win.

Backstage, Ziggler goaded Breakker into agreeing to a Triple Threat match involving them and Ciampa at NXT Roadblock next week.

Result

Ciampa and Breakker def. Ziggler and Roode by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Starting with the nostalgic theme, Roode never should have lost. This felt like a rejuvenation of his character. He was the key piece in this entertaining tag team match, continually keeping his team in the contest. Honestly, he came out looking better than his partner, the No. 1 contender to the NXT Championship.

The result was a surprise, only because Ziggler still needs more momentum. While he has been elevated by working the lower-level brand, he needs to look more like a threat.

Still, the action was a good sign that Breakker vs. Ziggler should be a great NXT Championship match no matter the build.

LA Knight marched to the ring to call out Grayson Waller. He talked about their history. Waller and Sanga appeared on the stage, and the heel refused to face The Million Dollar Mega Star.

Despite Waller's refusal, Knight played on his ego until the two agreed to fight in a Last Man Standing match at NXT Roadblock.

Grade

D+

Analysis

Knight is always a wave of charisma, but he stumbled here in moments. The segment did not come off as the end of a six-month angle but rather an awkward fight with the crowd to get to the point.

Knight vs. Waller has had enough build to earn a spot on the NXT Stand & Deliver card, so it is surprising it will happen next week. Perhaps NXT 2.0 has just lost trust in this angle to work on that stage after a few hiccups.

Backstage, Indi Hartwell tried to get Persia Pirotta to focus, but she was fixated on Duke Hudson. Toxic Attraction watched from their lounge.

Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai had some early tag team chemistry, working together to knock down Hartwell.

Pirotta tried to spell Hartwell, only to get knocked down by Choo's unique offense, including a superkick. Choo hit a top rope Vader Bomb before a diving double foot stomp from Kai sealed the win.

Result

Kai and Choo def. Hartwell and Pirotta by pinfall to advance in the women's Dusty Tag Team Classic.

Grade

B-

Analysis

This match got more time than the previous week's Dusty Classic matchups, but it still felt abbreviated. Choo and Kai are an interesting team because of the story NXT 2.0 is telling with them. The fun-loving Choo is pushing past Kai's walls to make her accept a new friend—or at least a partner.

They already have tag team combinations together, so even if Kai and Choo lose to Raquel Gonzalez and Cora Jade, this team has room to grow in a women's tag team division in need of fresh characters.

It was not as surprising as NXT trying to make it seem that Hartwell and Pirotta lost. The two have been falling apart since Hudson entered the story. Sadly, one of NXT's established teams looks set to break up.

Amari Miller and Lash Legend had a falling-out backstage that led to this match. Miller hit a big moonsault for a near-fall, but Legend kicked out and answered back with fireman's carry slam for the win.

Afterward, Legend called out Nikkita Lyons for taking her spotlight last week. Lyons responded by saying she wanted to speak to her on Lashing Out next week.

Result

Legend def. Miller by pinfall.

Grade

F

Analysis

Legend is not ring-ready for television. Even those who have struggled at times like Tiffany Stratton have looked far more prepared for this moment. She was awkward and barely able to keep up with Miller, whom she has been working with for months.

It is possible she will find her way in the ring, but she should stick to the talk show host role on air for now. Miller carried this three-minute match as best as she could. She deserves better.

Gunther and Solo Sikoa both promised to win in interviews before their match. NXT 2.0 showed a video package to hype Imperium vs. The Creed Brothers, which is set to take place next week. Elsewhere, Brooks Jensen embarrassed himself with Elektra Lopez in front of Josh Briggs.

The Ring General gave Sikoa a few early chops and only allowed his opponent fleeting moments of offense before taking back control. Impressively, the Samoan Superstar kept getting back up, not letting the punishment stop him.

Sikoa finally hit a second gear, running over Gunther with a dropkick and superkick. He sent him outside and hit a splash off the apron to the floor. He hit another superkick to get a two-count.

The Ring General took exception to Sikoa's burst of offense. He connected on a chop to the back of the head that dazed his opponent. He knocked him out with a sleeper hold before hitting a pair of powerbombs to win.

Result

Gunther def. Sikoa by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Analysis

While Sikoa got in his shots, this was always going to be The Ring General's night. He continues to build toward a massive NXT Championship opportunity. Sikoa fought hard and proved he is still one of NXT's better performers, just not main event-level yet.

The match was good, showcasing what these two do so well. Sikoa fought from underneath and hit a few big moves that would have been enough to defeat most. Gunther destroyed his competition while letting him look good.

Harland beat down Draco Anthony, showing little humanity to his opponent. It was a squash that ended with a series of forearms, head smashes against the mat and a delayed side slam.

Afterward, Harland awkwardly hugged Anthony at the behest of Joe Gacy.

Result

Harland def. Anthony by pinfall.

Grade

D

Analysis

The whole angle with Anthony has been uncomfortable to watch. While that may be the intention, it does not make for good TV. Harland is still developing as a destroyer in the ring. Hopefully he will be ready when he gets a serious challenger.

For now, Anthony has been fed to another more high-priority challenger. Harland should not need Gacy's weird stable to succeed. He just needs to be allowed to look as imposing in the ring as he does outside of it.

Ahead of this match, Tatum Paxley tried to apologize to Ivy Nile, who told her she would learn what it means to be in Diamond Mine the hard way.

In the ring, Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz tried to target the left arm of Raquel Gonzalez but got thrown around for their trouble. Leon elevated Feroz for a huge crossbody on Gonzalez and followed by hitting her own cannonball to the floor.

This left Cora Jade alone to fight for her team. She had to battle through a big missile dropkick to finally get at Big Mami Cool, who was angry. She planted Leon with a Chingona Bomb and then elevated Jade for a splash to win.

Result

Gonzalez and Jade def. Feroz and Leon by pinfall to advance in the women's Dusty Tag Team Classic.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This was a solid sprint, even if Leon and Feroz proved that they deserved more time than they got. It was clear that the two were ready to maximize their minutes as the overlooked team. The pair of outside dives got the crowd hyped more than most aspects of the rest of this show.

Gonzalez and Jade are good individual wrestlers but still have work to do to find their tag team chemistry. This went about as expected, showing that Big Mami Cool is still one of the most dominant women on the NXT 2.0 roster.

Tiffany Stratton called Sarray's necklace tacky and then attacked her after Sarray refused Stratton's offer of a fancier necklace. Tony D'Angelo then promised to go after his white whale to get a spot at NXT Stand & Deliver.

Bodhi Hayward hyped up Andre Chase before his match, and The Professor looked surprisingly effective against Von Wagner. However, a distraction from Robert Stone and a cheap shot from Wagner on Hayward outside gave Wagner the opening he needed.

Wagner planted Chase with a clothesline and followed it up with a slam for the win.

Result

Wagner def. Chase by pinfall.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was a bland sprint, lacking much character. If the plan were to sell the big man as a true threat, Chase should not have had as much control as he did. While Chase has shown more charisma than his opponent, his size will never allow him to be a priority like Wagner.

Stone did very little for Wagner. Even his distraction was unnecessary. He needs to find his dynamic with Wagner before long because the fans are not reacting to him at all.

Carmelo Hayes and Pete Dunne responded to one another early with back-and-forth lariats. Neither man backed down. Trick Williams helped distract The Bruiserweight to make sure that The A Champion could take over.

Dunne locked in an armbar, and Melo used the ropes to break it up. The A Champion reversed the Bitter End into a cutter and then the two battled to the top rope. The Bruiserweight broke Trick's fingers, but the distraction was enough for Melo to knock him down and hit a diving leg drop to win.

Afterward, The A Champion announced he would defend his title in a ladder match at NXT Stand & Deliver.

Result

Melo def. Dunne by pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Once again, as The A Champion says, Melo doesn't miss. He delivered in a physical back-and-forth clash with The Bruiserweight. The only disappointment was that the two did not get more time.

Melo is the best champion in NXT and has been booked better than most of WWE's main-roster titleholders. It has helped that he continually defends against top opponents, and even though he's a heel, he is unafraid of any challengers.

It is odd that he would agree to a multi-man ladder match with his title on the line, but that just shows how cocky he is getting. Someone is going to make him pay for that before long.