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

WWE NXT 2.0's biggest stables are beginning to clash. On the February 1 edition, Imperium looked to continue a new era of dominance by taking out Diamond Mine, while Legado del Fantasma wanted to make a statement at the expense of Bron Breakker.

Gunther has promised Marcel Bartel and Fabian Aichner that he will help them take over NXT. Roderick Strong stands in his way alongside The Creed Brothers, and the two groups fought in a six-man tag team match.

Santos Escobar has been seeking an advantage against NXT champion Breakker. He hoped to isolate him two-on-one against Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde, but Tommaso Ciampa stepped up to help him in a tag team match.

Cora Jade wanted to prove herself to Raquel Gonzalez. Her verbal pleas have not stuck, so she was planning to get physical to prove herself. The two would compete one-on-one.

While LA Knight cannot get his hands on Grayson Waller due to a restraining order, he still had other rivals to fight. He would battle with Joe Gacy this week.

With a brief delay in the Dusty Tag Team Classic, Tuesday's show was focused on the other big rivalries on the roster.

The brawl began before the bell. Once the action calmed, Imperium took over, isolating Julius Creed in the group's corner.

Julius suplexed Marcel Bartel to escape and tagged in Roderick Strong to contend with Fabian Aichner. Gunther stopped The Messiah of the Backbreaker cold with a clothesline.

Brutus Creed got a key tag, allowing The Creed Brothers to take down Bartel and Aichner until Gunther forced his way back into the action. The leader of Imperium locked Brutus in a sleeper hold and then chopped him into the mat, followed by a powerbomb to seal it.

Diamond Mine promised to refocus and earn a shot at Imperium's NXT Tag Team Championships. Grizzled Young Veterans mocked the whole group, promising to beat them in the Dusty Tag Team Classic semifinals next week.

Result

Imperium def. Diamond Mine by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Analysis

This was a really good six-man tag match, a rarity in recent WWE, but Imperium have always been good together. Strong also has chemistry working with The Creed Brothers. It would be smart to revisit this dynamic further down the line.

Fans will take a while to accept Gunther's new name, but his talent and gimmick have not changed. He is still a great wrestler who can work with anyone. His late back-and-forth with Brutus was really interesting.

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne were unfazed by their loss last week and accepted a challenge at NXT Vengeance Day from Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta for the tag team titles.

Kay Lee Ray arrived to demand her own title match. Mandy Rose tried to talk her down, saying her talent did not replace God's Greatest Creation's star power. The Forever Champion promised she would not end the night without her NXT Women's Championship match.

Toxic Attraction ran out as KLR went for her bat, but the group was not ready for her to hijack their van, riding off with Dolin and Jayne. She promised Rose she would be back for her.

KLR returned and sent Rose running, and she fell into the arms of Malik Blade as he and Edris Enofe were preparing for the next round of the Dusty Tag Team Classic. KLR dumped spaghetti on her and smashed her with a cake.

After the main event, Ray forced Rose to agree to a title match next week before laying her out with a KLR Bomb.

Grade

B-

Analysis

This segment served its purpose. Ray made it clear why fans should root for her to dethrone Rose. Her chaotic energy and baseball bat make her dangerous enough to feel like she can take on all of Toxic Attraction on her own.

It would be nice for Rose to cut a different promo occasionally, though. The constant need to tell the world she is attractive almost makes it feel like she's compensating for something. She and Toxic Attraction are too one-dimensional.

Ray is doing some heavy lifting as the far more interesting character and performer. Her antics were ridiculous but memorable.

Raquel Gonzalez gave Cora Jade one last chance to back out of this match, but Jade came in confident all the same.

However, The Skater quickly lost her smile as Big Mami Cool tortured her with technical offense. As Gonzalez spun into a side slam, Jade reversed into an octopus hold.

Jade struck Gonzalez repeatedly with her knees and hit a big headscissors takedown. But, as she jumped at the former NXT women's champion, Big Mami Cool caught her and hit the Chingona Bomb.

Afterward, Gonzalez helped the young underdog to her feet and accepted her offer to team up in the Dusty Tag Team Classic.

Result

Gonzalez def. Jade by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was a classic wrestling story. The underdog rookie fought with all her heart to prove she could hang with a veteran. It was good to see more of what The Skater can do.

NXT has played it smart with Jade. The 21-year-old is still learning, and she has gone from lucky roll-ups to proving her own toughness step-by-step.

Gonzalez and Jade are the only team guaranteed for the Dusty Tag Team Classic and have to be considered the early favorites.

Pete Dunne challenged Tony D'Angelo to a steel cage match that could finally settle their rivalry.

Meanwhile, Sarray seemed to walk out in schoolgirl gear before transforming into her unique in-ring attire, becoming The Warrior of the Sun.

While Kayla Inlay challenged her for a moment, Sarray quickly took over. She hit the Sun Ray Dropkick and Northern Lights Suplex for the victory.

Sarah Schreiber asked Sarray backstage about her first win, but Dakota Kai interrupted to continue her explanation to more women that relationships always end badly.

Result

Sarray def. Inlay by pinfall.

Grade

C

Analysis

It's hard to be sure if Sarray's gimmick will work, but this feels like it should be much better for a potential move up in WWE. She feels more like a fully realized Superstar. The company just needs to avoid falling into stereotypes.

She looked crisper in the ring against Inlay. Once she gets comfortable with the WWE style, she should be a big part of the NXT women's division.

Duke Hudson explained that he attacked Dante Chen to make sure he stayed ahead in NXT.

Carmelo Hayes gave Cameron Grimes credit. He was worried the veteran would challenge him, so he was training harder than ever. But Trick Williams did not take the challenger seriously.

Grimes arrived to challenge the NXT North American champion. Trick told Grimes he was not worthy of fighting The A Champion, but the challenger clearly got under the champion's skin. He retreated for the moment.

Grade

D+

Analysis

This was oddly awkward. Melo and Grimes are among NXT's most charismatic performers. Trick has also been fun consistently. However, the script for this segment did not work at all.

This angle needs more actual story behind it. Having the two talk around each other would have been better as a two-minute interview segment backstage.

Joe Gacy told LA Knight he needed to move on from his feud with Grayson Waller. Knight instead challenged him to a match.

Knight had Gacy reeling until Sanga arrived. The big man distracted Knight to allow Waller to hit a rolling cutter outside. Knight barely managed to avoid a count-out, but he walked right into the handspring clothesline, giving Gacy the win.

Waller taunted Knight before Sanga laid him out with a chokeslam. Waller told him that he might lift the restraining order but only if Knight can beat Sanga next week.

Result

Gacy def. Knight by pinfall.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was an angle more than a match, even if it gave Knight a loss. Gacy is a priority character for the brand, and he needs big wins. He did not take this clean, but it works to build his resume.

Knight vs. Waller remains an important feud for NXT 2.0. It is likely The Million Dollar Mega Star will ultimately lose to Waller to help build him up, but he has a chance to help develop Sanga as well next week. The big man needs to prove he is more than pure size.

Robert Stone talked up the potential of Von Wagner, not just in NXT but also WWE as a whole.

Tiffany Stratton offered to take Amari Miller shopping with her special black Visa card if she could take down Wendy Choo.

Choo seemed to have no shot against Miller early due to her need for sleep. However, as she rested, she gained more strength and speed. Stratton got involved late, trying to motivate Miller by throwing her the black card. Instead, it distracted her for a running double axe handle that sealed the three-count.

Afterward, Stratton realized Choo had stolen her black card.

Result

Choo def. Miller by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Stratton and Choo worked well together here. Both women have fit more in NXT with time, and the angle is starting to heat up.

This story is more likely to fail than succeed, but it has a decent foundation for daft antics in the coming weeks. Miller was an afterthought, but she looked solid in the match.

Nikkita Lyons spoke about her upbringing and plans to take over NXT 2.0, hoping to transition from music to wrestling.

Brooks Jensen could not get clear advice from Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis about how to ask out Kayden Carter, and Draco Anthony explained the hard work he put in every day to be great.

Anthony threw Chase around with ease, even with the Chase U fans behind him. However, after Anthony stepped on his rival's flag, The Professor found his second wind. He hit a reverse STO for the win.

Afterward, Chase called out Von Wagner for next week.

Result

Chase def. Anthony by pinfall.

Grade

D

Analysis

After all the buildup for Anthony as a man of action, he came off as a generic heel against Chase. He could not find a way to stand out and appeared to be an enhancement talent for a star NXT cares more about.

It has been fun to see The Professor find his role as the motivated babyface teacher. He is still not the most exciting performer in the ring, but the overall presentation works. He got his win to set up for his likely loss to Wagner.

Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker looked like a well-oiled machine together, taking down Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde with ease. The two hit side-by-side delayed vertical suplexes.

Legado del Fantasma changed the momentum of the match after Santos Escobar sent the NXT champion hard into the steel steps. Wilde tried to keep him isolated, but Breakker hit a release German suplex that set up The Blackheart for the hot tag.

Ciampa ran over both men and then tried to work together with Breakker. Escobar distracted the champion long enough for Mendoza to hit a Phoenix Splash. Somehow, Breakker kicked out.

Ciampa sent Wilde off the top rope through the announce table to allow the NXT champion to hit the military press powerslam on Mendoza for the victory.

Result

Breakker and Ciampa def. Wilde and Mendoza by pinfall.

Grade

B

Analysis

Ciampa and Breakker are Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, but this was a solid tag team working well to sell their dynamic. Legado del Fantasma always impress, so the overall showing was exciting, even with the predictable result.

The Blackheart cannot just play protector for the NXT champion in the long term. He is his own man and needs to either find a fresh angle or move up to Raw or SmackDown before long.