WWE NXT 2.0 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from February 22

WWE NXT 2.0 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from February 22

Feb 23, 2022

The lines between Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT 2.0 have grown blurry, as Raw Superstar Dolph Ziggler is ready to challenge for the NXT Championship. But first, on Tuesday's edition of NXT 2.0, he would have to go through NXT's standard-bearer, Tommaso Ciampa.

LA Knight has had to go through his own hurdles to reach his goal, finally stepping into the ring against Grayson Waller after months of taunting and sneak attacks.

With the men's bracket complete, the women's bracket of the Dusty Tag Team Classic would begin. Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray channelled their rage against the new pairing of Lash Legend and Amari Miller.

Elsewhere, the newest member of Diamond Mine, Tatum Paxley, attempted to prove herself alongside Ivy Nile against the established duo of Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter.

This show started to set the stage for NXT Stand & Deliver 2022, as well as the long-term future of the brand.

Bron Breakker talked about his win over Santos Escobar, content with a tough victory. He also made the official announcement of NXT Stand & Deliver 2022 on WrestleMania weekend. Dolph Ziggler interrupted to warn the NXT champion that he would dethrone him after he ran through Tommaso Ciampa.

Thereafter, Grayson Waller tried to play mind games with LA Knight but got blasted to the outside for his trouble. The Million Dollar Megastar's anger allowed the heel to take control of the action. He beat down on the veteran, keeping him on the mat.

He hit a diving leg drop for a near-fall. He then set up for the rolling cutter and got caught, taking a slam for his trouble. This gave Knight new life, and he stomped his opponent into the corner and then hit a neckbreaker. Sanga saved his employer from the BFT before Waller rolled up Knight with a handful of tights for three.

Afterward, Knight planted both Sanga and Waller, calling himself the last man standing.

Result

Waller def. Knight by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Ziggler has sounded and looked like a much bigger threat in NXT than he is on Raw. He has sold this rivalry well in short back-and-forths so far, even though there is no way The Showoff will defeat Breakker.

Knight and Waller had a fine matchup until the messy ending. The timing was all off on Knight's blocked BFT, and then it ended with the always awkward roll-up with a handful of tights.

It is likely the rematch will happen at NXT Stand & Deliver with a better stipulation that can officially let one man stand tall.

Dakota Kai asked Wendy Choo why she signed them up for the women's Dusty Tag Team Classic, almost sounding hopeful that she could have a friend. Meanwhile, Cora Jade forced Raquel Gonzalez to face her fear of heights.

Toxic Attraction set up a lounge in which to watch the women's Dusty Tag Team Classic. Io Shirai hit Lash Legend with a tiger feint kick and dropkick. After sending Amari Miller reeling, Kay Lee Ray planted Legend with a KLR Bomb and moonsault followed by the Over-the-Moonsault from The Genius of the Sky to win.

Result

Shirai and KLR def. Legend and Miller by pinfall to advance in the women's Dusty Classic.

Grade

D+

Analysis

If there were any plan to make Legend and Miller look competent here, it failed quickly. Shirai and KLR steamrolled the competition. It was a squash wherein Legend did not even look good selling The Genius of the Sky's offense.

Miller has shown potential in a variety of roles recently, but she was put in an awkward position here. She cannot carry the unrefined Legend as a tag team partner when she is still finding herself in the ring.

Josh Briggs tried to help Brooks Jensen set up a video for his online dating profile, struggling to put together anything charming. Fallon Henley took a picture of Jensen and promised to help him set up his profile. Briggs admitted he was just enjoying Jensen's struggles.

Thereafter, Dante Chen promised to make Duke Hudson pay for trying to end his career recently. He attacked the big man on his way to the ring. Even with the early edge in the fight, though, Chen lost control to the bigger man. Hudson won with a crucifix powerbomb.

Result

Hudson def. Chen by pinfall.

Grade

C-

Analysis

After weeks of build, Chen had little hope against Hudson. While the big man is clearly the higher priority, NXT 2.0 should give more time to a star like Chen, who needs the minutes to grow as a performer.

Chen did cut a solid promo beforehand, even if he is still finding his comfort on the mic. He is a work in progress who will hopefully get his chance following this rivalry with Hudson.

Carmelo Hayes talked himself up with the help of his hype man, Trick Williams. He praised himself for stealing the show over everyone else, including Pete Dunne. The Bruiserweight then challenged the NXT North American champion to a match next week, which The A Champion accepted.

Cameron Grimes then attacked Melo from behind, sending him and Trick outside of the ring. This set up a surprise Grimes vs. Trick match. The Technical Savage left his larger opponent reeling with fast and physical offense.

Trick found a way to respond, grounding Grimes. However, the big man could not take advantage to seal the victory. The Technical Savage went for the Cave-In in the ring and outside, but Trick ducked. Grime caught him with a superkick, diving crossbody and the Cave-In to seal it.

Result

Grimes def. Trick by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Melo is great in every way. It would be nice to see him vary his promo style occasionally, but he never disappoints with the material he has. He and Dunne could do some great work together in their forthcoming meeting.

Trick has been developing quickly in NXT 2.0, but he's still finding his way in the ring. He looked capable but not dangerous against Grimes. He needs to wrestle lower-level talent if the plan is to make him look like a threat in the future.

Andre Chase told his class that Von Wagner and Robert Stone lacked intestinal fortitude. The student that questioned whether he could fight the big man was told to leave.

In the following segment, Kayla Inlay tried to grapple with Nikkita Lyons despite the rookie's strength advantage, landing some strikes in the corner.

Lyons responded with a sunset flip for a near-fall and then landed a series of strikes that sent Inlay to the mat. Lyons finished it up with a split leg drop.

Result

Lyons def. Inlay by pinfall.

Grade

C

Analysis

Given the awkward promos that set her up, Lyons looked better than expected in her debut. Her striking offense stands out, especially given her size compared to the other women in NXT. She has the look to go far in WWE if she continues to develop as a performer.

It helped that she got to work longer than a usual squash. Inlay got in enough offense to show that Lyons can handle adversity. She has work to do before she's ready for serious competition, though.

Security camera footage caught Joe Gacy and Harland meeting Draco Anthony in the Performance Center. It led to a physical conflict, and Gacy announced that Draco would face Harland next week.

Malcolm Bivens took shots at Imperium while celebrating Diamond Mine's Dusty Classic win, which brought out Gunther, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Bartel. A brawl ensued, and Bivens was left alone with Gunther. Solo Sikoa superkicked Gunther to save Bivens, but Sikoa clarified that he took out Gunther for himself.

Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley looked good early in the proceeding match, dominating Kacy Catanzaro. Diamond Mine almost got the win off a tandem slam and a standing moonsault. However, Catanzaro broke up the pinfall and then hit Paxley with a 450 splash to win.

Nile then choked out Paxley for losing as Roderick Strong encouraged the violence.

Result

Catanzaro and Carter def. Paxley and Nile by pinfall to advance in the women's Dusty Classic.

Grade

D

Analysis

Diamond Mine won one Dusty Classic match, but it was never going to be a sweep. While Nile has been well-protected, Paxley was set up as the patsy in this contest. She and Nile performed some basic offensive combinations together but looked fairly awkward.

Catanzaro and Carter are better than this performance, wherein they had little to do. Luckily, they won, but the two should have been highlighted more along the way. They should look good against Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray.

Diamond Mine vs. Imperium is building. It will likely end at NXT Stand & Deliver, so the next few weeks will be focused on keeping the story hot. Gunther vs. Sikoa next week will help.

Dolph Ziggler showed his in-ring IQ early, grounding Tommaso Ciampa while avoiding his big shot attempts. The Blackheart briefly gained control with a big knee strike, but The Showoff planted him face-first on the turnbuckle to take back the initiative.

Ciampa finally got back into the action with an elevated powerbomb for a near-fall. He dropped his knee brace to hit a big running knee, and Ziggler barely got his foot on the rope. Outside the ring, Ziggler planted The Blackheart with a Zig Zag on the floor.

The impact left Ciampa working with only one arm, and Ziggler managed to reverse a slow Fairy Tale Ending attempt into a sleeper. The Blackheart got to his feet, turning the position into a backpack stunner. The two fought to the apron, where Ciampa hit the Air Raid Crash on the apron.

As Ciampa struggled to get back to the ring, a cameraman struck him with a camera from behind. This set up Ziggler to hit a superkick and gain the win.

Robert Roode revealed he was the cameraman and stomped on The Blackheart with his tag team partner. Bron Breakker cleared the ring and challenged the two to a tag match. A brawl ensued to end the night.

Result

Ziggler def. Ciampa by pinfall to become the new No. 1 contender to the NXT Championship.

Grade

A

Analysis

Unsurprisingly, this was the match of the night. Ziggler and Ciampa were great together and made the most of this spotlight. It was impressive to watch what The Showoff can do with a fresh opponent and just the right amount of hype.

In the end, Ziggler had to win. He and Breakker have been on a collision course for a month. This will be a big match that could pull in people to watch NXT Stand & Deliver.

Before that happens, Ziggler and Roode can continue building momentum on the secondary brand that they could parlay into taking advantage of a Raw tag team division that needs more serious challengers.