WWE NXT 2.0 Vengeance Day Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

WWE NXT 2.0 has set the stage for its latest big show. NXT 2.0 Vengeance Day will include several great championship clashes, potentially setting the stage for fresh match-ups on the road to the next NXT TakeOver.

Bron Breakker would defend the NXT Championship for the first time against Santos Escobar. The leader of Legado del Fantasma was ready to use every advantage he could muster to capture gold.

Carmelo Hayes is the undisputed NXT North American champion for the many top stars in NXT that he has already defeated. However, he would face his biggest challenge in Cameron Grimes, a stalwart for the division looking to finally capture gold.

Toxic Attraction has dominated NXT 2.0 over the past few months, but eventually Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne will run into rivals they cannot overcome. Dolin and Jayne faced their latest challenge, putting their tag titles on the line against Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta.

After weeks of big matches, the men's bracket of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic would end with MSK vs. The Creed Brothers. Two of NXT's top team would fight for the trophy and a future NXT Tag Team Championships shot.

Pete Dunne and Tony D'Angelo would end their rivalry in a Weaponized Steel Cage match. Grayson Waller promised that LA Knight would be arrested for violating his restraining order.

This show was packed from the top down. This was sure to be one of the biggest nights in NXT 2.0 history.

Tony D'Angelo came out in a fancy new Maybach, confident in his success to come. Pete Dunne immediately went for the weapons to hurt Tony D. After a superplex off the steel cage, D'Angelo cuffed The Bruiserweight.

Dunne was punished until he trapped his rival in a guillotine and got to the tool kit to cut himself free. Somehow, even with the extra punishment with weapons, both Dunne and D'Angelo kicked out of each other's finishers.

Tony D grabbed the crowbar while Dunne pulled out a crowbar. The Bruiserweight smacked his opponent in the skull with the crowbar then hit a second Bitter End for the win.

Result

Dunne def. D'Angelo by pinfall.

Grade

B

Analysis

This felt like it could have used a few more minutes as the two were rushing to hit their big spots. Even so, the two men brought a lot to this match. Dunne gave enough to Tony D to make him look like a future title contender in the loss.

The nearfall kick-out of the Bitter End was especially a huge sign that D'Angelo is a star in the making. The weapons may have distracted from his natural ability in the ring, but his resilient booking will give him more opportunities to shine.

The Bruiserweight winning likely means he's got a bit more to give to NXT. He has a true title run in NXT left unless there is a serious story in mind for him on Raw or SmackDown.

Raquel Gonzalez woke up Cora Jade at 5:00 AM for a physical workout, promising they would do this every day throughout the women's Dusty Tag Team Classic.

Toxic Attraction came out as a unit, and Mandy Rose watched closely as Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne attacked Persia Pirotta and Indi Hartwell before the bell. The challengers recovered quickly, especially after the referee sent Rose to the back.

Pirotta went on a tear, laying out both champions at once with a Samoan drop. Jayne sent Pirotta hard into the steel steps then tripped Hartwell before she could hit a diving elbow. Finally, Toxic Attraction hit a high-low combination for the victory.

Backstage, Hartwell walked off with Dexter Lumis while Duka Hudson took Pirotta's hand, leading her away behind Indi's back.

Result

Toxic Attraction def. Hartwell and Pirotta by pinfall to retain the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships.

Grade

B-

Analysis

This was Dolin and Jayne's best performance as a tag team in a straight-up tag team match. It was not a major performance but solid work for a team still finding their rhythm. It did help that the contest got just about normal TV time for the NXT women's division.

Hartwell and Pirotta still have much to learn as a team themselves before they can take the gold. The two should be champions this year. Hartwell especially has earned a big run in NXT 2.0 before long.

Nikkita Lyons talked about her history of performing and fighting before it was announced she would debut next week.

Amari Miller revealed to Wendy Choo that she already found a partner in the women's Dusty Tag Team Classic, leaving Choo to ask Dakota Kai to tag with her. Brooks Jensen realized with the help of Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley that he had been friend zoned by Kayden Carter.

Grayson Waller walked out with two police officers, showing video evidence of LA Knight violating the restraining order. The Million Dollar Mega Star showed his own video evidence of Waller violating his own restraining order, and the police officers left.

Knight took out Waller and announced they would fight next week.

Grade

C+

Analysis

It was a silly idea to have an announced arrest segment in NXT, but the end result was what matter most. Knight got his match with Waller, which should be the best match on the card next week.

These two charismatic men have been floating around each other for a while. Waller needs the win, especially if Knight is headed to Monday Night Raw before long.

Carmelo Hayes wore down Cameron Grimes with focused technical offense, hoping to take advantage of his own impressive stamina. Trick Williams helped as well in taking cheap shots on Grimes behind the referee's back.

The Technical Savage tried to get back into the action but ran right into a springboard crossbody for a nearfall. Grimes responded with a spin-out side slam that nearly took the win. He then hit a big diving crossbody for a nearfall as well.

Grimes caught Trick with a Cave-In on the outside, but Trick still got involved enough to make sure Melo held a crossface on Grimes that left the challenger vulnerable for a top rope diving leg drop to win.

Pete Dunne gave congratulations to Melo backstage, clearly eyeing the NXT North American Championship.

Result

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

Grade

A

Analysis

This was the first match to feel like it got the time it needed, and it mattered. Grimes and Hayes were fantastic together, using every moment together to shine. This was dramatic particularly down the stretch. Both men got close enough to the win that each near-fall mattered.

Once more, Melo survived a great match as champion. He has been the best champion in NXT 2.0 by a solid margin, and that only seems to solidify more by each performance. Hopefully, he and Grimes are not done yet because their chemistry needs to be explored further.

The Technical Savage deserves his own title reign, but it may never be his time in NXT 2.0.

MSK and The Creed Brothers spoke their piece ahead of their men's Dusty Tag Team Classic finals showdown. Malcolm Bivens pumped up Julius Creed and Brutus Creed just before walking out, telling them this was the moment Diamond Mine was made for.

The Creed Brothers started off hot, but Julius especially took over after he sent Wes Lee face-first into the announce table. After taking a beatdown, Lee flipped Nash Carter onto Julius outside followed by a combination senton bomb and corkscrew bomb for a nearfall.

Carter and Lee worked together for a combination double foot stomp that would have taken the win if Brutus had not broken it up. Julius caught Carter diving and slammed him to the floor followed by a low running clothesline for the win in the ring.

Imperium took the ring and warned The Creed Brothers that they were still not ready to beat the NXT tag team champions. Gunther told Bron Breakker and Santos Escobar that he would be watching the main event closely. Solo Sikoa interrupted to challenge Gunther.

Result

Creed Brothers def. MSK by pinfall to win the 2022 men's Dusty Tag Team Classic.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The Creed Brothers had their best match so far last week against The Grizzled Young Veterans. This was not at that level, but it was still an engaging tag team clash between talented teams. These two teams have better than this in them for the future.

This was a huge moment for Julius. He was the star down the stretch, and The Creed Brothers officially win their first big title. It is likely they will dethrone Imperium as the future looks entirely focused on these young athletes.

Bivens was great in the build-up to this moment. He may not forever be necessary for The Creed Brothers, but he has earned a permanent spot in WWE as a manager for the talent that needs him.

Tommaso Ciampa refused to be looked down upon by anyone on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown, especially Dolph Ziggler. He warned The Showoff to pay close attention to the main event. Ziggler promised in an interview that he would defeat Ciampa next week.

Santos Escobar looked like he was outmatched early, but he managed to get some space and hit a tope outside that left Bron Breakker vulnerable. He threw the champion into the steel steps and hit a neckbreaker back in the ring for two.

The challenger used steel outside and technical holds inside to grind down every limb of the champion. Breakker began to make a comeback, but Legado del Fantasma got involved. In the chaos, Ziggler superkicked the champion for a nearfall.

Ciampa attacked Ziggler and sent him to the backj. Escobar hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT but missed a frog splash. Breakker speared him then hit the military press powerslam for the win.

Result

Breakker def. Escobar by pinfall to retain the NXT Championship.

Grade

B

Analysis

NXT tried to put this over as a huge title defense, but it never felt like there was a question of who would win. Breakker got beat down and rose back up to pull out the victory. The closest Escobar got to a win was Ziggler interfering, which only solidified this as a secondary match for Breakker vs. Ziggler.

While any match getting no commercial interruptions is welcome, there were matches on this night that needed that spotlight more. This could have opened and had the same fanfare.

In the end, Breakker got his win against a capable veteran with a fairly unimpressive win-loss record since he lost the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Hopefully, the next challengers including Ziggler and Walter will bring more drama.