WWE NXT results and observations (09/07/16): Steve Cutler, meet the King of Strong Style

For the third week in a row, not much happened on NXT television.

If this were under normal circumstances, the uneventful installments of television would be easier to criticize. However, NXT is clearly in a bit of a rebuilding phase after NXT Takeover: Brooklyn.

Even before the massive event, NXT lost stalwarts such as Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Nia Jax, Mojo Rawley and American Alpha to the brand extension draft. After Takeover, NXT's heart and soul, Bayley, finally made her way up to the main roster as well.

While there is still a good amount of talent left in NXT, it will take some time to shape and mold its current roster into the exciting brand NXT fans are used to watching.

Fortunately for NXT, it has time, as it doesn't have to worry about building to a pay-per-view any time soon. The next announced Takeover event isn't until November, which gives NXT three more months to pick up some steam before heading into a crescendo the night before Survivor Series.

In the meantime, fans will have to be patient and trust that brain trust behind the brand is working on its next move.

This week's episode of television featured some good matches, but didn't do all that much in progressing any major storylines.

One of the few stories told on this show was during the main event, when reigning NXT champion Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Steve Cutler with a solemn Samoa Joe watching from the commentary table.

Samoa Joe tried to keep it together while he watched Nakamura dispatch Cutler in relatively easy fashion.

Before that we got the NXT television debut of Ember Moon, as she defeated a wrestler by the name of Leah Von. The match was decent and served its purpose as a showcase for Moon.

The current leader in the women's division, Asuka, had a sit-down interview with Tom Phillips where she did a lot of talking and did so in mostly English.

The gist of what she said was that all of the women that recently left NXT for the main roster were lucky because they no longer have to go against her and the women that remain in NXT are not to attempt to take her title.

There was also an entertaining encounter between Austin Aries and Andrade "Cien" Almas. The match was good, but the best part to me was that Almas finally shed the awful fedora and suspenders during his entrance. He came out with his new t-shirt instead.

The physical talent is there with Almas. However, NXT needs to find a way to help him connect with the fans in some way. Until then, he'll be used to help get other wrestlers over like he did Wednesday night, when he lost to Aries.

Here are the full match results:

- TM-61 def. Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari

- Ember Moon def. Leah Von

- Austin Aries def. Andrade "Cien" Almas

- Shinsuke Nakaura def. Steve Cutler