At NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver, Finn Balor lost the NXT Championship to Karrion Kross. Tonight, he looks to reclaim that championship and become a three time NXT Champion. Both men have rewatched the match from Takeover, and saw exactly what they did wrong and will be coming into this match truly ready for each other. Kross will have a lot to prove here, as he finally gets to defend the NXT Championship after his first reign ended prematurely.
Finn Balor Gets Manhandled
After their typical huge entrances, Kross & Balor were ready to go once again. They stared daggers between each other all the way through the introductions. Balor would start off with some quick kicks before a headlock. Kross threw him outside, before Balor got right back in and nailed a basement dropkick, sending Kross outside.
Back in the ring, Balor would go for a single leg takedown, and Kross shut him right down. Kross would counter into an armbar, before Balor would be able to show his grappling prowess. Balor was looking to out wrestle and wear Kross down this time, and keeping the powerhouse grounded can do exactly that. He’d start to wrench away on the arm, before Kross slammed him back down into the mat.
Kross would force Balor into the corner, and nailed some heavy strikes. Balor would be dropped, and some well placed stomps were followed up with a rear chinlock. Kross would hold it until Balor nearly slipped free, before switching back to a strike with a forearm strike. Balor countered into an abdominal stretch, before driving some strikes in.
Kross would once again corner Balor, and nail some shoulder thrusts to abuse the ribs of Balor, before a hard kick to the lower back in the corner. Balor was thrown across the ring with a biel throw, before a deadlift German Suplex. Kross went for another German Suplex, and Balor was able to counter into a crossface attempt. Balor couldn’t get the hold in tight, and got a standing Coup De Grace instead.
Karrion Kross Avoids Deep Waters
Kross would push through the pain and hit more strikes on Balor before throwing him out of the ring to take a breath. As he looked to follow Balor, he’d find himself trapped in the apron and stomped down by Balor before a PK off the apron nailed Kross in the chest. Balor would follow up with a running forearm on the outside, crushing Kross into the barricade.
He’d break the ten count, before tossing Kross into the ring. Kross would get back on top with a knee strike, but was noticeably damaged by the attacks of Balor. A northern lights suplex got him a two count, before Balor hit a basement dropkick to the face. They’d trade some heavy forearm strikes in the middle of the ring, before Kross set up an Oklahoma Stampede powerslam for a two count.
Balor nailed a knife edge chop and kick to the gut, before nailing the Final Cut for a one count. Kross would take the snap Coup De Grace, and go right into the Kross Jacket in the middle of the ring. Balor barely made the bottom rope, but Kross has finally hit his next gear. Kross took Balor outside and slammed Balor into the barricade before nailing a Crucifix Bomb into the chain link fence. Back in the ring, Balor would counter a powerbomb into a DDT. Balor got the Slingblade, before clotheslining Kross outside and nailing a dive over the top. Kross got right up and nailed a backdrop onto the announce table.
Back in the ring, Balor kept fighting and nailed another short Coup De Grace. The shotgun dropkick dropped Kross in position for the top rope Coup De Grace, but he missed and was driven into the corner. Another big German Suplex dropped Balor, before a Doomsday Saito dropped Balor on his neck.
Balor would counter the forearm strike to the neck into a roll up, before looking to apply the Twister. Kross would counter and look for some forearm strikes to the back. Balor dodged out and gave Kross a taste of his own medicine. Kross would be locked into the sleeper hold, and have to pry the arm of Balor off his throat.
Balor moved into a triangle choke, and Kross was fading. Kross wouldn’t let the arm drop, and nailed a powerbomb to break the hold. Kross nailed a lariat and two hard forearm strikes, before stomping Balor out. The Kross Jacket was applied, and Balor was put to sleep.
Normally a TV defense of the NXT Championship can fall a bit flat, but Balor & Kross delivered on the hype of their rematch. This was better than their first clash, due to increased chemistry. Balor dug deep into his playbook, and even used some of the tricks from Kross to try to take it. They were neck and neck until the final moments. This is the type of match that will make Kross a star, and Balor remains strong as well. Match Rating: 4.5/5 (**** 1/2)
Next week, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano meet in a triple threat to see who is next for Kross. Who will get the next shot? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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