My Thoughts on NXT (7/13/16): The End of an Era

We kick off the show with Samoa Joe. He says he's here to witness Finn Balor vs Shinsuke Nakamura, because he thinks that the idea that the winner becomes a contender for the NXT Championship is insulting. He says he was the one who brought strong style to NXT, and that if Nakamura is the "King of Strong Style", then he is the emperor. He says he is the new face of NXT before being interrupted by Rhyno. He says if has to go through Joe to get to the top, he'll do just that. The two have a stare down before Joe walks off, saying he'll beat Rhyno on his time as he walks up the ramp.
Finn Balor vs Shinsuke Nakamura-Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. This could have headlined Takeover: Brooklyn 2. Hell, this is probably good enough to be a WrestleMania main event. This is going to be great. The two get the title match treatment complete with special lighting and post entrance introductions. The two exchange lock ups and holds to start as dueling "NAKAMURA/LET'S GO FINN" chants break out before it devolves into "BOTH THESE GUYS." God, I love NXT. The two taunt each other, with Nakamura resting his head on Balor while he's up against the ropes, to which Balor responds with a "2 Sweet" right in his face. Nakamura responds to that with a stiff knee, but Balor dodges Nakamura's kicks and takes control with a running drop kick. The two go back and forth blocking and dodging strikes until Nakamura hits an enziguri on Balor on the apron. Nakamura brings him back in the ring and does his corner foot choke twice before bringing Balor to the outside. He hangs Balor over the ring apron and delivers a running knee strike and a knee drop to the back of Balor's head before the commercial break. We come back to Nakamura delivering a knee drop in the ring for a two count. Balor comes off of an Irish whip and dropkicks Nakamura's left leg out from under him. Balor works over the leg with a cross-leg lock, transitioning into a front facelock. Nakamura goes for a sunset flip pin, but Balor rolls through and dropkicks Nakamura for a two count. Balor chops Nakamura around the ring and knee drops Nakamura's knee that was hung up in the ropes. Balor tries for a surfboard, but instead stomps in the surfboard position for a two count, quickly going to a heel hook right after. Nakamura makes it to the ropes and takes control after a knee strike and a follow through spinning heel kick, but can't make the cover because of his knee. Nakamura delivers some stiff kicks and strikes, including the running knee to the gut for a two count. Balor blocks the reverse exploder suplex attempt and after a chop kicks Nakamura off the top rope to the outside and dropkicks him off the apron. Balor delivers the apron punt kick before the second commercial break. We come back to Balor double stomping the back of Nakamura's head for a two count. Balor goes for 1916, but Nakamura avoids it and goes for a kick. Balor dodges the kick, catches the follow through kick and locks in a knee bar. Nakamura makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold. Balor grabs Nakamura's leg and continues to work it over until Nakamura hits a step up knee to Balor's head and locks in the rolling armbar. Balor blocks it from being locked in, but Nakamura switches it into a triangle choke. Balor barely gets out, getting his foot on the ropes. Nakamura delivers some stiff knee strikes before hitting a front suplex and calls for a corner knee strike. Balor dodges it and hits a spinning roundhouse kick followed by an inverted 1916, but only gets a two. Balor hits a Sling Blade, but Nakamura follows up with a single leg dropkick and hits the Kinshasa to the back of Balor's head, but only gets a two, marking the first time someone has kicked out of the Kinshasa in NXT. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa again, but Balor counters with a jumping double stomp for a two count. Balor goes for the 1916 again, but Nakamura blocks it again and the two trade strikes, ending with a Sling Blade by Balor. Balor dropkicks Nakamura into the corner and goes for the Coup de Grace, but Nakamura dodges and hits a diving knee strike from the second rope. Nakamura delivers another Kinshasa for the win in a spectacular match. Amazing match, as expected. I'd put it up there as one of the greatest NXT matches in history. After the match, Nakamura helps Balor to his feet as the crowd chants "Thank You Finn." The two bow in respect to each other before Balor leaves to let Nakamura soak in the admiration. It looks like this is the end of Finn Balor in NXT...see you on Tuesday(?).

And that's it. Nakamura-Balor was amazing. Not much more to say about it.

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