20. Finn BƔlor (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: London
BƔlor and Joe have a history together having known each other for a long time and even tagging as a team in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
This match delivered everything you would expect just seeing it on paper. Then it continued to nail the point home. It started out with the contrast of speed against power. BĆ”lor relied heavily on quick strikes and kicks, playing the ākeep awayā game to insert distance in between he and Joe. But Joe is not your average, lumbering big man. His agility often surprises and that was the case in this match where the 330-pound man launched himself through the ropes to the floor with a suicide dive taking away the edge BĆ”lor may have had.
Joe continued to punish BƔlor with a series of submission transitions and hard blows. One of the more interesting spots saw BƔlor go for a running dropkick only to be swatted away by Joe and then take a flat back splash.
But on this night BƔlor summoned the Demon. Painted up and ready to fight, he struck back at Joe with some punishing shots of his own. BƔlor was able to escape the Cocquina Clutch and eventually landed the Coup de Grace finish to retain the title.
Your winner and STILL NXT Champion:Ā Finn BĆ”lor