Tonight is NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day and ‘The Prinxe’ Finn Balor is defending his NXT Title against one of the toughest superstars to date ‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne. Dunne the former longest-reigning UK Champion is devastating to watch, his tactics are brutal. For some reason whenever I think about Balor vs. Dunne, I go back to Balor vs. O’Reilly from TakeOver 31.
These two warriors beat the snot out of each other and then some. The long-overlooked member of The Undisputed Era was challenging for the NXT Championship for the first time in his career. Balor who had recently won the title after Karrion Kross was injured, was ready to prove that ‘The Prinxe’ was back on top of the Black and Gold brand in his first title defense.
There were no high-flying attacks or suicide dives, both champion and challenger never made it to the outside of the ring. Balor and O’Reilly stuck to the mat with incredible submission holds and putting on a technical masterpiece. O’Reilly was put through a huge amount of pain and punishment all for the top prize of the company.
Broken jaw in two places.
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) October 7, 2020
Still the CHAMPION.
Full story tonight on @WWENXT @USA_Network @btsportwwe pic.twitter.com/9B3eheUFtP
To me it felt like the member of The Undisputed Era was fighting for more than the title. He had been scratching and clawing his way to the main event for over fifteen years, and O’Reilly looked unstoppable. Both superstars were left a bloody mess, and in the end ‘The Prinxe’ was the one left standing with the NXT Championship intact.
Both superstars faced off again on NXT New Year’s Evil in another classic. I’m so hyped for his championship match between ‘The Prinxe’ and ‘The Bruiserweight’ that I might go back and watch Bate vs. Dunne at TakeOver Chicago now that was incredible.
I’m expecting a fantastic match tonight given the right amount of time and creativity. We are only two months into 2021 and I believe we’re going to see MOTY #2 tonight! Here’s hoping for a non-screwy finish with no shenanigans.
