Backstage Finn Bálor says Crews will not have to wonder any longer. What would have happened when they first faced off will happen tonight.

Finn Bálor vs Apollo Crews
Bálor and Crews spends the first minute or so feeling each other out. Bálor ends up with a side headlock on Crews. Crews tries to get some separation by hitting the ropes, but Bálor holds on to the headlock. Crews stands up and almost suplexes Bálor, but Bálor rolls through and headlock takeovers (pun intended) Crews. Bálor has successfully grounded Crews to this point, which is an excellent strategy.

After a short break Bálor rolls through a Crews’ sunset flip attempt and drop kicks him right in the face. Bálor immediately slaps on an arm bar. Bálor seems to be targeting Crews’ head and shoulder area. Bálor penalty kicks Crews for another two count. That was a vicious strike. The match could have been over after a move like that on a lesser opponent.

Crews surprises Bálor with a clothesline out of the corner. Bálor tries to avoid the charging Crews by going to the outside. Crews moonsaults off the apron, but Bálor moves out of the way. Bálor dives over the top onto Crews. Crews gets back in the ring but Bálor goes up top and hits the diving double foot stomp to the back of Crews’ head. Crews somehow manages to kick out. Bálor charges Crews but runs right into a Samoan drop. Crews misses the high enzguri and Bálor sling blades him. Bálor eats a big boot by Crews. Crews gorilla press slams Bálor and the standing moonsault for a long two count.

Crews tries the tossing powerbomb, but Bálor flips out of it. Bálor sling blades Crews again, followed by the bullet drop kick into the corner. Bálor goes up top and destroys Crews with the Coup de gras. Crews is already stirring on the mat. Bálor picks up Crews and obliterates him with the bloody Sunday. That’s all she wrote.

Winner- Finn Bálor

After the match Bálor and Crews shake hands.

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»FINNishing TOUCH: World Wrestling Entertainment > Live Event Digitals > NXT > 2016 > February 3
»FINNishing TOUCH: Screen Captures > World Wrestling Entertainment > NXT > 2016 > February 3

Muscle & Fitness caught up with the Irish born, NXT World Champion in Orlando recently and got the low down on his training, nutrition, and thoughts on WWE’s fast rising NXT division.

M&F: You are known for having a high risk style of offense. That must require a lot of flexibility?

Finn: I’ve been in the ring for many years, so it’s something you build up. Over time your muscle memory allows you to stretch yourself further. Our bodies have to be highly conditioned and finely tuned to do what we do.

M&F: WWE has the Performance Center here in Orlando. What kind of advice and support do you get?

Finn: Loads. We have a world-class strength and conditioning coach in Matt Wichlinski. He’s been a great help to me with training and providing alternative workouts for specific goals.

M&F: How often do you work out?

Finn: Sometimes it’s twice a day. Sometimes I have a rest day. I aim for seven workouts per week but it varies and depends on the schedule. We can be in the ring four times per week, as well. I vary the workouts. Ill jump on the bike or I do a lot of work in the swimming pool with resistance training, which is great for the joints.

M&F: How do you approach nutrition when you are on the road?

Finn: At home I prepare my own food but on tour I have to shop around. I try to eat simple food and as much organic food as I can. I don’t eat processed foods and I eat low carb so that means a lot of vegetables, nuts, meat, and fish.

M&F: What challenges have you faced since moving to Orlando?

Finn: Adjusting to the Florida climate took me a little time. I lost weight in the first couple of months but it was only temporary.

M&F: So what would be your favorite ‘cheat’ meal?

Finn: Pizza by a mile! Any topping. But it’s a very rare occasion.

M&F: As an Irish competitor that started his career in the UK, how excited were you to go back in December with the WWE NXT Division?

Finn: To go back with NXT made me feel like a returning warrior. We brought something new to the UK and I feel like I have played a big part in the growth of the division. The UK is where it all started for me, so it’s pretty cool to go back.

M&F: NXT toured similar size venues to WWE, with a rich stable of talent, featuring established stars that have performed all over the world. It seems like NXT is no longer a developmental group?

Finn: Absolutely. NXT has grown so fast that nobody really understands just how big it can get. We are expanding into Europe. It’s not just a flash in the pan. We’ve been consistently delivering night in and night out. NXT has definitely created its own brand and is its own entity.

M&F: What does being the NXT Champion mean to Finn Bálor?

Finn: I pride myself on being at the cutting edge. I try to be on the cusp of what’s cool… and NXT is definitely cool. I want to be known as someone who helped establish the NXT World Championship and took it to the next level.

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» FINNishing TOUCH: Miscellaneous > Official Images > Muscle & Fitness

The 34-year-old Irishman, famed for his athletic in-ring style and signature body paint, chatted with Kyle Walker before being taken on a tour of our world-class training facilities by the England international right-back.

 

“It’s great to be here and just looking around, on first impressions it’s very similar to what we have in Florida at the WWE Performance Centre,” said Balor, who has been main-eventing WWE NXT’s first-ever UK tour this week.

 

“It’s so important to invest in the future in any kind of business or sport and obviously this training facility is a perfect example of what Spurs are doing, so I think the future is very bright for the club.

 

“I personally became a Spurs fan from a young age. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s my brother Colin was a Spurs fan and of course we had a great team then with the likes of Lineker and Gascoigne and the FA Cup victory of 1991. That era was what really sucked me in.”

 

Of course, Balor has a hectic schedule in the United States, but he confirmed he still keeps a keen eye on our performances from across the Atlantic.

 

“Neville (WWE wrestler and former NXT Champion) is a big Newcastle fan and of course I got a text from him last week saying ‘get in there son!’ when that last-minute winner went in, so that was heartbreaking,” he added.

 

“I always follow the results on Twitter and the online apps and I try to catch the games as much as I can. I pay for a package out in the States that gives me all the matches, but it’s rare that we have a Saturday off!”

 

NXT is WWE’s developmental arm, with a steady stream of grapplers called up to the mainstream WWE roster over recent years including Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens.

 

Balor won the NXT title, the brand’s top prize, back in July by defeating Owens, who made his WWE main roster debut earlier this year and recently held the prestigious Intercontinental Title.

 

He successfully defended the belt against Samoa Joe at the NXT TakeOver London event at Wembley Arena on Wednesday evening – and he’s determined to see us enjoy success in that vicinity again soon.
“Spurs have had a lot of great victories at Wembley – last night was a tough night at Wembley Arena and I’m feeling it today, but it’s all good,” he said.

 

“It’s great to meet Kyle – he’s been here a long time and I’m a big fan. I’m obviously a big Harry Kane supporter and a huge Jan Vertonghen fan as well. He’s rock solid!”

 

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» FINNishing TOUCH: Miscellaneous > Official Images > tottenhamhotspur.com

NXT Championship Match: Finn Bálor (c) vs Samoa Joe

 

Bálor comes out in a Jack the Ripper outfit. Joe and Bálor lock up and go through a long feeling out process, until Bálor kicks Joe in the face. Joe retreats to the outside. Bálor destroys Joe with a running penalty kick. Bálor sends Joe careening into the ring steeps after a running drop kick. Bálor misses the double foot stomp on the steel steps. Joe uranage suplexes Bálor onto the floor. Joe rolls Bálor back into the ring. Joe elbows Bálor in the head before driving Bálor into the corner. Joe hits a punch combo, but Bálor fight out with a few chops. Joe almost KO’s Bálor with a right hand. Joe crushes Bálor with his back elbow falling enzguri combo.

 

Bálor and Joe trade punches, but Joe nearly takes Bálor head off with a clothesline. Chop combo and jumping knee by Joe for a two count. Bálor gets face washed in the corner. Bálor eyes are glazed over. The referee asks Bálor if he can continue. Joe inverted atomic drops Bálor, then boots Bálor in the head. Joe misses a running senton. Bálor goes to the apron for and kicks Joe in the head. Bálor tries to spring board, but Joe chops him in the air. Joe hits the ropes and dives to the outside, obliterating Bálor in the process.

 

Joe powerbombs Bálor. Bálor kicks out and Joe transitions into a Boston crab. Joe then transitions into a crossface. Joe then turns that into a rings of Saturn. Joe attempts a short arm clothesline, but Bálor reverses it into a DDT. Bálor chops Joe into in the corner a few times. Joe dodges Bálor’s last attempt. Joe sits up on the top rope, but Bálor kicks him in the head. Joe falls to the outside. Bálor somersaults over the top into Joe. Back in the ring, Bálor hits a double foot stomp off the top to Joe’s back. Bálor almost hits the bloody Sunday, but Joe fights out. Bálor misses the running drop kick and Joe tries the muscle buster. Bálor reverses it into a pin but Joe kicks out.

 

Bálor Pele kicks Joe in the head. Both competitors struggle to their feet. They exchange punches and elbows. Bálor tries the Pele kick again, but Joe turns it into the coquina clutch. Bálor gets the ropes. Bálor goes out to the apron, but Joe grabs him in the clutch and pulls him back into the ring. Joe tries to sit down in the clutch, but Bálor rolls through and double stomps him. Bálor hits multiple running drop kicks. Bálor goes up for the muscle buster, but Bálor fights out of it. Joe tries to muscle buster Bálor off the top rope but Bálor pushes Joe off the top rope. Bálor hits the coup de grâce for the win!

 

Winner and STILL the NXT Champion, Finn Bálor!

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»FINNishing TOUCH: World Wrestling Entertainment > Live Event Digitals > NXT > 2015 > December 16th (NXT TakeOver: London)
»FINNishing TOUCH: Screen Captures > World Wrestling Entertainment > NXT > 2015 > December 16th (NXT TakeOver: London)

NXT Champion Finn Bálor, NXT Women’s Champion Bayley and General Manager William Regal talk about NXT’s growth at a Superstar Panel held in Manchester, England.

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»FINNishing TOUCH: World Wrestling Entertainment > Appearances & Events > 2015 > NXT Superstar Panel in Manchester, England

Finn Bálor and Apollo Crews vs Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin

Bálor tries to start the match with Joe, but Joe tags in Corbin. Bálor hits the ropes and drop kicks Corbin. Bálor tags in Crews, but Corbin tags in Joe. Crews almost decapitates Joe with a high angle drop kick. After a short break Joe and Corbin are working over Crews. Corbin ripcord suplexes Crews for a two count.

Crews tags in Bálor as Corbin tags in Joe. Bálor destroys Joe with a few clotheslines and a running punt kick to the head. Bálor goes for the 10 punches in the corner, but Joe almost reverses it into the muscle buster. Bálor wiggles out. Bálor hits the sling blade, followed by the running drop kick. Bálor goes up top, but Corbin pushes him off the top rope. Joe picks up Bálor and Death Valley drivers him. Joe locks in the coquina clutch and Bálor passes out.

Winners- Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin

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»FINNishing TOUCH: World Wrestling Entertainment > Live Event Digitals > NXT > 2015 > December 9th
»FINNishing TOUCH: Screen Captures > World Wrestling Entertainment > NXT > 2015 > December 9th