#1 Contender NXT Championship Tournament Semi-Finals Match
Hideo Itami vs. Finn Bálor

Balor and Itami lock eyes and then they get right to it. First they lock hands, break and then come together again. When they really get grappling, it almost looks like an even match. After some twisting and grappling, they break, stand back and assess one another as the fans voice their approval. Itami tries to get on top of Finn on the mat but Balor won’t make it easy. Itami hits the ropes and Finn gets him with a solid dropkick as we go to break.

Back after the commercial, Itami is back up and he has control of Balor for the moment. Finn breaks loose and heads to the ropes but Hideo takes him down and tries for a cover. Finn gets back into it and works Hideo into an unusual stretch hold followed by a cover. Itami kicks out and Finn covers again, but no dice. Balor stays on top of things, locking in a choke on Hideo. He continues with the mat work but Itami wriggles out and ascends the ropes. Balor connects with a kick, putting Hideo on the canvas. Another break ensues.

As the match resumes, Balor is chopping the holy bejeezus out of Hideo. Itami comes back with a dropkick and then hits a clothesline. Itami goes into full offensive mode now, putting Balor’s neck into the rope and then cracking him with a kick. Itami teases the GTS and they trade counters until both guys are down on the mat. When both men reach a vertical base again, they trade huge shots. Itami finally gets the advantage with strikes and kicks, following with a corner dropkick but Balor takes him out with a sling blade and then a big dropkick. He hits a double-stomp off the top and after a three-count, it’s over.

Winner: Finn Bálor

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» FINNishing TOUCH: World Wrestling Entertainment > Live Event Digitals > NXT > 2015 > February 4th
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First Round Tournament Match – Finn Bálor vs Curtis Axel

Axel goes right after Balor choking him in the ropes until the referee makes them break it up. He throws a hard elbow and continues his assault until Finn connects with a standing dropkick. Axel tries to bail to the outside, but is caught with a senton splash over the ropes. Step-up enzuigiri connects over the ropes, but the referee holds him back as Axel hides in the ropes.

Curtis keeps control, slowing things down with a rest hold for a minute. Balor breaks free but runs into a knee strike. Axel comes up empty (by a mile) with a top rope elbow drop and is caught by a Pele Kick. Finn connects with the Slingblade, followed up by a running dropkick in the corner. He goes to the top rope and finishes off the match with a double foot stomp.

Winner: Finn Bálor

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» FINNishing TOUCH: World Wrestling Entertainment > Live Event Digitals > NXT > 2015 > January 21st
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NXT Superstar Finn Bálor takes us through the key moments of his match with Tyson Kidd.

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» FINNishing TOUCH: Screen Captures > World Wrestling Entertainment > Video Exclusives > NXT BreakDown featuring Finn Bálor – January 14, 2015

Finn Bálor vs Tyson Kidd

Balor hits an immediate dropkick before he heads up top, then Kidd bails outside and Balor gives chase and rolls him back in the ring. Kidd rolls out the other side so Balor follows him again, but Kidd slams him into the barricade and kicks him a few times. Kidd rolls him inside and hits a legdrop, then he taunts Balor a bit and hits a neckbreaker. Kidd applies a side headlock before he puts Balor in tree of woe position, then he stomps Balor a few times before Balor kicks him in the face.

Balor hits a reverse bulldog and an enziguri, then Kidd falls outside so Balor hits a suicide dive on the ramp. Kidd connects with a kick to the head, then he hits a springboard elbow drop for two before he applies a Sharpshooter. Balor gets to the ropes to break, then he pulls Kidd through the ropes and hits an inverted elevated DDT (Bloody Sunday), followed by a top rope diving kick to the head for the win.

Winner: Finn Bálor

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» FINNishing TOUCH: World Wrestling Entertainment > Live Event Digitals > NXT > 2015 > January 14th
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The Ascension vs Hideo Itami & Finn Bálor

They go at it immediately with the dream team taking over. Ascension bails before the seated corner dropkicks can connect until it settles down to Viktor vs. Balor. Finn charges into the corner with a running chop before it’s off to Itami, who the fans are really excited to see. Back to Finn for more forearms and chops before Itami drops a knee for two. We hit the chinlock on Viktor as a Hideo chant starts up.

Finn does a nice jump over the ropes to avoid a charging Viktor before kicking Konor off the apron. The distraction lets Viktor get in a big uppercut to knock Balor outside though as we take a break. Balor fights out of a chinlock from Konnor but the Ascension uses their old school double team beatdown to keep him in trouble. Off to a reverse chinlock from Konnor for a bit before a big uppercut gets two.

Finn gets spiked like a football to break up a hot tag attempt as the beating continues. Slugging it out with Viktor goes as well as you would expect it to go so it’s back to Konnor to just hammer Balor in the head.

The Pele Kick finally gives Finn an opening and the double tag brings in Itami and Viktor as things speed up. Hideo snaps Viktor’s neck across the top rope and scores with a top rope clothesline, only to walk into an STO for two. Itami teases the GTS again to another big reaction (and a GTS chant) but Konnor makes the save. Finn takes Konnor to the floor, leaving Itami to kick Viktor in the head for the pin.

Winners: Hideo Itami & Finn Bálor

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We are back and we are told that Hideo Itami and Finn Balor will face The Ascension one more time next week on NXT.

Itami and Balor were asked about the match. Hideo mentions that the Ascension tried to ruin his debut and next week they destroy the Ascension. Finn says that they were greeted by the Ascension on their way in, but they will send the Ascension out the door.

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» FINNishing TOUCH: Screen Captures > World Wrestling Entertainment > NXT > December 25th