Finn Balor vs. Ilja Dragunov

It’s time for the opener as Finn Balor makes his way out to a pop as Alicia Taylor does the introductions. Ilja Dragunov is out next for our first NXT vs. NXT UK match.

The bell rings and they lock up. They tangle and go to the mat for more. They break and lock back up. Balor takes Dragunov down with a headlock. Dragunov turns it around. Dragunov ends up hitting a crossbody for a quick pin attempt. Dragunov taunts Balor in the middle of the ring and tells him to bring it. Dragunov with a shot to the mouth. They go at it and Balor rolls through, then slaps Dragunov in the mouth. Balor sends Dragunov to the floor and nails a big running dropkick through the ropes.

Balor brings it back into the ring and chops Dragunov in the corner. Dragunov counters and drops Balor. Dragunov hits a big senton for a 2 count. Dragunov keeps Balor grounded now. Balor ends up on the floor for a breather and Dragunov puts on the brakes when charging. Dragunov goes on and leaps out, taking Balor down. Dragunov brings it back into the ring but Balor rolls right back out. Dragunov goes back to the top for a double ax handle to the floor but Balor moves and Dragunov lands hard.

Balor with boots to the face as the referee counts them. Balor brings Dragunov back into the ring and nails a dropkick to the back of the head for a 2 count. Balor keeps Dragunov grounded now. Balor slams Dragunov back to the mat and covers for a 2 count. Balor with boots to keep Dragunov down as the referee warns him. Balor gets back in the face of the referee and then stomps away on Dragunov for a pop as the referee backs him off.

Balor keeps control and delivers more chops. Balor grounds Dragunov now. Dragunov fights up but Balor goes for a suplex. Dragunov counters and hits one of his own for a pop. Dragunov with a running knee to the face in the corner. Dragunov keeps control and levels Balor. Dragunov yells out for some boos. Dragunov with a clothesline in the corner. Dragunov exposes the knee and nails a knee drop to the throat from the second rope. Balor still kicks out at 2.

Dragunov with strikes to the neck, then knee strikes. Balor takes him down but ends up getting dropped with another big knee for a 2 count. Dragunov scoops Balor but Balor slides out and hits a double stomp to the mat. Dragunov tells Balor to bring it now, while on his knees. They trade big strikes in the middle of the ring now. Balor with a chop. Dragunov with a kick to the head. More back and forth. Balor goes for 1916 but it’s blocked. Balor drops Dragunov with the elbow across the throat. Balor with a Slingblade from the corner. Balor runs into a kick to the face. Dragunov with a huge dead-lift German suplex for a 2 count. Dragunov comes back with a big clothesline. Balor goes out but Dragunov leaps from the top and takes him down on the floor.

Dragunov brings Balor back into the ring. Dragunov goes to the top with a Coast 2 Coast for a close 2 count. Balor is bleeding from his nose now. Dragunov goes to the top for a big senton but Balor gets his knees up. Balor with a running dropkick into the corner. Fans pop as Balor goes to the top and hits Coup de Grace. The pop continues as Balor nails 1916 in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.

Winner: Finn Balor

After the match, Balor stands tall and walks around the ring, looking out at the crowd, as his music hits. We go to replays. Balor poses in the corner and wipes the blood from his nose, then points out at the crowd as the referee checks on Dragunov.

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Back from the break and we get a vignette with Ilja Dragunov, sending a warning to Finn Balor for their match at Worlds Collide. Dragunov says when he beats Balor on Saturday, everyone will see that he’s invincible. Ilja says he will not miss.

Finn Balor vs. Joaquin Wilde

We go back to the ring and out comes Finn Balor for the next match. Joaquin Wilde is out next with his custom helmet on.

The bell rings and fans chant for Balor. They lock up and Balor unloads, aggressively beating Wilde down. Balor stomps while Wilde is down on the mat. The referee backs Balor off and they have some words. Wilde gets back to his feet but Balor beats him into another corner, then delivers a chop. Balor takes it into another corner for another big chop as fans pop.

Balor runs into a big boot in the corner. Balor come right back with a big dropkick in the middle of the ring. Balor with another big dropkick, sending Wilde back into the turnbuckles. Balor goes to the top and hits a Coup de Grace. Balor picks Wilde up and sends a warning to Dragunov, then drops Wilde with 1916 to get the easy pin in the middle of the ring.

Winner: Finn Balor

After the match, Balor stands tall as we go to replays. Balor poses on the stage, pointing his guns at the camera, as his music plays.

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We see recent happenings between Finn Balor and Johnny Gargano. Gargano will be here tonight. Back to commercial.

We go to the ring and out comes Johnny Gargano to a mixed reaction.

Gargano says he’s been waiting a long time to get a live mic to talk about The Prince. The boos get louder. Gargano says he’s not going to take anything away from what Finn Balor did for NXT, for building the brand, and he won’t take anything away from Balor putting him on the shelf for a few months. But all of that is the past. Gargano says Balor likes to say his future is his past, and now his past is standing in the ring because Balor didn’t finish the job when he had him on the ramp.

Gargano goes on and talks about how Balor couldn’t wait to put the NXT flag down and get the hell out of here to the main roster. Gargano says he got the same phone call from WWE but he turned it down and stayed here, because when he says he loves this place, he actually means it. More fans cheer for Gargano now as the “Johnny Wrestling!” chant starts up, but there’s still a mixed reaction overall. Gargano talks about how he came to NXT and took it to new heights, with the fans, but without Balor because he abandoned the place. Gargano says NXT left Balor behind and that eats Balor alive, it eats him alive that NXT didn’t need him. The music finally interrupts and out comes Balor.

Balor congratulates Gargano on the promo and says maybe he should be called Johnny Promo now because that’s the only thing doctors will clear him for. Balor admits Gargano cost him the NXT Title a few weeks back. Gargano laughs and Balor threatens to knock his head off. Balor goes on and calls him soft. Balor says he will give Gargano his match at “Takeover: Portland” on February 16, if Gargano makes it that far. Balor drops the mic and they stare each other down as the music hits.

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NXT Title Match: Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole

We go right to the ring and out comes Finn Balor first. This was previously announced as being a commercial-free match but Mauro notes that it will have “limited commercial interruption.” NXT Champion Adam Cole is out next as Alicia Taylor does the introductions.

The bell rings and we get formal introductions from Taylor. Fans do dueling chants as they lock up and trade holds. Balor takes Cole down first and they tangle some more on the mat. Balor with the upperhand again, keeping Cole grounded. Cole turns it around on their feet and beats Balor down to some boos. Cole with a forearm to the jaw. Balor comes back with a basement dropkick for a 2 count. Balor keeps Cole grounded by his arm now. They get up and Balor chops Cole into the corner. Balor keeps control and dropkicks Cole in the back of the neck while he’s down. Balor with another close 2 count. Fans chant for Balor as he works on Cole while he’s down.

Balor stomps away on Cole, sending him out for a breather. Balor with a dropkick through the ropes now, sending Cole into the barrier. Balor goes for a big kick from the apron but Cole superkicks the knee out. Balor goes down on the apron and Cole works him over, bringing it back in for a Hangman’s neckbreaker. Cole mounts Balor with strikes now. Cole goes on and hits a snap suplex for another pin attempt. Cole stomps away in the corner now as the referee warns him. Cole plays to the crowd for a mixed reaction. Cole takes Balor back down, drives a knee to the back and grounds him with a headlock now. Balor tries to fight up and out but Cole takes him back down, talking trash as the referee checks on Balor. Balor gets up and hits a jawbreaker to break free. Balor charges but Cole counters and takes the left knee out to take back control. Cole drops Balor with a right, then nails a forearm. Cole drops Balor again for another 2 count. Cole drives more knees into Balor’s back and keeps him down with a scissors on the mat.

Cole keeps control and shows off some as Balor stumbles to the corner. Cole runs into boots. Balor mounts some offense now. Balor drops down on Cole for a 2 count. Balor with chops in the corner. Cole comes back and hits a backbreaker out of nowhere for a 2 count. More back and forth on their feet now. Cole with an enziguri. Balor with a Slingblade. Balor runs into a big superkick and Cole covers for a 2 count. They trade suplex attempts and then strikes in the middle of the ring. Cole with a big boot to the face and another shot. Balor comes right back with a pele kick but Cole falls on him for a close 2 count. They get up and stare each other down. Cole drops Balor with a kick. Balor blocks the Panama Sunrise. Cole counters the 1916. More back and forth and big counters between the two. Balor drops Cole and goes to the top but Cole knock him off. Balor lands hard on the floor as the dueling chants start back up.

Cole goes for a Sunrise from the apron but Balor back-drops him to the floor, then hits a big running dropkick. Balor brings it back in and misses the Coup de Grace. Cole follows up with the Last Shot for another close 2 count as the crowd goes wild and the “NXT!” chants start up. Cole can’t believe it. Fans chant “this is awesome!” now. Cole drops his knee pad and runs the ropes but Balor nails a huge clothesline. Balor with a dropkick into the corner. Balor goes back to the top and nails a Coup de Grace. Balor grabs Cole for a 1916 but Johnny Gargano appears on the stage and everyone is distracted.

Cole takes advantage of Balor being distracted, rocks him and then delivers the Last Shot for the pin to retain.

Winner: Adam Cole

After the match, Gargano slowly walks down the ramp as Cole’s music hits. Cole exits the ring. Balor is down in the ring. Gargano brings a steel chair into the ring as fans chant “Johnny Wrestling!” now. Balor looks up from the mat as Gargano stares him down, chair in-hand. Gargano unloads with chair shots now, beating Balor out of the ring. The chair shots continue until Balor retreats through the crowd. Gargano touches the steel part of the bottom of the ramp, which Balor dropped him on when he turned heel several weeks back. Gargano tosses the chair and leaves.

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Back from the break and we get hype for tonight’s main event. The announcers send us to a vignette with Finn Balor complaining about having to compete with Tommaso Ciampa and Keith Lee.

The announcers discuss tonight’s main event before NXT Champion Adam Cole makes his way out. Cole poses on the apron as his music hits. Back to commercial.

#1 Contenders Triple Threat: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Keith Lee vs. Finn Balor

Back from the break and we get a video package on Tommaso Ciampa, which transitions into Ciampa standing backstage. He says tonight is for Goldie. Ciampa heads to the ring for tonight’s main event. Keith Lee is out next. Finn Balor is out next. The winner of this match will challenge Adam Cole for the NXT Title next week. We get formal ring introductions from Taylor.

Ciampa and Lee both brush Balor off during the introductions. The bell rings and Balor rocks Lee. Ciampa attacks Balor. Lee drops Balor. Balor goes to the floor for a breather. Lee follows as Ciampa looks on from the ring. Balor tries to get in but Ciampa stops him. Lee yanks Balor off the apron and slams him onto the apron. Balor lands hard on the floor. Lee sends Balor in. Balor ends up rolling Ciampa for a 1 count as he’s distracted with Lee. Lee slingshots himself in, leveling his opponents. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and Lee drops Balor in the corner and splashes Ciampa in the other corner. Lee with more splashes to each man in the corners. Balor dropkicks Lee in the back against Ciampa but Lee is still up. Balor and Ciampa take turns on Lee now. Ciampa clotheslines Lee over the top rope to the floor. Balor and Ciampa unload on each other in the ring now. Ciampa stomps away in the corner, then the opposite corner, beating Balor down. Ciampa with a running knee to Balor’s head. Lee comes to the apron but Ciampa nails him with a running knee.

Ciampa kicks Lee as he comes back to the apron, same with Balor. Ciampa with a double draping DDT from the second rope for a pop. Ciampa wastes time and doesn’t cover. Ciampa scoops Balor for an Air Raid, dropping him on top of Lee. Ciampa with a 2 count on Balor and then a 2 count on Lee. Ciampa kicks Balor out of the ring and goes back to work on Lee in the middle of the ring.

Ciampa with big chops to Lee. Lee levels Ciampa with a huge left. They keep fighting. Ciampa tries to lift Lee but can’t get him up. Lee with big Hulk smashes and a splash but Ciampa gets his knees up. Balor comes back in the ring and nails a double stomp on Lee. Balor charges at Lee but gets hit with a Pounce. Lee keeps knocking both opponents down now. Lee with running splashes over and over to his opponents in the corners. Lee launches Balor into Ciampa to take him down as fans continue changing for Lee. Lee with a big back-drop to Ciampa. Lee stacks Ciampa on top of Balor and goes to the top. Ciampa grabs his leg and unloads on him. Ciampa climbs up and Balor joins him on the other side of Lee. Ciampa and Balor double team Lee by slamming him to the mat as we go back to commercial.

Back from the break and Ciampa rocks Balor up top. Ciampa goes for the super Air Raid but Lee puts them both on his shoulders, sending them to the mat. Fans chant “NXT!” and “holy s–t!” now. Lee drags Ciampa and Balor to opposite corners. Lee climbs to the second rope for a moonsault on Ciampa but he moves out of the way. Lee blocks a Fairytale Ending and hits a Jackhammer to Ciampa. Lee goes for Balor but Balor counters with a roll-up for a close 2 count. Lee blocks a Slingblade and goes for a powerbomb but Balor turns it into a Coup de Grace from up high. Fans chant “NXT!” again.

Balor sends Ciampa over the top. Balor runs the ring and leaps out the other side, taking Lee down. Fans chant “this is awesome!” now. Balor runs and knocks Ciampa into a barrier, knocking a few crew members back. Balor brings Ciampa back in but misses Coup de Grace. Lee runs in with a Pounce to Balor. Lee turns his attention to Ciampa, who is being checked on by the referee. Ciampa avoids a Lee powerbomb, then chop blocks Lee’s knee. Ciampa with the Air Raid on Lee in the middle of the ring for a close 2 count. Ciampa can’t believe it.

Ciampa charges but Lee drives him into the mat. Lee goes to the second rope and hits the moonsault for a close 2 count. Lee goes for the sitdown powerbomb and hits it but Balor immediately follows up with a huge Coup de Grace for the pin on Lee to win.

Winner and New #1 Contender: Finn Balor

After the match, Balor stands tall as his music hits. We go to replays and come back to Balor standing over Lee, guns pointed out. Mauro confirms Balor vs. Adam Cole for the title next week. Ripley vs. Baszler is also confirmed for next Wednesday. Balor stands on the top, pointing at the camera now. Cole stands tall on the ramp with the NXT Title as Balor talks trash from the ring. The Undisputed Era joins Cole on the ramp now – NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong and NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish. NXT goes off the air with The Undisputed Era staring Balor down from the ramp.

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The Undisputed Era vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic

We go to the ring for tonight’s main event and out first come The Undisputed Era – NXT Champion Adam Cole, NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong, and NXT Tag Team Champion Kyle O’Reilly. Keith Lee is out next, followed by Dominik Dijakovic. They wait together on the stage until Tommaso Ciampa makes his way out.

Lee and Strong go at it to start the match. Lee takes it to the corner and in comes Ciampa. Ciampa beats Strong down and unloads with stomps. Ciampa slams Strong and tags in Dijakovic for the double team. Dijakovic beats on Strong but Strong knees him and tags in O’Reilly. O’Reilly with knee strikes. Dijakovic resists and launches O’Reilly across the ring. Dijakovic with elbows and more offense. Dijakovic with a big backbreaker and a second rope splash for a close 2 count on O’Reilly.

Dijakovic runs into a kick from O’Reilly as Strong tags in. Dijakovic doesn’t see it as he fights both of them off, using O’Reilly as a battering ram. Dijakovic tosses O’Reilly to the floor after knocking Cole off the apron as well. Dijakovic stands tall while his opponents are down on the outside. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and Strong has Dijakovic grounded. Strong loses control but comes back with a dropkick. Strong taunts Dijakovic and pounds on him some more. Dijakovic hits a huge clothesline out of nowhere. O’Reilly tags in and stops Dijakovic from tagging. It takes all three opponents to stop Dijakovic from tagging out now. O’Reilly ends up dropping Lee off the apron. Dijakovic finally tags Ciampa in as he unloads on all three opponents for pops from the crowd.

Ciampa clotheslines Strong over the top and then tosses O’Reilly over his head. Ciampa goes back and forth on all three opponents, hitting Cole with a draping DDT for a pop. O’Reilly with big strikes on Ciampa but he escapes and hits Project Ciampa for a close 2 count on O’Reilly in the middle of the ring. Strong tags in as Ciampa fights with O’Reilly. Strong with a big knee. Strong and O’Reilly with a High Low on Ciampa but Dijakovic breaks the pin up. Strong and O’Reilly with the big double team on Dijakovic now. Ciampa slides out of a move by Strong. Strong scoops him again with the Gutbuster. Ciampa comes right back with a jumping kick to the face. Strong and Ciampa are both down as the referee checks on them and the crowd rallies.

Lee and Cole tag in at the same time for a pop. Lee unloads on all opponents, and gets a pop for turning Cole inside out. Cole retreats to the floor for a breather. Lee runs the ropes to dive out, but all three opponents scatter. Lee goes to the floor and hits a shoulder on O’Reilly and Strong. Cole drops Lee. Dijakovic dives out and takes them down for a big pop and a “NXT!” chant. O’Reilly goes to the top but Dijakovic stops him and climbs up. Cole stops the superplex. Finn Balor suddenly hits the ring and hits the big dropkick to Cole’s back, sending him into the referee and the others in the corner. Fans chant “holy s–t!” now as Balor grabs Ciampa for the 1916 in the middle of the ring. Some fans boo Balor now.

Balor points his guns but Lee grabs him from the side. Balor fights free. Balor charges again but Lee catches him for the big powerbomb in the middle of the ring. Cole superkicks Lee in the face after Balor retreats. Cole drops his knee pad but Lee catches him with the big Jackhammer in the middle of the ring for the pin to win as the referee wakes back up.

Winners: Keith Lee, Tommaso Ciampa and Dominik Dijakovic

After the match, Lee stands tall as his music hits. We go to replays. Balor recovers on the outside and looks on as Lee, Ciampa and Dijakovic celebrate the win. The Undisputed Era is also shown recovering at ringside. Regal appears on the stage and announces another big match for December 18 – Cole will be defending his title against the winner of next week’s Triple Threat between Balor, Ciampa and Lee. Balor, Ciampa and Lee trade looks as Lee’s music resumes. NXT goes off the air as Cole vents to Strong at ringside.

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