NXT TakeOver 31 Results: Winners, Grades, and Video Highlights 

This was everything a fan would want in a Balor/O'Reilly match

NXT Championship match at TakeOver 31: Kyle O'Reilly vs Finn Balor (c)

The NXT Champion was in the fight of his life in this match, it seemed. Both men were evenly matched at TakeOver 31. The legendary NXT tag team specialist seemed to have an answer for everything Finn Balor threw at him.

Eventually, Balor was able to slow the Undisputed Era's mat technician down with a headlock, but Kyle O'Reilly was able to escape, nearly setting up Balor for an armbar out of nowhere. O'Reilly focused on the shoulder of The Prince of NXT at TakeOver 31, the same one that was injured in his Universal Championship match many years ago.

Uncalled for. #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship @FinnBalor @KORcombat pic.twitter.com/1cMfVz02N6

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) October 5, 2020

Balor was able to tear away from O'Reilly's grasp after several minutes, and looked to give O'Reilly a taste of his own medicine. After all, an injured arm would weaken his submission game, which was rather dangerous. Balor did try to trade strikes with the three-time NXT Tag Team Champion, which was a huge mistake.

O'Reilly battered Balor with an intense series of knees, kicks, elbows and chops, ending with a leg sweep that left Balor gasping for air on the mat. O'Reilly charged in the corner for a running elbow before going back to Balor's arm at TakeOver 31.

A series of double underhook suplexes into a double underhook DDT planted Balor for a two-count. In an ode to the NXT General Manager, O'Reilly set up for a Regal Plex. Balor blocked it but faced more punishment in the ropes with more stiff strikes at TakeOver 31.

This led to a slugfest, which Balor shockingly won after a big kick to the side. O'Reilly crumbled to the mat and the referee nearly stopped the match. Balor took his time here, punishing O'Reilly and working over his sternum. For minutes on end, Balor punished O'Reilly's ribs.

The Prin❌e... 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥. #NXTTakeOver #NXTChampionship @FinnBalor @KORcombat pic.twitter.com/yBNaJlfrva

— WWE (@WWE) October 5, 2020

Balor hit the spinning inverted facelock elbow drop and a Sling Blade. O'Reilly countered the shotgun dropkick with a dropkick of his own to Balor's knees. A knee breaker set up or a heel hook, which Balor countered into a Sharpshooter.

O'Reilly escaped, and after another striking trade, caught Balor in a guillotine in the middle of the ring. O'Reilly let go of the hold to deliver a knee to the chest and a brainbuster. It wasn't enough at TakeOver 31.

There is no quit in @KORcombat. #NXTChampionship #NXTTakeOver @FinnBalor pic.twitter.com/rbOwFJQtAC

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 5, 2020

Balor escaped a cross arm breaker and hit the 1916 DDT, but O'Reilly kicked out. O'Reilly stopped the Coup de Grace, hanging Balor up in the ropes with a dragon screw. O'Reilly weakened the knee some more, hitting a diving knee drop to the back of Balor's leg.

The heel hook was locked in as O'Reilly began to bleed from the mouth. Balor made it to the ropes but was blasted with a knee in the corner and a German suplex. He rolled through hitting a standing double stomp, but it was clear his mouth had been busted open at TakeOver 31.

Balor hit the Coup de Grace to finally put O'Reilly away.

Results: Finn Balor defeated Kyle O'Reilly via pinfall on NXT TakeOver 31.

Grade: A+

After the match, Finn Balor offered his hand to the three-time NXT Tag Team Champion. They celebrated for a moment before noticing Ridge Holland carrying the nearly unconscious Adam Cole ringside. He dumped Cole over the barricade before the Undisputed Era could rush in.

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TakeOver 31 Rating: A

We had a few surprises in the form of Ember Moon and Toni Storm tonight. Balor and Kyle O'Reilly fought in what could go down as a Match Of The Year Contender.