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#2 Finn Balor vs Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship - NXT May 25th, 2021
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At NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night 2, Finn Balor lost his NXT Championship to Karrion Kross. That being said, he had Kross in more danger than the man had been in since joining the roster in 2020.
The Prince chopped Kross to pieces and had fans believing he'd walk away still champion after WrestleMania weekend. However, no matter where the time is told, in the end, everybody pays the toll.
Kross did put Balor away at Stand & Deliver, but it wasn't long before Balor wanted his rematch. Kross, a man always looking for the best fight, happily accepted.
We got the rematch on May 25th, and this time around Karrion Kross was prepared for Finn Balor. It seemed that no matter what Balor did, the new NXT Champion was able to shrug it off.
Easily breaking an STF and standing straight up out of an armbar, Kross slammed Balor into the mat before picking apart the former top star. He tore into Finn Balor. Every single shot could've been a match ender, and all the while Scarlett was hyping the champion up.
Of course, it wasn't a one-sided affair. Balor was able to counter and catch Kross on several occasions, hitting his jumping double stomp and even a running punt off the apron that almost knocked Kross's head into the third row.
Still, nothing Balor did ever fully turned the match in his favor. Balor escaped a Kross Jacket only to be driven into the barricade with a Razor's Edge.
That was the story of the match, honestly. Balor always showed signs of life in this NXT main event, but could never build up enough steam to put Kross in much danger. Aside from a sleeper hold, it never seemed that Kross was close to losing the NXT Championship.
In the end, Balor passed out as Kross locked in the Kross Jacket.
Kross ran through Balor, and at NXT TakeOver: In Your House, he beat Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Kyle O'Reilly, and Pete Dunne in one match. Who, at this point, can beat Kross?
