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NXT Championship match: Karrion Kross w/Scarlett vs Finn Balor (c)
The NXT Champion refused to back down from the sadistic Karrion Kross. Finn Balor went after the arm, looking to weaken his challenger's formerly injured shoulder. A knee lift sent Balor into the sky, but it only left a smile on The Prince's face.
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A low kick and chop seemed to fire up Kross, who launched the champ overhead. Balor cracked another grin and laughed in Kross' face. A slap to the face angered the former NXT Champion, as Balor looked to take advantage of Kross' unstable emotions.
Balor got exactly what he wanted, as Kross fired up and launched him into the corner.
A high-speed shoulder tackle nearly cut Balor in half. A second one, though, missed when Finn dodged, sending Kross into the ring post.
Balor aimed to yank his shoulder out of the socket, using the top rope for leverage. Kross broke away from his grasp and suplexed The Prince of NXT across the ring.
Tied up in a tree of woe, Balor was unable to avoid a running knee into the midsection. Somehow, Balor was able to catch Kross with a surprising armbar. Kross was left in the middle of the ring writhing in pain.
After making it to his feet, Kross set up a powerbomb counter. Balor held onto the arm, jamming it into the mat.
A spin kick saw Kross fall down to the mat, a scene we saw play out when Balor kicked Kyle O'Reilly at NXT TakeOver: 31.
Scarlett was unfazed, however, and Kross soon took over. He slammed the NXT Champion into opposite turnbuckles, but the powerslam was countered with a spinning headlock elbow drop.
Kross was first to his feet though, and a nasty bridging suplex led to a short-arm clothesline and powerbomb for a two-count.
Balor again went after the arm and sternum and caught the challenger with the sling blade. Kross anticipated the shotgun dropkick, rocking him with a clothesline. The Doomsday Saito dumped Balor on his head.
Balor saw Kross' elbow coming, responding with the Pele Kick. A series of shotgun dropkicks connected, as did the Coup de Grace. It wasn't enough to pin Kross, though, and Kross turned the pin into a Kross Jacket attempt. Balor rolled through, escaping and hitting a jumping double stomp.
Kross howled in pain, unable to get to his feet. Balor locked in an octopus stretch, but Kross broke through. He mounted the back of Balor and hammered his skull into the mat. A deadlift German planted Balor, as did another Doomsday Saito.
The knockout forearm connected, but Balor was still moving. As Balor made it to his feet, another blow laid out Balor. Just like that, Karrion Kross regained the NXT Championship.
Results: Karrion Kross defeated Finn Balor via pinfall at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Grade: A+
