NXT #344 - Balor vs. Nakamura

NXT #344

Orlando, Florida - July 2015

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into tonight's show, Samoa Joe holds the NXT Championship, The Revival are the Tag Team Champions, and Asuka is the NXT Womens' Champion.

COMMENTARY: Tom Phillips and Corey Graves

I don't usually review single episodes of wrestling TV, but it was impossible to watch this particular show and not want to write a bit about it. 

After a video package hyping tonight's main event, Samoa Joe makes his way down the aisle with the title over his shoulder. Joe proceeds to cut a promo cutting down both Nakamura and Finn Balor, showing he's not afraid of either challenger. Rhyno arrives and challenges Joe, but the champion laughs him off. 

Bailey vs. Nia Jax is announced for next week, as is an American Alpha/Authors of Pain bout and Joe/Rhyno. I may have to review that show too as I'm a fairly big fan of half of each match.

Triple H, Tye Dillinger, Neville, and others share their thoughts tonight's main event, noting how Balor and Nakamura have similar backgrounds as stars in Japan. Finn and Nakamura discuss their friendship as well, giving a lot of emotional weight to the match. 

Finn Balor arrives first to a respectable amount of cheers, but the chants for his opponent start up the second his music switches off. Nakamura gets the more extravagant entrance, though, honestly, you can take away the music and the strobe lights and he is still so charismatic that it's impossible not to have your eyes glued to this guy. In one of my biggest pet peeves of modern wrestling, a "This is Awesome" chant breaks out before we even get the ring introductions, a sure-tell sign that the audience was already ready to call this a Match of the Year even if it was a 20-minute headlock followed by a roll-up and that there would be an abundance of "smart" chants (for example, "Both These Guys!"). Balor tries to keep Nakamura on the mat to start things off, but after trading some signature gestures, the two friends start dishing out some stiff shots. Nakamura lands a vicious guillotine knee to the back of Finn's head and just when this match is heating up, we inexplicably go to not one but two commercials. Ugh. We come back in time to see Balor get the upperhand and retake control, eventually typing up Nak's knee in the ropes and striking it with his own, a sick move. Balor gets even more heinous with a surfboard and a leg whip, continuing to go after The King of Strong Style's legs. Shinsuke fires up, though, no-selling the leg damage, which is unfortunate as the match really could've benefitted from the drama. After Balor hits a stunning kick to the face on the apron, we cut to another unnecessary commercial (this time for Scott Hall's new DVD and the Cruiserweight Tournament). When we come back, Balor hits a double stomp to the back of Nakamura's head, a move that probably would've seemed more sensational had the TV audience had the opportunity to see it in full context. Balor straps on a grapevine and, now, Nakamura is selling the leg big time, though, he miraculously locks in a sick armbar that Balor is only able to escape via a rope break. Nakamura drives his knees into Balor but gets a bit too cocky, walking into a enziguri followed by Balor's Reverse 1916, a move I've definitely not seen enough of. He follows it up with a sling blade, but Nakamura is able to connect with his Kinshasa finish. A "Fight Forever" chant begins when Balor won't stay down and then we get one of the nastiest Double Stomps I've ever seen, a physics-defying counter. The final stretch is a spectacular series of big moves, cementing the victor as the undisputed number one contender for Samoa Joe's NXT Championship. (4/5)

While I wouldn't call this a Match of the Year Contender, I can see it ending up on my top ten list, probably not too many slots below Nakamura's amazing debut at NXT Takeover Dallas. Worth checking out if you're new to NXT and want to know what the big fuss is about these two particular performers.