WWE NXT Review: Finn Balor vs. Hideo Itami
By Mike Smith
WWE.com
Hideo Itami vs. Finn Balor in a #1 Contender’s Tournament Semi-Final Match
There was a long feeling-out process at the beginning of the match, and it took a while for one man to gain any control over the match.
Finally, Itami started to take over. Itami’s offense was pretty methodical, and the match had a slow pace, until Balor worked his way back into it.
Balor’s offense brought a much quicker pace, until he slowed it down, as he worked Itami over.
Itami get back into it, teasing a GTS for a huge pop, but Balor countered and went for Bloody Sunday, but that was countered, and Balor hit a Pele Kick, resetting the match.
The match was very back-and-forth from that point, until Balor hit a massive dropkick on Itami, and followed with a double-foot stomp off the top.
Balor defeats Itami via pinfall.
After the match, they shook hands and hugged, earning a loud “NXT” chant.
Balor then walked back up the ramp, where he shook hands with Adrian Neville, his opponent in the finals next week on February 11th.
4 out of 5 stars – Phenomenal TV match. Definitely deserved the “We’re not worthy,” “Better than Raw,” and “Marking out” chants.