WWE NXT TakeOver: Rival Review

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Adrian Neville vs. Finn Balor in the Final Match of the #1 Contender’s Tournament

This, like Balor’s match with Hideo Itami last week, was a showcase in chain wrestling in the early going, with both guys waiting for the other to make a mistake.

Neville went to the outside, then hopped up on the apron to stop a dive from Balor. He caught Balor off guard, which gave him an opportunity to take over.

Neville stayed on top for a while, really working Balor over, and trying to keep a slow pace. Neville shut down a few comeback attempts from Balor, until he went to the top, and Balor caught him with an enziguri, knocking Neville from the top rope to the floor.

Balor really picked up the pace at that point, using an awesome dive over the top rope, a running dropkick against a barricade on the outside, and a double-foot stomp off the top onto the back of Neville’s head, but he couldn’t put him away.

That’s when both guys started to show their fighting spirit, taking big moves, and popping right up to deliver big moves of their own.

Neville hit a corkscrew moonsault off the middle rope, which was very impressive, but it only resulted in a two-count. Balor responded with a Bloody Sunday, but, still, just a nearfall.

Neville looked to have knocked out Balor with a roundhouse kick, and had him laid out for a Red Arrow, but Balor got the knees up and immediately had Neville in a small package pinning combination, but Neville kicked out.

Balor hit a Coup de Grace for the win.

Balor defeats Neville via pinfall.

4.25 out of 5 stars – This was awesome. This was a great match to go on third-to-last, really set the bar high for the last two matches.