Ranking Every Match from NXT TakeOver: Respect
By Carl Gac
Photo Courtesy of WWE.com
5. Finn Balor and Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin and Rhyno
The final of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic saw the two teams of well-known NXT stars face each other. The only cloud hanging over the match was the apparent knee injury suffered by Balor in the semi final. Both of the NXT Champions opponents worked over the injury but he held up well and his pairing with Joe looked like a team that had been together for years.
With the Rhodes family sat at ringside watching the match, ready to present the trophy to the victors these two teams crafted a solid match. A back and forth exchange which, on a couple of occasions, saw the heel team of Corbin and Rhyno look close to getting the win.
The eventual ending to the match had a small discrepancy. With a large part of the narrative of the match being Balor’s injured knee it was he who got the pin after hitting the Coup de Grace on Rhyno, whilst not appearing to have any problems with the supposedly injured knee. That small thing didn’t stop the match being a fitting tribute to the late American Dream Dusty Rhodes.
All of the men in the match are great in the ring. Rhyno has added experience to NXT and can only be a good influence on the career of Corbin. Balor and Joe are now more than likely heading for a feud over the NXT Championship.
Next: No. 4