Irish superstar Finn Balor will be new NXT champion Kevin Owens’ first title challenger after the Canadian brawler ploughed through Sami Zayn at NXT TakeOver: Rival last night.
Owens, 30, was awarded the championship just two months after he made his debut on the developmental brand following a salvo of powerbombs that left the ref with no option but to stop the main event bout.
"I’m overjoyed," Owens reflected after the match.
"I came here for the NXT title, I came here to make things better for my family… it is just such a great moment."
Balor, who overcame ‘Jumping Geordie’ Neville in a thrilling match to determine the number one contender to the championship, left fans stunned with an awesome display of grace and technical brilliance – but also demonstrated a willingness to contravene the code of in-ring conduct by making the opportunistic most of openings.
And although the 33-year-old shook hands with former champ Neville as the smoke cleared from their searing contest, the hints are there that Balor is willing to be slightly more than pragmatic as well as pre-eminent to thrive.
The Women’s championship also changed hands in the penultimate match of the evening as Sasha Banks stretched reigning titleholder Charlotte into surrender in a four way bout that also included Bayley and Becky Lynch.
Having snuck in an attempt to steal the pin from Bayley following a belly-to-belly suplex from the second turnbuckle, Banks cranked Ric Flair’s daughter with a brutal crossface before tying up her former BFF with the winning crucifix pin.
NXT TakeOver: Rival results in full from Florida:
Hideo Itami beat Tyler Breeze with a running knee
Baron Corbin knocked off Bull Dempsey
NXT tag champs Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy retained their titles against the Lucha Dragons
Finn Balor finished off Adrian Neville with a double foot stomp from the top
Sasha Banks won the NXT Women's title from Charlotte in a Fatal Four Way that also included Becky Lynch and Bayley
Kevin Owens claimed the NXT championship after Sami Zayn was deemed unfit to continue
Hideo Itami beat Tyler Breeze with a running knee
Baron Corbin knocked off Bull Dempsey
NXT tag champs Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy retained their titles against the Lucha Dragons
Finn Balor finished off Adrian Neville with a double foot stomp from the top
Sasha Banks won the NXT Women's title from Charlotte in a Fatal Four Way that also included Becky Lynch and Bayley
Kevin Owens claimed the NXT championship after Sami Zayn was deemed unfit to continue
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