NXT Houston Recap: Balor Bids Farewell

As if the return of the hottest brand in professional wrestling wasn’t enough to fire up fans in the Lone Star State, the NXT house show Saturday night at the Revention Center in Houston became an instant classic when it was announced during the program that it would be the final NXT appearance of the great Finn Balor.

Arguably the most influential figure in the explosion of NXT’s worldwide popularity, Balor bid farewell to his fans and fellow performers with a graceful and heartfelt speech following a tag team victory in the evening’s main event. The former NXT champion teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura to defeat current NXT titleholder Samoa Joe and recent TNA import Bobby Roode. While the match was entertaining – thanks in large part to a fantastic performance from Roode – it was what followed that made the evening truly special.

As Balor grabbed the mic amidst chants of “Thank you Finn!” from the sold out crowd, former NXT Women’s Champion Bayley emerged from the locker room to take control of the proceedings.

“You have taken NXT from a level where we were already booming and taking over the business,” gushed Bayley, “and you have taken it to a whole other level.” Ever the humble superstar, Balor shook his head as if to try to downplay his role, but the crowd would have none of it, chanting “Yes you did! Yes you did!”

Bayley went on to introduce the three other NXT superstars who will be leaving for the main roster following the Houston show: Mojo Rawley, Nia Jax, and Carmella. While each received a rousing ovation from the enthusiastic fans, there was no mistaking that this was Balor’s night.

“We don’t do this because it’s our jobs. We don’t do it because we get paid to do it. We do this because we love it,” Balor said. He went on to thank each and every superstar who had gathered at the ramp to show their respect for their decorated colleague.

Balor saved his kindest words of the evening for NXT head trainer Matt Bloom. Claiming that showing up at the WWE Performance Center prior to Bloom’s arrival was “a struggle,” Balor heaped praise upon the former WWE star, saying that Bloom “makes sure that everyone in the building has a smile on their face.”

While Balor’s farewell appearance was undoubtedly the most memorable of the evening, there were plenty of captivating moments on the card that helped put smiles on the faces of everyone in the Revention Center on Saturday Night.

Mojo Rawley def. Buddy Murphy

Rawley was the perfect choice to kick off the festivities, as his infectious enthusiasm got the crowd fired up from the opening bell. A solid performance from both men, particularly Murphy, who looks ready to blossom as a heel in solo competition.

Andrade “Cien” Almas def. Wesley Blake

Probably the least exciting match on the card, although not for lack of effort from the high-flying Almas. He’s an impressive talent for sure, but doesn’t seem quite comfortable in the NXT arena just yet.

Bayley and Carmella def. Mandy Rose and Daria

Kudos to Rose and Daria for playing the heel role beautifully in a match where they had absolutely no chance of gaining any support from a rabid pro-Baymella crowd. They took to the mic and taunted their hug happy opponents before eventually (and predictably) losing the match. One item of note was an apparent injury to Bayley’s knee. She gimped around noticeably during and after the match, but seemed to be a bit better during the aftershow.

Hideo Itami def. Austin Aries

Itami has finally made his way back to the ring after shoulder surgery and if Saturday was any indication, he is back with a vengeance. He and Aries went back and forth in a superb match that showcased both men’s outstanding skills. While Itami emerged victorious, Aries came out looking fantastic as well. Both men look capable of filling top roster spots being vacated by departing headliners.

NXT Tag Team Championship – The Revival def. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa

Match of the night by far. A back and forth affair that saw numerous last second kickouts and false finishes, both teams had the crowd eating out of their hands. At one point, Gargano and Ciampa looked to have sprung the upset and captured the titles when the referee reached a three count, but Scott Dawson – having been thrown outside the ring – laid his partner’s foot on the bottom rope just before the referee finished counting. The referee waved off the finish and ordered the match to continue with Dash and Dawson eventually pulling out the victory. Look for a rematch in the near future as the crowd reaction to this bout was outstanding and the chemistry between the two teams was second to none.

NXT Women’s Championship – Asaka def. Nia Jax

An impressive showing from Nia Jax, who seems to be settling in nicely to her role as a villain who overpowers her opponents with brute strength. She also received one of the biggest pops of the night when she broke out a “People’s Elbow”-style buildup to her signature leg drop. In the end though, Asaka’s striking ability was too much for Jax to overcome.

Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura def. Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode

Largely a send off for the departing Balor, the star of this match was Bobby Roode. From his flamboyant entrance (which succeeded admirably in calling to mind the great Ravishing Rick Rude) to his in-ring abilities, Roode looks more than capable of parlaying his TNA success into a headlining run in NXT. Nakamura and Joe were their usual impressive selves, but the signature moment of the night was reserved for Balor, who waved goodbye to the crowd (and NXT) from the top rope just before delivering one last coup de grace for the victory.

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