10 Best Rivalries In NXT History
5. Finn Bálor Vs Samoa Joe
Of all the feuds surrounding the NXT Championship over the years, few have matched the length, ferocity and unexpectedness of Finn Bálor vs Samoa Joe.
Joe and Finn began as firm friends, even teaming together to win the first ever Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in October 2015. However, Balor was also NXT Champion at this point and this was something Joe wanted to change.
Originally, Joe was respectful and asked his friend for a title shot. However, when Balor repeatedly refused, he took things into his own hands and turned heel for the first time in WWE. He's remained that way ever since.
Joe and Bálor had some excellent matches, battling each other for the title at four consecutive TakeOvers, which is a record in NXT. Balor repeatedly had to unleash his Demon persona to defeat Joe, proving just how dangerous The Samoan Submission Machine really was.
The most shocking moment in this rivalry came not at a TakeOver, not even on NXT TV, but at a house show in Lowell, Massachusetts in April 2016. In a total shock, Joe defeated Balor to become the new NXT Champion, ending Finn's record-setting run of 292 days as champ.
For its twists and turns, it consistent match quality and its role in getting both men over in their respective characters, Samoa Joe vs Finn Balor was a great feud that helped elevate the NXT Championship to where it is today.