6. Finn Balor (c) Vs. Samoa Joe - TakeOver: London
A strange one here, as this match managed to disappoint me yet surpass my expectations at the same time. Samoa Joe has been a man reborn in NXT, returning to the intense monster we all grew to love through his time in Ring of Honor and the start of his TNA tenure. Finn Balor is Finn Balor, so quality is assured. The two headlined NXT's first big show outside of the United States and also the final TakeOver of the year, imaginatively titled NXT TakeOver: London. Another great show from top to bottom, the match began with Balor donning his demon paint in a Jack the Ripper style and it didn't let up from there. Joe brought the classic Joe intensity during the heat, something that continues to fill professional wrestling fans hearts with joy. As with any great match, it was the closing stretch that really kicked this into another gear. The two of them built a tension where either one was a believable winner, and when Joe hit the top rope enziguri many believed a new champion was merely seconds from being crowned. Alas, Balor hit back with the Coup de Grace to continue his dominance.
Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.
