10 Reasons Why NXT TakeOver: The End Was Sadly Underwhelming

It pains me to say because I so desperately wanted this to be something special, but the final clash between Samoa Joe and Finn Balor was weak. When you build up a match as big as this - even naming the TakeOver special after it - you can't limit it to just 16 minutes. Although not the only contributing factor, that was a massive mistake.

Let's set the scene: this match was the culmination of a seven-month rivalry in which two good friends turned into bitter enemies. Further than that, their respective desires for the NXT Championship have kept this feud scolding hot for much longer than anybody could have foreseen. This Steel Cage Match was no doubt going to be an epic confrontation filled to the brim with back-and-forth and close calls.

This match happened, then it was over - that's the best way to describe it. Both men hit their signature moves and were greeted with routine kick-outs, then Samoa Joe hit the Muscle Buster from the second rope and it was done and dusted. Seven months of build gone in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Had this been an ordinary cage match featuring any two other competitors, it would probably receive a pass mark. However, when you consider the intensity of this rivalry and it being billed as the final battle, the finale did very little to satisfy the appetite.

The match suffered as a result of its own hype. As an added bummer, Balor's sendoff didn't even make it to air.