Finn Bálor and Tommaso Ciampa had a solid (if unspectacular) match to main event this week's NXT, with the gear decidedly kept low perhaps for the want of a future bout between them.
Made-for-TV and feeling every bit of it as a result, the two kept the moves looking competent even if the pace wasn't particularly pulsating, and the finish was above-average storyline development for both men and current NXT Champion Adam Cole.
Cole's first run-in failed (as is tradition) leading to the referee being forced to ignore a belt-assisted move from Bálor as he stole a two count. It was as the official moved the illegal strap that her head turned enough for Cole to hit a kick on Ciampa that set up Bálor's win, though the two weren't as convivial as the Undisputed Era leader would have liked as the show went off the air. Another pele kick from 'The Price' resulted in the former NXT Champion closing the show alone but with his own trajectory as clear as top babyface Ciampa's.
Where this goes now is hard to predict, but February's Portland special looks as handy a destination as any other.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
