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Finn Balor has held the WWE NXT Championship for over 110 days now, but he’s only defended it once. A jaw injury sustained in a match against Kyle O’Reilly at NXT TakeOver 31 kept both Superstars out of competition for a considerable amount of time.
But Balor will once again defend his title against O’Reilly, the same man who injured his jaw three months ago. The match will probably be even more physical this time around. The competitors have developed great chemistry in the ring together, and they’ve managed to make their rivalry more personal.
While O’Reilly has worked hard to earn both his NXT Championship shots, there are some Superstars who are trying to jump the line and get a chance at the gold. Pete Dunne and Karrion Kross are two men who have already tried to threaten the champion, and they could play a big part in Wednesday’s title match.
Regardless, fans are expecting Balor and O’Reilly to deliver another phenomenal bout after their Match of the Year performance at NXT TakeOver 31. With that being said, here's a look at five ways the rematch at NXT New Year’s Evil could come to an end.
#5 Karrion Kross destroys Finn Balor after his victory at WWE NXT New Year’s Evil
Last week on WWE NXT, Karrion Kross sent a clear warning to both Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly. Kross won the NXT Championship from Keith Lee last year, but he was forced to relinquish the title due to an injury. Since his return, he has resumed his climb to the top of the ladder in NXT.
Kross is currently in a rivalry with Damian Priest, and these two Superstars will lock horns at NXT New Year’s Evil. Fans can expect Kross to continue his winning streak at the show and immediately turn his attention towards the NXT Champion.
During the match between Balor and O’Reilly, fans could end up watching the two men give it their all before Balor once again pins this member of The Undisputed ERA. But after the match, "The Herald of Doomsday" could appear and completely destroy "The Prince of NXT."
This progression will allow Balor to extend his reign as the NXT Champion, and it will immediately place him into another rivalry for the title. It’ll be tough for NXT to keep Kross out of the title picture for long, and he could get the chance to challenge Balor soon after he beats Priest.
#4 Kyle O’Reilly becomes the new WWE NXT Champion at New Year’s Evil
Kyle O’Reilly's career reached new heights in 2020. Following his return to action, O’Reilly immediately entered the NXT Championship picture. He has continued to impress his fans ever since.
While O’Reilly broke Balor’s jaw at NXT TakeOver 31, he was unable to put him away and win his first singles championship in the company. The former NXT Tag Team Champion will be looking to turn his fortunes around in 2021, and he has a better chance of winning the title this time around.
After O'Reilly delivered a Match of the Year performance at NXT TakeOver 31, O’Reilly will likely put on another fantastic performance on Wednesday. This time, he could keep Balor down for the three count and become the NXT Champion for the first time in his career. A victory for O'Reilly will also give The Undisputed ERA its second NXT Champion. (Adam Cole previously held the title.)
O’Reilly has received a massive push on NXT in recent months, and that growth should lead to a singles title reign for this talented Superstar in the new year.
#3 Pete Dunne attacks both Superstars to end the match in a no-contest at WWE NXT New Year’s Evil
Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly have been able to successfully develop their rivalry on WWE NXT. Their first match did not have a truly heated build. But the rematch is built on a good backstory. O’Reilly is proud of the fact that he broke Balor’s jaw, while "The Prince" believes that he broke O’Reilly’s spirit.
When both men lock horns once again at NXT New Year’s Evil, fans can expect a Match of the Year performance from them once again. The NXT Universe will be hoping to get a great finale to this rivalry. That being said, Pete Dunne could end up changing the entire course of the match by coming in and attacking Balor and O'Reilly.
Dunne has been trying to get in the NXT Championship picture since his return to the brand. His partnership with Pat McAfee did not turn out to be too fruitful, but he might be looking to make an impact by himself.
O'Reilly beat Dunne to earn this opportunity. But "The Bruiserweight" still got in Balor’s face last week. Dunne could feel compelled to ruin the match by attacking both men near the finish. From there, these three stars could collide in a Triple Threat Match for the NXT Championship at a later date.
#2 Adam Cole betrays Kyle O’Reilly at WWE NXT New Year’s Evil
The Velveteen Dream got on Adam Cole’s nerves a couple of weeks ago on WWE NXT by claiming that "The Panama City Playboy" had lost his authority in The Undisputed ERA. Dream argued that Kyle O’Reilly had become the leader, and he was taking charge by getting the NXT Championship opportunities.
While Cole silenced Dream the same night, he may have been affected by the Dream's words.
NXT may have planted the seeds for a Cole heel turn. He could betray his stablemate at NXT New Year’s Evil and cost him the title match. Cole has always gotten the top chances in NXT as the leader of The Undisputed ERA, and he might like to prove that he still has that authority.
At NXT New Year’s Evil, Cole could attack his friend and give Balor a chance to pick up the victory. In doing so, he would probably kickstart a rivalry with O’Reilly. A feud with Cole would give O’Reilly a chance to advance his career as a singles competitor.
#1 Finn Balor retains his WWE NXT Championship at New Year’s Evil
It's possible that this NXT Championship match won't feature any interference. Balor and O'Reilly could have a clean contest. Balor has only defended his title once, so his reign has been fairly forgettable. But with another decisive defense, he could look like a strong champion.
"The Prince" has had a positive influence in WWE NXT, and his star power has helped the brand rise to a higher level. As a result, the creative team could prefer to keep the title on him and give Balor some major rivalries. That way, the company could make the NXT Championship look even more prestigious.
At NXT New Year’s Evil, fans could end up watching Balor and O'Reilly steal the show before the champion defeats O'Reilly again. "The Prince" is one of the brightest stars in NXT, and the company could look to benefit from his presence on the show for at least a few more months.
O’Reilly has already earned a lot of respect due to his recent performances, and even with a loss, he could stay in the championship picture for the months to come.
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