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#3 Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher
Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher was the NXT TakeOver: XXX match that had the least buildup. The two men were part of one of the Triple Threat qualifiers for the NXT North American Title Ladder Match along with Dexter Lumis. Thatcher locked Balor in a leg lock in the late stages of the contest, only for Lumis to swoop in and put on his Silencer submission on Thatcher for the win. After the match, "The Prince" hit his 1916 DDT on Thatcher. On the go-home show to NXT Takeover: XXX, Timothy Thatcher cost Finn Balor his Second Chance Match to qualify for the ladder match against Velveteen Dream to set up their TakeOver match.
This contest was of a very high quality, with both Superstars showing off their respective abilities to have an entertaining match. The ground game of both men during the first half was incredibly captivating. We saw many submissions traded back and forth, mostly from Timothy Thatcher. The way Thatcher transitioned from one submission to another was truly compelling. This had to be Thatcher's best performance yet since arriving on NXT.
Balor had to tap into his vast arsenal to avoid the technical mastery of Thatcher. "The Prince" used his speed and agility to evade the grasp of the submission specialist constantly. Both men then traded strikes to really pick up the intensity as they prepared for the final quarter of this match. Balor hit his signature comeback, culminating with the Coup De Grace and 1916 DDT to gain his 12th NXT TakeOver win.
Balor and Thatcher delivered an intense and physically demanding opener, which would have been even better with a few more minutes. Any match that leaves you wanting more definitely is what you want to give the fans. This set the tone for the entire NXT TakeOver: XXX card. This also gave us enough to leave the door open for more rematches down the road. The contest made both men look extremely strong and made you interested in what was next for the competitors moving forward on NXT.
