10 best matches at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn

#8 NXT Championship: Finn Balor (c) vs. Kevin Owens (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn I)

A reckoning.

Finn Balor and Kevin Owens have met many times since this match, but neither of them has ever been as hot since. Finn Balor was far from the generic smiley guy he is now, but a focused competitor who could channel his demonic instincts. All of that focus would be against one of the most sadistic heels in NXT history in Kevin Owens.

Unfortunately, the crowd took the air out of this match at the beginning, as something else had obviously caught their attention. The slow pace in the ring added to that feeling.

Finn Balor found himself back inside, trying to scale a ladder, but Kevin Owens rammed his head into it. Finn Balor brought another ladder into the ring. Try as he might, however, Owens wouldn't let him have the advantage.

Things turned around when Finn Balor back body dropped Owens between the legs of a ladder that lay down on its side. Owens cannonballing himself into another ladder kept the momentum on Balor's side.

Balor then hit the Coup de Grace and scaled the ladder. Owens got back to his feet, dragged Balor off the ladder into a powerbomb, and then collapsed to the ground himself. When he came-to, he climbed up. Finn Balor tipped the ladder and sent him into the turnbuckle.

After a powerbomb on the apron, Kevin Owens looked like he had the match won. Finn Balor entered the ring and tipped the ladder to stop his climb, but Owens landed on his feet and superkicked Balor in the face twice.

Owens set up one ladder upright and another resting on it and the turnbuckle, dragging Finn Balor up top. He couldn't connect with his suplex, however, and fell on top of the second ladder after Balor rammed his head into the first.

The climax came when Balor tried to grab the NXT title, but the ladder was off-center. Owens stirred, but was fought off. Since he couldn't easily grab the title, Balor hit a super Coup de Grace from the top of the ladder. This allowed Balor the time he needed to struggle up the ladder and grab the belt to retain his title.