NXT Championship match official for New Year's Evil

Kyle O’Reilly is getting another shot at Finn Balor’s NXT Championship.

O’Reilly defeated Pete Dunne on tonight’s episode of NXT to become the number one contender to Balor’s title. O’Reilly will challenge Balor for the NXT Championship at New Year’s Evil on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Near the finish of tonight’s match, Dunne snapped O’Reilly’s fingers and went to hit the Bitter End on the apron. But O’Reilly reversed and suplexed Dunne to the floor. O’Reilly then threw Dunne into the ring and hit a knee strike from the top rope to get the win.

O’Reilly was accompanied by Adam Cole & Roderick Strong for tonight’s match and Dunne was accompanied by NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch. Killian Dain & Drake Maverick attacked Lorcan & Burch before the bell rang, then Breezango got involved and Lorcan & Burch, Cole & Strong, Dain & Maverick, and Breezango brawled to the back.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted after O’Reilly vs Dunne: “Unbelievable match. From start to finish @KORCombat and @PeteDunneYxB tore the house down. Ready to see #BalorOReilly2 for the #NXTTItle at #NXTNYE … THIS IS #WWENXT!!!! #WeAreNXT”

O’Reilly also challenged Balor for the NXT Championship in the main event of TakeOver 31 this October. Balor retained his title but suffered a broken jaw in the process. Balor broke his jaw in two places and has yet to wrestle since undergoing surgery for the injury. 

New Year’s Evil is the first NXT episode of 2021. It’s being hosted by Dexter Lumis and will air live on the USA Network at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Here’s what’s been announced for the show thus far:

NXT Champion Finn Balor defends his title against Kyle O’Reilly
Karrion Kross vs. Damian Priest