WWE has revealed how NXT Champion Finn Balor’s challenger for New Year’s Evil will be decided.
Kyle O’Reilly and Pete Dunne will face off in a number one contender’s match on NXT this coming Wednesday (December 16). The winner will challenge for Balor’s NXT Championship at New Year’s Evil on Wednesday, January 6.
New Year’s Evil is the first NXT episode of 2021. It’s airing live on the USA Network at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Balor opened this week’s NXT episode with a promo before being interrupted by Dunne, O’Reilly, and Damian Priest. Balor announced that he’ll be defending his title at New Year’s Evil, but he said it was up to NXT general manager William Regal to decide who will be getting the title shot. Scarlett then also confronted Balor on the stage. Balor told her to tell Karrion Kross that whenever he’s ready, Balor’s ready.
Priest insulted Scarlett and Kross, leading to Kross making his return later on this week’s show and attacking Priest. WWE has announced that Kross will be returning to action on this coming Wednesday’s NXT
O’Reilly and his Undisputed Era stablemates (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) defeated Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch) in the men’s WarGames match at TakeOver: WarGames this past Sunday. O’Reilly got the win by pinning Burch.
Dunne had defeated O’Reilly in a ladder match during the build to WarGames to get the entrance order advantage for Team McAfee. Dunne also defeated Killian Dain on NXT this week.
Balor hasn’t wrestled since undergoing surgery for a broken jaw after TakeOver 31 this October. Balor broke his jaw in two places while retaining the NXT Championship against O’Reilly at that TakeOver event.
Leon Ruff & Kushida vs. Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory is also set for this coming Wednesday’s NXT.