The beginning was structured in the standard lucha formula of sprinting through the first two falls and having the real meat of the match in the third fall. Kushida continually worked over the left arm of Escobar's arm in a technically dominant fashion. Santos tried to fend off the attack but limb work was too much, good stuff.

This was solid but I actually liked the match where KUSHIDA won the title a good amount better. The stipulation felt like it hampered the match here as they had to stick to certain aspects of the formula instead of growing on what they had done previously organically. Still there were good moments here, KUSHIDA's mid air readjustment on his cartwheel dropkick was beautiful, and Escobar was a treat once again. I watched very little NXT this year and I'm glad I went back and made time for these matches.