Kevin Owens is NXT Champion

Following WWE and NXT’s special event, “NXT Take Over: Rival,” which aired on the WWE Network on Feb. 11, Kevin Owens is NXT Champion. Owens was awarded the NXT title after the match official stopped the bout in order to protect the health of Sami Zayn, who won the NXT Championship on Dec. 11, 2014 at “NXT Take Over: R Evolution.”

Owens and Zayn entered their match fueled by years of friendship and rivalry. Owens took control of the bout early, seemingly dominating the former champion Zayn. After the match began to become more of a back-and-forth bout, Owens began focusing on Zayn’s neck. After a Pump-handle/Package neck breaker over his knee, Owens began powerbombing Zayn, who continued to fight and kick out at two until the match was called.

After Zayn refused to be pinned, Owens powerbomed him again, and then went for another. When he attempted his last powebomb, the officials called the match in order to protect Zayn, who was selling a possible “neck injury.” While this was completely scripted and the injury angle is just that, an angle, the championship was awarded to Owens, who is now at the top of the NXT mountain after only being on NXT programming for two months.

Editor’s Note:
This will ultimately lead to a slew of other matches between these two, but holy CRAP the story they told in the ring during “NXT Take Over: Rival.” The whole show was amazing. If you don’t have the WWE Network, sign-up, and watch it. For Pete’s sake, it’s FREE in February…or have you not heard?