Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano Announced For NXT TakeOver: Portland

Johnny Gargano will get his wish and face Finn Balor at the next TakeOver show.

It has been announced that Balor and Gargano will have a singles match at NXT TakeOver: Portland. This is the first match with both participants confirmed for the show, taking place on February 16 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

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Last week on NXT, Balor issued a challenge to Gargano for a match TaleOver and Gargano accepted, leading to a brief fight between the two, but WWE hadn't confirmed the match until today.

The feud between Balor and Gargano started all the way back last year when Balor made a surprise return to NXT. Just as it looked like the trio of Gargano, Balor and Tommaso Ciampa were ready to fight Undisputed Era, Balor betrayed Gargano and attacked him. Gargano was injured and forced to miss NXT TakeOver: WarGames III late last year.

Gargano returned on the December 18 episode of NXT, distracting Balor during his NXT Championship match against Adam Cole, eventually leading Cole to win the match and retain his title.

Before Balor can focus on his match against Gargano next month, he does have to face Ilja Dragunov at the Worlds Collide event on January 25.

Fightful will have live coverage of both TakeOver: Portland and Worlds Collide.

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