WWE NXT: Full Preview, Match Card and More for March 9

Welcome to Bleacher Report's preview for this week's episode of WWE NXT, where we'll take a spoiler-free look at what's in store for the developmental brand's upcoming episode.

This week's show is a little different. Instead of the usual formula consisting of a few singles matches, a women's bout and a tag team contest, Thursday's NXT will have just one match.

Sami Zayn will face Samoa Joe in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match to determine who will challenge Finn Balor for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Dallas.

This will be the third time these two incredible wrestlers will fight for the No. 1 contender's spot. Their first bout happened back on January 27.

Joe and Zayn were facing Baron Corbin in a Triple Threat match for the right to challenge the NXT champion. The match ended in controversy when Corbin tapped out while both men had him locked in different submissions.

William Regal decided that the best way to settle the issue was to put the two winners into a singles contest. Joe and Zayn locked horns once again on February 17.

A double-pin situation led to neither man being named the No. 1 contender, so Regal had no choice but to put them in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match to see who truly deserves to face Balor at TakeOver. According to the spoiler report, this bout takes up the entire show.

The average episode of NXT is roughly 50 minutes. If we account for a video package and entrances, we are looking at approximately 45 minutes of wrestling from two of the most versatile performers on the roster.

If Joe and Zayn do what we all know they are capable of, this could end up being a Match of the Year candidate.

As far as the winner goes, this is where things get tricky. Zayn just returned to Raw to save Neville from being powerbombed into the apron by Kevin Owens.

An interview with Zayn on this week's SmackDown was also announced during Raw. Two appearances in one week could signal a permanent move to the main roster. If that is the case, Joe would be the better booking option to face Balor at TakeOver: Dallas.

In the end, people will probably be talking more about what happened during Thursday's No. 1 Contender's match than about the actual result.

When you give two veterans like Joe and Zayn an entire episode to tell a story, you have a recipe for one of the best bouts in NXT history.

Who do you hope wins the match and goes on to face Balor for the NXT Championship?

Match information taken from the spoiler report at PWMania.com. Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter: @BR_Doctor.