Since returning to NXT, Finn Bálor’s been talking about making his future his past.
Bálor was NXT champ for 292 days back in 2015 - 2016. On the Dec. 11 episode, he took a big step toward reclaiming the black-and-gold brand’s top prize.
In addition to winning back the belt, Finn’s reached a little farther back into his history. He’s brought back his Princely persona from New Japan, and has made it clear he won’t be making any alliances with the faces or the heels on Wednesday nights.
So he headed alone into the Triple Threat booked by General Manager William Regal to determine the #1 contender for Adam Cole’s NXT title. Finn didn’t think Keith Lee or Tommaso Ciampa was deserving of the opportunity. The Limitless One only recently claimed a piece of the spotlight, and Bálor’s gotten the better of Ciampa in their previous run-ins.
The two good guys both proved to be worthy challengers, hitting and fighting back from big spots throughout the main event. In the end, it was Finn’s savvy which allowed him to hit his Coup de Gras stomp on Lee moments after he’d connected with a Spirit Bomb on the Blackheart.
After that, it was time for a staredown with Cole and his Undisputed ERA brothers.
The Rouge Prince vs. The Panama City Playboy joins a Shayna Baszler/Rhea Ripley Women’s title match on next week’s loaded episode of NXT.
To catch up on the play-by-play or anything else from the Dec. 11 NXT, check our live blog here.