'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Adam Cole decisively defeats Finn Bálor to win the NXT Championship
Former NXT Champion Adam Cole is arguably the most important Superstar in the history of the black-and-gold brand. His first reign with the NXT Championship was a record-setting 403 days long. The Panama City Playboy consistently had great matches as the NXT Champion, and his chemistry with his Undisputed Era stablemates were highly entertaining, too.
Now that the legendary stable has broken up, Cole needs the NXT Championship more than ever in order to stay on top of the card. Also, considering how long his previous reign with the title was, NXT management clearly believes that Cole is one of their best assets.
As a result, The Panama City Playboy winning the NXT Championship cleanly in the middle of the ring is a possibility. His win would ensure that other babyfaces on the brand can step up and have terrific matches with Cole. These bouts would have a traditional heel-face dynamic, something that NXT has been missing lately.
Unlike Bálor's tweener character, Cole is a full-fledged heel, and it's often fun to see villains reign on top. Cole's previous run as the champion is a fitting example of a successful heel champion, so NXT could look to repeat history by giving him the title again.
