NXT: The NXT title needs to go to Finn Balor

Four former champions are fighting for the belt on Tuesday and the winner should be Finn Balor.

The NXT championship is up for grabs on Tuesday. Four former champions are stepping into the ring with the intention of securing the championship for a second time. Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Finn Balor, and Tommaso Ciampa are set to do battle in a four-way, sixty-minute Ironman match. The excitement around the contest is there and it is palpable. An argument can be made for everyone to win the belt, but for the best outcomes of everyone involved, that belt should go around Balor’s waist when things end on Tuesday.

Karrion Kross’s injury has opened a door for each of these four men. When their back is placed against the wall, WWE Creative comes up with some intriguing solutions. Look back to Kevin Owens WWE Universal title reign, which started when Balor separated his shoulder in a match with Seth Rollins. Owens gave us moments of gold, including the Festival of Friendship with Chris Jericho. While this setup may not be the most creative solution, it does create some intrigue around who the belt will go on as that will signify whom WWE leadership trusts with the belt around their waist at this pivotal time. When looking at the current landscape of NXT, the belt should go to Balor.

First, in Balor WWE NXT has an individual that fans across the spectrum recognize. His return to NXT has been more about elevating the brand rather than getting him off SmackDown and Raw. So far, that has been a success as he continues to deliver exceptional matches, regardless of who he is placed again. The few times he takes a loss the point is to build up the individual who pulled out a win against him. And when those moments do come, Balor does not fall far in the eyes of viewers. Plus, his new character allows him to work in a style that does not quite fit in as a heel or babyface completely – creating some interesting matches in the future.

Second, the issue with putting the belt on Cole, Ciampa or Gargano is that it seems like more of the same. Which is exactly the opposite of what NXT needs as the weekly battle with AEW continues to heat up. Viewers have seen a lot of Gargano, Cole and Ciampa the last two-plus years. Putting the belt back on one of them goes right back to that situation. That is not compelling at a time where Jon Moxley is running away as one of the hottest acts in professional wrestling.

There are several new champions across the WWE product line coming out of Payback on Sunday. This Tuesday there is going to be a new one with a title strapped around his waist. With four competitors the likes of Cole, Gargano, Ciampa and Balor in the match, it is easy to make a case for any of them. However, currently the belt needs go to Finn Balor and allow him to build on the “Prince” gimmick for an extended period.