For weeks, the WWE Universe wondered if Finn Bálor was in cahoots with Adam Cole.
"The Prince" finally delivered his answer: a resounding no.
Bálor defeated Tommaso Ciampa in a clash of two of the black-and-gold brand's alpha males thanks to an assist from the NXT Champion, then blindsided Cole moments later.
Once again embracing a more sinister edge in his first bout at Full Sail in more than three years, Bálor seemed intent on putting Ciampa back on the shelf the same way he injured Johnny Gargano. But Ciampa countered the attempt at the 1916 DDT on the ramp, dropping Bálor with an Air Raid Crash.
With the action moving back to the ring, "The Prince" narrowly escaped pinfall attempts after The Blackheart connected with Project Ciampa and another Air Raid Crash — this time off the second rope.
Cole arrived at ringside just as Ciampa seemed poised to finish things off for good. Though Ciampa initially staved off his foe, The Panama City Playboy's presence tipped the scales in Bálor's favor.
In a chaotic matter of seconds, the NXT Championship found its way into the ring. With the official temporarily distracted while removing the title, Cole dropped Ciampa with an enziguri from the outside.
Bálor then planted The Blackheart with the 1916 DDT and from there, the pinfall was academic.
Taking to the ring to pose at Bálor's side with the gold was Cole — but the leader of The Undisputed ERA was soon floored with a Pele Kick by Bálor.
With that, NXT's returning Prince made his self-interest evident, further complicating the pecking order of challengers for Cole's NXT Championship.
