Top 5 Juicy Outcomes Resulting From Undisputed Era Breakup

This past Sunday at NXT Vengeance Day, the world was treated to, arguably, one of the best main events in NXT TakeOver history. Not just because of the top notch, in-ring battle between Finn Balor and Pete Dunne, but because of the mind-blowing fallout that proceeded the match.

Just after retaining the NXT Championship and pinning Pete Dunne, Finn Balor was attacked by Dunne’s partners and current NXT Tag Champions, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. Lorcan and Burch we’re going to make an example of Balor and from a storyline perspective, continue the Balor/Dunne feud and make producing television for the next month a half a little easier.

But out comes Undisputed Era for the save. Roddy Strong, Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole rush the ring for the save and we have a good old fashioned faction vs faction battle!

Dunne, Lorcan & Burch leave the ring (with tails tucked between their legs) to allow the Undisputed Era to celebrate the victory. It was apparent that the mutual respect gained from O’Reilly and Balor’s two 2020 clashes had created a strong bond and one that wouldn’t be quickly forgotten.

 All three members of UE faced the hard camera and throw up their UE hand sign. Finn Balor takes the hint and starts to throw up his own sign. Thoughts of NXT’s Bullet Club were racing through my mind. Was NXT really about to give us a Wednesday Night War special, straight out of the Monday Night Wars? NWO vs DX? Undisputed Era vs AEW’s Bullet Club? What could be better?

Then…

*BOOM*

Adam Cole’s favorite word during his entrance was now the most appropriate description for his actions in the ring. A superkick to the jaw of Balor and chaos ensued. O’ Reilly got in Cole’s face. Roddy was breaking up the fight. And Cole’s eyes couldn’t decide if they wanted to savor the sight of his slain victim or get right back at Kyle.

Roddy was only marginally successful at breaking up the fight. Because after the chaos began to calm, O’ Reilly put a safe distance between him and Cole, but not safe enough. Another superkick, this time to Kyle’s jaw, still issued from fire starter himself, Adam Cole.

The Pro Wrestling world was “shook” (as was Strong, because his reaction and face was all of us). For the next day, all of pro wrestling twitter had one thing on their mind. Adam Cole Bay-Bay!

So, what happens next? Well, we have some wild ideas for NXT, the Undisputed Era, and Finn Balor to go from here.

5. Kyle O’ Reilly and Finn Balor form the Balor Club

Teased long ago, when AJ Styles, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson arrived in WWE, Balor Club was first thought of as New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Bullet Club competitor to be based in the United States. It was no secret that the Bullet Club was one of the biggest things to happen in pro wrestling during the 2010’s. We had it in our Top 10 of 2010’s and we (The Brothers of Discussion) barely watch New Japan. The man who helped start it all was Finn Balor or who was better known as Prince Devitt.

With Undisputed Era now (probably)broken up, Balor Club could be a new home for Bobby Fish and Kyle O’ Reilly. Both of whom were also members of the Bullet Club in New Japan.

The idea here let’s one of your best promo guys, in Adam Cole, stay a heel. Undisputed Era was always a tough sell as the team to ‘boo’ because they were just so darn cool! Now that they have built Kyle O’ Reilly into a huge baby face, thanks to his epic battles with Balor, Cole’s superkick might’ve been less about breaking up Undisputed Era and more about catapulting one of the best heels in the game to all new heights.

A new leader for Undisputed Era would be a tough sell. UE was Adam Cole and friends. So, if this group is to stick together and create something else, it might be an easier transition for the fans to see a re-branding.

4. Adam Cole Teams with Pat McAfee

One of the better surprises of 2020 was Pat McAfee and his A+ effort at two different NXT TakeOver events. Pat performed better than anyone could have ever expected and was part of the reason we (wrestling fans in general) were so upset with his all-star booking. All of that faded away when we saw him in the ring and heard him on the mic. Pat McAfee is popular because he’s got ‘it’.

His biggest rival is and has been Adam Cole. Cole and Pat were matched up because of Cole’s ability to shine and help others shine. While Cole can build chemistry with anyone, what he had, instantly I might add, with McAfee was electric! They fed off of each other’s promos, in ring work, and even off of each other’s online personality. It worked like a charm and is one of the best uses of a celebrity in a wrestling ring.

The problem is: why would Cole ever do this?

Maybe they can build a storyline of mutual respect, like Balor and O’Reilly. But that honestly would be too redundant for my taste. This team-up could also just be a matter of wanting to work together, so they both get to another level of superstar. Cole wants to get back into the NXT Championship conversation and he wasn’t going to get there with UE. But when Pete Dunne got paired up with Pat, he instantly made rank and got a title shot.

There’s also just the pure shock and awe from their collaboration that would get social media talking. But this isn’t number one on the list, because that talk will die out after an hour or so.

3. Adam Cole is being written off Television, Finn Balor takes over Undisputed Era

It’s no secret that there are other pastures for the wrestling cattle to graze on. Some might be considered more green than others, but sometimes it’s just about tasting grass that’s being grown in different soil.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that your significant other is munching on that ‘other’ grass.

I am of course referring to the ever-present possibility of pro wrestlers switching brands to benefit their personal lives. Adam Cole and Dr. Britt Baker could be united and we all (Cole, Baker and wrestling fans) would be better for it. I, for on, would support it 100%!

The idea is based Adam Cole slowly fading away from NXT. This was the best way to preserve the brand of Undisputed Era, bring in a new face to lead (which would be Balor) and allow a proper send off for one of the biggest names to ever walk through the halls of the Performance Center.

Much like the previously mentioned Bullet Club, the brand of the Undisputed Era is a top seller. The idea, the coolness, the logo. It all sells. And letting it fade away is not good business. So, what the WWE should do, if someone from Undisputed Era wanted to leave the company, is keep that brand safe and put the remaining members on a pedestal.

Sure, Undisputed Era would struggle and the identity might take hit or two. But after some carefully planned booking, it could still be huge. And like with any trend, product, or service, the idea of peaks exist because everything falls. The WWE may never be able to recoup the level of cool and brand value Undisputed Era had when it was first formed, but that doesn’t mean it is without value. It still has plenty more left in the tank.

The other side of this equation is Adam Cole. He is certainly a man, by his own account, that always keeps his family and loved ones on his mind. Despite the character he plays on TV, the man has a heart of gold. Had my wife and I been in the same business, I questioned how long I could last not working with her. I can only imagine that thought and conversation has happened between these two and I could never blame them for wanting to spend more time together.

From a wrestling perspective, it would be quite disappointing to have never gotten Balor, Cole, and AJ Styles together in a WWE ring. But we would most definitely be able to get Adam Cole and Kenny Omega in an AEW ring. As the chips keep falling in AEW’s favor (for a global wrestling network), the best way to get WWE involved in this plot would be to bring aboard one of the biggest stars in all of WWE right now. Cole would get a massive push and my eyes would be glued to AEW TV week after week. Cole is that good.

While this would be the most disappointing decision for WWE diehards, it would be an amazing result for the rest of us.

2. reDRagon is Re-formed on the Main Roster

With all the potential groups to form and wrestle, one that would blow my socks off would be Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly officially announcing the return of reDRagon. reDRagon was the name Fish and O’Reilly used in Ring of Honor while they dominated that tag division until coming to NXT. With one of the weakest divisions in pro wrestling (booking wise, not talent wise) being WWE’s tag team division, reDRagon would add a ton of excitement if booked correctly.

I added the element of coming to the main roster, because it’s time for O’Reilly and Fish (no matter how terrifying it might be to see them ascend) to test their talents on Raw and SmackDown. While neither man is incredibly strong on the mic, they have the unique style of mat wrestling and combo attacks that will draw interest from the casual fan. They will never be known as the greatest of all time, in WWE’s record books, but they’ll find success and be able to tell some new stories.

I worry about what might happen if they were to stay in NXT. I still am a believer that NXT should be building new stars (despite the brand inching away from that idea). If reDRagon were to step back into NXT’s tag division, they’ll be taking away opportunities from Breezango, the Grizzled Young Vets, MSK, Lorcan and Burch, and even the eventual return of Mustache Mountain (once it becomes easier to move talent across oceans). reDRagon is going to need to win to establish the fact that this wasn’t just a change of nameplate. But those wins should come on the main roster. Eventually we’re going to need a giant Tag Tournament in the WWE and how awesome would a final four be of the New Day, the Street Profits, Viking Raiders, and reDRagon? I don’t know about you, but I’ll need a fresh pair of shorts.

1. Adam Cole’s Ascension to the Main Roster

There are too many cool matchups that need to happen before the relationship between the WWE and Adam Cole ends.

I’d love to see Cole go up against Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro and finish his story with Drew McIntyre! But number one on that list would be AJ Styles.

I think when I look back at the 2010’s for WWE, I always start to think about the ‘shoulda, coulda, wouldas’ before I celebrate all of the awesomeness that did occur. The last thing I’d want for the roaring 20’s in pro wrestling, is to know Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles retired before Adam Cole faced them in a WWE ring.

And before we talk about AJ Styles vs Adam Cole battling in Ring of Honor in 2014 or Adam Cole vs Daniel Bryan on SmackDown in 2019, nothing compares to getting a real feud going and seeing 10’s of thousands react to every major move.

While reDRagon might struggle to stay at the top of the ladder in the tag division, Adam Cole was made for Prime-Time Television. Even at his height, his personality, charisma, and promo work would sell his talents. He might not grab everyone’s attention right away, but if booked properly (I know…) Cole could dominate.