Finn Balor vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Feud Must Mark the End of Demon's NXT Reign

The dream match agreed to by Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura on June 15 not only set the NXT Universe abuzz, but it also set in motion events that must lead to the conclusion of The Demon's time atop the brand as its icon and greatest champion.

Balor has accomplished all there is to do in NXT. As Nakamura alluded to in his promo during the aforementioned June 15 broadcast, the Irish-born competitor has become an NXT icon in ways none of his predecessors had. He was the longest-reigning heavyweight champion in the brand's history, a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

He is one of the rare competitors to have battled every major star to come through the brand in the WWE Network era, headlined countless TakeOver specials and developed a persona for himself that ranks among the best in the entire company. He is the brightest star in NXT, but unfortunately, that means he is so far above everyone else on the roster that there is nothing else for him to accomplish.

Thus, it is time for Balor to move on, to continue to grow and evolve rather than descend into a state of staleness.

Giving Back

Before Balor can move on, he has to give back to NXT in the same way the greats who came before him did.

Neville put the Irishman over on his way out the door. Sami Zayn delivered one of his defining performances in defeat, losing to Nakamura in a classic during WrestleMania 32 weekend. Even Seth Rollins, a key member of The Shield, dropped the NXT Championship to Big E. Every one of those cases centered on the continued growth, evolution and success of the brand.

With Balor eyeing a spot on Raw or SmackDown, it is time he does the honored tradition of putting over the next wave of NXT talent, primarily Nakamura. No other star is currently in a position to benefit from beating Balor the way Nakamura is.

While The King of Strong Style has an extraordinary following, he still needs that victory over Balor to establish himself as the top contender to the NXT Championship and the brand's new face.

Look for that to happen. Just as Balor has already put Samoa Joe over decisively, he will lose to Nakamura before moving on to bigger and better things.

Balor's Legacy in NXT

A loss to Nakamura won't damper Balor's legacy with the brand.

While Neville, Bo Dallas, Big E, Rollins, Kevin Owens and Zayn were all NXT champions before him, Balor was the first Superstar to rise above the pack to become a franchise star for the brand. He was merchandised and marketed, and his connection to Europe and Japan made him an invaluable piece of the company's global campaign.

With his face paint and Demon character, Balor became the larger-than-life personality NXT had never had before.

In many ways, he told management it was OK for the developmental talent to have unique characters, grand entrances during important shows and merchandise beyond the occasional T-shirt.

A consistent performer, he was everything good about NXT.

Above all else, he was an internationally recognized star who jumped at the opportunity to join the brand—to battle its stars and help it grow to heights no one involved ever could have imagined.

When the time comes, Balor will leave NXT a much better place than when he entered it. That time should come no later than TakeOver: Brooklyn on Aug. 20 with a defeat at the hands of Nakamura.