Controversial opinion: 3 reasons why NXT TakeOver: Toronto II is rock solid proof that NXT has declined in quality

#2 A muted title reign

Adam Cole retained his NXT Championship last night in the worst of his trilogy with Johnny Gargano. Part of that was because we'd seen this match twice in a row already, so it was getting played out, but the match did go on longer than it should have, with some puzzling kickouts.

Despite his victory, Adam Cole's reign as NXT Champion feels like it's less than it should be, thanks to his companions' failures in their own matches.

Adam Cole as the head of a faction draped in gold would have been far more formidable than the state he's been in, and is currently in. Where does his reign go from here? What is the point of him being champion all by his lonesome?

NXT's failure to build a dominant faction last night muted the effectiveness of its top champion, who's gimmick has always been as the Undisputed Era's leader.

Obviously, NXT will think of something, but it's not what it should be. As much as I didn't want Dream to lose his championship last night, I understood that the Undisputed Era holding all the gold would have been better for the direction of the show, so long as Cole is champion.

With Cole being champion anyway, despite his companions' failures, NXT is spreading itself too thin, rather than going all out on an angle. It's trying to be something to everyone and thus appeals to no one.