At , during the triple threat match for the NXT Tag Team Championship and the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic trophy, Strong turned on his partner Pete Dunne and joined The Undisputed Era, turning into a villain. The next morning at WrestleMania Axxess, Strong teamed with O'Reilly to defend the NXT Tag Team Championship, making him one of the champions via the Freebird Rule. At the Greatest Royal Rumble, Strong competed in the namesake match, entering at #34 and eliminating Rhyno before being eliminated by Baron Corbin.