Finn Balor’s ‘Demon’ Not Being Saved for WWE SummerSlam is Wasted Opportunity

Finn Balor debuted his demon persona on RAW. So why wasn’t it saved for SummerSlam?

Once again, an opportunity has been squandered, and this one involves Finn Balor.

A superstar’s signature introduction is a major part of the “entertainment” in sports entertainment, so much so that athletes in other sports often mimic the gestures of their favorite superstars as they enter their own arenas. A wrestler’s entrance is an integral part of their identity and the theme music elicits an instant reaction from fans, serving as the appetizer for the action to come. Think of the goosebumps we used to feel when we would hear the shattering glass before Stone Cold stomped confidently to the ring or the crowd pops when Big E’s booming voice announces the arrival of the New Day, reminding us all not to dare be sour.

Possibly the most notable and enduring entrance belongs to The Undertaker. While the mechanics of his entrance has varied slightly over the years, his demeanor has remained relatively unchanged. He approaches the ring , silently, slowly, and purposefully, sometimes flanked by hooded figures holding torches and other times pausing to inspect an array of coffins adorned with the names of his fallen foes. He never runs. He never screams. His walk to the ring is a masterpiece of theater that is met with silent reverence by the announce team out of respect for a man whose career in WWE spans almost 30 years.

For those of us who watched Balor’s ascension in NXT, his demon crawl was nothing new, but it was special. The rest of the WWE Universe was introduced to this personality on the August 15th edition of RAW and as our own Rob “Stay Woke” Wolkenbrod stated, “the decision to unveil Balor’s Demon side is interesting.” I will take this a step further and say that it was wasted. Balor’s demon persona should have been treated in the same way as the many faces of Foley. A match against Mick Foley was a task unto itself but woe is the man who faced his sadistic alter ego of Cactus Jack or the devil-may-care recklessness of Dude Love. The WWE had a chance to create that same intrigue with Balor. You can formulate a plan to fight a man, but how do you stop a demon?

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I’m not suggesting WWE should have given Balor the same type of multiple personality disorder as Foley, but the decision to unveil his unique entrance on RAW is yet another example of the creative team not allowing fans to be genuinely surprised. What would have been the harm in saving this grand entrance for SummerSlam? I like the idea of Rollins provoking Balor but it should have been treated like Bruce Banner’s Hulk. While he is technically a good guy, The Incredible Hulk is not someone you actively want to meet because once unleashed, he cannot be controlled.

Some entrances outshine their stars, as was the case with Gangrel. To this day, his “ascending ring of fire” remains one of the most unique and compelling introductions the WWE has ever produced, but it was wasted on a man who couldn’t keep up with the times. Fortunately, he was the vessel that gifted us the talents of Edge and Christian and for that his legacy will always be respected.

Related Story: 5 Reasons Balor Should Defeat Rollins at SummerSlam

Finn Balor’s demon should not be something we grow accustomed to but rather something we get excited for because we never know when it is going to arrive. The brand split was supposed to signal a new era for the WWE but it seems they are already playing it safe.