Remember when fans were worried about Finn Balor’s place on WWE Raw? Remember when some weren’t sure if Vince McMahon thought Balor was popular enough with the WWE Universe? None of that matters now that “The Demon King” has begun a new and much more interesting storyline on Monday nights.
Finn Balor’s talent has never been disputed, and only those unfamiliar with his runs in NJPW and NXT would ever question his ability to be one of the top stars in a promotion. In NXT, Balor brought eyes to the product, sold plenty of merchandise, and put on fantastic matches as perhaps the WWE’s greatest NXT Champion.
But before that in NJPW, Balor started the “Bullet Club” and was a fearsome, full-of-himself heel who would stop at nothing to push his way to the top. He became so popular that he was pushed into the heavyweight division, and Balor’s legacy in NJPW has never left him.
When Balor faced AJ Styles in an impromptu match at TLC, everyone went nuts, and the match met expectations. It even included a #TooSweet gesture after Balor pulled off the victory as the Demon King.
The hype surrounding this match is a reminder that Balor’s time in the Bullet Club still defines him, despite his accomplishments in WWE. Because when fans familiar with Balor’s career compare all the iterations of his character, they consistently praise his days as a smug heel and his work with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows.
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On WWE Raw, Balor is finally in a position where he is in his element again. Last week on Raw, he joined forces with Gallows and Anderson, thus beginning the “Balor Club” reunion that had been teased for so long.
That reunion was cool, but last night’s Raw was so much better.
Because when Balor came out with Gallows and Anderson to verbally undress the whiny Jason Jordan, we got to see a glimpse of Prince Devitt. You know? The cocky son-of-a-gun who would diss you, smile in your face, and then beat you in the ring.
Balor tore into Jordan on the mic, showing the charisma that some WWE fans doubted he ever had in the first place. He and his stablemates haven’t missed a beat together either, as Balor’s lead into the “Nerds!” line was flawless.
The Balor Club would then have a six-man tag match against Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Jordan, with Balor picking up the victory via a Coup de Grace on Rollins. For the second straight week, the Balor Club showed how to produce excellent six-man tag matches in WWE, which is a rarity these days.
Even as a babyface with a loosely-defined character on Monday Night Raw, Balor always had an aura of confidence about him when walking into the arena during his entrance, which is easily one of the WWE’s most popular today. But last night, Balor looked even more in his element, and he looked more comfortable when on the mic, which is even more important.
The WWE is finally giving Balor something meaningful to work with, and he’s starting to play the character that, at least as a viewer watching from home, seems to “click” with him the most. Balor is at his best when he’s an arrogant leader of stable who will bust your chops – and then your face.
After months of sort of just being “there”, Finn Balor is back to being one of the most exciting characters in WWE, especially since there’s so much intrigue around his future. Will he continue to fight in multi-man situations with Gallows and Anderson? Will he reclaim the Universal Championship soon? Could he win the Royal Rumble? Will he turn heel? Will he work or feud with AJ Styles? Will he feud with The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship before moving to the world title picture?
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But the thing is, I’m not here for those questions; I’m here to enjoy the ride. Last night, Balor caught my attention again, and I can say with total confidence that I am here to enjoy the work of a talented performer who is finally in a situation where he can truly shine to the best of his abilities.