WWE Raw’s Top 5 Segments: Monday Night Rollins
By Joe Hulbert
5. Gauntlet Match: Elias vs. Finn Balor
Whilst much of the gauntlet match has been rightly praised, I have noticed some criticism aimed at this particular portion listed above. Personally, I have to say that I couldn’t disagree with that notion more as I enjoyed this back and forth thoroughly. Now don’t get me wrong, immediately following Rollins’ magic was a tough spot to be in and that certainly hurt the crowd’s interest but to me, that’s what made their work opposite each other all the more impressive.
A quick glance at this 7-man line-up told you Elias’ role here and he played it to perfection. In a match with stars like Cena and Reigns and athletes like Finn and Seth, Elias simply had to be a traditional heel that allowed this crowd to breathe. After an hour of watching Rollins hurl himself around with immaculate vigour and passion, no one could’ve brought this crowd’s excitement levels up higher which is why Elias was such a good fit for this role as well as his one in Sunday’s Elimination Chamber match.
With well-worked and gritty holds as well as a genuinely intense and angry demeanour, Elias allowed the crowd to settle whilst working this deliberate style hard enough to keep the match’s quality up. Opposite him, Finn was tremendous. He sold excellently and fought with real fire, especially on his eventual comeback. I don’t know whether or not this is the consensus but for me, Balor’s in-ring work on RAW has been better than pretty much anything he did in NXT. It’s all believable and comes with the kind of aggression necessary to maximise a babyface’s style.
Whilst I appreciate the presentation, you can keep ‘The Demon King’ because this standard version of Balor is perfect for me, a versatile and consistent protagonist continually fighting the good fight.