Since going out on injury after SummerSlam 2016, Finn Balor has gone from first-ever WWE Universal Champion to milquetoast (yet over) upper-midcarder. At WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view, he needs to pick up a win against Constable Baron Corbin.
Finn Balor is one of the best wrestlers in the world today. Founder of the Bullet Club, Balor (then known as Prince Devitt) had an incredible run as NJPW’s top junior heavyweight before heading across the ocean to WWE. After another incredible run in NXT, which saw him hold the NXT Championship for 293 days, it was clear that WWE management wanted big things for the “Demon King.” In the 2016 brand split, Balor went to Raw as the first NXT call-up of the Draft. He won a series of matches to crown him WWE’s first Universal Champion.
During his coronation match, Balor suffered a severe injury which would keep him out for months. Since coming back, the inaugural WWE Universal Champion just hasn’t been the same. Despite a great performance in the opener of WrestleMania 34, Balor has slunk back down into the midcard. This Sunday at WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view, Balor needs a big win against Constable Baron Corbin to launch him back into the main event scene of Monday Night Raw.
Photo Source: WWE.com
The Main Event Needs Finn Balor
It’s no secret that the main events of Monday night have been getting…at least a bit stale. Anchored by Bobby Lashley, the disappearing act known as Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman, and of course Roman Reigns. These four have been in the main event for what seems like ages now, and although Strowman is endlessly entertaining, one out of four actually is bad. In order to revitalize Raw‘s main event scene, the WWE needs to start rebuilding Finn Balor.
Balor vs Corbin is a feud that WWE seems to really want to push, and this could be why they’re pushing it. For Balor to look like a legitimate threat to guys like Reigns, Lashley, and even Lesnar, he needs to make up for his smaller size with much bigger wins. Balor might look like a million dollars, but casual fans need to know that he is on par with the guys who are absolutely jacked, i.e. Reigns and Lashley.
The WWE need a new, entertaining, main event star, and Finn Balor can be that for them. Remember when he was lighting Monday nights on fire back in the summer of 2016? Put him back there; you’ll have just the same magic once again.
Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
Start Building That Rematch
The WWE have been building Roman Reigns up as the No. 1 contender for Brock Lesnar’s Universal Championship for over a year. Really, it’s odd that they haven’t just pulled the trigger on the Reigns title reign that everyone thinks (or maybe, knows) is coming. But, it seems like WWE have forgotten one minor part of the Universal Championship’s lore: Finn Balor never lost his title. Balor was a victim of injury, had to relinquish the title, and never once did the WWE think to grant him the rematch clause that he deserved.
Of course, there is still time. Quite honestly, it’s surprising that Balor has not used that as ammo during a feud yet. He, not Reigns, is the true uncrowned Universal Champion. Outside of kayfabe, what could have been WWE’s plans for Balor had he not been injured? It’s an interesting subject to think about, as Balor was white-hot as soon as he debuted on the main roster. Either way, he needs to start getting his wins back to build up that eventual Universal Championship push.
It’s hard to believe that Balor will never get his hands back on that title again, but the fact remains that he needs to start winning major feuds, and fast. Defeating Corbin could mean huge things for Balor in the future, as WWE certainly sees him as a major player on Raw. This win could very well be the springboard Balor needs to start building himself back up to challenge a future Universal Champion.
Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
Baron Corbin Does Not Need This Win
Constable Baron Corbin is currently riding the wave of the best run of his career. A corporately-appointed authority figure (with next to no actually power, just for comedic relief) who ruins everyone’s fun just because he’s bitter is perfect for Corbin.
He has the WWE machine and, for the first time, the WWE fans behind him on this one, and he is quickly becoming one of the best parts of Raw in this writer’s opinion. But having the fans behind him does not mean that Corbin needs this win. Truthfully, he doesn’t need it at all.
WWE, or at least the man making the decisions for WWE, sees Baron Corbin, as a main event player. Additionally, his current gimmick is hot, creative, and getting over with the crowds. As a truly popular babyface, Balor needs this win. Corbin can always get his heat back in some way, shape, or form. Corporate gimmicks can still work in WWE, if done right.
Everyone hates Stephanie McMahon, so being her personally appointed constable will certainly give any heel some major heat. Corbin is fine, and Balor needs this win to avoid looking like a fool at the benefit of WWE authority.