Since returning from the cataphoric injury that forced the first-ever Universal Champion to surrender his title just 24 hours after winning it, Finn Bálor has been seizing victories on every front. He teamed with one-time foe Seth Rollins to overcome Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe, he defeated Curt Hawkins and Jinder Mahal in singles action and most recently emerged on the winning side of a Six-Man Tag Team Match along with Seth Rollins and Big Cass.

 

On the flip side, since coming to Raw as part of the Superstar Shake-up, it’s safe to say that The Miz has not been having a very good time, whether it be experiencing the unhinged aggression of The Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose or suffering Sister Abigail from his surprise tag team partner Bray Wyatt in this week’s Raw main event.

 

However, if The Miz has taught us anything, it’s that he is at his most dangerous when he is feeling disrespected, and perhaps nowhere is this truer than on “The Most Must-See Talk Show in WWE History.” Then again, with Bálor on such a role as of late, does the A-Lister really want to cross him? If he pushes the Irish Superstar too far, Payback Kickoff may just witness a “Must-See” Coup de Grâce.

 

Don’t miss WWE Payback Kickoff this Sunday, streaming live on the award-winning WWE Network at 7 ET/4 PT. In addition, the Kickoff streams live on WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+

Back from the break and Kurt Angle is out with a mic. He says Enzo is unable to compete but he has a new partner for Cass and Rollins. The music hits and out comes Finn Balor to a big pop.

 

Samoa Joe, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and Big Cass

 

Balor runs to the ring when he sees Cass and Rollins getting triple teamed. We get the bell and it’s Cass starting off with Gallows. Cass takes control and hits a big splash. Cass with a fall-away slam. Rollins tags in and comes off the top with a big right hand as Cass holds Gallows. Balor tag sin and unloads on Gallows. Balor drops Gallows with a dropkick. Gallows turns it around on Balor and tags in Anderson. Fans chant for Balor as he rolls through and dropkicks Anderson in the face. Balor with a shot to Gallows on the apron. Anderson backs Balor into the corner and in comes Joe. Joe unloads and drops Balor in the corner with a kick to the head.

 

Joe with more offense to Balor as he backs him in the corner again. Anderson tags in and unloads on Balor in the corner as the referee warns him. Anderson keeps Balor grounded with an armbar now. Anderson slams Balor for another 2 count. Gallows tags back in and drops big shots on Balor in the corner. Gallows keeps Balor grounded now. Gallows runs into boots in the corner but catches Balor with a side slam. Gallows poses before kicking Cass off the apron. Gallows misses a leg drop as Balor moves out of the way.

 

Anderson and Rollins tag in at the same time. Rollins with a Blockbuster from the top. Rollins keeps control and hits a Slingblade. Anderson slides out of a suplex. Gallows holds Rollins but he takes them both down. Cass comes flying over with a big boot to send Gallows out. Rollins and Joe stare each other down. Anderson gets sent out onto Joe by Rollins. Rollins runs and nails a dive next. Rollins brings Anderson back in but Joe beats on Rollins from the floor. Balor comes out of nowhere with a dropkick on Joe on the floor. Rollins comes in with a flying clothesline on Anderson. Rollins goes for a Pedigree in the middle of the ring but changes his mind. He nails a big knee to the face instead and covers Anderson for the win.

 

Winners: Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and Big Cass

 

After the match, the winners stand tall as Joe stares them down from the floor. We go to replays. We come back to the babyfaces celebrating.

Back from a break and Curt Hawkins is in the ring. He mentions Big Show stepping into the ring with him last week and being in the main event this week. He says if you want to be a main event WWE Superstar, you step into the ring with Curt Hawkins. Hawkins wonders who it’s going to be this week. He waits until the music hits and out comes Finn Balor.

 

Finn Bálor vs. Curt Hawkins

 

The bell rings and Balor ducks Hawkins and goes to work. Balor with a dropkick and a Slingblade.

 

Balor with another dropkick. Balor goes to the top and nails the Coup de Grace for the easy win.

 

Winner: Finn Bálor

 

After the match, Balor stands tall as we go to replays.

 

Nothing indicates NXT’s readiness to compete with Raw and SmackDown LIVE more than the brand’s ability to land sports-entertainment’s top free agents.

Whether it’s a former champion’s surprise appearance in the crowd at NXT TakeOver, or a full-on press conference heralding the arrival of an international competitor, the excitement that surrounds new Superstar signings has become a hallmark of WWE’s hottest organization.

As NXT continues to bolster its stock, look back at 10 of the brand’s most notable signings since the dawn of TakeOver in 2014.

2 – Finn Bálor

The signing of one ripped Irishman in 2014 registered on some social media feeds, but even those familiar with Finn Bálor’s success in Japan and the United Kingdom probably didn’t realize he was fated to become the longest-reigning NXT Champion in history.

Yet, it was under The Demon King’s 293-day reign that NXT blossomed into a worldwide sensation. Bálor’s coronation took place after a triumph against Kevin Owens in Tokyo, the first time the NXT Title changed hands outside its home state of Florida. And, as his immediate success on Raw proves (not to mention becoming WWE’s first-ever Universal Champion), Bálor’s signing wasn’t just a boon for NXT.

We have a video package for Finn Balor. Back to commercial.

 

Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal

 

Back from the break and Jinder Mahal waits in the ring for his opponent. The music hits and out comes Finn Balor to a big pop.

 

They lock up and Mahal pie faces Balor on a break. Balor with punches but Mahal with a knee. Mahal with a sunset flip but Balor rolls through and hits a drop kick. Balor with an arm drag into an arm bar. Mahal kicks Balor in the ropes. Mahal with a series of knee drops and then he chokes Balor. Mahal with a near fall. Mahal with a quarter nelson and chin lock. Mahal has a punch blocked but Mahal with a forearm. Mahal with a chin lock but Balor with a pele kick. Balor kicks Mahal in the corner and hits Slingblade.

 

Balor with a running drop kick that sends Mahal into the turnbuckles. Balor goes up top and hits Coup de Grace for the three count.

 

Winner: Finn Balor

 

After the match, Bray Wyatt appears on the Titantron and he says this is his new home. He says he did not come alone. He brought a gift. He says we will see Bray Wyatt torture Randy Orton in his House of Horrors match. He tells Finn to watch himself because he will be watching him. He tells Raw that he is here.

 

Finn Bálor is back!

 

Seth Rollins needed a tag team partner to battle United States Champion Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe Monday night, and Raw General Manager Kurt Angle delivered big time by teaming The Architect with the returning Finn Bálor. Bálor had been unseen in a WWE ring since he was forced to relinquish the Universal Championship the night after SummerSlam, due to an injury sustained at the hands of Rollins. There have been more awkward tag team pairings in WWE, but not many.

 

Fortunately, Rollins and Bálor put their differences aside to defeat The Prizefighter and the dominant Destroyer, and the duo even shared a brief victory pose when The Kingslayer raised the returning Superstar’s hand following the match. Now that Bálor has returned to the red brand, what does his future hold? We’ll find out Monday night.