Even though there were many who didn’t believe in Finn Bálor, he always believed in himself, and it was that mindset that propelled the ultra-athletic Superstar past John Cena, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin in last week’s Fatal 4-Way Match main event to earn a Universal Championship Match against Brock Lesnar at WWE Royal Rumble.

 

Now that he has a chance to reclaim the title he never lost, Bálor is on a collision course with one of the most powerful competitors in WWE history. Can The Extraordinary Man succeed in defeating the nigh unbeatable Beast Incarnate? And what does Paul Heyman think of his client’s new challenger?

After Braun Strowman ripped the door off of Mr. McMahon’s limo during Raw, The Chairman stripped The Monster Among Men of his Universal Title bout against Brock Lesnar and made an impromptu Fatal 4-Way Match for later on Raw to determine The Anomaly’s new challenger. That thrilling free-for-all determined that The Beast will now face first-ever Universal Champion Finn Bálor in a highly-anticipated clash for the illustrious title.

 

The seismic change began in the opening moments of Monday Night Raw when Lesnar’s refusal to meet Strowman in the ring for the second week in a row sent The Monster Among Men storming into the backstage area in pursuit of his Royal Rumble opponent. When he approached what he thought was The Conqueror’s limo and ripped the door clean off the hinges, however, he found himself face-to-face with Mr. McMahon. The irate WWE Chairman wasted little time dispensing punishment, stripping Strowman of his Universal Title opportunity and fining him $100,000.

 

Before the WWE Universe could even catch its collective breath, Mr. McMahon announced that a Fatal 4-Way Match would be held in Raw’s main event to determine who would challenge Lesnar at the Rumble, as Bálor, 16-time World Champion John Cena, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin waged war in an unforgettable bout.

 

Prior to the matchup, however, former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal attempted to work his way into the mix, only to be bested by Bálor in a one-on-one showdown to determine which Superstar would compete in the Fatal 4-Way Match. Then, in his second matchup of the night, Bálor triumphed over Cena, McIntyre and Corbin to earn his opportunity to finally reclaim what was once his.

 

The newly established showdown between Lesnar and Bálor is a classic matchup pitting the unyielding strength of the titleholder against the quickness and agility of his determined challenger. Although The Beast Incarnate is the personification of sheer dominance, one only must look back to his clash against WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan at Survivor Series to see the chink in the armor, as The Beard nearly overcame Lesnar with his quickness, technical prowess and resilience. Bálor possesses similar qualities; will it be enough to slay The Beast and claim the Universal Title?

 

Don’t miss the explosive Universal Championship Match at Royal Rumble, Sunday, Jan. 27, streaming live at 7 ET/4 PT on the award-winning WWE Network!

Finn Balor comes out and he says he has to be honest. He is a little tired of being left out of these conversations. You three can make claims to a lot of things, but Finn is the only one who has ever been Universal Champion. Vince says maybe one day you will again, but there is a lot of beef in there. Vince says you’ve got it all, but against Brock Lesnar and all of this beef… you are a great competitor, but I don’t know.

 

Finn says you never believed in him, but the people do. Finn says that he knows that Vince is stubborn and nothing he says will change his mind. Why doesn’t he show him. Balor drops Corbin. Drew drops Cena. Balor turns around to a Claymore Kick from Drew, who is the last one standing. Cena gets up and Drew floors him with a Claymore. Vince is happy now, he says he likes all this. Vince says let’s find out who will face Lesnar with a Fatal 4 Way tonight. Fans pop. Vince says that’s what we will do. Vince’s music hits as Drew looks down at the others laid out in the ring. Vince also looks at them and nods at Drew in approval. Drew leaves first.

 

Finn Balor walks in the back and we see Lacey Evans talking to Mickie James and Dana Brooke.

 

Jinder Mahal vs. Finn Balor

 

We go to the ring and out comes Jinder Mahal by himself. The winner of this will make it to the Fatal 4 Way main event later tonight. We go to commercial as Jinder does his entrance.

 

We are back and Mahal attacks before the bell when Samir distracts Balor. Mahal Irish whips Balor into the ringside barrier. Mahal sends Balor into the apron and then back into the ring. The referee checks on Balor to see if he can go.

 

The match starts and Balor runs into a thrust kick and Mahal gets a near fall. Mahal with crossfaces to Balor. Mahal with a reverse chin lock. Mahal goes for a sunset flip but Balor rolls through and hits a drop kick. Balor blocks an attempt for a belly-to-back suplex on the apron and Balor kicks Mahal. Balor goes for a running kick but Mahal blocks it and sends Balor face first into the apron.

 

We go to commercial.

 

We are back and Mahal with knee drops and he chokes Balor. Mahal with a hard Irish whip. Mahal with an elbow to the bridge of the nose and then he applies a rear chin lock. Mahal goes for a belly-to-back suplex but Balor counters with a lateral press and he gets a near fall. Mahal with a reverse chin lock. Balor with a jawbreaker and punches. Mahal with an elbow but Balor with a Pele Kick.

 

Balor with boots to Mahal followed by a running forearm. Balor with another running forearm and a double leg take down followed by a double stomp. Balor goes for Slingblade but Mahal blocks it. Balor kicks Samir off the apron and then back drops Mahal over the top rope. Balor with a plancha onto Mahal and Singh. Balor sets for Slingblade and hits it. Balor with a drop kick to send Mahal into the turnbuckles. Balor goes up top and hits Coup de Grace for the three count.

 

Winner: Finn Balor

 

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Devlin comes out, Banks tries to attack Devlin with a suicide dive through the ropes, but Devlin retaliates and attacks Banks’ knee even more, stomping away at it on the steel steps. Johnny Saint comes out and explains how there is no way for Banks to compete, therefore, Saint has another opponent for Jordan Devlin to face. Finn Balor’s music plays!

 

Finn Balor vs. Jordan Devlin

 

Devlin and Balor meet face-to-face in the center of the ring and Devlin slaps Balor’s face. Balor retaliates with punches, a kick to Devlin’s abdomen, and a running dropkick. Balor with a sling blade and he climbs to the top rope but Devlin rolls out. Balor comes to the outside and tosses Devlin back inside the ring. Devlin rolls out once again, and Balor comes around the corner with a running forearm on Devlin’s head. Balor tosses Devlin back in, and as Balor climbs back inside, Devlin with a hard kick to the ropes that caused Balor to fall out of the ring.

 

Devlin goes on to the attack on the outside, hitting Balor with punches to the abdomen and ramming him against the ring apron. Devlin tosses Balor back inside the ring and hits a standing double stomp on Balor. Devlin taunts Balor with his own pose and then chokes Balor on the ropes. Balor comes off the ropes with a sunset flip, turned in to a dropkick to Devlin’s face. Devlin comes running after Balor in the corner but he’s hit with a kick to the head. Balor goes for the coupe de grace but Devlin dropkicks him off the top rope before h ever has the opportunity.

 

The ref gets to a 9 count but gets back inside the ring. Devlin stomps away and mounts Balor with punches. Devlin has Balor in the corner and hits him with abdomen punches and some loud chops. Balor swaps places with Devlin and hits even some super loud chops of his own. Devlin slaps Balor in the face, hits a urunage, and a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Devlin puts Balor in an abdominal stretch but Balor throws Devlin over with a hip toss to escape. Balor puts Devlin in to an abdominal stretch of his own but uses various shots to inflict damage on Devlin’s abdomen. Balor chops at Devlin and delivers a pele kick as they both fall to the mat.

 

Devlin charges Balor in the corner but he hits him with both boots, a clothesline, and a double stomp on Devlin’s chest. Balor uses his 1916 for a 2 count. Balor comes charging in from the corner but Devlin counters with a a back suplex that drops Balor on his head for the 2 count. Devlin goes on the offense with soccer punts to the abdomen of Balor. Devlin walks around the ring and poses, but as he goes in for another punt, Balor catches his foot and drops him. Balor with vicious stomps on a downed Devlin. Devlin escapes to the outside but Balor goes to the apron and delivers his signature running kick to Devlin’s face. Balor goes for the coupe de grace again, but Devlin pulls him down and uses the ropes for leverage as he pins him. Balor escapes at 2, Devlin performs a moonsault off the top rope but Balor gets his knees up on him.

 

Balor with a brainbuster DDT, a running dropkick that bounces Devlin off the turnbuckles, and he finally makes it off the top rope to deliver the coup de grace and get the 1-2-3!

 

Winner: Finn Balor

 

Balor poses inside the ring and celebrates with the crowd.

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Bayley and Finn Bálor vs. Mickie James and Bobby Lashley

The women start things off and lock up. Mickie with a wrist lock but Bayley with a reversal. Bayley with an arm wringer but Mickie with an Irish whip. Mickie misses a charge but Mickie with a rana. Bayley avoids a drop kick and gets a near fall with a rollup. Bayley with another rollup for a near fall. Mickie holds on to the ropes on an O’Connor Roll attempt and Lashley tags in. Lashley poses for the people of Manchester and then he poses for Balor. Lashley continues to pose and Balor does not appear impressed. Finn goes to the turnbuckles to pose and Lashley pulls Finn off the turnbuckles.

Lashley with forrearms to the back and he poses. Lashley chokes Balor in the ropes. Balor with a drop kick and Balor poses. Lashley is sent to the floor by Balor and then Rush is sent to the floor. Balor is tripped by MIckie and Lashley hits Balor from behind. Lashley with boots to the back. Lashley starts to work on the back. Lashley with a nerve hold. Lashley with a knee to the midsection followed by an Irish whip. Bayley distracts Lashley long enough to allow Balor to get his boots up. Lashley catches Balor when he tries for the tag and Lashley runs Balor into the turnbuckles. Balor moves when Lashley goes for a splash.

Bayley tags in and connects with clotheslines. Mickie sends Bayley into the turnbuckles and Bayley with a hot shot. Bayley with a shoulder into the turnbuckles and then she hits a running knee into the corner. Bayley sends Mickie to the apron for a cutter in the ropes. Bayley runs into a super kick from Mickie and Balor breaks up the cover. Balor with a forearm to Lashley but Lashley gets Balor up for a slam and Balor escapes. Balor with slingblade and then he sends Lashley into the ring post.

Rush gets in the ring and Balor chases after Rush and after a few laps, Rush goes into the ring and then he hits the turnbuckles when Balor moves. Balor goes up top and Lashley pushes Balor off the turnbuckles before Balor can hit Coup de Grace on Rush. Bayley gives Rush a belly-to-belly suplex. Mickie with a thrust kick and she hits the MickDT for the three count.

Winners: Bobby Lashley and Mickie James

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Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley

We go to the ring and out comes Bobby Lashley with Lio Rush, who is not speaking on the mic yet. They enter the ring and Rush takes the mic. Rush praises Lashley and takes a shot at Manchester. Rush goes on about Lashley’s physique. Some fans chant “boring!” and Rush tells them to get over it. Rush says the crowd has made Lashley upset and now he will take it out on Finn Balor. Balor’s music hits and out he comes. Balor does his entrance and we go back to commercial.

Lashley with a kick to the midsection and he sends Finn into the turnbuckles. Lashley with a punch followed by a boot to the back and he chokes Balor in the ropes. Lashley with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Balor with forearms but Lashley with a kick and Balor with a drop kick that sends Lashley to the floor. Rush trips Balor as he comes off the ropes to set up a plancha. Lashley punches Balor and gets a near fall. Lashley with a reverse chin lock and then he slams Balor to the mat for a near fall. Lashley returns to the reverse chin lock. Lashley with a neck breaker for a near fall.

Lashley with punches in the corner. Lashley runs into boots from Balor and Balor avoids a splash into the corner and hits a running forearms. Balor with a sunset flip for a near fall. Balor with a double leg take down and a double stomp. Balor wtih a running chop into the corner. Lashley with an Irish whip and Balor floats over but Lashley catches him. Balor with slingblade and then he runs into a clothesline from Lashley. Balor goes to the apron and goes for an enzuigiri but Lashley blocks it and hits an elbow. Lashley suplexes Balor back into the ring and gets a near fall. Lashley sets for the Dominator but Balor with a rollup for a near fall.

Lashley misses a splash into the corner and Balor goes to the apron and hits an enzuigiri. Balor goes up top and Lio distracts Balor. Balor leaps over Lashley and he sends Lashley to the floor. Balor with a drop kick to Rush. Balor tries for a running drop kick on Rush but Lashley stops Balor. Lashley brings Balor into the ring for the Dominator for the three count.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

After the match, Lashley stands tall over Balor as the music hits. Rush enters the ring to stand with him. The music interrupts and out comes Drew McIntyre to a pop. Drew marches to the ring and stares everyone down. Lashley watches Drew enter the ring. Drew enters and stares right at Lashley, getting in his face and daring him to swing. Lashley backs off and exits the ring with Rush. Drew watches Lashley leave and then turns to Balor to help him up from the mat. Fans cheer. Drew turns and stares at Balor, then pushes him into the ropes to level him with a Claymore Kick. Drew stands over Balor as his music starts back up. Drew stands tall as we go back to commercial.

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