When Finn Balor became the inaugural Universal Champion by defeating Seth Rollins at Summerslam earlier this year, fans were very excited for the future product on Raw. Finally, Balor had been called up to the main roster, and he had won a world title in his PPV debut!
Unfortunately, Balor suffered a torn labrum during the match, and he is not expected to return to WWE TV until early 2017.
Whether he makes it back in time for Wrestlemania 33 or not is yet to be seen, but seeing as he was only just getting started on the main roster before his injury, there are a plethora of opponents that fans would love to see him face.
Assuming that Balor will make it back around early 2017, a Wrestlemania 33 match could be on the cards for the Demon King. Whether they are a babyface or a heel or whether they are on Raw or Smackdown Live, here are 5 Opponents for Finn Balor when he returns in 2017:
#5 Seth Rollins
Considering that Seth Rollins has recently undergone a character transformation into a babyface, this is a difficult one to book. Would Balor immediately turn heel upon returning to feud with ‘The Man’? Would it end up being a face vs face bout?
Either way, their first encounter at Summerslam did not live up to the potential classic that would be expected from the two men. While it was still a solid match, the horrendous Universal Title design distracted the crowd from the action, and the show had already been stolen by Styles vs Cena.
Also read: 5 lesser known facts you need to know about Finn Balor
However, if WWE were to book the two in a rematch once Balor returns, they could wrestle the classic that they have the potential to perform. Given the right story/build, Balor and Rollins could outdo their previous bout with a show-stealer, possibly at Wrestlemania 33.
Whether the match occurs by Balor turning heel on Rollins and aligning with Gallows and Anderson, or as a face vs face bout based on mutual respect, Finn Balor vs Seth Rollins should be one of the potential feuds for Balor when he returns.
#4 Heel Roman Reigns
Ok, so this is incredibly unlikely due to WWE’s hesitance to turn Reigns heel, but there is no denying that this would be a must-see match.
Although many people criticise Reigns’ character, he is a stellar in-ring worker and has wrestled great matches this year with Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and AJ Styles. However, something has always felt missing, and that was a heel persona for the Roman Empire.
If Reigns were to turn to the dark side, he could wrestle classics with a number of top babyfaces, and one name that springs to mind is Balor. Their first encounter on Balor’s debut night was a very good match, but it was a babyface vs babyface bout.
If Reigns were to be the heel in a potential feud and possibly become a heel Universal Champion, Balor could return as the top babyface by capturing the gold at Wrestlemania 33 by beating Reigns.
The match would be stellar as well given the two competitors involved, and the face/heel dynamic would be perfect with the crowd being firmly behind the babyface Balor. Although it is unlikely WWE turn Reigns heel, a babyface Balor vs heel Reigns would be a must-see, marquee feud when Balor returns.
Check out their first encounter on the July 25th edition of Raw:
#3 Kevin Owens
This is the direction WWE are most likely heading in, as Balor seems set to clash with whoever is Universal Champion in early 2017 when he returns.
Given that Seth Rollins has been unable to win the gold, and Roman Reigns is US champion, Kevin Owens will probably be the Universal Champion heading into Wrestlemania 33. Jericho could possibly turn on his best friend and win it before then, but WWE will most likely keep the title on Owens until Wrestlemania 33.
Although we have seen Balor and Owens clash before in NXT, Balor is the perfect candidate to beat Owens for the title at Wrestlemania 33.
Considering the quality of their previous matches (go watch their ladder match from Takeover Brooklyn if you haven’t seen it), Balor vs Owens would be a fitting match for the first Universal Championship match at Wrestlemania.
It would be a certain show-stealer, and Balor would be able to regain the title he never lost on the Grandest Stage of Them All. Instead of another Owens-Rollins or Reigns-Owens match, why not put the two NXT alumni against each other at Wrestlemania 33?
It would truly define the ‘New Era’ WWE have been blabbing on about, and it would be a fitting way to crown a returning Balor once again as Raw’s top champion.
Check out Owens and Balor’s ladder match in NXT:
#2 John Cena
The first Smackdown Live superstar on this list, John Cena vs Finn Balor has been a dream match for fans since Balor first joined NXT. Now that Balor has the chance to return to either brand, he could easily show up on Smackdown Live and challenge Cena to a Wrestlemania 33 match.
Sure, Cena should probably be facing the Undertaker or competing for a world title at Wrestlemania 33, but if WWE decide to go a different direction with Cena, why not pit him against the Demon King?
Much like Cena vs Styles at Summerslam, Cena could put over an up and coming star on a big stage, and Balor would arguably become a top star once again on the main roster without the need for another world title win straight away, as some fans may reject Balor if he gets another quick rise to the gold.
Considering Cena’s proven ability to steal the show with indy stars (Punk, Styles, Rollins), Balor and Cena would most likely tear the house down on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Whether WWE would turn Balor heel to face Cena or whether they would keep it face vs face, either way Cena vs Balor would be an amazing feud for the Demon King when he returns.
#1 AJ Styles
Despite wrestling a number of dream matches since joining WWE this January (vs Cena, Ziggler, Ambrose), AJ Styles still hasn’t faced Finn Balor in WWE. In fact, Finn Balor vs AJ Styles hasn’t happened in any wrestling promotion, so if the two were to face off, it would be a dream first-time encounter.
A perfect story is in place as well, as Styles replaced Balor as leader of the Bullet Club in NJPW, although Balor left before the two could face off. With Gallows and Anderson (former members of Bullet Club) now in WWE alongside AJ and Balor, the storyline must be capitalised on by the company.
With both men being two of the best wrestlers in the WWE, it could be a match for the ages, especially if it were to take place at Wrestlemania 33. If Styles is still WWE World Champion heading into Wrestlemania season, the perfect babyface opponent for him to drop the title to would be a returning Balor.
Considering how much of a dream match Balor vs Styles is for fans, it would be the perfect way to entice viewership for Wrestlemania 33.
Even if Gallows and Anderson weren’t involved in the storyline, AJ Styles should be top of WWE’s list for potential feuds for Balor when he returns from injury in early 2017, as it is a legitimate first-time dream match.
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