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The audience is constantly reminded how Finn Balor was the first Universal champion, but based on the matches he’s had over the past few months, it sure didn’t seem like it.
After vacating the championship the night after Summerslam 2017 on RAW due to injury, Balor has been put in the back of the line and just couldn’t find a way back. Even with his match with Roman Reigns, who acknowledged how he never got his rematch, he was stuck to what he used to be.
It looked like it was going to be Balor versus Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin for the next year, until this week's RAW.
After Braun Strowman was stripped of his title shot by Vince McMahon, and after defeating Jinder Mahal, he secured his spot in the fatal four-way along with Corbin, McIntyre, and John Cena. Balor went on to pin Cena earning his championship match against Brock Lesnar in two weeks at the Royal Rumble.
We’ve seen how these matches go. We saw it with AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan and how Lesnar inflicts pain on the competition, who are, well, smaller. So what makes Balor the odds on favorite.
The build
With Balor not having a real championship match that wasn’t interrupted, he managed to continue to be one of the top stars on the RAW roster. As mentioned earlier, he’s been in the same three matches for months but with the direction the WWE is going, he might be receiving his long overdue push which can get the sour thought of him relinquishing the title out of the fans minds.
The Club
With the Royal Rumble being a co-brand event, this means the members of the of the club from both brands will be present. How interesting it would be if AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson help Balor in capturing the title once again.
The Demon
The last time we’ve seen Balor transform into his alter ego was last summer against Baron Corbin. Balor always had a fire inside of him but it’s when he becomes the demon that he’s more aggressive. It may be streamers and face paint but it could give him the added confidence to beat Lesner.
Will Finn Balor do the impossible and de-thrown the Beast Incarnate at the Royal Rumble?
