5 Best possible directions for Finn Balor after his return on WWE SmackDown – Big gamble ahead, iconic feuds in the making?

WWE Superstar Finn Balor made a surprise return on SmackDown this week. He walked out amidst thundering pop from fans back in the live audience for the first time in a year and a half. He made a strong statement by attacking Sami Zayn and then left without saying a word.

The WWE Universe was treated to a huge return to the main roster on the final show before Money in the Bank pay-per-view.

🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦F I N N ‘ S B A C K

— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) July 17, 2021

Now that Finn Balor is back on SmackDown, there are several speculations about his future on the Blue brand. While fans are excited to see him back on the main roster, some are skeptical about him being booked in disappointing angles.

Here, we look at some of the best possible directions involving Finn Balor following his return to SmackDown.

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#5 Finn Balor continues with his heel persona on WWE SmackDown

Finn Balor returned on WWE SmackDown this week

Finn Balor’s recent run on NXT was better than anything he has done on the main roster in recent years. He always delivered good matches, but somehow his push was always met with an abrupt end. Meanwhile, he was constantly booked as a credible threat on the Black and Gold brand that allowed the WWE Universe to see an entirely different side of well-established superstars.

One of the biggest reasons fans were drawn towards Balor’s heel persona is the complete contrast it bears when compared to his previous main roster run. Despite being one of the most talented superstars, he was barely used in significant storylines. Unfortunately, that could be the case once again if he immediately turns face after returning to the main roster.

Finn Balor has evidently worked hard to build himself up as a credible heel in WWE. As "The Prince", he is extremely over with the crowd and is often the favorite ahead of big matches. That should explain how good he is at playing a villain. It would be great for both Balor and WWE SmackDown if he is allowed to extend the same run on the Blue brand.

THIS IS HAPPENING!@FinnBalor is BACK on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/wzdshGreHu

— WWE (@WWE) July 17, 2021

He can feud with top babyfaces on SmackDown, including Big E and Cesaro. These superstars wouldn’t even need a title to keep things interesting on the blue brand.

Finn Balor can even kickstart rivalries with the biggest heels on SmackDown and deliver engaging storylines. He skilfully did the same while feuding with The Undisputed Era and Johnny Gargano on the Black and Gold brand.

If anything, the last two years have proven that Balor can be trusted to carry big title feuds. He has enjoyed a decent run as a babyface. The writers are comfortable with that gimmick and could be leaning towards a tried and tested method.

However, the creative team should see that booking him as a heel would be a high-risk, high-reward decision. Viewers will remain invested if they come across a unique, experimental storyline in a never-ending series of repetitive bookings. Why not start with a returning superstar who has everyone’s attention?

#4 Finn Balor sets his sights on the Intercontinental Championship

Finn Balor can enter the title picture with ease

Back in 2019, Finn Balor enjoyed a brief run with the Intercontinental Championship. He brought the title from RAW over to SmackDown after moving to the blue brand during the WWE Draft.

Soon after that, he lost the Intercontinental Championship to Shinsuke Nakamura at Extreme Rules. It should be mentioned that even though this match was practically flawless, it was shockingly scheduled for the pre-show.

Balor left the main roster less than a month after this loss, but we will talk more about it later in the article. For now, we are convinced that he has enough reason to go after the Intercontinental Championship after his return on WWE SmackDown tonight.

The title is currently held by Apollo Crews, who was involved in a lengthy title feud with Big E until recently. Since his heel turn, Crews thinks of himself as a Nigerian Prince and has found a trusted ally in Commander Azeez.

The duo have formed a dominant partnership on WWE SmackDown. However, it also leaves the writers with an opportunity to craft a huge push for Finn Balor. It would account for a good story-telling if he comes back and fights for the title that he lost on his way out. If the kings can battle for gold, why should the princes hold back?

#3 Finn Balor’s potential alliance with AJ Styles as an aftermath of WWE Draft

Finn Balor and AJ Styles are brilliant together

Finn Balor and AJ Styles share a long history that dates well beyond their days in WWE. They have been good friends for a long time, and they share incredible chemistry that translates well into their on-screen gimmicks.

A solid example would be their match at TLC 2017 when both superstars were booked for an impromptu match. Balor and Styles delivered the best in-ring bout of the night regardless of the limited time frame, and it was deemed an instant classic.

Now that Finn Balor is back on the main roster and could potentially play a heel, it would be an excellent booking decision to involve him in a storyline with AJ Styles. Both superstars need to be on the same brand for that to happen, and it could all fall into place during the WWE Draft. It should be noted, albeit selfishly, that it would be better if both Styles and Balor were on WWE SmackDown.

Whether they are working together or against each other, Finn Balor and AJ Styles will leave no stone unturned in narrating a memorable story – the kind that we sometimes miss in modern-day wrestling.

Their potential alliance, followed by an eventual betrayal, has a dream match written all over it. Hopefully, the creative team will recognize this opportunity and lay their trust in two superstars at the brink of creating an epic saga.

#2 Finn Balor enters the Universal Championship picture

Finn Balor can get the WWE Universe talking with a few bold moves

Finn Balor has several accolades to his name during his time in WWE. However, the biggest of them is also associated with one of the most unfortunate incidents in the promotion’s history. If you don't know, the history between Balor and the Universal Championship dates back to when the said world title was first introduced in WWE.

In 2016, he made an impressive main roster debut and was immediately pushed into the world picture. He defeated Seth Rollins to become the inaugural Universal Champion. However, he also sustained a labrum tear during the bout. As a result, he was forced to relinquish his Universal Championship before taking some time off to recover from a shoulder injury.

Finn Balor had a few shots at the Universal Championship following his return, but none of them saw him getting the push that he deserved. It was difficult for him to pose a credible threat to the title when he was consistently booked as a meek challenger in front of superstars who were bigger in size. Ironically, nothing about his in-ring maneuvers suggests that he won’t put up a convincing fight.

This storyline has been in the making since Finn Balor had to step away from a historic victory. Of course, the writers should push him aggressively for a few months before putting him in the Universal Championship picture.

But sooner or later, he deserves to be a part of that conversation. Whether Finn Balor wins Royal Rumble for a title shot or gets his opportunity somehow, it would be compelling to watch him fight for a championship that he never technically lost.

#1 Finn Balor’s “Demon King” hunts Bray Wyatt’s “The Fiend”

Finn Balor has an old score to settle with "The Fiend"

Most of the angles involving Finn Balor that we have discussed so far have some sort of poetic ring to them, but nothing comes quite as close to this one. After losing the Intercontinental Championship in 2019, he crossed paths with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.

The two engaged in a match at SummerSlam that ended with Balor losing in an underwhelming fashion. It was also his last appearance on the main roster before tonight.

Two years later, Balor is back on SmackDown while Wyatt is part of the RAW roster. It might take a while, but both superstars will eventually cross paths in WWE. It would be perfect to have Balor bring out his Demon King persona to confront The Fiend. A feud between two mystical alter-egos would undoubtedly make for an entertaining match, as long as both are booked in an equally dominant manner.

The WWE creative team has done well in limiting Finn Balor’s Demon King gimmick to sporadic appearances. It helps protect that persona while simultaneously allowing viewers to recognize him as an equally good competitor. As a heel, he could be convinced that he doesn’t need the alter ego until he comes face to face with The Fiend again.

Bray Wyatt has requested time off due to personal reasons and it will be a while before we see him back inside the ring. Thus, the writers will have enough time to push Finn Balor as one of their top superstars while subtly preparing for a feud that has been in the making for two years. It’s not that we see long-term storylines often these days. Maybe this feud will make up for what we have missed.