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This was one of the better episodes of RAW in recent memory. It ended with something that the WWE Universe has been yearning for, for a long time. Finn Balor will take Brock Lesnar on at the Royal Rumble. The Universal Championship will be on the line.
Does it not feel surreal when you even mention it out loud. So many of Balor's fans have been waiting for him to get this opportunity, but he somehow never seems to get his due. This is the first time since his initial push that he's been given the spotlight that he deserves.
I will mention 5 reasons why Finn Balor is in the Universal Championship match at WrestleMania in this article. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
I am curious to know what you have to say about the situation and if you think Balor can end up dethroning Brock Lesnar to become Universal Champion again.
#5 To give the fans a dream match
On the night after TLC, Baron Corbin was ousted from his position of power. The McMahons assumed control of both RAW and SmackDown Live and made a promise to the WWE Universe. There would be new faces and new opportunities on the show.
While Finn Balor has been a former Universal Champion, he has been kept out of the title picture for so very long (if you discount the one title shot he had against Roman Reigns) that this feels like it's a fresh opportunity. It is certainly in line with what fans want and the McMahon family wants to give the fans exactly what they've asked for.
Will Finn Balor win the title? Probably not.
#4 The Demon King is a credible contender for the Universal Championship
Vince McMahon publicly claimed that Finn Balor does not size up to the other beefy WWE superstars who competed in the main event of RAW. And yes, it may be tough for the WWE Universe to believe that Balor stands a real chance. But if he unleashes the Demon King avatar, he certainly does have a real opportunity.
The Demon King is one of the most protected personas in WWE. Finn Balor has only lost once when he's donned the bodypaint, during his time in NXT. The Demon King, which last made an appearance at SummerSlam, is undefeated on the main roster.
I really wonder if The Demon King can potentially dethrone Brock Lesnar when the two men collide in the ring? I have a feeling that while this won't be the case, the match will be good.
#3 To keep underutilized WWE superstars loyal to the company
For the longest time, WWE was the only place to work for every sports entertainer in the business, at the highest level. And I mean no disrespect to Impact Wrestling or ROH or even NJPW when I say this. WWE is far and away the biggest company of the lot. Their monopoly could be challenged by All Elite Wrestling.
We've seen in the past that while WWE signs the hottest talent in the industry, a lot of the superstars are not utilized to their potential. You need to look no further than Samoa Joe to realize what I mean. A man as talented as him has not won a Championship in WWE yet.
But now, the industry has changed with the arrival of All Elite Wrestling. To keep superstars like Finn Balor loyal, WWE has decided to reward them with opportunities.
This may also be the reason why Lashley was made the Intercontinental Champion.
#2 Brock Lesnar works better with smaller men
Remember Brock Lesnar's classic with another Paul Heyman guy, CM Punk? Remember when two fantastic Champions, AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar slugged it out at Survivor Series last year? Remember when Daniel Bryan and Brock Lesnar had a classic at Survivor Series, not very long ago?
Brock Lesnar is known to be a monotonous performer with an extremely limited move set. However, when it comes to battling the 'workers', he is always known to put on some extraordinary performances, every time. Finn Balor fits the category of smaller guys who can get the best out of Brock Lesnar.
Finn Balor is guaranteed to go to Suplex City and have a really rough night in the ring when he finally gets his title shot at the Royal Rumble. But even then, it's still more exciting than a Lesnar vs. Strowman match.
#1 For John Cena to do the honors on the way out
John Cena is only back in WWE for a limited span of time. During this period, his aim has been to put over talent. If you saw his segment with Becky Lynch, you know how much she gained from the additional eyeballs Cena brought to her. In the same way, he even did a backstage segment with the Lucha House party.
Balor pinned Cena to gain the opportunity at The Beast Incarnate. In so many ways, this was a passing of the torch from Cena to Balor. Cena will not be in WWE for long, but Balor has the opportunity to break out and become the next John Cena.
How exciting is it that Balor finally has a chance to dethrone The Beast Incarnate at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view? Do you think the big title change will happen?
Can you imagine Brock Lesnar pinning The Demon King?
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
