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Finn Balor is a man that isn't the biggest or fastest in WWE, but his early run as NXT Champion and his initial first month on Raw set him up as a future main eventer on Raw, but after the man was injured and was forced to vacate his Universal Championship, many knew he wouldn't recover from that blow, as the WWE creative team's booking has proven they move on fast.
And unfortunately for Finn that was the case, as his return from injury saw him fall steeper and steeper down the Raw system, but it was only a matter of time before he actually got a chance to rise again. And it seems like Balor's time has come to be once again the relentless force he was back in 2016, but there is one huge problem, and his name is Brock Lesnar.
There is no wrestler in NXT, 205 Live, Raw and Smackdown Live that can match up to the aura of Brock Lesnar, and while most of you hate the man, there is no denying when Brock steps in the squared circle, your attention is captured. After taking Braun Strowman's spot at the Royal Rumble, Finn Balor will face Lesnar for the Universal Championship, but is this a mistake?
#1 Size isn't the problem; it's credibility
Finn Balor is not the biggest man on the block, and that is unfortunate because in WWE the biggest physical wrestlers are the ones that have a much easier route to the main event.
While that isn't the norm anymore, as guys like AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan are succeeding on the main roster, they have something that size can't buy, which is a ton of credibility. You can look like a total monster but if your booking doesn't allow you to feel like a threat then what is the point?
That is the case here, and while some of you might be saying that Balor beat Cena clean to advance to the Royal Rumble, who hasn't beat Cena since he became a part-timer? Comparing John Cena to Brock Lesnar is comparing two different animals, one is a lion that is past his prime, and the other is as dangerous as ever.
Lesnar vs Balor is a mismatch in terms of size, strength, speed but most importantly, it's a huge mismatch regarding credibility. How can a fan actually believe that Balor, who couldn't get past most midcarders, actually has a chance against Lesnar?
And while Balor is an exceptional star, WWE has ruined most of his mystique, which has made him a non-threat.
#2 Chances of capturing the title are very slim
The rumors of who will main event Wrestlemania changes every day, as sources throw around many names to get fans excited. Matches like Lesnar vs The Rock, Seth Rollins vs Lesnar and Braun Strowman vs Lesnar are all matches that have been reported as potential matches for the show, and while the contender changes, the champion stay the same.
Lesnar is the constant in every one of these rumors, as he is WWE's biggest draw outside of John Cena. So the question is, why will WWE dethrone Lesnar so they can please the fanbase with Balor becoming the Universal Champion?
There is no answer to that question, as Balor is not on Lesnar's level regarding actually drawing in a crowd and pushing up pay-per-view numbers, and that is not Balor's fault.
As WWE had many chances with Balor to make him a true Rockstar, as his look, gimmick and in-ring skills screamed cover boy, but sadly that never happened.
So how could someone back Balor to win this match? A loss at the hands of Lesnar is not career ending, but in the situation Balor is in, winning the title is more important than just being champion, as it will revive his career.
#3 It will destroy the mystique of his alter ego
The alter ego of Finn Balor is a gimmick that has not been explained by WWE in detail. What changes when Finn puts on the paint? Does he get in a different zone, does he unlock some sort of hidden extra strength or does he become someone else?
It's nice when you analyze the meaning and significance of his alter ego, as it gives you an understanding of why he always manages to win when he does put on the paint. But sadly against Brock Lesnar, Balor painting his face makes little difference, as the chances of WWE sacrificing the aura of Lesnar for Finn Balor's face paint are highly unlikely.
It is almost a certainty that Balor will bring out his alter ego for the biggest match of his career, as his gimmick is somewhat of a draw, and WWE needs to draw as many fans into this match as possible, given the little time they have to build this fued.
So this question for you to answer is this - who would win at this stage on the Road to Wrestlemania? Brock Lesnar or Finn Balor in his alter ego? Most of you would say that if Balor puts on the paint, he is going to win, but as explained in previous points what are the chances of Lesnar actaully losing? If Lesnar does beat Balor in his most 'powerful' form, how would WWE pick up the pieces of a decision like that?
#4 Where does Balor go if he loses?
Where does Finn Balor go after a loss to Lesnar? That is a concern every wrestling fan has about this match, and while this article has portrayed Lesnar as the winner already, and some of you or maybe all of you might be hating that, WWE has conditioned our perception of the product in that way.
Whoever goes up against Brock loses, unless your name is Roman Reigns. Stars like AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, and Braun Strowman could not get past the beast that is Brock Lesnar.
Luckily for Styles and Bryan, their matches with Lesnar didn't solely depend on them winning, as it was a one off thing, but in Finn's case this match will basically make or break his entire career.
And if he loses, we could see his career follow the path of Braun Strowman. Strowman was a once promising star that everyone thought would be in the main event of Wrestlemania almost two years ago, but look at the state of his character and career, as WWE don't seemed to know how to handle their biggest star after a huge defeat. Balor could fall back down to the mid-card in the same way, and this time it won't be a pretty sight.
#5 It should have been built for Wrestlemania
To be honest, a match between Balor and Lesnar is a personal dream match, as putting all the statistics and current career situations aside, this rivalry could even warrant a Wrestlemania match, as there is so much material to explore between these two superstars.
The history between these two men, the contrasting nature of their last two years on Raw and the classic underdog vs the giant narrative is all there for WWE to turn into a hit narrative that could create a star out of Balor and it could give Lesnar some of the best work of his second run with the WWE.
But providing a week's build to this showdown is the biggest mistake WWE has made this year, as it cheapens the value of their match with each other. Wrestling is more than cool guys doing cool moves; it's about story and how we as fans relate to that story and find joy in watching these characters do their thing, and a character like Balor's could have been developed if WWE made this match a showdown at a later stage.
But now everything feels forced and rushed. And yeah, this is rushed due to Strowman's inability to compete at the Royal Rumble, but in that case, it should have been someone like Bobby Lashley or Dean Ambrose in Balor's rushed position, as those men are ready to tackle with Lesnar, while Balor needed this narrative to develop his character, get rid of his flaws and repackage him as a main event guy.
But now at the Royal Rumble, it is the same Finn Balor with all those flaws, whether he wins or loses.
