'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Finn Balor’s quest to become the new World Champion came to a crashing halt on this week's WWE RAW. The Judgment Day member was put down by Seth Rollins in the World Heavyweight Championship tournament semifinal on the show. Balor’s crushing defeat reminded fans of the heartbreaking moment that transpired seven years ago.
Tonight’s main event featured a call back to Finn Balor and Seth Rollins’ match for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam 2016. At one point during the main event, Balor delivered a running powerbomb to his opponent on the barricade. Ironically, this was the same move that injured the Demon King seven years ago at The Biggest Party of the Summer.
Fans who watched the match might recall how Balor’s back collided with the barricade, courtesy of The Visionary. The impact caused the Demon King to pop out his shoulder. Balor pushed back his shoulder and completed the match, becoming the inaugural WWE Universal Champion in the process.
However, Finn Balor was forced to relinquish the title the next night on WWE RAW due to the injury he suffered at SummerSlam 2016. His title reign stands among the shortest title reign in the company's history.
Kevin Owens became the new Universal Champion after he survived a fatal four-way featuring Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Big Cass.
Seth Rollins outlasts Finn Balor in WWE RAW main event
Both Rollins and Balor had survived their respective triple threat matches in the early goings of the show.
The Visionary outlasted Shinsuke Nakamura and Damian Priest. The Demon King, on the other hand, beat The Miz and Cody Rhodes after Brock Lesnar showed up to cost the American Nightmare his shot at the world title.
The two superstars met in the World Heavyweight Championship semifinal in the WWE RAW main event. Balor worked on Rollins' injured arm after he delivered the barricade bomb to The Architect. The closing moments of the match saw the Visionary hit his opponent with an inverted stomp, followed by a curb stomp for the win.
After defeating Finn Balor, Rollins walked to the ramp to have a closer look at the World Heavyweight Championship. The tournament will continue this Friday on SmackDown.
