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Finn Balor has been dealing with the antics of Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley for half a year now. Tonight, he had a chance to pick up his second main roster championship. However, he'd have to take on the united front of Rush and Lashley.
Lashley, the current Intercontinental Champion, has proven why he was known as the Dominator. In his current run with the WWE, he's held victories over top talents like Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, and Roman Reigns. He's already beaten Balor as well, but the leader of Balor Club recently picked up a huge victory over Lashley's hype man, Lio Rush.
Going into the match tonight, the game plan seemed clear. Frustrate Lashley and Rush, attempt to break them apart, and isolate Lio Rush. Would Balor go for the Man of the Hour? Or would he stick to the Almighty One himself?
Intercontinental Championship Match: Finn Balor vs Lio Rush & Bobby Lashley (c)
Rush started the bout, but quickly tagged in Lashley, playing games with the challenger. Lashley didn't take long to send Balor to the ground with his heavy strikes. Balor attempted to mount a comeback, but the unmatched strength of Lashley seemed too much to handle.
A lucky clothesline from Balor forced Lashley to roll to the outside, talking strategy with Rush. Back inside, Lashley picked up where he left off, dropping Balor with a mat slam and sending him into the corner. A throat thrust hurt Balor, but he was able to get to the ropes for an enziguri. He went up top for the Coup de Grace but was distracted by Rush, allowing Lashley to take him down.
Balor was able to fight back, sending Lashley outside. As he went for a dive, Rush tripped him up. Balor chased him around ringside where Lashley caught him, slamming him spine first into the barricade and apron. Back inside, the Almighty One dropped an elbow then tagged in the 24-year-old Piece of Gold.
Rush brought Balor into the corner, pelting him with kicks. When Balor got back to his feet, Rush tagged Lashley, who leveled the challenger with a clothesline. Lashley wore Balor down in the middle of the ring with a rear chin lock. Balor tried to fight off Lashley but was dropped with a flatliner from the Dominator. Lashley tagged in Rush, who locked in the abdominal stretch.
Balor sent Rush across the ring with an arm drag. Rush avoided Balor's offense and again tagged in Lashley, who drove Balor into the ring post, targeting his ribs with shoulder thrusts.
Balor, gasping for air, was dropped by Balor with a high angle one-handed spinebuster. Setting up the spear, Rush tagged himself in. The M.O.T.Y. hoped to steal the spotlight but missed the Frog Splash. Lashley screamed for Rush, but he was trapped by Balor.
Balor sent both Rush and Lashley to the outside, then dove to the outside, crashing down on top of them both. Back inside, Balor dropped the Coup de Grace on Rush for the win.
Results: Finn Balor defeated Lio Rush via pinfall to become the new Intercontinental Champion.
Balor escaped the ring before Lashley could get his hands on him. Lashley looked at Rush, blaming him for getting big headed and tagging himself in. Rush apologized. Lashley seemingly forgave him, then dropped him with the high angle spinebuster, leaving Rush sprawled out in the middle of the ring.
