3 Potential Extreme Rules Opponents For Finn Balor

The Intercontinental Championship was neglected at WWE Stomping Grounds, with Finn Balor not appearing on the show at all. In fact, the Intercontinental Champion hasn't appeared on WWE television since WWE Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia.

Not featuring a top champion is a strange decision on WWE's behalf and one the company doesn't often make, especially with the wildcard rule allowing Balor to appear on Raw as well.

However, WWE's creative team has clearly had no storyline for the former NXT Superstar to work with and opted to rest him instead. Whilst rest is a good thing for Balor's health, it isn't a great thing for the exposure of the Intercontinental Championship, which has been forgotten about in recent weeks.

With SummerSlam now right around the corner, WWE is likely planning on featuring all the championships on its roster, therefore the company needs to get Balor back onto television and into a top feud. But who could he go up against?

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#3 Andrade

Should WWE continue this feud a little longer?

Whilst they haven't interacted since their match at WWE Super ShowDown, which saw Finn Balor defeat Andrade, the rivalry between the former NXT Champions didn't feel like it was over.

Possibly because the match they had happened at a show many fans chose not to watch, or possibly because they weren't given tons of promo time to really develop a real storyline. Either way, there is more to be achieved with two wrestlers as talented as this.

The Intercontinental Championship was always known as the workhorse title and that would be fitting of two great workers like Balor and Andrade, whilst Zelina Vega can put the storyline over on the microphone.

With the chances being high that a gimmick match will take place at Extreme Rules for Balor, these two men fighting in a ladder match has got show stealer written all over it.

#2 Aleister Black

Will Finn Balor pick a fight?

What a dream match this would be. Finn Balor and Aleister Black could have some incredible matches in a WWE ring, with both men pushing their creepy, darker personalities to create some really engaging television.

Ever since Aleister Black stopped teaming with Ricochet, he has been kept out of the ring as he has waited to start his singles career properly on the main roster.

The former NXT Champion has called out the WWE roster in backstage videos, asking for someone to challenge him to a fight, and what if it was Balor who stepped up to the plate?

Turning the traditional storyline on its head of someone challenging the champion, with the idea that Balor is a fighting champion who wants to prove he is the best, giving it an interesting twist right from the start.

There is no reason why the two men couldn't have an excellent series of matches running throughout the summer that could really establish the Intercontinental Championship as a top title once again.

Black is someone who has the massive potential to be a main-event star, but it is crucial WWE doesn't rush things with him. Therefore a slow rise through the mid-card, much like is happening with Ricochet on Raw could be the exact way to go with him, which could start against Balor.

#1 Shinsuke Nakamura

Could Shinsuke Nakamura challenge Balor?

Shinsuke Nakamura has been stuck in a rather pointless and random tag team with Rusev for the past several months and for several weeks hasn't even been used on WWE television, even with the wildcard rule in effect.

However, this week the 'King Of Strong Style' made his return to SmackDown Live and he made it crystal clear that he is interested in Finn Balor's Intercontinental Championship.

Nakamura appeared halfway through Balor's backstage interview and simply pointed towards the title, giving a major hint that the two men will start a feud in the near future. It would be a great way to use Nakamura, feuding with someone he has plenty of history with from NXT that WWE knows will be a great match.

Nakamura has been massively wasted since his feud with AJ Styles came to an end, but he still has so much to offer the company and a feud against Balor could be the perfect way to start building him back up.