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It was a lopsided contest from the start. Finn Balor went into a handicap match for the Intercontinental Championship at Elimination Chamber 2019 against the Champion Bobby Lashley and his hype man, Lio Rush. Balor won the match quite comprehensively. And he didn't even have to pin the Champion to do it.
So, why did Lashley's reign last such a short time, then? Why have Lashley and Rush been split up? I will attempt to answer these questions in this very article.
Tell me your own thoughts and feelings about the big title switch. Do you think that Finn Balor deserves to be the new Intercontinental Champion on RAW?
Here is my read and analysis of the situation.
#5 To make it the 'workhorse' title once more
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This is not a knock on Bobby Lashley, honestly. But Finn Balor can do things in the ring that Bobby Lashley cannot. Or maybe he can but he's not allowed to, because he used to be a lot more athletic during his time in TNA.
But the fact of the matter is that while Lashley was Champion, he wasn't defending his title on a weekly basis against the mid-card like Finn Balor potentially could. Even his predecessor, Dean Ambrose, competed against the likes of Tyler Breeze and Apollo Crews to elevate the mid-card significantly. Superstars like The Miz and Roman Reigns did much to elevate the title, but since then the value of the Championship has fallen.
As it stands right now, Finn Balor winning the title could mean that he could defend it against the likes of Elias and the returning Kevin Owens. It could become the once prestigious Championship that we all knew and loved when we first started watching WWE. Or so one can hope!
#4 To reward Finn Balor for his exceptional work
Finn Balor was a breakout star from the moment he stepped into NXT. And then he came to the main roster and became the Universal Champion in just a month. Unfortunately, he would be forced to relinquish the Championship a night later due to injury.
And since he returned from injury, he's never quite been the same. He's always been in the top of the heap but he's never had the chance to become Champion again. Like Sam Roberts said on the Elimination Chamber Kickoff Show, Finn Balor always loses on the big stage.
This was WWE's way of rewarding him for always coming close and yet, always falling short. WWE has put the title around his waist just in time so that he remains a serious contender and is not labelled a 'loser'. And who can doubt the fact that he deserves this title run!
#3 To have Bobby Lashley look strong even in defeat
Yes, Bobby Lashley did lose the Intercontinental Championship at the pay-per-view event. But he was not pinned during the course of the match, and instead, it was his hype man who was.
In my honest opinion, that was the only reason why Lio Rush was inserted into what should have been a one on one match between Balor and Lashley. He was just there to take the pin and have Lashley look strong, because of the reason that will be chronicled later.
The split allows for Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush to go their separate ways, and maybe Rush, like Mustafa Ali, could become a breakout singles competitor on RAW in due course. This is because Rush must have impressed those backstage during his singles match against Finn Balor, not long ago.
So in this way, Lashley can go on to face Strowman or whoever else at Fastlane or WrestleMania.
#2 To allow Lashley to join Baron Corbin's team
Yes, Bobby Lashley was great by Lio Rush by his side. But he was a lot more menacing back when he was allied with Balor and McIntyre. With Rush asking Lashley to show his rear end to the WWE Universe, he had almost become a comic character somewhat.
By having him enter a serious faction, Lashley can potentially become 'the dominator' again. I would much rather have Lashley in this heel faction terrorising Braun Strowman because that fits his character and skill set much better. Some may say that this is a step back for him, but as long as he does not have to pose for the camera like a buffoon, I'd say it's an improvement.
Will we head into a Lio Rush vs. Bobby Lashley feud in the coming weeks on RAW? I daresay that while that sounds weird, it could be an interesting program.
#1 To stop Finn Balor from going to AEW
Dean Ambrose's departure may have given WWE pause to reconsider their decisions. For far too long, they've not given the audience what they want. For far too long have they booked deserving superstars like absolute jokes. And now there's a brand new player in All Elite Wrestling, in the industry.
They certainly do not want to have Finn Balor depart for AEW because he'd be the exact kind of superstar they'd want. A superstar who's gifted and skilled in the ring who is actually taken seriously. Balor's independent wrestling background will potentially attract AEW's audience.
Ultimately, the crowd seems thrilled that Finn Balor is Champion and this certainly bodes well for the WWE Universe. How often is it that one of WWE booking decisions makes people happy anymore, these days?
How do you feel about the title change and do you think Balor will be a better Champion than Lashley?
