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If you recently watched WWE Extreme Rules, you probably saw that Finn Balor lost the Intercontinental Championship to Shinsuke Nakamura. And, it was done during the pre-show. While it's puzzling that WWE booked it that way, the match was well received. But there must be a valid and simple reason for this.
As WWE SmackDown Live moves to Fox, it would make sense they want to keep key players on their respective brands. While there may be some crossover, it's certainly looking like Finn Balor is going to spend a majority of his time on WWE Raw in the coming months. Assuming that Paul Heyman has now taken full control of the red brand, it's highly likely a heel turn is in the works.
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Before the WWE Universe goes bananas, let me explain. There are few routes that Finn Balor could go but I believe there is only one major option. It's already clear that WWE Raw's top babyface is Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman is very high on Ricochet. So, here are 5 reasons why Finn Balor will turn heel!
#5 Giving a new dimension to his character
Finn Balor is over with the fans. He's great in the ring and can perform fantastic feats of athleticism that few would not be in awe of. His Demon character was a creative stroke of genius that showed a different side to the WWE Universe and got him over. On the other hand, his babyface character has become a little stale.
Now you're probably wondering if this statement is completely overblown and without merit, take a moment to think about it. Besides his amazing in-ring skills and The Demon, how else does he stand out? His million dollar smile captivates the audience every time he comes on screen but beyond that, what makes him a cut above the rest?
While the fan faithful will always be behind Finn Balor, a change is very much on the cards. Owen Hart said it best when he said, 'Enough is Enough and it's time for a change.' Perhaps sooner than later.
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#4 Reuniting with The Club
For some, AJ Styles turning heel on Ricochet and reuniting with Gallows and Anderson was shocking. For others, it was the obvious turn that AJ Styles needed. His run as a face had run its course and he needed a fresh take on his character when he was sent to WWE Raw. Adding Finn Balor into the mix is the most logical course of action.
The idea of NJPW alumni running a version of Bullet Club on WWE Raw is a dream storyline that the WWE Universe has been waiting for. Past iterations have been poor with little or no fanfare. But this time, things are ripe for a takeover of the red brand.
With Paul Heyman in charge, it looks like the WWE Universe may be getting what they wanted. With a heel version of Finn Balor, dreams may just come true.
#3 The Rise of The Club
Think of all great factions that have graced the WWE Universe. NWO, DX, Evolution and The Shield. I would count The Legacy but really, they're not in the same league as those stables. The Club has the potential to be the true heir to the great stables of the past. It can be argued that they can be even greater than The Shield as they have the right mix.
They have a bonafide powerhouse tag team, a former WWE champion and with the addition of Balor, they will have a former Universal champion. Much like Bullet Club, they can crack some skulls, take some names and make their presence known to the rest of the WWE Roster.
It's logical to believe that Paul Heyman already has a version of these plans in place. The Mad Scientist has something brewing in his lab and it tastes like blood, sweat, and tears.
#4 Feud with Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship
While Brock Lesnar is now WWE Universal Champion, it's plausible to believe that Seth Rollins will regain the WWE Universal Championship at WWE SummerSlam. The most obvious WWE Superstar to come after his championship would be Finn Balor. Sure, it's possible that AJ Styles could be the guy but it's already been done.
Establishing Finn Balor as a heel Universal Champion has more rewards than Brock Lesnar. Making sure that Seth Rollins remains in the chase adds more to the story. Some WWE Superstars are better chasing the title rather than having it. Seth Rollins deserves that sort of a run, which he didn't really get when he went after Brock Lesnar.
It's a win-win situation as it sets the stage for the true main event of the story. Like all stables that have come before it, something has to give.
#1 The Final Betrayal
Much like how Triple H turned on Randy Orton, we could expect that AJ Styles does the same to Finn Balor. An internal power struggle after Finn Balor wins the WWE Universal Championship would be a way forward and it allows Balor to return to The Demon character. It then creates an interesting character arc that few have seen of Finn Balor in WWE.
It would provide WWE Raw with a feud that is worthy of it and it's that long term storytelling what has been lacking on Monday Night Raw in recent times. Paul Heyman could go a different route and have the roles reversed but it's something that needs to happen. The Mad Genius understands the current fan base and knows what they want.
To quote The Advocate, 'this is not a prediction, it's a spoiler.' Stay tuned in the weeks ahead!
