Being a champion in WWE NXT does not guarantee success on the main roster as well. Superstars like Finn Balor, Bayley, Sami Zayn, etc were great in the developmental brand, but they have not been able to find the same level of success on the main roster.
Finn Balor still holds the record of being the longest serving NXT champion. He held the title for 292 days before dropping it to Kevin Owens. Having such a blistering career in NXT, WWE brought Finn Balor to the main roster during the brand split in 2016, and immediately made him the first ever Universal Champion.
He even pinned Roman Reigns clean on the first night of his Raw career, but a shoulder injury forced him to relinquish the title, and ever since coming back, he has been treated as an afterthought.
Finn deserves to be at the top of the card, as not only is he a fantastic in-ring worker, but he is also very charismatic, and connects well with the WWE audience. Despite his poor booking, there are ways WWE could still save him.
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#5 Make him win the IC title
Seth Rollins is the current Intercontinental champion. He is scheduled to face Shinsuke Nakamura in a champion vs champion match at Survivor Series. But after that, he is all set to feud with his former tag team partner, Dean Ambrose.
Ambrose vs Rollins does not need a championship. The feud will carry itself, given the emotional drama surrounding it, and as a result, WWE should take the title off Rollins and should put it on Finn Balor.
Yes, with Constable Corbin around it would be difficult for Finn to get a title opportunity, but WWE could still make it happen.
#4 Let Finn bring back the open challenge
In his first run as the WWE IC Champion, Rollins used to defend his title in an open challenge. This resulted in him becoming the MVP of WWE Monday Night Raw. He would put on quality matches week after week, while also making his opponents look strong.
Similarly, Finn could bring back the open challenge as an IC champion, and face a variety of opponents. He could face many mid-card and lower card guys like Mojo Rawley, Zack Ryder, etc and help them get TV time.
#3 Book him in a match with a legend at WrestleMania 35
The Intercontinental championship has become relevant in recent years much to the credit of The Miz and Seth Rollins. The Miz in particular restored the prestige of the IC title. Finn Balor should continue this trend, and as a result WWE should book Finn in a mega-match at WrestleMania 35, against a big name like John Cena.
Not only will Cena vs Balor be a must watch, but it would also make Balor look like a big deal if he comes out on top. This feud has the potential to make Finn a star if he wins. At the same time, a loss would not hurt Cena as he has become a part-time wrestler now, and is focusing more on his Hollywood career.
#2 Move him to SD Live during Superstar Shake-up
After WrestleMania, WWE should move Finn Balor to SD Live during Superstar Shake-up. He would be a much bigger star on the blue brand. On Raw, it is possible for Finn to get lost in the shuffle, but on the blue brand, there are more chances of him being pushed.
On SD Live, Balor can reach new heights and could even drop the IC title to focus more on the world title. He should be moved to the main event scene.
WWE however should be careful not to use the demon character of Balor during his IC title run. Contrary to his normal character, his demon avatar has been protected till date, and he has not suffered a single loss while wrestling as The Demon King on the main roster.
#1 Use him properly
One problem with WWE is that they will push someone one day, and will totally forget about them the next. This affects the wrestlers in a negative way, as when the push stops suddenly, fans stop caring about the wrestlers.
All the time WWE spends building a character is often wasted by one bad decision. WWE must not continue this trend with Finn Balor, and should not stop his push. Finn should stay relevant even if he loses the IC title. He should be moved to the main event scene after dropping the title, as he deserves to be on top.
Finn is surely a future WWE Champion. He has immense charisma, and is a fantastic wrestler. His alter ego, The Demon King, is unique, cool, and has an aura of mystique. Not only is he talented, but also is a wrestling veteran.