Tag: Finn Balor

Gunther vs. Finn Balor title match set for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Gunther will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor of The Judgment Day at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

The new World title match was made official for the Saturday, December 14 event in a backstage segment on Monday’s Raw by GM Adam Pearce.

Balor attacked Gunther on Monday’s Raw after Gunther defeated Balor’s Judgment Day comrade Dominik Mysterio, laying the champ out with multiple double stomps off the top rope.

Pearce also intimated that Balor will have to defend the World Tag Team titles with JD McDonagh on the card, saying that he will discuss Balor’s other title match with him on next week’s Raw.

Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens is already official for SNME, plus Liv Morgan defending the Women’s World Championship against IYO SKY was added to the lineup during Monday’s Raw.

The updated card for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, airing Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m. Eastern time on NBC:

  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Kevin Owens
  • World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against Finn Balor
  • Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against IYO SKY

CM Punk return, Judgment Day tag title defense set for next WWE Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After not appearing tonight, CM Punk will be back on WWE Raw next week.

Punk was off tonight’s Raw selling the effects of the beatdown he took from Drew McIntyre last week. WWE has announced that Punk will return to the show next Monday, appearing for the first time since it was confirmed that Punk vs. McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match will take place at Bad Blood 2024.

Their Hell in a Cell match was announced tonight by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, who told McIntyre that the feud between him and Punk needs to end. Upset over losing to Punk in a strap match at Bash in Berlin, McIntyre attacked Punk in an angle on Raw last week — causing Punk to get taken out in an ambulance. McIntyre also destroyed Punk’s bracelet that had the names of his wife and dog on it.

Bad Blood is taking place on Saturday, October 5. Punk and McIntyre have a 1-1 record against each other heading into the PLE.

The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is the venue for next Monday’s Raw. A World Tag Team title match between Finn Balor & JD McDonagh and The New Day is also set. It will be the first televised title defense Balor & McDonagh have made since becoming champions in June.

WWE Raw (Monday, September 16) —

  • CM Punk returns
  • World Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Finn Balor & JD McDonagh) defend against New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)

Finn Balor & JD McDonagh announced for OTT 10th Anniversary

Posted on by Ian Carey

Ireland’s Over the Top Wrestling is bringing in WWE’s World Tag Team Champions.

At OTT Scrappermania VIII night two on Saturday, a video aired announcing Finn Balor and JD McDonagh for the promotion’s 10th Anniversary show on October 26 at Dublin’s National Stadium.

“Through grit, determination, and heart, these men and women have left it all on our canvas to get us to where we are today. But soon, they will meet their Judgment Day.”

McDonagh was the inaugural OTT World Champion, having won the title in 2018. He would lose it to Gunther later that same year. He returned to the promotion for one night at Scrappermania VI in 2022, losing a match to Mark Haskins.

Today’s show is the second of three straight the promotion is running this weekend. Last night in Wolverhampton had Trent Seven defending the OTT World title over Trevor Lee and Nic Nemeth beating Man Like deReiss. Today’s show has a match between Robbie X and Mike Bailey as well as Danhausen challenging Renzo Rose for the No Limits title.

Gunther wins World Heavyweight Championship at WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Gunther has won the World Heavyweight title.

The Ring General defeated Damian Priest to win the World Heavyweight title for the first time. The finish involved Finn Balor coming out and putting Gunther’s foot on the rope as Priest went for a pinfall. As Priest turned his back to confront Balor over what he did, Gunther locked in a sleeper hold. Priest managed to escape, but Gunther powerbombed him and put him in the hold again. This time, Priest passed out and the referee stopped the match.

Backstage, Gunther took a picture with Triple H.

Priest had been champion since WrestleMania 40, when he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre after CM Punk laid him out. In the months since, he has defended the title among the likes of McIntyre and Seth Rollins.

When Gunther won King of the Ring, he earned a World Heavyweight Championship match for SummerSlam. He had spent the last several weeks dressing down Priest, refereing to him as ‘street trash’.

Balor turning on Priest wasn’t the only Judgment Day turn on Saturday’s premium live event. The opening match saw Dominik Mysterio betray Rhea Ripley, helping Liv Morgan to defeat Morgan and retain the Women’s World Championship;.

Gunther hoping to have ‘proper’ WWE program with Finn Balor

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Gunther is hoping his WWE Raw match against Finn Balor wasn’t a one-off.

For the first time ever, European stars Gunther and Balor faced off in a one-on-one match this Monday. Gunther got the victory when Balor passed out in a sleeper. After the match, there was an angle where Gunther put the sleeper back on and refused to let go. Damian Priest ran out to make the save, brawling with Gunther ahead of SummerSlam.

Gunther told Sports Illustrated that he was excited to face Balor and hopes they’ll get to have a “proper program” against each other down the line.

“We’d just flown in from Japan before Raw, but wrestling Finn Balor, I was excited for that one,” Gunther said. “Years ago, he came to wXw when he transitioned from New Japan to WWE. I’ve known him since back then and he’s always someone I’ve always looked up to as a wrestler. He’s one of the best European wrestlers ever, and he did it his own way. It was great to be in the ring with an excellent professional wrestler.

“The match was exactly what it was supposed to be for the occasion. Down the line, I really hope we fulfill our potential with a proper program.”

Gunther and Balor were originally scheduled to face each other at NXT UK TakeOver: Dublin in 2020, but that event never happened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This Saturday, Gunther is challenging Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. Priest and Balor are stablemates in Judgment Day.

The full Gunther vs. Balor match from Raw can be watched below:

Finn Balor reveals length of new WWE contract

Posted on by Ian Carey

Finn Balor revealed the length of his WWE contract during a recent podcast appearance.

The 42-year-old announced in April that he’d signed a new deal with the company, writing “I would like to take this moment to say thank you to WWE for 10 incredible years. And after much thought and consideration, I have decided that now is the right time to say ‘I ain’t going nowhere!’

Balor told the What’s The Story podcast recently that the extension he signed is for five years.

“We sat down and had a couple of conversations and the feelings were mutual. I wanted to stay, they wanted me to stay, we hashed it out and I couldn’t be happier,” Balor said.

Balor was talking about wanting a match with Gunther when he revealed the news.

“I have expressed the opinion to the office that I would love to get to that match (vs. Gunther) in the future so fingers crossed. I’ve got five years on my deal, so if we can get it done in the next five years.”

Balor first signed with WWE in 2014. He was the inaugural Universal Champion, has held the NXT Championship twice, the Intercontinental title twice, and has won tag team titles in the promotion with Damian Priest and JD McDonagh. In 2018, Balor was voted “Most Underrated” in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards.

Finn Balor & JD McDonagh win World Tag Team titles on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New World Tag Team Champions were crowned on WWE Raw.

Finn Balor & JD McDonagh of The Judgment Day defeated The Awesome Truth (R-Truth & The Miz) to win the World Tag Team titles on Raw. The finish came when Liv Morgan, who was at ringside, distracted R-Truth, eventually turning on him by slinging his neck on the top rope and allowing Balor to pin him with the coup de grace.

Morgan in recent weeks has tried to seduce Dominik Mysterio, attempting to win his favor by helping The Judgment Day. Earlier on Raw, she convinced R-Truth to give Balor & McDonagh a title match, much to the chagrin of The Miz. Later, she was seen walking out of The Judgment Day locker room. Damien Priest walked into the room and saw Finn Balor all by himself, who reacted by saying nothing shady had happened between them.

Awesome Truth won the Raw Tag Team titles back at WrestleMania 40 in a ladder match that was also for the SmackDown Tag Team titles, which were seperated after Grayson Waller & Austin Theory grabbed the SmackDown Tag Team titles. Following the match, the Raw Tag Team titles were renamed the World Tag Team titles, with The Awesome Truth being given new championship belts.

Two Money in the Bank qualifying matches booked for WWE Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Money in the Bank qualifying begins with two triple threat matches taking place on WWE Raw tonight.

This afternoon, WWE uploaded a video with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announcing a pair of Money in the Bank qualifying bouts for tonight. IYO SKY vs. Zelina Vega vs. Kiana James will determine the first women’s ladder match participant. The first men’s participant will be determined by Jey Uso vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Balor.

SKY was last year’s women’s Money in the Bank winner. She successfully cashed in her briefcase on Bianca Belair at SummerSlam last August and held the WWE Women’s Championship until losing it to Bayley at WrestleMania 40.

Damian Priest won the 2023 men’s Money in the Bank ladder match and held onto the briefcase until a successful WrestleMania cash-in on Drew McIntyre. At Clash at the Castle last weekend, Priest defeated McIntyre to retain the World Heavyweight Championship after CM Punk got involved in the match.

Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is hosting Money in the Bank on Saturday, July 6. Including tonight, there are only three episodes of Raw and three episodes of SmackDown left before the event.

The venue for tonight’s Raw is American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

WWE Raw (Monday, June 17) —

  • Money in the Bank qualifying match: IYO SKY vs. Zelina Vega vs. Kiana James
  • Money in the Bank qualifying match: Jey Uso vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Balor
  • Dragon Lee vs. Carlito
  • Reveal of Uncle Howdy’s QR code mystery teased

Xavier Woods vs. Karrion Kross was set for tonight, but WWE has deleted the tweet announcing the match. It isn’t clear whether the match will still be happening.

New World Tag Team title number one contenders crowned on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

JD McDonagh & Finn Balor are getting a title match.

Balor & McDonagh became the new number one contenders for the World Tag Team titles, defeating Authors of Pain, New Catch Republic, and The Creed Brothers. The finish had Carlito interfere in the match, giving Pete Dunne the backstabber before throwing him back in the ring. Balor then followed up with the coup de grace for the win.

Since being drafted to Raw, Carlito has been attempting to join The Judgment Day. Damian Priest, however, wants nothing to do with him due to his interference in the Puerto Rican Street Fight that took place at last year’s Backlash. Earlier on Raw, Carlito was shunned by Priest, who wanted nothing to do with him. However, he appeared to be warming up to him after Balor & McDonagh became the new number one contenders.

The current World Tag Team Champions are The Miz and R-Truth, who won the titles during the ladder match that took place at WrestleMania 40.

Finn Balor expected to sign long-term contract extension with WWE

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Finn Balor isn’t going anywhere.

Fightful Select reported on Monday that Balor is expected to sign a long-term contract extension with WWE, if he hasn’t already. His deal was set to expire in the next couple of months. Fightful described the deal as a “multi-year, big money offer.” Additionally, they noted that Balor was on an AEW list of potential free agents they were keeping their eye on this coming summer.

Right before Raw started, Balor wrote on X that he “ain’t going nowhere.”

“I would like to take this moment to say thank you to WWE for 10 incredible years. And after much thought and consideration, I have decided that now is the right time to say ‘I ain’t going nowhere!”

Balor signed with WWE back in 2014 and became a major star on the NXT brand, winning the NXT Championship. He was called up to the main roster in 2016 and won the Universal Championship shortly after. Recently, he has been a part of the Judgment Day stable on Raw, losing the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles that he held with Damian Priest at WrestleMania 40.

Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor announced for WWE Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ahead of challenging World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest, Jey Uso is set to face off against another Judgment Day member.

WWE has announced that Jey vs. Finn Balor will take place on Raw this coming Monday. The episode is being held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. McIntyre had just won the title from Seth Rollins before Priest cashed in.

The post-WrestleMania 40 Raw episode was headlined by a fatal four-way match to determine who will be the first challenger for Priest’s title. Jey defeated McIntyre, Ricochet, and Bronson Reed.

CM Punk cost McIntyre both at WrestleMania and in the number one contender’s match.

Jey defeated his twin brother Jimmy Uso at WrestleMania. On SmackDown this Friday, there was an angle where Solo Sikoa and the debuting Tama Tonga attacked Jimmy and kicked him out of The Bloodline.

WWE hasn’t announced when Jey will be getting his title shot against Priest, but the next premium live event is Backlash in Lyon, France on Saturday, May 4.

A tag team match was also added to Raw, with Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri teaming together to take on Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell. The match was made on social media by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce after Durpi and LeRae exchanged words on X:

Appearances by Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes have also been added to the lineup for Monday’s Raw:

WWE Raw (Monday, April 15) —

  • Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor
  • Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley addresses Liv Morgan’s attack from the Raw after WrestleMania
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes appears
  • Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defends against Chad Gable
  • Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
  • Sheamus returns
  • Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Tag Team title match official for WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate are heading to Australia for a clash against The Judgment Day.

Damian Priest & Finn Balor will defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against Dunne & Bate at Elimination Chamber in Perth on Saturday, February 24. Dunne & Bate earned the title shot with a victory over DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) on SmackDown tonight.

WWE began a mini-tournament last week to determine Judgment Day’s Elimination Chamber challengers. Dunne & Bate and DIY both won fatal four-way matches to advance to tonight’s number one contender’s bout. 

After Bate took out Ciampa with a dive to the outside, Dunne hit the Bitter End on Gargano and pinned him to get the victory.

Dunne & Bate reunited when Bate was called up to the SmackDown roster last month. Shortly after that, Dunne had his name changed from Butch back to Pete Dunne.

The updated Elimination Chamber card is listed below:

  • Elimination Chamber match to determine World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins’ WrestleMania 40 challenger (Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. four wrestlers to be determined)
  • Elimination Chamber match to determine Women’s World Championship challenger for WrestleMania 40 (Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. four wrestlers to be determined)
  • Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Nia Jax
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defend against Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate

Judgment Day to defend Tag Team titles at WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE’s Elimination Chamber premium live event will include a Tag Team title defense by The Judgment Day.

On SmackDown tonight, WWE started a mini-tournament to decide Judgment Day’s next challengers. The team that wins the tournament will challenge Damian Priest & Finn Balor for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles at Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia on Saturday, February 24.

Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate advanced in the tournament by defeating Pretty Deadly, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro, and Angel & Humberto in a fatal four-way match on SmackDown.

Another four-way match will take place on Raw this Monday (February 5). The team that wins that match will advance to face Dunne & Bate on SmackDown next Friday (February 9) to determine Judgment Day’s challengers for Elimination Chamber.

WWE hasn’t announced the teams that will be competing in Monday’s four-way bout.

Priest & Balor have held the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles since October. They retained against Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa on Raw earlier this week.

Optus Stadium in Perth is hosting Elimination Chamber. It will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at 5 a.m. Eastern time/2 a.m. Pacific on February 24.

Tag Team title rematch booked for next week’s WWE Raw

Posted on by Ethan Renner

An Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship rematch is one of four bouts set for the Monday, November 13 Raw. 

The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor & Damian Priest will defend their Tag Team titles against former champions Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso on next week’s episode. The bout is a rematch from the October 16 Raw where Balor & Priest defeated Rhodes & Uso for the titles.

Balor & Priest defeated The New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods in a non-title match on this week’s show, then were involved with the rest of Judgment Day in a show-closing brawl with Rhodes, Uso, Seth Rollins, and Sami Zayn setting up a WarGames match at Survivor Series.

Intercontinental Championship number one contender The Miz will be in action next week against Ivar in a bout stemming from a four-way on this week’s show. The Miz won a four-way to determine Gunther’s IC title challenger at Survivor Series in a match that also involved Ivar, and Ivar laid Miz out following the bout. 

Women’s Tag Team Champion Piper Niven will take on Tegan Nox next week. Nox eliminated Niven in a battle royal this week to set up the match. Natalya will corner Nox, while Niven’s fellow Tag champ Chelsea Green will be in her corner. 

After Shinsuke Nakamura defeated the Alpha Academy-adjacent Akira Tozawa on this week’s show, Otis stepped up to Nakamura after the contest. Nakamura vs. Otis is now set for next week. 

The announced card for the Monday, November 13 Raw in Washington DC: 

  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & Damian Priest defend against Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso
  • The Miz vs. Ivar
  • Piper Niven vs. Tegan Nox
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Otis

Undisputed Tag Team titles change hands on WWE Raw

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Judgment Day once again hold the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. 

Finn Balor & Damian Priest defeated Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso in the main event of Monday’s Raw to win the WWE Tag Team titles following an assist from Jimmy Uso. 

Jimmy superkicked his brother Jey while the referee was distracted to allow Balor to hit Jey with a Coup de Grace to score the pinfall victory and reclaim the Tag Team titles. 

Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio also interfered in the match, but was thwarted by Sami Zayn. Priest hit Rhodes with a low blow, then hit a Razor’s Edge through the announce table to clear the deck for Jimmy’s interference and Balor’s victory. 

Rhodes & Jey had defeated Balor & Priest at Fastlane to capture the Tag titles just nine days ago on October 7. 

In the show-closing scene on Raw, each member of The Judgment Day celebrated with a title, as Mysterio holds the NXT North American title, Rhea Ripley the Women’s World Championship, and Balor & Priest the Tag titles. 

This reign is the second for Balor & Priest with the Undisputed Tag titles, with their prior reign lasting from Payback on September 2 to Fastlane on October 7.