Finn Balor’s seven-year title itch remains unscratched as The Prince, once again, fails to capitalize on the many chances gifted to him by his stable, The Judgment Day, in his nth attempt to dethrone Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship.
This year’s SummerSlam painted the tale of two bitter rivals reigniting a feud that stretched back seven years, a fated match that had previously resulted in an injured Balor having to forfeit the WWE Universal Championship – a crowning achievement of his career. This time around, the stage is the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, and the stakes are the World Heavyweight Championship, with Rollins as the defending champion.
Balor’s entry was quite the spectacle. The word “SEVEN”, in bold relief, adorned his previously injured shoulder, which is a glaring reminder of that fateful night at SummerSlam 2016. Rollins, always the master of mind games, didn’t hold back either. He donned the very same vest he wore on that SummerSlam night, a vest that symbolized Balor’s prior misfortune.
The match started with Balor taking the reins, reminiscent of their prior encounter at the same event. He singled out the shoulder of Rollins methodically. As shades of the past came into play, Balor mirrored the maneuver that injured him, delivering a powerbomb to Rollins into the corner barricade. In a fitting role reversal, Balor’s offense included the very Buckle Bomb move that had once sidelined him. Rollins, showing resilience, managed a comeback, with his own series of offensive maneuvers, including multiple buckle bombs, highlighting the intensity of their duel.
However, just as the match seemed to be a callback to the past, the present caught up in the form of Damian Priest, the holder of the Money in the Bank briefcase.
With his arrival, the atmosphere changed. Rollins found himself not only defending against Balor but also against the looming threat of a cash-in. Priest, backed by Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio, brought the distraction game into the mix. In a moment of chaos, the briefcase became the center of attention. Offered first to Balor as a weapon, it was denied. But as fate would have it, that very briefcase would seal the outcome.
The climax saw a flurry of finishers, each man seemingly on the cusp of victory. Balor’s Coup de Grace found its target, only for Rollins to kick out. The tension was palpable as Priest, seemingly trying to aid Balor, threw the briefcase into the ring, distracting the referee in the process. This momentary lapse was all Rollins needed. He seized the opportunity, delivering his signature Curb Stomp, driving Balor’s face onto the waiting briefcase, securing the pin, and with it, the championship.
In the aftermath, Rollins emerged triumphant, marking his 20th successful championship defense since his inauguration as the World Heavyweight Champion back in May. However, the scene that followed was perhaps even more poignant. Damian Priest and Finn Balor exchanged looks of sheer disappointment, a stable seemingly on the brink, with a failed plan that backfired spectacularly.
As Seth Rollins left the arena, his victory was not just over Balor but over the ghosts of a SummerSlam past. Balor, while coming up short, made his intentions clear in the lead-up, stating, “I approach every match in the same, the same way with the same amount of attention and focus.”
However, as the dust settles, one question remains: With Judgment Day seemingly in disarray, what lies ahead for the faction, especially given the tension between Balor and Priest?
