The problem a lot of people have with modern day WWE (and for the past 10 or so years), is that it is most of the time far too predictable. As a matter of fact this year's rumoured Mania main event of Roman Reigns taking on Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal title has been rumoured since before even last year's Wrestlemania! So where does all this leave the first ever WWE Universal champion, Ireland's Finn Balor?
In the current standings there seems to be no clear path for the Bray native. He's teaming with real life pals Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in a kind-of stable called "Balor Club". He gave a brilliant showing as this year's Royal Rumble Ironman, lasting the longest of all 30 men but of course then lost to John Cena the next night in the Elimination Chamber qualifying match.
One step forward, two steps back. The story of Finn Balor's WWE main roster career.
Where will Finn end up come New Orleans on April the 8th? Only God and Vince McMahon know and to be fair McMahon probably no idea yet anyway. So, let's take a look at three possible Wrestlemania opponents for Finn Balor.
1. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Title.
"What are you on about Tony? Sure you just told us everyone knows over a year it's gonna be Reigns against Lesnar!" True. But plans change. True I also just complained about Balor losing to Cena in the Elimination Chamber qualifiers as well meaning he isn't even in contention to be number 1 contender but, as I just said "PLANS CHANGE".
There is one more place left in the Elimination Chamber, what if it's Balor? It's feasible WWE holds some sort of "second chance" match with all the guys who lost their qualifier that has Balor come out on top. Balor then wins the Elimination Chamber to become number one contender for the title he never truly lost. We also get the match Paul Heyman teased us with last summer: Balor vs Brock. The Demon vs The Beast.
What about Reigns? Easy. Him and Cena had an electric reaction from the crowd at the Royal Rumble when they faced off. WWE would be wise to capitalise on it as it seems to be the match the WWE Universe want to see. Both Cena and Reigns are in the Chamber, have them somehow screw each other out of winning and you've got yourself a match similar to Hogan/Rock at Wresemania 18.
WWE can easily pretend their match at No Mercy last year didn't happen just like Cena's pretend retirement on the night has been completely glossed over and forgotten about.
What will most likely happen though is WWE will just put Seth Rollins in there and Reigns will win with ease.
2. The Miz for the Intercontinental Title.
The Miz has been perhaps the best all round performer in WWE since the new brand split in 2016. He was even voted WWE Wrestler of the Year for 2017 by Rolling Stone. Being realistic as much as I'd love to see scenario 1 come to fruition it's highly, highly unlikely. However an Intercontinental title win over The Miz at Wrestlemania would be just the career shot in the arm The Demon needs.
Balor had a very successful NXT title run and the company was ready to give him "the ball" as the first ever Universal champion before his unlucky injury in summer 2016 so there's no reason why a secondary title reign (something he hasn't yet yet in WWE) wouldn't be a great path back to the main event title.
Balor isn't the best talker on the roster, but Miz is, so the mix of Miz's verbal barbs and Finn's in-ring skills would make this an excellent build up and match at Mania. Plus Miz's wife, Maryse will be due their first child around that time and rumours are abound that Miz will be taking time off when the child is born. Finn Balor is the perfect man to pick up where Miz left off with all his excellent work with the IC championship.
3. John Cena.
The rumoured match for Cena at this year's Wrestlemania is a "dream match" against the Undertaker. In my opinion, Undertaker should never wrestle again with the way Wrestlemania ended last year. That's the end of the Undertaker character, laying his hat, gloves and coat in the ring and disappearing from the ramp.
Not to mention Undertaker is broken down physically, this match does nothing for anyone. However, Finn Balor vs John Cena makes perfect sense. They both faced off in the Royal Rumble with Balor being eliminated by Cena. Cena also defeated Balor the next night on Raw to go into the Elimination Chamber.
The table is set. Here's my pitch: Balor Club attacks Cena in the Elimination Chamber having somehow found their way inside the cell, thus costing Cena possibly his last shot at a main event at Wrestlemania. Balor explains that Cena cost him his opportunity twice, Cena's a part timer and should step aside and also Finn can keep bitching that he never got his rematch for the title he never lost.
Fast forward to New Orleans on April the 8th and the newly heel Finn Balor beats John Cena at Wrestlemania and all of a sudden Balor is a bonafide "top guy" again and you have a ready made opponent for Roman Reigns, who we all must assume will be WWE Universal Champion after Wrestlemania.
