On the July 25, 2016 episode of Monday Night Raw, Finn Bálor made his highly anticipated main roster debut and immediately found himself in the biggest match of his career. After winning a Fatal 4-Way earlier in the night, Bálor earned the opportunity to face Roman Reigns in a singles match. The stakes were high—the winner would advance to SummerSlam to compete for the newly established WWE Universal Championship against Seth Rollins.
As the bell rang, the energy in the arena was electric. Roman Reigns, the powerhouse of WWE and a former WWE Champion, faced off against Finn Bálor, a decorated international competitor and the longest-reigning NXT Champion at the time. The match started with both men cautiously sizing each other up. Reigns relied on his brute strength, while Bálor used his agility and technical ability to counter his opponent’s power.
Reigns took early control of the match, using his superior strength to ground Bálor with powerful strikes and slams. A thunderous shoulder tackle sent Bálor sprawling across the ring, and Reigns followed up with a hard-hitting clothesline that nearly decapitated his opponent. However, Bálor, known for his resilience, refused to stay down. He fought back with rapid kicks and a basement dropkick, forcing Reigns to retreat momentarily.
Momentum shifted when Bálor managed to send Reigns outside the ring and delivered a breathtaking running dropkick through the ropes. The Demon King followed up with a penalty kick off the ring apron, sending the crowd into a frenzy. However, Reigns quickly turned the tide once they re-entered the ring, countering Bálor’s offense with a thunderous Samoan Drop for a near fall.
As the match progressed, both men exchanged near falls, with the tension increasing by the minute. Reigns attempted his signature Superman Punch, but Bálor ducked and countered with an overhead kick, stunning The Big Dog. Bálor then unleashed his signature running dropkick, sending Reigns crashing into the turnbuckle. Smelling victory, Bálor climbed to the top rope and went for the Coup de Grâce, his devastating double foot stomp.
But Reigns had it scouted. He rolled out of the way just in time and delivered a brutal Superman Punch, followed by a thunderous Spear that seemingly sealed the match. However, to the shock of the WWE Universe, Bálor miraculously kicked out at two. The crowd erupted as Reigns looked on in disbelief.
Determined to finish the match, Reigns lifted Bálor for another power move, but Bálor countered with a Sling Blade, then a second running dropkick. With Reigns down and vulnerable, Bálor ascended the turnbuckle once more. This time, his Coup de Grâce connected perfectly. The referee counted to three, and the WWE Universe exploded in celebration.
Finn Bálor had done the impossible—he defeated Roman Reigns clean in the middle of the ring, securing his spot at SummerSlam to compete for the Universal Championship. This match not only cemented Bálor as a legitimate main-event player but also proved that his future in WWE was incredibly bright.
