Finn Balor: Expectations Run High at Money in the Bank

Finn Balor is one of the most popular Superstars in WWE. The man that earned his stripes in New Japan took Vince McMahon’s company by storm when he first arrived and now he’s become part of the WWE machine. Fans love him for who he is and what he does in the ring. Balor is a top talent and he deserves to be in the main event picture.

But is he the next Mister Money in the Bank? Finn Balor is among the eight talents booked to compete in the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match on Sunday, June 17. If Finn retrieves the briefcase hanging above the ring, he will have a guaranteed title shot at the time and place of his choosing. But that’s all storyline of course.

The reality is that Balor is in this match because he is indeed a top player. There’s perhaps very little chance that he does go over and win it all. But his presence is important in this one because it’s such a high profile match and because he always delivers. He’s a trusted performer that always gives everything he has between the ropes. What more could WWE ask for?

Finn Balor is living up to expectations. He was advertised as one of the most unique and most gifted wrestlers of his generation and he has certainly lived up to that. WWE presented him as a world traveled Superstar that does amazing things and he has definitely held up on his end. Balor is exactly what WWE promised fans he would be and many would say he’s much more.

Watch Finn qualify for Money in the Bank on Raw:

Roman Reigns vs. Finn Bálor vs. Sami Zayn - Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Raw, May 7, 2018

The company has to be happy with its investment. Finn needed very little polish on his game. He adapted to the supposed “WWE style” extremely well and has fit right in. Balor is a veteran that worked his entire career to make it in WWE and once he got there, he did not disappoint. So if he does win at Money in the Bank, then the company can undoubtedly use him in the right way and take him where he should go. But is that going to happen?

It’s at this point that the topic of Finn Balor splits in two. On one side is WWE, the company that is pleased with Balor and everything he brings to the table. His progression has been steady and satisfying. If there were more skilled and popular workers like Balor in the locker room, WWE would be a much more entertaining place and everyone knows it.

But the fans may have a different opinion of Balor’s current position. Yes he’s done very well and yes he’s one of the best in WWE. But why isn’t he on top? Does the company truly belong to The Shield, as many believed would happen? Roman Reigns is the face of WWE and there’s no getting around that. Seth Rollins is arguably the best in WWE right now. So where does that leave Finn Balor?

It could be said that Finn has in fact fallen a bit short of expectation. WWE did try to convince everyone that Balor was one of a kind and very much deserving of attention. Fans more than agreed on this. WWE also did everything possible to make fans accept him and support him. That worked as well.

However when the moment comes to actually put Balor to the test, he is often booked to come up short. His battles with Seth are some of the best that WWE fans have seen in quite some time. Every match is an instant classic and each one gets both guys over. Rollins wins the majority of the matches but that’s never really been an issue. Balor’s star has risen thanks to his work with Seth.

Watch Finn vs. Seth on Raw:

Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor - Intercontinental Championship Match: Raw, April 30, 2018

Yet he continues to find himself just short of main event stardom. Balor looks good every time he steps into the ring and he has proved his worth in one match after another. But while Seth is still the Intercontinental champion and considered by some to be the true top dog in WWE, Finn is coming in second place. But what happens at Money in the Bank?

It could be that this is WWE’s opportunity to put right what many feel has went wrong. This is Finn Balor’s best opportunity to break out, to show that he is much more than just an exceptionally gifted technician in the ring. Balor is also much more than a blue collar hand, a guy that puts his shoulder to the wheel and gives maximum output every time he enters the ring.

Finn Balor is a potential No.2 and possible No.1 top guy. He is that good. Finn is automatic in the ring and he has a personality that extends beyond the intensity he displays. Balor always has a smile on his face and he’s always supremely confident. Why shouldn’t he be? Balor knows who he is and he knows what he can do.

WWE trusts him because Balor is fully capable of working anyone on the roster and delivering the match of the night. He makes others look good and that makes him look ever better in the process. Finn is among the top talents in the business because he knows how to get over and make it last. All WWE needs to do is point him in the right direction and he will take over from there.

So why not put him in the driver’s seat at Money in the Bank? He has certainly put in the effort and a victory would definitely get the stamp of approval from the crowd. Finn is perhaps the best choice to win it and he would surely make the best of the run that followed.

Watch Finn stand up to Braun Strowman on Raw:

Finn Bálor slaps Braun Strowman: Raw, May 28, 2018

But while Balor would likely do a great job as Mister Money in the Bank, fans cannot forget about the current Universal champion. Brock Lesnar is a wrecking machine and no one gets over on him without going down in the end. He tastes loss so infrequently in his WWE career that everyone expects him to win the moment his next feud begins. Would a match with Finn Balor be any different?

Fans don’t just want to see Finn do well. They want to seem him win it all. So if there’s no getting over on Brock and if WWE has no plans of switching the title within the next year, then maybe Balor should not win on June 17. But by that same argument, maybe the Intercontinental title is the top title on Raw in Lesnar’s absence. So why push anyone for a shot at his belt?

The fact is that despite what happens at Money in the Bank, Finn Balor should be just fine. He is a valuable WWE Superstar and the company holds him in high regard. He has TV time and he works excellent matches that showcase his skills. Whether or not those skills will help take him to the next level on June 17 remains to be seen.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online at boinkstudios.com